Salt Lake City Area?

[SweetErika]

We're going to SLC for a wedding in a couple of weeks. We'll be there for about 5 days I think, with maybe a few days free.

Any suggestions on things we should definitely see, do, places to eat, etc., on a budget with limited transportation would be welcomed. I know there's a lot of religious stuff, but that's not our thing.

 

[cum2ut]

There is a lot of religious stuff, but don't be afraid to check some of it out. It can be interesting, & I promise, no one will force you to join! SLC is actually pretty good for transportation. You can get just about anywhere on TRAX or the buses. If you go to UTA's website, you can see what you can take to get where you want to go. If you can make it to any of the canyons, whether you ski or not, its worth your while. Park City is fun to go to as well. As for places to eat, there are plenty. Most of them are fairly inexpensive. If you drink, there are several bars & pubs you can go to, including some breweries. When you get to SLC, see if you can get your hands on a copy of "City Weekly". Shouldn't be hard, they're in a lot of stores & gas stations. Its a free paper, but is a wealth of info about things to do in SLC.

Hope that helps. If not, pm me & I'll see what else I can do for you! Have fun while you're here!!

 

[rosco rathbone]

I loved Salt Lake City. It's an incredibly clean, beautiful spot. You can see why the Mormons stopped there.

When I was there, I took the bus every day to the trailhead of various hikes in the Wasatch Range. In how many cities can you hop on a city bus and 20 minutes later be on your way up an 8000 foot peak?

 

[cum2ut]

Oh & if you have kids, there's so much stuff to do with them as well...zoo, planetarium, museum,parks...all not too expensive. After all, when you have six kids or more kids, like most of the state, you don't patronize expensive places & they don't stay in business very long.

 

[coastal-boy]

There is nothing like the powder in the Mtns at that time. Deep and steep as I say. Best skiing in the WORLD starting in March through April. There is nothing quite like pumping up a truck tire intertube and heading down a hill for laughs.

Just overlook the religion...seriously, the organ where the Morman Choir does its thing really is amazing. Nothing compares to it. It was well worth the $$ for the tour. I still have pics from when I was there over 20 yrs ago. The power is breathtaking. The architechture is stunning. Sure their religion is fucked up...but their organ is stunning. Pipes so big and you can't hear the low notes...but you feel them.

 

[ManSweat]

If you are adventurous, head south about 2 hours to Moab. If you saw the movie "127 Hours" that's where it all happened in real life. The area is stunning too.

 

[cum2ut]

If you are adventurous, head south about 2 hours to Moab. If you saw the movie "127 Hours" that's where it all happened in real life. The area is stunning too.

Its gorgeous country, but they have some of the parks down there closed right now. So if you do want to go, make sure you check & see what is open. Its actually more of a 5 hr drive than 2 though, because its almost 3 from where I am, which is kind of in the middle of the state.

 

[SweetErika]

There is a lot of religious stuff, but don't be afraid to check some of it out. It can be interesting, & I promise, no one will force you to join! SLC is actually pretty good for transportation. You can get just about anywhere on TRAX or the buses. If you go to UTA's website, you can see what you can take to get where you want to go. If you can make it to any of the canyons, whether you ski or not, its worth your while. Park City is fun to go to as well. As for places to eat, there are plenty. Most of them are fairly inexpensive. If you drink, there are several bars & pubs you can go to, including some breweries. When you get to SLC, see if you can get your hands on a copy of "City Weekly". Shouldn't be hard, they're in a lot of stores & gas stations. Its a free paper, but is a wealth of info about things to do in SLC.

Hope that helps. If not, pm me & I'll see what else I can do for you! Have fun while you're here!!

Good info, thanks!

Do you know the brewpub that has the Polygamy Ale? If so, do they have good food?

I loved Salt Lake City. It's an incredibly clean, beautiful spot. You can see why the Mormons stopped there.

When I was there, I took the bus every day to the trailhead of various hikes in the Wasatch Range. In how many cities can you hop on a city bus and 20 minutes later be on your way up an 8000 foot peak?

Yeah, it'd be fun to do a shorter hike or two. We'll have to stick to quick and easy since we won't have any gear and I have a bum knee.

Oh & if you have kids, there's so much stuff to do with them as well...zoo, planetarium, museum,parks...all not too expensive. After all, when you have six kids or more kids, like most of the state, you don't patronize expensive places & they don't stay in business very long.

We have a 1yo, but he likely won't be coming with us. Still, that's good to know in case he does come with us or we visit in the future.

There is nothing like the powder in the Mtns at that time. Deep and steep as I say. Best skiing in the WORLD starting in March through April. There is nothing quite like pumping up a truck tire intertube and heading down a hill for laughs.

