Maybe when you think of Salt Lake City you think of skiing or hiking. Maybe you think of it as the home of the Mormon religion. SLC is both of those things and so much more. I had been to the state of Utah before to do some hiking however I never spent any time in the capital city. I went in with some preconceived notions of how it might be politically and how strict the drinking laws probably were (Mormons don’t drink) but was surprised by how much I ended up loving SLC and even the fascinating Mormon history it holds.
The city itself boasts so much to do that you could easily hang around for a long weekend and never run out of activities.
Here is an itinerary for non-hikers and non-skiers.
Walking tours
As usual I wanted to do a variety of walking tours. I started with a mural tour. The city has so much art every where you look. Jann Haworth is the creator of the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” cover. She recreated this cover but instead filled it with important women who helped shape Utah’s history. Lucky for me she lives in the area and met us at the mural to discuss the history behind it and what it meant to her.
Another stand out for me was the mural of books. I am a sucker for anything book or reading related.
My tour was put together by the program director of the collaborative art effort call The Blocks. “The blocks art district is a brand identity of Salt Lake’s Cultural Core, an initiative created by the City and County of Salt Lake to promote and develop arts and culture in the downtown area and to provide a reliable revenue source for 20 years.” The city boasts everything from live music venues, multiple sports arenas and a Broadway touring theater.
but here you can find a list of murals to do your own tour if you want to check out street art and get to know the downtown area a bit.
If art isn’t your thing and you prefer to get to know the town thru history, then you can use Southwest Adventure Tours. They hosted my 3-hour walking tour all across downtown SLC.
Food tour
I recommend heading out with Local Food Walking Tours. They run tours in both SLC and Park City. The tour also incorporates everything from history to insider info on how business operate in the city. Lucky for us Moe, the owner of the company, took us around. He was very passionate and informative about his city and willing to answer any question. Food tours are a unique way to learn about history while getting in your steps! So you can eat more of course.
Explore Mormon History
If you are like me, you might be curious about the Mormon history (and current happenings within the community) During my walking tour we covered Temple Square. Temple Square is a 10-acre complex, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the center of Salt Lake City, Utah. You aren’t allowed in the temple but every day there are free organ performances in the tabernacle. The organ is the oldest and largest in the US. Highly recommend checking it out.
While I was there, Temple Square was under construction, and I couldn’t go into the Brigham Young house but ordinarily you can check this out as well. Who is Brigham Young? He was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877. He also served as the first governor of the Utah Territory from 1851 until his resignation in 1858. The second most important Mormon next to Joseph Smith who was the creator of the religion. Don’t know a lot about Mormon history? I recommend checking out Last Pod Cast on the Left’s five-part Mormon series to get a better understanding of the religion (and a good laugh).
Museums and More
Natural History Museum was such a gem. I know we have one in New York but the Dinosaur exhibit at the one in SLC was really something else. The museum focus is on Utah and the Intermountain West making the exhibits unique to the area. It is housed in the Rio Tinto center and both the building itself and the views around it are worth the visit. Originally the museum opened in 1969 at the University of Utah but moved here in 2011.
There are twelve permanent exhibits and additional space for rotating ones so there is always something new going on. They also host the Utah Food Festival!
Capitol Building Tour
I had never signed up for a tour of any capitol building but I was told by many people to check out Utah’s. The tours are free every day and you can get a passport book for stamps. Then you can take it to every capitol building in the US and get a special stamp. A cool thing if you have kids.
Built in the early 1900’s and renovated in 2008 the white marble building is remarkable set against all the cherry blossom trees that cover the grounds. They also have rotating exhibits. When I was there it was Utah in Film. Showcasing all the movies and TV shows shot in the state throughout the years.
You could easily spend 2 hours or more there and the best part is, it’s free!
East High Experience
If you (or your children) are fans of High School Musical, then you can visit East High. Being a big Zac Efron fan I was happy to spend some time at the school.
It is an active school, so I took a local bus to the campus. You can only go in after classes so plan to arrive no earlier than 3pm. The administrative office has makes marked off with filming locations. Sharpay’s locker is still pink!
Were there students doing after school activities when I was there? Yes, there were
Was I a grown adult taking selfies in their cafeteria? Yes, I was.
But they didn’t really seem to care. Lots of people do it and they are quite used to it. When I was there a teacher told me I was lucky because no other tourists were there when I was walking around, and she said it can be a mad house sometimes. My advice would be to make sure you are being respectful.
