Midway is our Little Switzerland, about 45 minutes from our home in Salt Lake City. We gave ourselves 36 hours in the middle of winter to eat our way through town and find out why Swiss settlers chose this valley. Here's how we'd spend a short getaway in Midway, plus what we'd add with another day or two.
Our Visits
Winter 2025: A 36-hour getaway, staying at the WorldMark Midway resort
At a Glance
Where: Heber Valley, about 45 minutes east of Salt Lake City and 25 minutes from Park City
How long: 36 hours covers the highlights. Add a day for the Homestead Crater or Soldier Hollow.
Where we stayed: WorldMark Midway, a two-bedroom unit we booked with timeshare points
Don't miss: Dinner at the Blue Boar Inn and breakfast at Café Galleria
Book ahead: Midway Mercantile, the Homestead Crater and anything during Swiss Days
Why They Call It Little Switzerland
Swiss immigrants started settling this valley in the 1850s. The green fields and the Wasatch peaks reminded them of home, and church leaders encouraged more Swiss families to move here. The town takes its name from Fort Midway, built in 1866 halfway between two older settlements.
You can still see the Swiss roots everywhere. Look for steep roofs, wide eaves and carved woodwork on the buildings along Main Street. The dairy tradition is still going too.
Dinner at the Blue Boar Inn
We started with dinner at the Blue Boar Inn, an alpine-style inn with a European menu. The dining room has wood beams and warm lighting, and it feels like a chalet.
We shared the porter and smoked gouda fondue. Rod's favorite dipper was the broccolini, and mine was the shishito pepper. For dinner Rod ordered parmesan-crusted halibut with wild mushroom risotto, and I had the sous vide balsamic chicken with parmesan mushroom risotto. Save room for the crème brûlée. It has a thick caramel top and it was one of the best bites of the trip.
After dinner the staff showed us two of the inn's themed rooms. Both have canopy beds, gas fireplaces and spa tubs, and one has a private balcony facing the mountains. Downstairs, the Truffle Hollow pub is lined in walnut paneling and looks out on Snake Creek Canyon.
Tip 1: Make the Blue Boar your special-occasion dinner. It's the nicest meal in town, so plan it for the night you want to celebrate.
Where We Stayed: WorldMark Midway
One way we save on travel is our WorldMark timeshare. This trip we stayed in a two-bedroom unit at the Midway resort.
We rate WorldMark resorts on how hard they are to book when you want to go. On our 1 to 5 scale, Midway gets a 5. It's easy to find openings. Compare that to WorldMark Kihei on Maui, which is a 1 because it's so hard to get.
Tip 2: If you own points, Midway is an easy last-minute booking. It's a good place to use points when a bigger trip falls through.
A Spa Morning in Heber City
We planned an early spa morning at Mountain Elite Massage in Heber City, about 10 minutes from Midway. It started with a foot soak in their meditation room, then a 90-minute massage, then time in the salt room. During the salt therapy session, a fine mist of salt fills the air while you sit and relax. Expect to cough a little at first.
Rod's massage was deep work on his sore shoulders. My therapist specializes in Russian sports massage, which I had never tried. She worked each muscle group several different ways, and it didn't hurt as much as a deep Swedish massage. I'd book it again.
Tip 3: Ask your therapist what they specialize in. That one question got me a massage style I never would have picked off the menu.
Lunch at the Back 40
The Back 40 Ranch House Grill is casual and filling. Rod ordered the Back 40 burger, made with grass-fed beef from the Circle Bar Ranch just down the road. It comes stacked with pastrami and smoked jalapeño bacon cheddar. I had the lasagna special, which wasn't on the regular menu and was very good. They serve fry sauce, so you know you're in Utah.
Tell us in the comments: Would you book the fancy dinner at the Blue Boar or the burger at the Back 40?
Cheese and Chocolate
Heber Valley Artisan Cheese is a family dairy that has been producing milk for nearly a hundred years. They make fresh cheese curds, queso fresco and our favorite, Snake Creek cheese. We bought three kinds of Snake Creek. Tours are available, and you can grab Aggie ice cream from Utah State University while you're there.
We skipped the ice cream so we could stop at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory café. The chocolates are hand dipped. We each picked three and paired them with an Americano.
Tip 4: Bring a cooler bag. You'll want to take cheese home, and it's a long drive in a warm car.
Dinner at the Midway Mercantile
The Midway Mercantile sits on Main Street in a building that dates to 1874, when the Bonner brothers opened it as a general store for pioneers and farmers. The original building was later moved back from the street and is still part of the restaurant. Today it serves locally sourced food from a wood-fired hearth.
Tip 5: Reserve the Mercantile ahead. It was busy even on a weeknight.
Breakfast at Café Galleria
We started our last morning at Café Galleria, a Swiss-themed café in a building from 1898. Get the wood-fired bagels. The oven gives them a light smoky flavor. I had the jalapeño bagel with jalapeño cream cheese, and we both ordered the two-egg breakfast with their locally roasted coffee.
From October to April, Café Galleria rents private igloo-style dining domes for 90-minute meals. There's a charge, so reserve ahead.
Tip 6: Book a dining dome for a winter birthday or anniversary. It's a fun way to eat outside when it's snowing.
With One or Two More Days
The Homestead Crater: A geothermal spring inside a 55-foot limestone dome. The water stays around 90 to 96 degrees all year, and you can soak, snorkel or even scuba dive. The Homestead resort has been renovating, so call ahead to confirm the Crater is open and make a reservation.
Zermatt Utah Resort: A Swiss-style resort with indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and restaurants. Good if you want to stay right in town without a timeshare.
Soldier Hollow: A venue from the 2002 Winter Olympics. Try cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or the longest snow tubing lanes in Utah. You can also try the biathlon range with a guide.
Memorial Hill: A spiral road leads to a veterans memorial at the top, with views of Heber Valley and Deer Creek Reservoir.
Swiss Days: The town's big festival, usually around Labor Day weekend, with Swiss food, music and local crafts. It's the busiest weekend of the year, so book everything early.
A note on the Ice Castles: We mention the Midway Ice Castles in our video, but they did not open for the 2025 to 2026 winter, and the company hasn't announced a return to Midway. Check before you plan a trip around them.
What We'd Skip, and Our Backup Plan
Skip: Visiting during Swiss Days unless the festival is the reason you're going. Prices go up and tables are hard to get.
Skip: Trying to fit in all of Park City on the same trip. Midway is better at a slower pace.
Backup plan: If the Homestead Crater is booked, spend the afternoon at Soldier Hollow in winter or drive the loop up Memorial Hill for the views.
Book This Trip
Hotels in Midway: Compare stays on Expedia
Things to do nearby: Search Park City and Heber Valley tours on GetYourGuide
Pack these: An insulated cooler bag for cheese and traction cleats for icy sidewalks
FAQ
Why is Midway, Utah called Little Switzerland?
Swiss immigrants settled the valley in the 1850s because it reminded them of home. Their architecture and dairy traditions are still part of the town.
How far is Midway from Salt Lake City?
About 45 minutes by car. It's about 25 minutes from Park City.
Is the Homestead Crater open?
The Homestead resort has been renovating. Call ahead to confirm the Crater is open and book a time slot.
Are the Midway Ice Castles open?
They did not open for the 2025 to 2026 season, and no return to Midway has been announced.
When is Swiss Days in Midway?
Usually the weekend around Labor Day. Book lodging and meals early.
Keep Planning
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More Utah: Our Utah Day Trips playlist
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