Just overlook the religion...seriously, the organ where the Morman Choir does its thing really is amazing. Nothing compares to it. It was well worth the $$ for the tour. I still have pics from when I was there over 20 yrs ago. The power is breathtaking. The architechture is stunning. Sure their religion is fucked up...but their organ is stunning. Pipes so big and you can't hear the low notes...but you feel them.

Tubing would be fun, but I don't think we'll have the time or gear for that. Plus, we can do that here; we're a pretty short drive from several ski areas. Sadly, I can't trust my knee to ski anymore.

We'll think about the Choir, though the whole Mormon thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth for a variety of reasons.

 

[SweetErika]

Its gorgeous country, but they have some of the parks down there closed right now. So if you do want to go, make sure you check & see what is open. Its actually more of a 5 hr drive than 2 though, because its almost 3 from where I am, which is kind of in the middle of the state.

Are there any really scenic parks you'd recommend in the general SLC area, or a short drive from it?

 

[BlueRueFiels]

Polygamy Ale

I'm almost positive this stuff is made in a brewery I ate at up in Park City - possibly called the wassach brew pub.

The food was decent to pretty good pub fair, but nothing to out of the ordinary. Good beer though.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Yeah, it'd be fun to do a shorter hike or two. We'll have to stick to quick and easy since we won't have any gear and I have a bum knee

There's a great little hike up City Creek Canyon, pretty flat and well-paved.

Start at Memory Park off of N. Canyon Road just east of the Utah State Capitol Building.

It's close to downtown.

 

[cum2ut]

Ha, I was going to say Memory Grove as well! There's an aviary at Liberty Park, which is downtown, if you'd like that. Have some gorgeous birds there. Stay out of Pioneer Park though. Its not what it implies, unless you're looking for a little chemical stimulation! I'm not a drinker, so I'm not sure which one does the Polygamy Porter.....have to ask my sis who does drink! I do know there's one called Brewvies, that is pretty cool...you get to watch a movie as you eat & drink. Have been there before, but can't remember off the top of my head where it is....

Even just a stroll around the Capitol is nice....if the weather stays the way it is, you should be able to see some nice gardens there.

 

[cum2ut]

Oh, I was also going to suggest Pioneer Village. Its kind of a recreation of the first SLC settlement. Its near the "This Is The Place" monument. I've always thought it was really interesting, to see what daily life was like back then. Always makes me appreciate modern conveinences that much more after being there!!

 

[rosco rathbone]

Ha, I was going to say Memory Grove as well! There's an aviary at Liberty Park, which is downtown, if you'd like that. Have some gorgeous birds there. Stay out of Pioneer Park though. Its not what it implies, unless you're looking for a little chemical stimulation! I'm not a drinker, so I'm not sure which one does the Polygamy Porter.....have to ask my sis who does drink! I do know there's one called Brewvies, that is pretty cool...you get to watch a movie as you eat & drink. Have been there before, but can't remember off the top of my head where it is....

Even just a stroll around the Capitol is nice....if the weather stays the way it is, you should be able to see some nice gardens there.

Yeah, the neighborhood right to the east of the Capitol is extremely beautiful, especially this time of year with the flowers coming out, snow still on the mountains...I'd move there in a heartbeat.

When I was there (2009), they still had the old Mormon drinking laws which mean that you have to pay a "membership fee" to drink at one of the so called private clubs, which is what all bars are.

 

[cum2ut]

They stopped doing that last year, I believe. Utah does have some funky drinking laws, but they changed a few last year.

 

[Nasty_Deeds]

We're going to SLC for a wedding in a couple of weeks. We'll be there for about 5 days I think, with maybe a few days free.

Any suggestions on things we should definitely see, do, places to eat, etc., on a budget with limited transportation would be welcomed. I know there's a lot of religious stuff, but that's not our thing.

If you go to Utah, (whether you see anything else or not), there are three things you must see, just so you can say that you saw them: the Great Salt Lake, the Great Salt Desert, and the Mormon Tabernacle. And if possible, swim in the Great Salt Lake.

The salt content of the Great Salt Lake is so high, one cannot sink; the Great Salt Desert is a vast, empty expanse of nothing but pure white salt as far as the eye can see, and the Mormon Tabernacle is a colossal monument to man’s arrogance.

 

[cum2ut]

If you go to Utah, (whether you see anything else or not), there are three things you must see, just so you can say that you saw them: the Great Salt Lake, the Great Salt Desert, and the Mormon Tabernacle. And if possible, swim in the Great Salt Lake.

The salt content of the Great Salt Lake is so high, one cannot sink; the Great Salt Desert is a vast, empty expanse of nothing but pure white salt as far as the eye can see, and the Mormon Tabernacle is a colossal monument to man’s arrogance.

