In an era where work, school, e-mail, voice mail, cruising the web or surfing the TV channels absorbs what little free time families enjoy together, many parents are opting to take vacations with their children. Families travel here together in an effort to remember how to enjoy each other's company — not ship the kids off to a babysitter. The mountain retreat of Park City offers an abundance of wonderful family activities — both relaxing and exhilarating - for kids of all ages to enjoy!

Park City Mountain Resort is a great place to begin with the Alpine Slide and Little Miner's Park. What kid would want to miss racing down the mountain on the Alpine Slide? Seated in sleds, passengers zoom down the half-mile parallel tracks racing each other, instead of racing for the school bus! The exhilarating rush felt winding down the mountainside has kids begging for "just one more ride," while the peaceful beauty of the chairlift ride over wildflowers, aspen trees and bird's eye mountain views will have parents quickly agreeing.

Several local stables offer rides of a more old-fashioned variety in their horseback tours, yet they're not without excitement. A real adventure for children is mounting a horse and taking a ride into the mountains, just like the cowboys and miners did on these very hills over 100 years ago. Horseback rides offering meals are also available for a real taste of western lifestyle. A short drive to Bar-K-Wranglers, ABC Hay Rides or the Snowed Inn Sleigh Company results in hay rides for the entire family. Nearby Blue Sage also offers horse-drawn wagon rides with dinner and entertainment. The spirit of the Wild West truly comes alive for modern families when they mount their steeds or climb aboard a wagon and head off into the sunset.

A number of historic Park City events were designed to appeal to the child in all of us, and cater to the delighted attentions of our youngest residents and visitors. Both the Fourth of July and Miners' Day celebrations schedule kids' games in City Park in addition to the traditional fun of parades, fireworks and hotdogs roasting on open barbecues. The annual Art Festival incorporates a children's program to further the learning and enjoyment of its young visitors.

To engage your children in a bit of Park City history, take them to the Museum at 528 Main Street, where they can engage in hands-on activities, and poke their heads into the old territorial jail. Its stark concrete walls and brick cells are real eye openers for fascinated young ones. The Park City Silver Mine Adventure is another kid-friendly and fun way to learn about Park City history. This attraction has numerous interactive exhibits and displays, plus the chance for the kids to play miner themselves when they sift for gemstones or descend 1,500 feet into the Ontario Mine Tunnel.

For those kids who want to explore the mountains at their own pace, the lift-served mountain biking and hiking at Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort will appeal. Meandering rides through aspen forests or adrenaline-raising downhills offer variety to suit the entire family. For those who like speed, the Utah Winter Sports Park will thrill those brave enough to try the "rocket ride" — a self-steering, single-man sled that careens down the Olympic bobsled tracks, dropping 400 feet to the finish line. Those not up for quite that much excitement can sit on the Sports Park's outdoor patio and watch aspiring freestyle aerialists showing off their moves and then landing in the sparkling splash pool below.

Parents don't have to spend a lot of time or money for their kids to enjoy Park City's summer season. The simple pleasures of swimming, day hiking, playing on a park jungle gym or savoring an ice cream cone while sightseeing are satisfying and inexpensive ways to wile away the summer hours. Three nearby reservoirs offer water activities of all kinds, and many of the town's condominium complexes offer pools for guests' enjoyment. Park City also has two public outdoor swimming pools: one operated by the city, and the other by a private health club. Both are accessible to visitors for a nominal fee. The free town-wide shuttle bus makes it easy for older kids to get around on their own, too.

Various private companies and mountain resorts in town offer summer camp activities and outdoor adventures designed specifically for kids. Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort and the Park City Recreation Department provide summer day camps open to visitors, and the Norwegian School of Nature Life offers an array of nature excursions and adventures. From arts and crafts to nature hikes to river rafting or rock climbing, these summer programs ensure a good night's sleep for any active child! Day care facilities such as Miss Billie's Kid's Kampus and Creative Beginnings provide full-service child care, field trips and activities.