Last Updated on April 4, 2024
By Jim Ferri
It’s always surprised me that Salt Lake City and Utah are considered part of the American southwest.
After all, any map shows you it’s more in the northern half of the USA than many other states. In fact, Salt Lake City’s latitude is almost the same as New York City’s. And it would be hundreds of miles north of San Francisco if it was in California.
During a recent visit to Salt Lake, I also discovered other surprising things about the city. Given its Mormon abstinence from alcohol, for example, I was surprised that Salt Lake City also has 30 breweries. That helps make Utah 27th in beer production in the USA.
Also unexpected was that despite Utah’s well-known social conservatism, Salt Lake City ranks in the top 10 of gay-friendly U.S. cities.
Along with these surprises, there was also one other: I found numerous interesting things to do in Salt Lake City. One of them was visiting the Mormon Temple Square, which attracts more people yearly than the Statue of Liberty.
But there are more, many more. Along with Temple Square, here are the ten best things for you to see on a visit to Salt Lake City.
One of the Top Things to Do in Salt Lake City: Visit Temple Square
Temple Square is a 35-acre Mormon enclave around which the city has been built. And you don’t have to be religious to find it of interest, so by all means visit it.
The most famous part is Salt Lake Temple, which most of us must admire from the outside since it is closed to non-Mormons. (At the present time Salt Lake Temple is undergoing extensive structural changes, which has resulted in much of the Temple being obstructed by construction barriers and scaffolding. The Temple is expected to reopen in 2024).
The first thing to do when you arrive in Temple Square is to visit the Conference Center, the main arrival center for guests. Directly north of the Temple, it was built to host the semiannual worldwide general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Despite the construction, tours of Temple Square are still available. They are unscheduled tours, which take place daily between 10am and 9pm. Free tours are given in more than 40 languages by native speakers and must be booked via phone or email. See the Temple Square website for time and contact information.
Visitors are also welcomed to many of the Square’s musical events, including some by the renowned Tabernacle Choir. If possible, try to attend a Tabernacle performance or rehearsal when the great, world-renown 11,623-pipe Tabernacle pipe organ is played.
On the State Street side of the Square, you’ll find the 1850 Beehive House. It’s a historical house, preserved as it was when Mormon leader Brigham Young lived there. Young founded Salt Lake City in 1847, bringing 148 people over a thousand miles in search of the “Promised Land.”
If You Go:
Temple Square
50 N Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/feature/templesquare
@ [email protected]
Open: Temple Square is open every day from 9am to 9pm.
Admission: free
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere and the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River. In fact, it’s one of the most notable geologic features in the USA.
It’s so well-known that Salt Lake City was originally named “Great Salt Lake City” before changing its name in 1868.
The lake has a rich history and interesting features and plays a vital role in the ecosystem. It also provides abundant recreational opportunities. Surprisingly, it’s a only remnant of Lake Bonneville, an enormous prehistoric lake covering a large portion of western Utah.
Although the lake was well known to Native Americans, it wasn’t until 1824 that it was first seen by Europeans. Two state parks, Great Salt Lake State Park and Antelope Island State Park, provide access to it.
If You Go:
Great Lake State Park
https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/great-salt-lake/
Tel: (801) 828-0787
Open: 9am – 5pm
Admission: $5 per car
Antelope Island State Park
https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island/
Tel: (801) 773-2941
Open: 6am – 10pm
Admission: $15 per vehicle / 65+ $10 per vehicle
Natural History Museum of Utah
The Natural History Museum of Utah focuses on the natural history of Utah and the Inter-mountain West. It isn’t, however, just another run-of-the-mill, boring natural history museum. Instead, this one has many fascinating exhibits, ranging from minerals to flora and fauna. It also educates visitors about the natural world and our place within it.
In addition, it has dinosaurs and plenty of them. Utah is undeniably one of the world’s richest areas for dinosaur fossils, and the museum has impressive skeletal exhibits of the giant reptiles.
