I’m going to a conference in Snowbird, Utah this summer. I thought I might turn my conference trip into a mini-vacation with a visit to at least one of the many wilderness areas and national parks in the area.
Should I also take some time to visit SLC itself? If so, what should I see and do there?
I’m an adult, traveling alone. I’m happy to stay in a hostel, but a little bit of luxury is nice from time to time, and I’m OK with shelling out for experiences that are really worth it.
Some great hikes to be done from the Snowbird and Alta ski resorts, check out the SLC Tribune hike of the week log http://www.sltrib.com/Blogs/hiking for some good routes.
There are some good brew pubs and food places n SLC, but not really a destination in themselves. Someone else maybe able to speak about visiting the Mormon stuff ( temple etc) downtown, but overall there isn’t really much to see or do in SLC itself other than shop and eat. There is a natural history museum, although nothing great and no art galleries of note.
You could stay at Sundance ski resort ( owned by robert redford) two great eating places and lots of pictures related to Sundance, I stayed there on a few conferences as well, ( although live just around the corner in Park City). Good base point to hike up Mt Timpanogas , which is the biggest peak in the area and a decent hike.
Head over to park city, rent a mountain bike from white pines and sample some of the huge mt bike trail network that has been put in.
Most things to do here are outside , although that is my preference, so I suppose I don’t look for many indoors things.
I have never been there - but was surprised to hear SLC has a huge smog problem and, at least in the winter, it makes LA look like a real breath of fresh air in comparison.
having lived in SLC in the past I can say… not much. If you are into outdoorsy stuff then there are lots of great opportunities but in the city proper you’re not going to find a lot of things that are unique or must sees. the food can be good but nothing to write home about (aside from some great Mexican food) no museums or anything that are particularily of note, it’s just a typical mid sized average city.
Eat at Red Iguana (subtitled Killer Mexican Food) on North Temple just a few blocks west of the freeway. Ask to sample the various mole sauces, and specifically request a sample of the almond mole.
Plan to spend some time hiking. One of my favorite hikes is Catherine Pass from Little Cottonwood Canyon to Big Cottonwood Canyon. It starts at Alta ski resort (up the hill from Snowbird) and ends at Brighton ski resort. From the top of the pass, it’s just a 10-minute scramble to a peak (I think it’s called Sunset Peak) with a beautiful panoramic view. After that it’s an easy hike past several small lakes.
A visit to Temple Square will be interesting. Just don’t fill out a comment card unless you really want missionaries to call you or knock on your door.
Extremely minor datum, but - we drove across country in the summer of 2011. Our stop in SLC consisted of three places - a gas station, a convenience store and a sandwich restaurant. To say that they were the three rudest, nastiest encounters of our entire 6-day trip is in no way an overstatement. We were deeply surprised as our experiences with Mormon communities and families is the diametric opposite. Maybe we hit them on a bad day, but SLC is currently listed just under Philthadelphia as cities I never care to set foot in again.
Second the mountainbiking if you’re into that sort of thing. There’s a nice trail that goes along the ridge above Park City (Wasatch Crest). Awesome views all around.
My wife and I drove around the Great Salt Lake and salt flats, which was interesting but more memorable for almost running out of gas. That’s seriously the middle of nowhere out there northwest of the great salt lake. The mountains along I-15 north of SLC were particularly spectacular, rising straight up from the valley.
I remember going on a hike in the Uintas. The trailhead was right off of 150 and went to the top of something and wasn’t too much of a ball-buster.
I lived in SLC for four years, but haven’t been back in a long time. Also, your sensibilities may differ from mine. Pepper Mill is weirded out by the concentrated Mormonism, but they fascinate me.Herewith, my thoughts:
1.) Things Mormon – Visit Temple Square and take the tour. There are TWO Visitor’s centers. Nearby are the museums of Church Art and History. There’s also the Geneology Library, where you can look up your own family history. Unless things have changed, that don’t cost nothin.
See gilgal. The sculpture garden is the creation of a former bishop, and usede to be in someone’s backyard. I had to go to a lot of trouble to see it, but now apparently it’s open to the public. Fascinating weirdness
Brigham Young thoughtfully left behind several of his houses that can be publicly viewed. There’s the Lion and Beehive House next to Temple Square. There’s another in Licoln park a couple of miles from downtown that, last I knew, was being used as an art gallery. There’s another at the This Is the Place Monument and Deseret Village in Enigration Canyon. The Village alone is worth a look (This Is the Place Heritage Park - Wikipedia ) There’s another down in St. George Utah, but that’s a several hor drive south.