Can't swim in the Salt Lake anymore....haven't been able to for a few years because of the brine shrimp. Plus even if you could, the water doesn't warm up until at least June. The Salt Flats are really cool, especially when you go & see people racing on it. The Tabernacle I always thought was amazing, because there isn't a nail in the construction of it. It's all been held together for all this time by wood pegs. Pretty decent construction for a bunch of hick pioneers.

 

[Nasty_Deeds]

Can't swim in the Salt Lake anymore....haven't been able to for a few years because of the brine shrimp. Plus even if you could, the water doesn't warm up until at least June. The Salt Flats are really cool, especially when you go & see people racing on it. The Tabernacle I always thought was amazing, because there isn't a nail in the construction of it. It's all been held together for all this time by wood pegs. Pretty decent construction for a bunch of hick pioneers.

Sorry to hear that you can't swim in the lake anymore. It's quite an experience.

 

[SweetErika]

OK, so it turns out we're going to be up by Ogden most of the time. I'm not sure if we'll make it down to SLC or not. Does anyone have tips for the Ogden/Layton area, besides skiing?

How about the Salt Lake parks in the Ogden/Layton area? Are they worth seeing?

 

[cum2ut]

OK, so it turns out we're going to be up by Ogden most of the time. I'm not sure if we'll make it down to SLC or not. Does anyone have tips for the Ogden/Layton area, besides skiing?

How about the Salt Lake parks in the Ogden/Layton area? Are they worth seeing?

Ogden/Layton is further up & frankly, sorry you're going there! There's not as much to do that way.

 

[SweetErika]

Ogden/Layton is further up & frankly, sorry you're going there! There's not as much to do that way.

Yeah, I have no clue why she chose to have to wedding in Ogden vs. SLC. She doesn't even live there.

We only have to stay there through Sunday, then we can hit SLC, if we want.

The only bright spot so far is I got the Ogden Marriott for $52 on Priceline, which isn't a bad deal at all. I hear they have really comfy beds.

 

[coastal-boy]

Ogden...oh my...well...since you're not taking the kidlet...maybe this could be a stay indoors vacation?

 

[s3ve3ns]

Wow! So many Utahns here!

I was born and raised in Ogden. Trust me....nothing to see here.....move along. (Ogden is referred to as Utah's Tijuana.) In fact, I don't know if there is much to see north of SLC. But since you are staying here.....hmmmm.

It seems you have received a lot of good ideas from other posters....and although you aren't into the religion stuff, the Salt Lake Temple is really worth seeing. It's an amazing building. Absolutely beautiful.

I agree with other posters who suggest seeing the lake, of course. And since our state goes from awesomely ski-able mountains to sandy deserts, there is just soooo much to do. A drive through Zion park or Bryce canyon - both well worth the trip.

Oh, and about the drinking laws....they aren't as strict as one might think. PM me if you'd like some suggestions....legal ones, of course. Otherwise, enjoy your visit.

If you have any other questions or ideas, let me know...I'd like to find some fun stuff to do here, too!


(Wouldn't ya know my first post would be about Ogden. Kind of discouraging. )

 

[SweetErika]

OK, so we're in Boise tonight, and will finally get home tomorrow afternoon, but I'll update you on the trip.

Wow! So many Utahns here!

I was born and raised in Ogden. Trust me....nothing to see here.....move along. (Ogden is referred to as Utah's Tijuana.) In fact, I don't know if there is much to see north of SLC. But since you are staying here.....hmmmm.

I didn't think Ogden was that bad, but you're right, there's nothing to do there (or anywhere else in the general area, IMO). We stayed at the Marriott, and that was the worst hotel we've been in this trip, even though it was supposed to be the nicest (it wasn't dirty or old or anything; just terribly uncomfortable physically, and totally depressing in the sense that it seemed empty, even though it clearly wasn't...weird).

We traveled up Ogden Canyon Road to see my in-laws (who were staying in a condo up there) and for the wedding at a restaurant about halfway up. That area was pretty, but drinking both of those nights was the most excitement we had, really (I haven't had more than a beer here and there in 2 years). The weather sucked the entire time. It was beautiful in Seattle the whole week, apparently.

On our way out of town yesterday, we went to Antelope Island. That was the highlight of the entire trip. We saw some bison and got some good pics of the scenery, but it's not someplace I'd tell people they must travel to the area to visit because there are better vistas all over the West. I did get to see a bunch a brine shrimp mating in the Visitor's Center. Some of them were even having a threesome.

Then we went down to SLC and saw Temple Square. Nothing was going on at the Tabernacle, but we did see the organ and get a taste of the acoustics. We managed to brush off all of the pairs of female cult members (sorry, but that's exactly what they looked like to us, wandering around in their long skirts with their books and badges, approaching everyone). We got some good pictures of flowers, but other than that, I don't feel enriched for having stopped there. Hubby and I have both seen far more beautiful churches elsewhere in the world, and we didn't have to dodge anyone to see those (the insides of such churches are usually awesome, too; seeing the model of the inside of the temple in the southern propaganda center just didn't cut it).

