Historic Mill Turned Inn with Waterfall, Lake, and Nature Trails

Though Johnson Mill Bed & Breakfast is hundreds of miles from Hollywood, separated by long stretches of mountains and desert, its roots in the movie business run deep. The inn sits halfway between Sundance and Park City—the former home to an advanced ski resort owned by legendary actor Robert Redford and the latter the host city of the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. And the bed and breakfast itself has a more direct celebrity connection: its full-time innkeeper, Charlene, is the mother of Bart Johnson of High School Musical fame. Bart now owns the bed and breakfast along with his wife, Robyn Lively, star of the movie Teen Witch and older sister of Blake Lively.

The inn has been in the Johnson family for two generations now, but its history stretches all the way back to the 1800s, when it was the site of a water mill. A recent renovation has helped preserve some of the property’s historic features, such as the 35-foot waterfall that used to turn giant grinding stones. Accents found throughout the hotel include equipment once used at the mill, and there’s plenty of Old-World charm: visitors can stretch out between trees on a hammock or watch swans flock from the gazebo in the middle of the onsite lake.

All of the guest rooms come with fireplaces and antique touches such as barn-wood trimming. Some have private decks overlooking Johnson Mill’s 26 acres of wooded pathways, gardens, and ponds. The presidential suite has the most space, a full kitchen, and a dining room.

Sitting along the banks of the Provo River and in the shadow of the Wasatch Range, Johnson Mill Bed & Breakfast is a year-round destination for outdoor pursuits. Activities vary with the season and can include taking a complimentary canoe out on the lake, snowshoeing, and ice-skating in Midway’s outdoor rink. After a day out exploring the Utah backcountry, you can unwind at the inn’s onsite spa with views of the waterfall.

Utah’s Heber Valley: Lush Landscapes Close to World-Class Skiing

Because of the exposure Salt Lake City gained from hosting most of the 2002 Winter Olympics events, Heber Valley is occasionally overlooked. But this alpine hideaway, located across the Wasatch Range from Park City, is an outdoor haven in its own right—it has a wealth of hillside hiking trails, rolling golf courses, and streams teeming with rainbow trout. In the winter, the region’s uncrowded towns are noted for their laid-back atmosphere and easy access to four world-class ski resorts. Among them is Deer Valley Resort, recently named one of the Best Ski Resorts in North America by Outside magazine for its upscale services, including heated sidewalks. Most of the 100 runs here are wide and easier, but hardcore skiers will find plenty of steep trails near the peak.

The main towns of Heber Valley include Midway, site of the 2002 Winter Olympics cross-country events at Soldier Hollow. The city’s other claim to fame is the Homestead Caldera, a natural hot spring and one of the only spots for warm-weather scuba diving in the continental United States. Surrounded by a 10,000-year-old limestone dome, the swimming hole stays at a balmy 90–95 degrees year-round.

Heber City, the valley’s other major community, has been called the “Switzerland of America” due to its valley farms surrounded by towering mountains. Don’t miss the Heber Valley Railroad, which takes you on a historic three-hour route into alpine Provo Canyon via restored 1920s steam and diesel trains.

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