Salt Lake City: Beyond Brigham Young

by Lori Donnester · April 2019

Salt Lake City is known for its Mormon history. The pioneers, led by Brigham Young, came here so they could practice their religion freely. But there is so much more to Salt Lake than that.

As your jet descends on the tarmac of Salt Lake City International Airport, you will find yourself surrounded by the rugged Wasatch Mountains. There are ten world class ski resorts within an hour of the airport. And at each one of those resorts, the hiking is fabulous. My favorites are Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Solitude, and Park City. All of those are less than an hour drive from downtown. My husband and I hike in the summer and fall, and we ski in the winter and spring. I highly recommend making an effort to get to at least one resort. September is a beautiful time of year. Octoberfest will be going on at Snowbird, and you can take a tram ride to the top of the ridge for a gorgeous view. Be prepared for brews and browsing since artists sell wares in booths and breweries market their craft beers. Be aware that the temperature in the mountains could be ten to fifteen degrees cooler than it is in Salt Lake City.

There is good shopping downtown, led by City Creek Mall which opened in 2012. (Although be aware that it’s closed on Sunday). Trolley Square is another one near downtown, and it is open on Sunday.

There are a multitude of coffee shops, restaurants, and bars. Yes, you can get a drink in Salt Lake. There are art galleries and museums. There is a zoo and a terrific bird show in Tracy Aviary which is located at Liberty Park which is a park near downtown.

So, bring your walking shoes and a big smile. You’ll be glad you came!

For more information on Salt Lake City restaurants and what there is to do visit visitsaltlake.com

For more information on Octoberfest visit snowbird.com/oktoberfest