Spending Autumn in Park City, Utah can feel like a guilty pleasure. It has the long days of the desert southwest but without its oppressive heat. While other places have the famed season changes, here you find only one difference: autumns are just as beautiful but no one seems to know about it

ABOUT PARK CITY

Few people know about the vast treasures minable in this resort town less than an hour away from downtown Salt Lake City. Park City is one of the two biggest resort towns in the state. Part of its resort image has grown through its famous snow and ski resorts, but the town itself has developed alongside its snowy identity, creating a separate destination image.

Not even many of the locals know that Park City was one of the few places in Utah not settled by explicitly Mormon parties. 27 saloons lined historic Main Street, contributing to the slogan "At the base of a 3100 ft vertical drop, you'll find an extraordinary place to land."

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Today's Park City is largely based on the area's reputation for all types of mountain recreation. In the 1950's skiing started to come to the area, growth was steady through the 1970's and then the boom started and hasn't sopped. Most attractions are the same in summer, only in much more color.

SPORTS AND RECREATION

Besides the fact that anywhere in Park City is a treat during fall, the infrastructure built up during the 2002 Winter Olympics crys out to be enjoyed. At the 389-acre Utah Olympic Park - site of the 2002 Olympic bobsled and home of current Olympic teams, luge, ski-jump, skeleton and other events - visitors can go behind the drivers of a bobsled down the Olympic course, try their own skills with lessons or on the track, or learn about all of it in the Olympics interactive museum.

SHOPPING

In addition to shops packing main street, a farmer's market offers produced, baked goods and crafts through early autum at Canyons Resort each Wednesday. Silly Sunday also transforms Park City's main street into a quirky outdoor shopper's paradise.

MUSEUMS AND ART

The Kimball Art Center reveals art as a big part of this special-interest town, hosting local artist and providing classes for art students. Park City Museum is one of the west's best small museums, located in the Old Park city Jail. In addition to the exhibits, local historians provide tours of Main Street and lead themed hikes through the surrounding areas.

HEBER VALLEY RAILROAD

The railroad line founded in 1899 still chuggs through the area. It uses two restored and fully-functional steam engine cars. The historic nature makes it perfect for theater rides and dinner cars.

FALL EVENTS

Oktoberfest and Swiss Days

Celebrated in many of the resorts in September, these traditional festival make great use of the open areas left behind by the skiers. Heber Valley's Midway hosts a traditional nod to its Swiss settlers with the annual September event, during which 300 gallons of sourkraut are consumed.

Miner's Day Parade

The end of the summer is signalled in style with this Labor Day event. Local organizations all pitch in for the effect of community in this event, including the "running of the balls" that features a release of tennis balls.

AUTUMN IN PARK CITY

In addition to these regularly-scheduled autumb events and attractions, visitors can be sure that the resort areas will all plan their own one-of-a-kind concerts and other events. Before paying to see the leaves in Boston next fall, remember that they change just as brilliantly in Park City, and this small western mountain town has plenty more than fantastic foliage to be cool to tourists during those awesome autumn months!

This guide to the fall in Park City was brought to you by Carol H. Morgan.