Salt Lake City sits in a valley beneath the Wasatch Mountains and serves as the cultural and political center of Utah. With a metro area of 1 million residents, Salt Lake is Utah's most populous city, offering plenty of cultural opportunities, numerous parks and some impressive architecture, including the structures of the Mormon Temple Square. The mountains provide a wonderful backdrop and a variety of great recreational activities including skiing at 7 large resorts all within 45 minutes of downtown. In summer, there is good hiking and mountain biking. Best Western Salt Lake City Utah.
Things to do in Salt Lake City
Antelope Island State Park
It is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake consisting of 28,022 acres of what appears to be barren and deserted land. However it is home to the pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, upland game birds, waterfowl, bison and some of the most beautiful sunsets in the area. It features a visitor center that is open year-round with 18 miles of trails open to hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Facilities include a beach picnic area and marina.Located between Salt Lake City and Ogden. Call 801-773-2941 for more information.
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Enjoy the 15 mile byway as it winds through the alpine scenery of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Great skiing in the winter and marvelous fishing, climbing, picnicking and hiking in the summer. The canyon was formed by movement of an ancient glacier in its upper region.
Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Art
Exhibits feature contemporary Utah folk art such as textiles, ranch-craft, Indian and ethnic crafts. A free concert series is held annually on Monday evenings during August.Located in Liberty Park. Call 801-533-5760 for more information.
City Creek Canyon
Located just east of Salt Lake City's Capitol Hill, this area is open for hikers and joggers every day of the week. Vehicle use is regulated in summer.
Classic Cars International Auto Museum
View a collection of a hundred antique, classic and special interest autos, on display, to include Pierce-Arrows, a Stutz Bearcat, and a 1906 Cadillac "Tullip" roadster. Vehicles from 1903 - 1970 are represented. Call 801-322-5186 for more information.
355 W. 700 South., Salt Lake City, UT
Fort Douglas Military Museum
The museum is housed in the 1875 Quartermaster Victorian Infantry Barracks Building located at Fort Douglas. The fort was founded in 1862 by California Volunteers to protect the Overland Mail & Telegraph lines. You will find a 1,500 volume library of military history, a reading room, two cemeteries, guided tours and both permanent and temporary displays. Call 801-588-5188 for more information.
32 Potter Street, Salt Lake City, UT
Hansen Planetarium
Offers star show, exhibits and laser/music shows. Call 801-538-2098 for more information.
15 S. State Street, Salt Lake City, UT
Hellenic Cultural Museum
This museum reflects the life of the early Greek immigrants, their struggles, achievements, social life, and tragedies. Displays include a mining exhibit, photographs, costumes, dolls, old letters, manuscripts, early mining tools, as well as artifacts from Greece. Call 801-328-9681 for more information.
Historic Temple Square
Salt Lake City was laid out with Temple Square as its heart. The 10-acre area contains the famed Mormon temple built between 1853 and 1893 and the Salt Lake Tabernacle housing the huge pipe organ, which accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The public is invited to the Choir's free weekly Sunday television and radio broadcast in the Tabernacle at 9:30am. Call 801-240-2534 for more information.
Hogle Zoo
Located on the eastern edge of Salt Lake City, the Zoo has over 1,200 exotic animals, a petting Zoo, miniature railroad and hands-on exhibits. Call 801-582-1631 for more information.
Kennecott Copper Mine
Kennecott is one of the world's largest open-pit copper mines. More than five billion tons of rock and ore have been excavated. An open deck is open April to October.
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Little Cottonwood was formed by the longest and largest ancient glacier in the Wasatch Range. Near the mouth of the canyon is where granite for the Salt Lake a Temple was quarried. This canyon is a favorite among local rock climbers for its ruggedness. Alta and Snowbird ski resorts are in this canyon.
Museum of Church History and Art
Exhibits of art and relics related to the Mormon Church from the mid 1800s to the present. Immediately south is the Family History Library housing one of the largest collections of genealogical records in the world. Call 801-240-3310 for more information.
Museum of Church History and Art
This museum is full of history of the Mormon Church and the works of Mormon artists both past and present. Enjoy the reference library, museum store, films, puppet shows and costume interpreters. Call 801-240-2299 for more information.
45 N. Temple St., Salt Lake City, UT
Olympic Ice Hockey Arena
The men's and women's Olympic Ice Hockey tournaments will be held at this arena, less than 10 miles west of Salt Lake City.
Olympic Skating Arena
Figure skating events will be held at the Olympic Skating Arena in downtown Salt Lake City (Delta Center).
Olympic Speed Skate Oval
The speed skating races will be held at the Oval in Kearns, 14 miles southwest of downtown Salt Lake City.
Pioneer Memorial Museum
View thousands of artifacts from the late 1800's from carriages, tools and clothing to dolls and toys. The stairwells between floors are filled with hundreds of paintings and photographs. Call 801-538-1050 for more information.
300 N. Main, Salt Lake City, UT
Red Butte Gardens and Arboretum
Located south and east of the University of Utah at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon, is a series of botanical gardens with miles of developed and primitive mountain trails.
Salt Lake Art Center
Changing exhibits of contemporary visual arts, art workshops, performing arts, films, educational programs and art classes for children and adults. Call 801-328-4201 for more information.
20 S. West Temple Street., Salt Lake City, UT
The Beehive House
The Lion House and the Beehive House are the homes of Mormon Church president Brigham Young and his large family. Tours are offered of the antique filled buildings. Call 801-240-2672 for more information.
The Children's Museum of Utah
This museum has imaginative, interactive exhibits, a puppet theater, and daily arts and crafts activities housed in a historic building. Call 801-322-5268 for more information.
840 N. 300 West., Salt Lake City, UT
The Joseph Smith Memorial Building
This community center is operated by the LDS church. Tours are offered daily as well as an hour-long film called "Legacy," which highlights the emigration of the Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley. The Joseph Smith Memorial Building was formerly the Hotel Utah and its lobby has been elegantly restored with a stained glass ceiling and intricate moldings. Call 801-240-4383 for more information.
This is the Place Monument
This was erected in 1947 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers. It includes Old Desert village, a living history museum that recreates a typical Mormon community between 1847 and 1869. An audio presentation and three wall mural portrays the 2,000 mile migration of the LDS settlers. Call 801-584-8392 for more information.
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Permanent collection can be found here of 15,000 art objects representing world cultures for the past 5,000 years. Musical concerts, lectures, films and gallery talks are all available.Located on the University of Utah campus. Call 801-581-7049 for more information.
Utah Museum of Natural History
Paleontology exhibits can be found here to include mounted skeletons of Allosaurus, Stegosaurus and Camptosaurus from the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry and a fossil mammal exhibit. Call 801-581-4303 for more information.
Utah State Historical Society Museum
View the permanent exhibit "Utah at the Crossroads" located here along with special exhibits, lectures, and book and gift shop. Call 801-533-3500 for more information.
300 Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Winter Sports Park
Located just 24 miles east of Salt Lake City. Opened in 1992 this world-class training facility received an environmental award from the International Olympic Committee for excellence in planning and design. The park accommodates at least 20,000 spectators for jumping competitions and 14,000 for Bobsled and Luge.
Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Scenic highways provide easy access to most of the forests' attractions. Picnic areas provide a scenic stop for lunch breaks. Clear, blue mountain lakes and rivers are accessible from the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway and promise excellent fishing. The ski and summer resorts located in this forest along the Wasatch Front near Salt Lake City and Ogden provide world-renowned downhill skiing. Call 801-524-3900 for more information.