It was gorgeous, wasn’t it? We drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon to see the changing aspen leaves. We got out for a few short walks up near Brighton, but nothing you’d call a hike.
I’ve lived in SLC area since 2010. SLC itself is relatively as politically/culturally diverse as the rest of the country. It’s once you get farther out from SLC where you might find Mormon culture more dominating, IMO. For instance, the stores in the SLC metro area are still packed on Sundays (e.g. Costco), where as in Provo these stores will likely be dead.
I work in Research Park which is near the University and downtown. Several of my coworkers live in Park City and mange the ~30 minute commute, even in the winter. Park City is a rural tourist town, pretty diverse with a lot of the population from out of state. It is also pretty expensive. I would suggest looking along the East bench. Holladay and Cottonwood Heights are lovely and relatively short commute into SLC.
The inversion is pretty bad in the winter, but living along the East bench you can sort of sit above it. Living in Park City you can avoid it all together, outside of working in SLC.
I think there is some great food and restaurants here, but again these are going to be in the SLC metro areas. Also, yes it is very, very dry here. Particularly in the winter.
How is the move going?
I stayed overnight there a couple of times and was surprised to find a vibrant brew pub scene. Right before I left, I got an oil change. Across the street was a Korean deli (I’d just spent four years in Korea) and chatted up the owner. An unexpectedly fun time on the drive between Denver and Seattle.
Welcome, if you’ve made it yet! You have the distinct good fortune to have come here during what is easily the nicest Fall in the five years I’ve been back here. I think it’s been in the 70s for something like 28 of the last 30 days.
Don’t get used to it. 
We’re selling the house right now- and the house will be completely packed onto the truck on Saturday… so we’ll be hitting the road on Sunday. With any luck, we’ll get to SLC on Halloween day.
You will need this link
He is an amateur, but does a really good job of explaining the complexities of mountain snow forecasting ( wild arse guessing) and if you ski/board, can help plan days when powder flu may strike you down. He also does semi regular updates in summer and fall.
Winter starts Sunday
I went to Utah a few years ago for a work sponsored class to look at outcrops around Green River and parts south. One evening, we went to Moab for dinner and I had a couple of bottles of a local brew called Polygamy Ale. It was pretty tasty and I bought a t-shirt with the logo on the back and the words “Share some with your wives.” :eek:
That’s Wasatch Breweries Polygamy Porter, they also had the tag line “why have just one?”
The Wasatch brewery has a bit of a history of poking fun with their beer names and tag lines for the beer.
I think the tag line for the Provo Girl pilsner, “goes down easy” is a bit of a myth though.