Salt Lake City

Utah's capital and largest city is a testimony to the perseverance of early settlers, who also founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Although today, Mormons make up less than half of SLC's population, their contributions remain apparent in the city they greatly contributed to building. Visitors have plenty to appreciate in terms of religious and civic sites, but in this spacious, relaxed city nestled between an inland sea and the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains, they have equal opportunity to explore the area's natural wonders.

Transportation

Visitors to SLC have a variety of popular means of arrival. Besides landing at Salt Lake City International Airport, you might consider Greyhound or even Amtrak whose California Zephyr route provides a beautiful scenic route originating in the San Francisco Bay Area. However you get here, you'll soon discover a city whose street grid is refreshingly easy to navigate; most streets run either east-west or north-south. The lovely environment may inspire you to "think green" as you travel the city. Fares for the UTA bus service and an above ground light rail, UTA Trax will run you $2 or $5 for a day pass. And, if you really wish to watch your carbon footprint, you can rent a mountain bike downtown. SLC is just that kind of city!

Sightseeing

Back in 1847, Mormon Church president Brigham Young selected a patch of desert and declared, "Here we will build a temple to our God." Nowadays, Temple Square, as that patch came to be known, is a ten block complex situated smack dab in downtown Salt Lake. Housed there are the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake Assembly Hall, two visitors' centers and much more. You don't have to be Mormon or even religious to start your visit at Temple Square — it's a beautiful attraction which brings 4 million visitors a year. Other sites you'll want to check out are the Olympic Cauldron Park where opening and closing Olympic ceremonies took place in 2002 and The Pioneer Memorial Museum, run by Daughters of Utah Pioneers. If after the beautiful Utah Museum of Fine Arts, you want to explore something a bit "lighter", you could check out the popular Tracy Aviary, one of the country's oldest and biggest bird parks. If you'd like to visit the city's namesake body of water, we recommend Antelope State Park, which is 35 miles northwest of the city. Seen all the sites and just want to stroll? Excellent, get yourself some fries with the local "fry sauce" and just enjoy. Salt Lake is one of the most relaxing cities you'll ever visit!