"Hello, Salt Lake, Utah!" America's "Hidden Gem" [Ham Young-hoon's Style, Taste, and Rest]

The Korea-US Tourism Alliance: America's Hidden Gems 

Park City is even more bustling after the Olympics, ski jumping pool, Olympic facility model sled, Salt Flats Bonneville, 3352m Snowbird Conquest

[Herald Economy (Salt Lake City, USA) = Reporter Ham Young-hoon] Utah, USA, is famous for its highland area with an average elevation of 1,319 meters and for hosting the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

From the Snowbird Gondola station near Park City, the Olympic host city, we ascended to Hidden Peak, 3,352 meters above sea level, in just 20 minutes. The crimson leaves were slowly expanding their territory, pushing past the greenery. The start of Oktoberfest this weekend marked the arrival of autumn. Kings Peak, Utah's highest peak, stands at a staggering 4,126 meters and is covered in snow year-round.

Based on European scholars' research on indigenous folklore, which found that the place name "Utah" signified highlands, Northeast Asian scholars analyze the Korean word "Uttoh" as being derived from "Uttah," much like the Korean word "Utgang" became "Yukon." While this has not been confirmed, it adds a sense of familiarity to us.

Utah, directly guided by Brand USA headquarters, is located north of Las Vegas and Arizona, west of Colorado and Wyoming, and south of Idaho. It's also nestled at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. Because it's a relatively unfamiliar destination, it's brimming with hidden gems.

Salt Lake City, in particular, successfully hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics (ranked second in profit) and will host the 2034 Games again. This offers a valuable lesson for Pyeongchang, which successfully hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics (ranked first in profit) but failed to properly manage its legacy. It is attempting to repurpose facilities from 24 years ago for the 2042 Olympics.

Olympic Legacy Becomes a Playground for the World

Park City is about a 40-minute drive from downtown Solec. The sixth and seventh ridges of the 2,000-3,000-meter peaks are covered in crimson autumn leaves, creating a striking contrast with the mountain resorts inspired by Deer Valley, Swaner Nature Preserve, and Pendry Park, as well as the Olympic-legacy facilities of Park City Mountain.

Particularly noteworthy were the mountain sports facilities built using Olympic heritage. A ski jump pool was built near the jump site, making it a must-see on many travel bucket lists. The sight of descending on a smooth, short ski sled, then spinning and diving into the water at a slightly curved jump point offers both thrill and artistic expression.

At Park City Mountain, we rode a miniature version of the Sliding Center Velodrome, a safe, all-season sled track, and the zip track, with its gentle slope but dynamic forward and backward movement, offered thrills. The slopes, which become ski resorts in winter, were a wildflower paradise.

Entering the museum, half of it is exhibition space, half is play space. A digital image synchronization device detects the visitor's balance and translates it into the speed and angle of a ski jump, sometimes providing a sense of accomplishment and other times bringing laughter to family, friends, and companions with its method comedy.

Park City is a hub of culture, art, gastronomy, and luxury. The success and buzz of the Olympics raised the city's profile, and the legacy continued after the Games, enhancing the brand value of Solec and Park City. Consequently, despite the somewhat higher prices, nearby accommodations are fiercely competitive, and guests often have to endure some wait times to use these facilities.

Utah's clothing, meticulously handcrafted by artisans, was treated as if it were a luxury brand.

In front of the statue of a silver miner who worked to rebuild the town after the mine closed, there was also a statue of an indigenous leader who resembled our neighbor from Gangwon Province, who quietly accepted foreigners and sought coexistence.

Deer Valley is a grand resort built by a Norwegian winter sports hero, inspired by his memories of Salt Lake City. Featuring a ski-in/ski-out system, guests can arrive at their room directly after skiing, and a delicious meal prepared with the healthiest Utah ingredients to recharge their energy.

Pendry Park is a popular destination for its blend of Eastern health and culinary science. Incidentally, compared to other parts of the United States, it's difficult to find people with good looks in Solek.