Day (or Weekend Trips)
There are a lot of accessible trips from SLC if you want to branch out during your stay. Or if you are a local looking for something new to do. Either of these options can be done in a day or for a weekend depending on the time you have.
Park City
Maybe the most obvious day trip is to Park City but depending on why you are going you could easily spend a weekend or more. Park City is known for skiing and its Olympic Training grounds. If you want you can even get in a bobsled but that is not what I did while I was there. I have little to no interest in sports in general. Olympic history is interesting and if/when I go back I would spend the second time around learning more about that. However I spent time with history that is a bit older.
Mining museum
Long before people came to Park City for expensive ski resorts they came for the silver rush. By 1868 the transcontinental railroad reached Utah and this forever changed the state. Thousands of people flooded the area looking for work and searching for silver. The mines created a booming economy and the area flourished, even during the Great Depression.
But like all mining towns, eventually it started to wind down and by the time WWII was ending the city was at risk of becoming a ghost town. Slowly it started to turn over to skiing. The original mines are located underneath the ski slopes. A few mines remain open because they provide the drinking water for the area.
You can learn the details by visiting the Mining Museum which is housed in the original town hall and has the original jail in the basement. If you love history its worth checking out.
After the museum I recommend the Park City Ghost Tour. It’s a great way to explore the main street which still looks just like it did back in the old west. The only difference is now inside the buildings are high end, luxury stores not feed and grain. You will get colorful stories of local legends and fun history along with some Banksy originals! Personally, I loved being able to see some of his work in such a unique setting.
Spend some time exploring the shops and the perfect Old West background. Lots of restaurants to choose from but I went to The Eating Establishment which is owned by actor Ty Burrell of “Modern Family”. The food and drink were excellent. It is a bright, cozy restaurant and was really packed when I went. Lots of other celebrity own restaurants in the area including Robert Redford. The food is modern American, and they specialize in whiskey. Perfect for me because I have an obsession with Old Fashioned’s.
Its only an hour between Salt Lake City and Park City. If you are going for skiing it is still very easy to do a day trip and most resorts sell day tickets.
Heber Valley
Also about an hour from Salt Lake City making this area again perfect for a day trip or an overnight. If you choose the overnight option then you get to stay at Homestead Resort.
This resort is a perfect weekend getaway experience. There is so much to do on the property you wouldn’t need to leave but the closest town, Midway, boasts plenty of cute restaurants and shops to enjoy as well.
On the way in stop at Ritual Chocolate. A local chocolate company where you can sign up for your own tour and tasting. I learned all about the process of making chocolate and they do a tasting where you get to profile the chocolate. There is a café inside for you to order coffees and other goodies. Then you can pick out a bar to take home.
Homestead has its own crater on the property. The Crater is a geothermal spring, hidden within a 55-foot tall, beehive-shaped limestone rock. The hole at the top of the dome lets in sunlight and fresh air while the interior stays heated by the mineral water at a constant range of 90 – 96 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a really unique experience to have on property.
You can go swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling or enjoy a SUP Yoga class. I took the yoga class and it was tough but fun. I do yoga a lot but doing it on a paddle board is a different experience. I did not stay on the board the whole time but it didn’t matter.
If you are a golfer, the resort has its own course with PGA professionals you can take lessons with. They can tailor it to the experience you want.
You can dine at Homestead resort; they have two restaurants and a coffee shop on their own but I also recommend venturing out into Midway because great food awaits you.
I can’t say enough about Midway Mercantile. Housed in the old Mercantile building, the structure has been there since 1874. Chef John Platt takes his food seriously and you can tell. Every dish was better than the next and they have their own wood-fired oven for some of the best pizza you will ever eat and they cater to vegetarians with changing specialties. It is modern American at its best.
Café Galleria is a great breakfast spot as well. I hit it up on my way out of town and sat outside in their Alpen globes. The interior is mostly wood and looks like the inside of a Alpen Skii lodge no matter where you sit the views will be good. The breakfast portions were huge and varied.
For a fancy (or romantic) dinner head to The Lake House at Deer Creek. This waterfront dining experience has sweeping views of Deer Creek and Mount Timpanogos. The building has floor to ceiling windows to maximize the views and must be incredible in the warmer months. I was there during cuff season from winter into spring, so it was still a bit chilly. Great cocktails and any of the fish dishes are a must.
Have you been to SLC? Or the surrounding areas? Tell me what you did