If You Go:
Natural History Museum of Utah
301 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
https://nhmu.utah.edu/
@ [email protected]
Tel: (801) 581-6927
Open: daily 10am-5pm / Wednesday 10am – 9pm / Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Admission: Adult $19.95 / 65+ $17.95 / 13 – 24 years $17.95 / 3 – 12 years $14.95 / 2 years and younger free
Salt Lake City’s Red Butte Garden
Popular Red Butte Garden and Arboretum consists of a botanical garden, arboretum, and amphitheater. Operated by the University of Utah, it’s east of Salt Lake City in the foothills of the Wasatch Range. It is open year-round to the public.
The Garden is renowned for its plant collections, meticulously landscaped themed gardens, and also more than 500,000 blooming bulbs every spring. It also hosts a world-class outdoor concert series.
Each of the garden’s sections are devoted to a specific type of plant or ecosystem. You can enjoy the gardens on your own, or by on organized garden walking tours. The tours last one and a half hours, and there are also one-hour tram tours of the gardens.
If You Go:
Red Butte Garden
300 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
https://www.redbuttegarden.org/
@ [email protected]
Tel: (801) 585-0556
Open: 9am-5pm daily
Admission: Adults $14 / 65+ $12 / Military with ID $12 / 3-17 years $7 / 2 years and under Free / Note: half-price admission in December, January, and February
This Is the Place Heritage Park
I was pleasantly surprised by This Is the Place Heritage Park. In fact, I fell in love with the place. And it’s only 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains.
This Is the Place provides a fascinating overview of Utah’s early settlement stages. What’s more, it’s family-friendly, entertaining, educational, and non-denominational.
The park’s name refers to the “This is the place” declaration by Brigham Young when he led the original Mormon pioneers (143 men, three women, and two children) westward from Illinois. The Park’s “Heritage Village” represents their early settlements in the Utah territory.
The buildings of the Heritage Village are spread over a large area and include farmhouses, blacksmith shops, saddlers, etc. When walking about the park talk with the farmers, blacksmiths, and others to learn more about pioneer life.
The park also honors five native tribes that inhabited the area before the arrival of the pioneers: the Shoshone, Piute, Ute, Goshute, and Navajo tribes. The park also honors the contributions of these five tribes to its collective Utah history. By the way, the State of Utah was named after the Ute tribe.
It’s all especially fascinating. Put it on your must-see list.
If You Go:
This Is the Place Heritage Park
2601 Sunnyside Avenue S
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
https://www.thisistheplace.org/
@ [email protected]
Tel: (801) 582-1847
Admission: Summer Season: Adults $18.95 / 65+ $16.95 / Children (3-11) $14.95 / Children 2 and under free | Winter Season: Adults $8.95 / 65+ $7.95 / Children (3-11) $6.95 / Children 2 and under free
One of the Interesting Things To Do in Salt Lake City: See Downtown
Salt Lake City is relatively easy to get around, especially if you have a car. The main streets are wide, designed by Brigham Young so one could make a U-turn in a carriage with an entire team of horses. Light Rail now occupies some of that extra street space, added when the city hosted the 2002 winter Olympics.
As you might expect, you’ll also find plenty of shopping options in Salt Lake City. One of the most popular malls to wander about is City Creek Center. There you’ll find Apple, Anthropologie, Coach, Nordstrom, etc. With a retractable roof and a creek stocked with local brown trout running through it, it’s also a style of mall you’ve likely not seen elsewhere.
Also famous is Trolley Square (Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, etc.), which initially was the home of Salt Lake City’s trolley car barns.
For a delizioso Italian dinner, visit Valter’s Osteria (173 West Broadway). I love Italian food, and we accidentally discovered this locally famous Italian restaurant one evening. Reservations are required, but without one, we managed to get a table by going early. So give them a call and give your taste buds a treat.
