Ski the slopes, watch a game, take in a flick, or tap into your spiritual side – whatever you choose to do in Salt Lake City, your vacation will be jam-packed with activities. Most people recognize Salt Lake City as the world headquarters to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the largest Mormon population in the U.S., but outside of Temple Square is a vast amount of activity waiting to be explored. Hop a flight to Salt Lake City for a run on some of the best snow-capped mountains in the West, tour over 20 art galleries in the downtown district, and dine in five-star flavor in one of the city’s many restaurants. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy watching major league basketball, hockey or baseball and star-gazers will delight during the Sundance Film Festival. Keep your autograph book at close range – it’s likely you’ll see a celeb or two on your flight to Salt Lake City during Robert Redford’s famed annual film extravaganza, which takes place in Park City.
If snow, ski and Hollywood stars aren’t your scene, grab a cheap flight to Salt Lake City during the off-season and take in some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. No matter where you stay in Salt Lake City, there’s a hiking trail or nature walk nearby.
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Peak Seasons:
Summer brings the hikers, climbers, and golfers, and the hotels book up early from June through Labor Day. Salt Lake City is also big for skiers. Book flights to Salt Lake City early if you're visiting during ski season, which runs from December to early April.
Off Seasons:
If you don’t mind fluctuating weather conditions, spring and fall are great times to visit the area. The rates for hotels and flights to Salt Lake City are cheaper, and crowds are rare.
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Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Distance: 5 miles northwest
Drive time: 10 mins
Many hotels offer complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. The Utah Transit Authority runs buses regularly between the airport and downtown as well as throughout the Salt Lake area, including the mountain resorts. Taxis are also available for transport to town, and major car-rental agencies have desks at the airport.
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Downtown can be easily explored on foot or using the public transportation system, which includes buses, TRAX light-rail, and paratransit services. The bus system also has a Free Fare Zone that covers downtown and Capitol Hill. Getting around the city is straightforward as the streets are laid out on a grid. If you’re renting a car, make sure to check out the Downtown Token for parking discounts.
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- This Is the Place Heritage Park includes the museum town Old Deseret Village, a re-creation of a typical Utah community from the Mormons’ arrival in 1847 to the coming of the railroad in 1869. In summer, volunteers dress in period clothing and demonstrate what pioneer life was like. Brigham Young’s farm is also in the park. (The word “deseret” is from the Book of Mormon, and means “honeybee,” a symbol of the industrious Mormon pioneer.)
- Bird-watching is popular around the Great Salt Lake. Migratory shore birds stop here to dine on brine shrimp and brine flies. There are more than 250 species that you can spot at natural saltwater marshes, man-made freshwater marshes, and wetland refuges around the lake.
- The Family History Library is one of the world’s largest genealogical libraries that is open to both Mormons and non-Mormons. You might learn something new about your ancestry.
- Antelope Island, the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, is home to antelope, deer, bobcats, coyotes, many varieties of birds and waterfowl, and a small herd of elk. The most famous residents of the island are the herd of 600 American Bison. There are 25 miles of back-country trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The visitor center is open year-round.
- Park City, home of the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival, is less than an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City.
- Utah is no longer dry. Salt Lake City has one of the most comprehensive wine stores in the U.S., its own microbreweries, and “private clubs” (a two-week membership is about $4) instead of bars.
- For up-to-the-minute information on what’s going on, check the Friday editions of the Salt Lake Tribune or Deseret News. For additional entertainment news and listings, pick up one of the city's free papers, including The Event and Salt Lake City Weekly.
- If you’re wondering why there’s so much Jell-O—the people of Salt Lake City consume more Jell-O than any other city in the United States. They lost the title for a short time to Des Moines, Iowa, but with help from the legislature and Bill Cosby, Jell-O is now Utah’s official state snack.
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