Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is the capital of, and largest city in, the U.S. state of Utah. It is a destination for outdoor recreation, with nearby mountains full of hiking trails and ski resorts made famous by the 2002 Winter Olympics. It is also well known as the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon church). The city is set to host the Winter Olympics again in 2034.

Salt Lake City has about 200,000 residents within city limits and is the downtown hub for a metro area of over a million people. It sits on the border between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin, lying in the Salt Lake Valley along the Wasatch Range urban corridor, sandwiched between the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains and the Great Salt Lake to the west.

The climate of Salt Lake City is extremely seasonal. Summers are long, hot, and dry; winters are cold and snowy; fall and spring are shorter and marked by inconsistent temperatures. Precipitation is low, averaging about 14-20 inches (350-500 mm) a year, though much of it falls as light, fluffy snow that can pile up several inches high. Total snowfall averages around 50-80 inches (125-200 cm) annually. Winter brings an inversion phenomenon where cold, heavy air gets trapped between the mountains, leading to some of the worst air quality conditions in the United States.

By Plane

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is the primary airport, located about 8 miles northwest of downtown. It serves as a major hub for Delta Air Lines and offers flights to destinations throughout the U.S. and internationally. The airport has a TRAX light rail station connecting to downtown.

By Train

Amtrak's California Zephyr serves Salt Lake City, running daily between Emeryville (San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago. The FrontRunner commuter rail connects Salt Lake City to Ogden, Provo, and other Wasatch Front cities. TRAX light rail provides local service throughout the Salt Lake Valley.

By Car / Road

Salt Lake City is located at the intersection of I-15 and I-80. I-15 runs north-south connecting Salt Lake City to Las Vegas (6 hours) and Calgary, Alberta. I-80 runs east-west connecting to San Francisco (12 hours) and Cheyenne (7 hours). The drive from Salt Lake City to the national parks in southern Utah is about 5 hours.

TRAX light rail serves downtown and surrounding areas. UTA bus system provides extensive coverage throughout the Salt Lake Valley. The city is car-friendly with good highway access. Downtown is walkable, particularly the Temple Square and Main Street areas.

• Temple Square — A two-block complex that includes the LDS church headquarters, the Salt Lake Temple, and various sites related to Mormon history and culture. Free tours available.

• Utah State Capitol — A magnificent building atop Capitol Hill with guided tours and beautiful grounds.

• Natural History Museum of Utah — 301 Wakara Way. Exhibits on Utah's natural history from ancient peoples to modern ecosystems.

• Tracy Aviary — 589 S 1300 E. Over 400 birds representing 135 species.

• Hogle Zoo — 2600 Sunnyside Ave. Utah's largest zoo with over 800 animals.

• Discovery Gateway Children's Museum — 444 W 100 S. Interactive exhibits for children.

• Hiking — Dozens of trails in the nearby Wasatch Mountains, including the famous Living Room Trail, Grandeur Peak, and Ensign Peak.

• Skiing — World-class ski resorts including Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, and Solitude in Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons, and Park City Mountain Resort.

• Temple Square — Free tours and beautiful grounds.

• Downtown nightlife — Bars, restaurants, and live music venues in the downtown and Sugar House areas.

• Farmers market — Saturday mornings at the Rio Grande Depot, May through October.

Salt Lake City has a diverse and growing food scene.

• Red Iguana — 736 W North Temple. Award-winning Mexican cuisine. Often has long waits.
• Finca — 136 S Rio Grande St. Spanish-inspired tapas and cocktails.
• Copper Onion — 155 S Main St. New American cuisine with locally sourced ingredients.
• Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade — 900 S Main St. Famous for biscuits and house-made limeade.
• Tacos El Gordo — 860 W North Temple. Authentic Mexican street tacos.

Salt Lake City has a growing craft beer and cocktail scene, despite Utah's unique alcohol laws.

• Eva — 317 S Main St. Craft cocktails in a stylish setting.
• Squatters Pub Brewery — 147 Broadway. Utah's largest craft brewery with a full food menu.
• Red Rock Brewing Company — 253 S 200 W. Popular brewpub with excellent beers.
• Publik Coffee Roasters — 975 S Main St. Quality coffee in a hip setting.

• Budget: Avenues Hostel, 225 C Street. Clean, affordable dorms and private rooms in a historic building.
• Mid-range: Hilton Salt Lake City Center, 255 S West Temple. Comfortable rooms in a central location.
• Upscale / heritage: The Grand America Hotel, 555 S Main Street. Salt Lake City's premier luxury hotel with elegant rooms and fine dining.

The Gateway Mall and City Creek Center offer major retail shopping. Sugar House has funky independent shops. The downtown area features galleries, boutiques, and specialty stores.

• Park City — 35 miles east. World-class skiing and the Sundance Film Festival.
• Great Salt Lake — 20 miles north. One of the largest saltwater lakes in the Western Hemisphere.
• Antelope Island State Park — In the Great Salt Lake. Bison herds, hiking, and stunning lake views.
• Bonneville Salt Flats — 120 miles west. Otherworldly landscape of white salt flats.
• Cottonwood Canyons — 20 miles southeast. World-class skiing and hiking.
• Ogden — 40 miles north. Historic railroad town with museums and outdoor recreation.