Travel Guide
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- Title
- Your Complete Guide to Salt Lake City
- Description
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A dynamic destination nestled between the stunning Wasatch and Oquirrh mountain ranges, Salt Lake City is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and thriving outdoor scene — a true paradise for adventure seekers. After hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics, SLC is again a candidate city for the Winter Olympics in 2030. Skiing is a major attraction in Salt Lake City, but beyond the slopes, the city's diverse landscape provides endless opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. From it's rich history to all the natural wonders Utah has to offer, SLC makes for an exciting visit.
Travel Tips
Salt Lake City experiences four distinct seasons. Winter can be snowy and cold, so be prepared for winter weather if visiting from November to March, a great time to visit world-class ski resorts like Snowbird and Alta. Summer is ideal for exploring hiking and biking trails.
IHG Hotels in Salt Lake City
The Kimpton Hotel Monaco in downtown Salt Lake City has a sophisticated, luxurious feel. Modern and stylish, the property is dog-friendly and has loaner bikes available for adults and custom-designed Kickboard scooters (plus Nutcase helmets!) for the kids, making it fun and easy to explore SLC on wheels. Book a city view room that boasts stunning scenery and grab a bite to eat at Bambara, a French and Italian bistro with a seasonal menu or head to the Vault, a cozy hotel bar, for classic cocktails like the Sazerac or Hemingway Daiquiri.
For a more budget friendly hotel option, stay in Park City instead (a 45-minute drive from SLC), Holiday Inn Express & Suites Park City is a charming, pet-friendly alternative. Clean and comfortable, the hotel offers complimentary parking and free breakfast to all guests. There is an indoor pool on property, in addition to a fitness center, hot tub, and sauna. The hotel is also walking distance to shopping centers, restaurants, and a movie theater.
Things to Do
Visit the Natural History Museum of Utah, which has been around for over 60 years. Located in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, the museum boasts beautiful panoramic views of the city and features exhibits showcasing Utah's natural history, including paleontology, geology, and anthropology. Find over 5,000 artifacts here and if traveling with kids, they’ll have the opportunity to dig for fossils. Grab a coffee to refuel and then head to the Leonardo, a science and technology museum with interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences great for families and anyone interested in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). Located at the University of Utah, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts features a diverse collection of artworks spanning centuries and cultures. Tour the majestic Utah State Capitol building, which offers beautiful architecture, historic murals, and stunning views of the city from its grounds.
If visiting in the winter, take a scenic winter tram ride on Snowbird's Aerial Tram, which has been open since the early 1970s. The 1.6-mile cable takes about 10 minutes to get to the top of Hidden Peak and The Summit, the highest restaurant in Utah.
Experience the best of Utah through the natural wonders of the great outdoors. Visit the Great Salt Lake, the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi and explore Antelope Island State Park for wildlife viewing, hiking, and breathtaking views of the lake. A beautiful botanical garden located on the University of Utah campus, Red Butte Garden highlights a variety of plants, walking trails, and seasonal events, and just a short drive from the city, Big Cottonwood Canyon is a scenic canyon that offers hiking, rock climbing, and picnic spots in the summer, as well as skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Head a little farther out to the Bonneville Salt Flats which offers a unique landscape for photography and sightseeing. An easy trail that’s both kid and dog-friendly, Rattlesnake Gulch at Millcreek Canyon is a 3.5-mile loop and the perfect way to see the sunset and get a workout in at the same time.
Shop and dine at City Creek Center, an upscale shopping center located downtown. It features an innovative design with a retractable roof, a creek running through it, and a diverse range of stores. Traveling with children? SLC is rife with family-friendly attractions, like the Hogle Zoo, Discovery Gateway Children's Museum, Tracy Aviary, the Living Planet Aquarium, and Liberty Park.
Be sure to explore Temple Square, the spiritual and cultural heart of the city. Here, you can visit the Salt Lake Temple (not open to the public, but visible from the outside), tour the Tabernacle, and learn about the history of religion in the area.
Trip Extras
Are you an IHG One Rewards member? Book tours, activities, and things to do in Salt Lake City and earn points toward future travels. Some fun ones include a private half-day tour to Bonneville Salt Flats, a haunted Old Town bus tour, and a 50-mile exploration of Great Salt Lake State Park, which some people call "America's Dead Sea."
Where to Eat and Drink
Known for its Nashville-style hot chicken, Pretty Bird offers a flavorful and spicy menu featuring various spice levels to suit all tastes. Chef Viet Pham has been named one of Food & Wine’s “America’s Best New Chefs” in the past and we can see why — his fried chicken sandwiches are crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. Pair with a side of crinkle cut fries and Mexican street corn salad or go all out and get the combo, which comes with a bottle of fancy champagne.
Chile Tepin serves authentic Mexican dishes in a laid-back space. The menu includes favorites such as tacos, nachos, fajita salads, and burritos made with fresh ingredients. Wash it all down with a margarita or a Mexican beer and finish the meal with a slice of churro cheesecake.
The Copper Onion is a trendy eatery known for its farm-to-table approach and locally-sourced ingredients. Since 2010, the restaurant has focused on modern American cuisine laced with global influences and is open nightly for dinner as well as for weekday lunch and weekend brunch.
A beloved local fast-food chain since the ‘70s, Crown Burgers offers a high-quality menu of classic burgers, fries, shakes, salads, plates, and other sandwiches. The Crown Burger — a quarter pound burger patty on a sesame seed bun with Thousand Island dressing, lettuce, tomato, onions, and cheese, topped with pastrami — is a must.
Dirty sodas (non-alcoholic fountain sodas spiked with flavored syrups, creams, and other additions) are a thing in Utah and luckily there are a few soda shops to choose from in SLC. A popular drive-through soda fountain that locals love is Swig.
Explore More
About 32 miles east of Salt Lake City, Park City is known for its ski resorts and the annual Sundance Film Festival. Then there’s Provo (45 miles south of SLC), which is home to Brigham Young University (BYU) and museums like the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, the BYU Museum of Paleontology, and the Crandall Historical Printing Museum. Provo offers a variety of outdoor activities in the nearby mountains and lakes. While Ogden has a vibrant downtown with restaurants, shops, and cultural events. It's also a gateway to outdoor adventures in the Wasatch Mountains and is just a little over half an hour from Salt Lake City.
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