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Things To Do in Salt Lake City, Utah

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Salt Lake City Places of Interest

Salt Lake City has many fun and interesting sights to explore. In the same day, visitors can take in some art and culture at one of the art galleries or museums, savor a good meal at a trendy local eatery or take a vigorous hike in the nearby mountains - and still have much more to look forward to the next day.

Antelope Island

Great Salt Lake
The body of water from which Salt Lake City gets its name, Great Salt Lake is one of the most popular Utah destinations. At over 20,000 square feet, it is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere, and the 37th largest on earth. Despite being second only to the Dead Sea in terms of salinity, Great Salt Lake and its islands are home to many species of wildlife, including the largest population of Wilson's Phalarope. No fish can survive in the lake, but brine shrimp live in the water. The lake has 10 major islands and two state parks, Antelope Island State Park and Great Salt Lake State Park. Antelope Island features wildlife such as bison, antelope, deer and bobcats, and the Great Salt Lake State Park is home to a marina and the famous one-time resort Saltair. Kayaking, sailing, hiking and camping are among the outdoor activities to be enjoyed at the lake, which is open year-round. For more information: 801-250-1898

Solitude Ski Resort

Salt Lake City Skiing
Salt Lake City is home to some of the best skiing in the world and "The Greatest Snow on Earth." Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude Mountain, four world-class ski resorts, are only minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. Most resorts feature luxurious lodging and dining options, as well as instruction classes. From beginners to experienced skiers, individuals to families, Salt Lake City has something for everyone. Season schedules vary based on location. Lift ticket rates begin around $50 for most locations. Group rates are available at most locations.

Temple Square

Temple Square
Temple Square is Utah's most visited tourist spot. Not just one attraction, Temple Square encompasses three city blocks downtown that contain almost 20 attractions, all related to Mormon history. Many popular landmarks can be found at the square, including the impressive Salt Lake Temple, the centerpiece of the square and largest temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other attractions include the Family History Library, a 142,00- square-foot, five-story building meant to assist in church members' genealogical research, and the Museum of Church History and Art, which features exhibits that focus on history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the Beehive House, visitors can see how Brigham Young, president of the Church for 30 years, lived in the 1800s.

Tours of the buildings and monuments of Temple Square are available year-round. Admission is free. Only members of the Church of Latter Day Saints may enter the actual temple, but all visitors are welcome to peruse the grounds. For more information: 801-240-2640

Utah Museum of Fine Arts
The Utah Museum of Fine Arts has an impressive standing collection of over 17,000 works of art from cultures spanning the last 5,000 years. Visitors can browse collections showcasing ancient Greek and Roman art, pre-Columbian art and Asian art, among others. The art of Utah and the American West features artists such as James T. Harwood and LeConte Stewart. The museum also hosts numerous lectures and concerts throughout the year, and hosts rotating exhibitions. The museum has several venues for groups of up to 300 people.

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Wednesday from 10 AM to 8 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $3 for children ages 6-18, $5 for adults and $3 for seniors. Admission for children under 6 is free. For more information: 801-581-7332

Salt Lake City Restaurants

Cucina Toscana
Cucina Toscana was voted as "Best Italian Restaurant" as well as "One of Utah's Top 25 Restaurants" by Salt Lake magazine. The ambience is contemporary and dramatic, with vaulted ceilings and a kitchen in view. The menu focuses on simple, classic items that are traditionally prepared, such as Penne Arabbiatta, Gnocchi Provinciale and Scallopine di Pollo. Cucina Toscana has four seating areas that are available for private events; the main dining room can seat up to 85 patrons, while three private rooms seat 15, 40 and 50 guests. Personal chefs, kitchens and bars may be hired for events. Cucina Toscana is open Monday through Saturday from 5 to 10 PM. Most of the menu is available in either half or full orders, with full orders ranging from $12 to $24. For more information: 801-328-3463

Log Haven
Located on 40 private acres of the Wasatch National Forest, Log Haven is a cozy, rustic retreat with warm fireplaces and beautiful hardwoods. Originally built as a hideaway for steel baron L.F. Rains and his wife, the site was bought and renovated in 1994 to become a restaurant often lauded as the most romantic in the state. Guests enjoy a seasonal menu featuring entrees such as South Dakota lamb fricassee, Kobe beef tenderloin and Heirloom tomato gazpacho. Log Haven offers several indoor, outdoor and private dining rooms that can accommodate 10 to 400 guests. Log Haven is open daily from 5:30 to 9 PM. Entrees range from $25 to $50. For more information: 801-272-8255

Martine
Located downtown, the European-style restaurant Martine is known around town as being one of Salt Lake's finest. The restaurant focuses on its creative tapas, which can be ordered alone or as part of the dinner selections. These small plates, enjoyed in a cozy, dimly lit interior, are ideal for a small bite before hitting the town. Tapas include calamari and roasted pepper cakes, roasted oyster mushrooms with prosciutto and salmon fritters, which complement dinner favorites such as pumpkin seed-crusted salmon and seared lamb tenderloin. Sandwiches and salads comprise the lunch menu. The restaurant offers group accommodations upstairs for 15 to 20 people and downstairs for over 30 people.

Martine is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 10 PM and Saturday from 5:30 to 10:30 PM. Lunch entrees range from $6 to $9 and dinner entrees range from $23 to $29. Tapas range from $8 to $10. For more information: 801-363-9328

Other Salt Lake City Attractions and Activities

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon
The Salt Lake City area is well-known for its beautiful scenery and great recreational activities, and 15-mile-long Big Cottonwood Canyon is no exception. Depending on the season, visitors can hike, bike, camp, fish, rock climb and ski at the canyon, which is a short 25-mile drive from Salt Lake City. Visitors can also enjoy a relaxing, scenic drive along the canyon's byway, a 15-mile stretch through the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Overlooking the canyon, scenic Silver Lake is a great spot to relax and enjoy the view. The canyon itself and byway are open year-round, weather permitting. Admission is free. For more information: 801-733-2660

Brigham Young Farm House

This is the Place Heritage Park
This is the Place Heritage Park is indeed the place for family fun. The Heritage Village, a recreation of the lives of early pioneers that inhabited the area between 1847 and 1869, includes demonstrations of how to churn butter, make a basket and print a newspaper. Guests can also wander through adobe houses, schools and churches, watch a real tinsmith and blacksmith at work, pet farm animals typical of the time period or take a train ride. Other This is the Place attractions include the This is the Place monument, marking the spot where Mormon pioneers first arrived at the Salt Lake Valley, and the Brigham Young Farm House, which was built on Young's 823-acre farm in 1863

Heritage Village is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission varies based on season. This is the Place Monument is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. For more information : 801-582-1847

Utah Governor's Mansion
This sprawling abode was constructed in 1898 by Thomas Kearns, who made his fortune in silver mining. Ornate oak carvings, gorgeous African and Italian imported marble and foreign woods embellish the Victorian-style home, which hosted many political and religious dignitaries including Theodore Roosevelt during the Kearns time in the home. A 1993 fire destroyed much of the mansion, but a $7.8 million restoration and upgrade project restored much of the mansion to its original state and style. Now visitors can see the opulent home, which is especially beautiful when decorated for Christmas.

The mansion is open for 30-minute tours Tuesday and Thursday, June, July, August and December, from 2 to 4 PM. Admission is free. Parking is available behind the Utah Arts Council Building. For more information : 801-538-1005