If You Go:
City Creek Center
50 S Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
https://shopcitycreekcenter.com
@ [email protected]
Tel: (801) 238-5329
Open: varies by store
Admission: free
Trolley Square
602 E 500 Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
https://www.trolleysquare.com/
@ [email protected]
Tel: (801) 521-9878
Open: varies by store
Admission: free
Valter’s Osteria
173 West Broadway
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
https://valtersosteria.com/
@ [email protected]
Tel: (801) 521-4563
Open: daily 5:30pm – 10:00pm / closed Sunday and Monday
Visit Tracy Aviary, One of Salt Lake City’s Unique Things to Do
Tracy Aviary is the oldest in the USA and without doubt it is also one of the finest.
It is home to more than 400 birds representing about 150 different species, some from across the Western Hemisphere. You’ll find this family-friendly place in a tranquil wooded location just south of downtown Liberty Park.
Open 363 days a year (closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day), it also has free-flight bird shows. For an additional fee and on a first-come, first-served basis, you also feed birds and shadow zookeepers.
If You Go:
Tracy Aviary
589 East 1300 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
https://tracyaviary.org/
@ [email protected]/
Tel: (801) 596-8500
Open: daily 9am-5pm / June, July, and August: 7am – 8pm / closed Thanksgiving and Christmas days
Admission: Adult (age 13+) $12.95 / Child $8.95 / Student, Military, and Senior 65+ $10.95 / age 2 and under free
Utah State Capitol Building
Visible from many places in the city, the Utah State Capital was modeled after the US capital in Washington, DC. In it you’ll find several exhibits on Utah history. It’s especially interesting to anyone who has an interest in politics, architecture or history.
Although you can take a self-guided tour, it’s best seen – and understood – with the help of a docent or guide who can help make its history come alive. Entry is through the east doors of the building. See https://utahstatecapitol.utah.gov/visitors-tours/schedule-a-tour for information on docent- and self-guided tours.
If You Go:
Utah State Capitol Building
350 State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
https://utahstatecapitol.utah.gov/
@ [email protected]
Tel: (801) 538-1800
Open: Monday–Thursday: 7am – 8pm / Friday – Sunday and Holidays: 7am – 6pm
Admission: Free
Things to Do Beyond Salt Lake City: Great Day Trips
Undeniably, pleasant and friendly Salt Lake City is a great jumping-off point for travelers visiting one of Utah’s five National Parks (yes, five!) or going northward to Yellowstone and/or Grand Teton national parks.
But it’s also an excellent city for a day trip to places such as Park City, only a half-hour drive eastward. Picturesque Park City was built during a 19th-century silver mining boom, and its main street remains chockablock with buildings from the period.
Although it is renowned as a ski resort, Park City is also an excellent place to visit in the spring, summer, and fall. Then you’ll find golf, hiking, and other non-snow sports to keep you busy, along with numerous good hotels and restaurants.
If You Go:
Visit Park City
1850 Sidewinder Drive #320
Park City, UT 84060
https://www.visitparkcity.com/
Tel: (800) 453-1360
Visit Big Cottonwood Canyon
Many Utahns (yes, that’s what they’re called) love the outdoors. It’s one of the reasons sports such as skiing and hiking are so popular there. And near Salt Lake City, you’ll find some spectacular natural areas perfect for both.
As a matter of fact, only about 20 miles from Salt lake City is Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. It’s a beautiful area with two ski resorts and places for hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking.
It’s worth a half-day drive and, as a matter of fact, you don’t have to get out of your car. You’ll see some spectacular scenery on a scenic 15-mile drive leading through the canyon and some old gold and silver mines from the 1800s.
If, however, you’d like to stop for lunch or stretch your legs, make a stop at the Solitude and Brighton ski resorts which offer year-round services and facilities.
If You Go:
Solitude Mountain Resort
12000 S Big Cottonwood Canyon Road
Solitude, UT 84121
https://www.solitudemountain.com/
Tel: (800)748-4754
Brighton Resort
8302 S Brighton Loop Road
Brighton, UT 84121
https://brightonresort.com/
@ [email protected]
Valter’s Osteria rivals some of the best food I’ve eaten in Italy. Delicious!