Lo Bannerman Dennis stops to talk about the area’s history during one of her Wander tours facilitated by her company, Silver Skis. The tours, which start their new season this month, are family friendly walks that are appropriate for all ages. Credit: Photo courtesy of H. Dennis Silver Skis, a custom guide service, heats up its summer season of Old Town Wanders, said founder and tour guide Lo Bannerman Dennis. “Starting June 15, wanders are available at 9 a.m. on most weekdays throughout the summer with additional wanders at 10:45 a.m. on most Thursdays and Fridays,” she said. “Groups wander past murals and historic buildings with a local guide who is ready to share some of Park City’s history and lore.” Registration and schedule information is available by visiting silverskis.com/ot-wander, and direct tour booking is open at bookeo.com/silverskis, according to Bannerman Dennis. Discount codes are also available through The Park Record calendar listings and visitparkcity.org. “The walking tours, which are less than a mile and take between one to one-and-a-half hours, are family-friendly and meet upstairs inside Old Town Transit Center,” she said. “The route runs just under a mile, and the average tour takes one hour and 15 minutes. That depends on how fast the group walks, how big the group is and how many questions everyone has.” Bannerman Dennis facilitates groups of up to 20 people. “I have not had that many people in one group, yet,” she said. “My largest has been 10 or 12, and I like the small-group environment.” Bannerman Dennis feels if group numbers surpass 20 people, the tours get a little unmanageable. “People can’t hear me and I can’t hear them, so they may start their own conversations because they aren’t engaged,” she said. Tours are appropriate for all ages, according to Bannerman Dennis. “My average tour goer age is between 45 to 70, but families are welcome,” she said. “The feedback I get is people find me because they look for a less active thing to do in Park City that isn’t mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding.” If families want a more child-centric activity, she also offers Kidventures and Modern Mining Wanders on a by-request basis. “I am also happy to schedule tours outside of the scheduled times as well,” she said. “No group is too small.” To schedule a custom tour, call 435-800-5719. “All I ask is that people wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate layers and bring water bottles and their curiosity,” she said.  Bannerman Dennis started leading test Old Town Wanders tours with friends and family in December. “Then I started doing the tours for customers from the general public in January,” she said. “It has been amazing.” Almost all of Bannerman Dennis’ stories for the tours come from her own research. “I speak frequently with the Park City Museum, and I’ve checked out many books through our library systems,” she said. “I’ve also talked with people who have lived here longer than I’ve been alive.”  Bannerman Dennis shows up for each tour prepared to tell stories, and sometimes she learns new things from her groups. “One time someone who used to work in the mines took my tour, and he told me about how one of the mine tunnels is so straight that you can stand on one end and then see a pin point of light that is the Salt Lake Valley,” she said. “I’ve also had local residents take tours and share memories of Old Town or when they engaged with Olympians and other (renowned) athletes who live in Park City.” Bannerman Dennis also learns about other towns and cultures from her customers, and one in particular took place when she led a group through Shoe Tree Park, which features the Shoe Tree landmark adorned with shoes people have thrown into the willow for decades. “That is a novelty for most of my tour goers, but once in a while I’ll get someone who says it reminds them of another city that had something similar,” she said. “So, it’s been cool to show up and share Park City’s history and culture and hear tidbits about other cultures and cities from other people.” Bannerman Dennis knows she still has much more to learn. “I know I’ll never learn it all, so I’m just there to share Park City history that has been filtered through me,” she said. “These tours flow in whatever way makes sense. They are pretty chill and totally adaptable for each group.” For information about Silver Skis Old Town Wanders, call 435-800-5719 or visit silverskis.com/ot-wander. For information about Silver Skis, visit silverskis.com. The post Old Town Wanders start a new season of strolls appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less