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Salt Lake City is the capital and largest city of Utah, set in a broad valley at about 4,300 feet between the towering Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Great Salt Lake to the northwest. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led by Brigham Young, arrived here in July 1847 after a long trek west in search of religious freedom, and laid out the city on a grid of famously wide streets measured from Temple Square. The arrival of the transcontinental railroad, completed at nearby Promontory Summit in 1869, and the mining boom that followed brought new residents and a more diverse city.
Today Salt Lake City has about 215,000 residents and is the heart of a fast-growing metro area of more than a million people. It remains the world headquarters of the Latter-day Saints, and Temple Square, with its granite temple, the Tabernacle and the Conference Center, is the state's most visited attraction. The city hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and will host the Winter Games again in 2034, and its modern downtown, light rail system and growing food and arts scene make it a lively base for exploring the region.
Outdoor adventure is the city's biggest draw. Seven world-class ski resorts, including Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude in the Cottonwood Canyons, lie within about 45 minutes, and in summer the same mountains offer hiking, mountain biking and wildflowers. Closer in, visitors can explore the Utah State Capitol, Red Butte Garden, the Natural History Museum of Utah, Liberty Park and This Is The Place Heritage Park, or float in the extraordinarily salty water of the Great Salt Lake at nearby Antelope Island State Park.
The 10-acre headquarters complex of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints downtown, with the granite Salt Lake Temple, the domed Tabernacle with its famous organ, the Conference Center and gardens. The temple has been under a long renovation. Hear a free organ recital or a Tabernacle Choir rehearsal if one is scheduled.
A neoclassical capitol completed in 1916 on Capitol Hill above downtown, with a copper-clad dome, a marble rotunda, murals of Utah history and wide views over the Salt Lake Valley. Free guided tours run on weekdays and the building is open to visitors daily. Come in spring when the cherry trees on the grounds bloom.
A Catholic cathedral completed in 1909 on South Temple Street, with a Romanesque exterior and a richly painted Gothic interior of murals, stained glass windows and carved woodwork. It hosts a well-known choir and concert series. Visitors are welcome outside of services; check the schedule for free concerts.
A museum in the Rio Tinto Center in the foothills above the University of Utah, with one of the world's largest displays of horned dinosaurs, exhibits on Native cultures, gems and the Great Salt Lake, and terraces with valley views. Allow two to three hours and pair it with Red Butte Garden next door.
A heritage park at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, where Brigham Young is said to have first seen the valley in 1847, with a monument and a recreated pioneer village of historic homes, shops and costumed interpreters, plus train and pony rides. It suits families. Visit in summer, when most village activities run.
A botanical garden and arboretum on the University of Utah campus foothills, with themed gardens, ponds, wildflower and rose displays and hiking trails into the natural area above, plus a summer outdoor concert series. Spring tulips are a highlight. Visit in the morning and check whether concerts close the garden early.
An 80-acre park in the city's center, one of its oldest and largest, with a pond with paddle boats, mature shade trees, playgrounds, tennis courts, a seasonal splash area and the Tracy Aviary inside. It is popular for jogging on the outer loop. Come on a summer evening and visit the farmers market held here on some days.
One of the oldest public aviaries in the country, inside Liberty Park, with hundreds of birds from around the world, including condors, owls, flamingos and parrots, in walk-through and outdoor exhibits, plus a daily free-flight bird show in season. Check show times and allow about two hours.
Utah's Hogle Zoo, at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, with elephants, giraffes, big cats and a Rocky Shores area with polar bears, seals and sea lions, plus a small train and carousel. It is compact and easy to see in a few hours. Arrive at opening in summer, when it is cooler and the animals are more active.
A city planetarium at The Gateway with free science exhibits on space, the solar system and the Earth, including a large rotating globe, plus a dome theater and an IMAX screen with paid shows. It is a good indoor stop in bad weather. Exhibits are free, so drop in and buy a show ticket if one interests you.
The Delta Center arena, home of the Utah Jazz and the Utah Mammoth NHL team, next to The Gateway, an outdoor mall with restaurants, a cinema, Clark Planetarium and the Olympic Legacy Plaza with its fountain. TRAX trains stop nearby. Ride TRAX to games and grab dinner at The Gateway beforehand.
An open-air shopping center in the heart of downtown, across from Temple Square, with a retractable glass roof, a creek with fish running through it, fountain shows, a skybridge, restaurants and many stores. It is closed on Sundays. Watch the fountain shows and combine shopping with a walk to Temple Square.
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