Day 1

Refreshed, we popped into Mountain Body, a skin-care spa and store, and my mom got a free hand-moisturizing treatment. I sampled lavender-tangerine lotion, vanilla body butter, and piña colada cream, and we both came out smelling like a tropical bouquet.

Shops are open late in town, and there was lots to look at, so we just kept browsing. As the sun faded and the sky warmed to a deep blue, the balcony of second-story Wahso restaurant drew us in. Once inside, I glanced at the menu and told my mom to turn around. "It looks great, but it's too pricey," I said.

The restaurant's manager heard me and leaned over. "Do you know about the 'locals' special?' " he asked. "Two entrées for the price of one." The coupon was in the local paper, The Park Record, which we'd picked up. We were sold and sat down to one of the best meals of my life, with a grilled pork chop for Mom and scallops and a sake cocktail for me. It was a splurge, but even after a tip based on the pre-discount tab, Mom agreed it was worth it.

 

THE TAB

$400 BUDGET

Day 1

The Lodge at the Mountain Village
2 nights
$194.22

Grocery store
Breakfast fixings and Tab for Mom
$10.46

Downtown Park City
Art gallery browsing
Free

Le Bar Bohême
Wine and soda plus temporary club membership
$16.72

Wahso
Splurge dinner, with locals' discount coupon plus tip
$51.91