The first KFC in a crime-free town

The fact that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), which pursues a life of moderation and acknowledges the residents' acceptance of living in harmony with diverse people and creating prosperity, accounts for about half of the population, seems to have created a good town with 'highest tolerance and lowest crime rate.'

What's particularly unique about this place is that it houses the very first KFC, a store you'd expect to find in Kentucky. KFC traces its roots back to 1930, when Colonel Sanders (1890–1980), known as the "Grandfather of Kentucky," created fried chicken as a travel snack at a gas station in Corbin, Kentucky. The dish proved so popular that Sanders opened a restaurant across from the gas station, but business faltered when a bypass was built near the restaurant. Later, he teamed up with his old friend, Picker Herman, to open the first chicken franchise south of downtown Solec. The "Herman Cafe" logo is still prominently displayed at the very first KFC location.

Dan Howard, vice president of the Park City Chamber of Commerce, shared his experience as a Park City Village resident, a former graduate of a prestigious university and a renowned theater actor. He said, "The passion of our residents brought the Salt Lake City Olympics back. This great exchange between Korea and the United States will make Utah even more exciting." He also showed off his love for Korea by showing a photo of his dog wearing a Kadehen Lion Boys hat.

Roger Werben, manager of Grove Steakhouse, approached a group of Koreans, handed them a translator, and asked in Korean, "Would you like some aged kimchi?" To the surprised and grateful Korean travelers, he readily offered it, saying, "It's not on the regular menu, but something I've been enjoying personally."

The ski season here begins in mid-to-late November. Utah's love of skiing is so well-known that the phrase "Greatest Snow on Earth" is engraved on Utah license plates.

Salt Lake, meaning "salt lake," is often called the "American Uyuni (Bolivia in South America)." Its formation is said to be similar to that of the Rocky Mountains. The Pacific Plate pushed strongly against the western coast of the United States, forming a mountain range at the point of contact. Saltwater lakes formed to the east and west of the mountain range, creating a salty lake.

Mysterious Salt Lake and a New Beginning of the Rocky Mountains

Depending on rainfall, the lake can vary in size from four to twelve times the size of Seoul. Like the Dead Sea in Israel and Jordan, it evaporates and shrinks, and its salinity becomes so high that fish cannot survive. The salt flats alone are approximately one-third the size of Seoul.

Climbing this white, ice-like formation reveals a mystical, convex, irregular border created by the varying evaporation rates of the salt water. It's a miniature version of Pamukkale. When the sun is briefly obscured by clouds, it takes on a bluish hue. At sunset, a red glow emanates from the salt flats, creating an even more dreamlike atmosphere.

Utah offers diverse attractions. Arches in the southeastern part boasts over 2,000 natural rock arches, while Capitol Reef offers a mystical panorama of red rock formations. Just an hour and a half by car from downtown Solec, you'll find Dark Sky Park. It's not just a place to simply gaze at the stars; it's a prime spot for stargazing, a place where the stars seem to pour down.

At venues like the Utah Museum of Art, Abravanel Hall, and the Capitol Theatre, you can enjoy high-quality art and world-class performances. "The Nutcracker" premiered in the United States in Solec, so news about its performances is readily available. The Utah Museum of Natural History offers a glimpse into history, from the 15,000-year history of First Nations to the present-day "Melting" population.

Beyond this, you can also enjoy Utah's magnificent nature by driving along one of the 12 driving routes, including the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. With the expansion of the Rocky Mountaineer to Solec (Canyon Spirit) in April 2026, a new route for Rocky Mountain travel starting in Utah will open.

Another option for those traveling in Solek is the "Attraction Pass," which allows you to enjoy 17 of the city's most iconic cultural and leisure attractions economically and flexibly with a single pass. 1-day, 2-day, and 365-day passes are available, as well as customized collections like the "Family Favorites," "Unique Solek," and "Downtown Discovery."

Travel has become more relaxed since Delta Air Lines launched its first direct flight from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Seoul on June 12th, marking the first direct route to Asia. This route has been sold out every day, attracting a surge of Koreans to Utah, a hidden gem in the U.S.