If you happen to be i SLC during the Christmas season, or as late as March, go to Temple Square to see the lights. They are unlike anything I’ve seen elsewhere.
2. Natural History and Scenery. The Natural History Museum has been mentiioned. There;s a separate Planetarium that’s ne, replacimng the Hansen Planetarium I used to go to. There’s also Hogle Zoo up Emigration canyon.
There are oodles of hiking trails in the mountains nearby. You;'ll have to get books about those – there are just too many. There are also lots of caves for spelunkers. If you’re not heavily into that, you can still visit Timanogos Cave south of the city. A limestone cave with all the Stalagmites and Stalagtites, it;'s worth seeing. Fair warning – there is a mile-long UPHILL hike from where you park to the cave entrance. Unless they changed that since I left.
The Great Salt Lake itself uis worth seeing. And maybe swimming in. Reports of extreme buoyancy are, in my opinion, grossly overrated. This ain’t the Dead Sea, even though the salinity kills off anything but the brine shrimp. But I, at least, could easily sink. Warning: the salt will start to crystallize on your body hairs as soon as you get out, and there’s noplace nearby to shower.
If you go out into the desert, by the way, do not try to emulate those drivers on the salt flats. The salt desert is littered with the bodies of cars that tried to drive off on the flat plain, only to find that in many places there’s a thin salt skim atop a layer of very soft sand, into which your car will sink up to the axles.
I second the Timpanogos Cave idea. The hike is steep in places, but it’s paved and you can take it slow. I’m not in great shape, and I’ve had no problem carrying kids to the cave entrance. There are some sweet formations that you won’t see anywhere else.
In SLC there’s a pub called “Piper Down Pub”, where the waitpersons are attractive females in short tartan skirts, knee socks, and tops that seem to be a bit too small for them. Oh, and many co-ed in the SLC area are of the “Former - LDS” category and seem to want to make up for lost time.
Oh, and the Church there will NOT let you in to see their organ. Let alone play Louie-Louie on it. And if you want to camouflage yourself there, wear dress slacks, a short sleeved white dress shirt and a neck tie.
I assume you’re just beingsilly here. The Salt Lake Tabernacle will certainly show you the organ, which is pretty impressive. Probably no one has ever played Louie,Louie on it, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
By the way, LDS have temples, tabernacles, and chapels, but I don’t think they have churches.
And I’d only dress that way if I wanted people to think I was a missionary. Otherwise, LDS folk dress pretty much like anyone else. You should fake up a name plaque for your lapel, though, if you really want to look like a missionary. And carry your Triple Testament.
Another note about Timpanogos Cave: the tours sometimes sell out early in the day. You should definitely call ahead to get your tickets. The first time I went there I was too late and missed out on seeing the cave…quite a bummer since I only had the one day to visit.
They prefer to use “church” to refer to the organization, but colloquially they’ll often use that word for the building down the street. Officially those are called “meetinghouses” with Sunday services performed in the “chapel” room.
If you have ever read a thread here about the double-double burgers from In 'n Out and wanted to try one, you can get one at several locations in and around SLC. Make sure you try the milkshakes and remember to ask for your fries “well done”.
Speaking of food, try the Sconecutter – a Utah-grown chain that I’ve never seen elsewhere. Great cinnamon scones. You can even get a Sloppy Joe scone!
http://sconecutter.com/
Trolley Square is a mall built in what used to be the old trolley system. It’s changed enormously since I lived there, but it’s still going.
Another SLC institution that’s still going is Sam Weller’s Zion Books. Definitely worth a visit.
I had to spend a week there once a long time ago, and I’ll tell ya, SLC had the worst food I’ve ever eaten. I was being taken out to “the best places” and all of them were bland, boring and downright horrid. Hell, I don’t know how, but even the damn Denny’s screwed up bacon! :eek:
The last night I was there, I was on my own and rooted out a tiny little hole-in-the-wall Mexican place that was pretty good.
But overall, I grade SLC food establishments a solid D-.
I suspect you didn’t try enough places. SLC has (at least had, by my own experience) a lot of top eating places. And, being out west, their Maxican restaurants were generally a lot better than the ones we have back east.
