Salt Lake City is a gem of a place, that many people don’t think to go to. There is so much to do in and around the city – here are a few of my recommendations after a few trips of my own.
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Places to Stay in Salt Lake City
Apartment
I stayed at this 1 bedroom apartment less than a mile from Temple Square, and I loved it. It has a cute balcony with great views, a spacious bathroom, a washer/drier, and full kitchen if you need that. Secured with lock code outside and on the apartment door, I felt very safe in this area. Parking here is $10 a day.
Hotel
There are tons of great hotels in downtown SLC, but the Radisson is a solid option! Great price, great location, and great amenities. They have a shuttle nearby that can take you to some of the nearby ski resorts! The bar is conveniently in the lobby level, and they have an indoor pool as well. Breakfast is available for $19 pp. Parking is $25 a day here.
1. Take a Walking Tour in Downtown
One of my favorite things to do in any new city is to take a walking tour to learn about the history! I got the chance to do just that while there with Isabelle from Utah Calling. It was a really great way to see parts of the city, while also learning about how Salt Lake City got its start in the United States.
Salt Lake City is also a great place to see some street art! We saw quite a few interesting pieces on this tour. If it is something you are super interested in, you can always look for a mural walking tour specifically. I know there are even a few original Banky’s around, although I didn’t get to see any myself.
2. Go on a Day Trip to Juab County
A day trip to Juab County is something I’ll recommend to anyone visiting the area! I had the most incredible time seeing some of the cute towns in the county, mining for topaz in the mountains, and having an outdoor feast in a gorgeous valley. An easy drive away, you can take a tour from SLC to Juab and all over. It gives a different perspective of Utah versus staying in the city or going to a ski resort. If you want to learn more about things to do in Juab and the day I spent exploring, you can read the post here!
3. Grab a Yummy Coffee
Not that surprisingly, Salt Lake City has a large coffee scene, and a lot of shops to choose from! Lucky for me, a friend of mine found a really good one, not far from where we were staying in downtown. The People’s Coffee is located on the corner of 200 S and S 200 E (a bit confusing, I know!) and is adorable! I ordered their chai latte and it was deliciously sweet. If you don’t like a sweet chai, maybe order something else. My friend, Betsey, loves their cortado! We also both got an overnight oats, which was a great starter for our busy day.
I also happened to grab a coffee in the airport at Beans and Brews, which is also local to SLC, but is a bit more of a chain in the city with multiple locations. The Mr. B’s was good (white mocha and Irish cream), but The People’s Coffee is better! If you aren’t into caffeine/coffee, Salt Lake City is also well-known for their soda shops! One’s like Sodalicious are drive through and you can even order cookies there.
4. Go for a Hike
Since Salt Lake City is positioned right at the bottom of the Wasatch Mountain range of the Rockies, it is a great place to go for a hike. Fair warning here though, the altitude got to me a bit when I first got to SLC, and was worse the higher up I went. Just be very careful, and be sure to stay hydrated, and of course, we aware of the weather during the time you are there. My favorite app for hiking is AllTrails. Here are a few hikes I think would be fun to explore!
5. Zip Line and Chocolate Tasting in Heber Valley (LINK INSTA)
Zipline Utah in Heber Valley is about a 45 minute drive from Salt Lake City. The drive is beaUTAHful (as the locals say) and the views don’t stop when you get to the valley. Deer Creek Reservoir and the Wasatch Mountain range are your backdrop while you zip through the air on their many different courses. I rode their longest line, the screaming falcon! It also holds the world record for the longest zip line across a body of water. People reach speeds up to 70 mph!
When you’re done zip-lining and have worked up an appetite, you can drive down the road a few miles to Ritual Chocolate. I highly recommend doing so, and taking a tour and tasting if it is available! This was such a unique experience and as a chocolate-lover, I absolutely loved it! They have sustainably sourced cacao brought from different areas of the world, and their chocolates are just that: organic cacao and cocoa butter, and organic cane sugar.
6. Check out The Natural History Museum of Utah
While I was in Salt Lake City, the group I was with had a hosted event at the Museum of Natural History. It is quite an incredible place! The main exhibits being dinosaurs bones and indigenous archaeology. The views from the balcony are also amazing, especially if you can be there around sunset. If you go on a Wednesday, they are open until 9 pm, so this is definitely possible any time of year! Tickets are $23 for adults. This would be a great way to spend a few hours on a cold, snowy day if you aren’t on the slopes.
7. Wander Around Park City
Park City is a well-known town due to the Winter Olympics having been there back in 2002. It’s less than an hour drive away from downtown Salt Lake City, and is a great option for a day trip. Of course, there are tons of slopes to conquer in this area. But if you happen to be there during the off-season, it is a great place to wander around and explore.
There are tons of cute shops if you want to do a bit of shopping, but there are also a lot of options for food and/or drinks. One place I stopped while there, No Name Saloon and Grill, was a cool place to stop for a beer. The rooftop balcony allowed us to get some sunny, fresh air, as well as a great view of the downtown Main Street of Park City.