Unfortunately, we got to SLC too late, so we didn't have time for the capitol or any short hikes. Both of those probably would have been better choices than Temple Square, but oh well.

I agree with other posters who suggest seeing the lake, of course. And since our state goes from awesomely ski-able mountains to sandy deserts, there is just soooo much to do. A drive through Zion park or Bryce canyon - both well worth the trip.

Not having time to go down south to the amazing parks is our major regret. It feels like we just wasted a bunch of time and money doing stuff we could do at home. There was just no way we could swing going that far south this time, but if we ever go to Utah (or anywhere near the southern parks) again, we'll definitely make it to the good parks.

Oh, and about the drinking laws....they aren't as strict as one might think. PM me if you'd like some suggestions....legal ones, of course. Otherwise, enjoy your visit.

Nope. We even went to the liquor store. I can't believe much of the hard stuff is cheaper than wine, ounce for ounce. A very decent $5 bottle of wine in my area is easily $11 there. I couldn't stomach paying so much for what I knew to be inexpensive wines, so I had to go with the vodka (they were all out of the kinds I wanted because they were on sale, of course).

If you have any other questions or ideas, let me know...I'd like to find some fun stuff to do here, too!

I'm sorry I can't be of any help. None of the locals we talked to had any suggestions on what to do in the greater SLC area, either. I've NEVER been somewhere like that; usually people can rattle off at least 10 must-sees/dos in a major metro area that don't require special skills/equipment, right? Utah only has ONE densely populated area; how can there not be a gazillion cool things to see there year-round?

I hate to be so negative because I'm really a person who can find fun just about anywhere and makes the best of things, but Northern Utah just sucked. We couldn't wait to get the wedding over with and get out of there. I'm sure it's probably more interesting if you're Mormon or really into sports, but there's just not much for those of us who like to do other stuff. And then the rain and cold just made everything worse.

 

[cum2ut]

OK, so we're in Boise tonight, and will finally get home tomorrow afternoon, but I'll update you on the trip.

I didn't think Ogden was that bad, but you're right, there's nothing to do there (or anywhere else in the general area, IMO). We stayed at the Marriott, and that was the worst hotel we've been in this trip, even though it was supposed to be the nicest (it wasn't dirty or old or anything; just terribly uncomfortable physically, and totally depressing in the sense that it seemed empty, even though it clearly wasn't...weird).

We traveled up Ogden Canyon Road to see my in-laws (who were staying in a condo up there) and for the wedding at a restaurant about halfway up. That area was pretty, but drinking both of those nights was the most excitement we had, really (I haven't had more than a beer here and there in 2 years). The weather sucked the entire time. It was beautiful in Seattle the whole week, apparently.

On our way out of town yesterday, we went to Antelope Island. That was the highlight of the entire trip. We saw some bison and got some good pics of the scenery, but it's not someplace I'd tell people they must travel to the area to visit because there are better vistas all over the West. I did get to see a bunch a brine shrimp mating in the Visitor's Center. Some of them were even having a threesome.

Then we went down to SLC and saw Temple Square. Nothing was going on at the Tabernacle, but we did see the organ and get a taste of the acoustics. We managed to brush off all of the pairs of female cult members (sorry, but that's exactly what they looked like to us, wandering around in their long skirts with their books and badges, approaching everyone). We got some good pictures of flowers, but other than that, I don't feel enriched for having stopped there. Hubby and I have both seen far more beautiful churches elsewhere in the world, and we didn't have to dodge anyone to see those (the insides of such churches are usually awesome, too; seeing the model of the inside of the temple in the southern propaganda center just didn't cut it).

Unfortunately, we got to SLC too late, so we didn't have time for the capitol or any short hikes. Both of those probably would have been better choices than Temple Square, but oh well.



Not having time to go down south to the amazing parks is our major regret. It feels like we just wasted a bunch of time and money doing stuff we could do at home. There was just no way we could swing going that far south this time, but if we ever go to Utah (or anywhere near the southern parks) again, we'll definitely make it to the good parks.


Nope. We even went to the liquor store. I can't believe much of the hard stuff is cheaper than wine, ounce for ounce. A very decent $5 bottle of wine in my area is easily $11 there. I couldn't stomach paying so much for what I knew to be inexpensive wines, so I had to go with the vodka (they were all out of the kinds I wanted because they were on sale, of course).

I'm sorry I can't be of any help. None of the locals we talked to had any suggestions on what to do in the greater SLC area, either. I've NEVER been somewhere like that; usually people can rattle off at least 10 must-sees/dos in a major metro area that don't require special skills/equipment, right? Utah only has ONE densely populated area; how can there not be a gazillion cool things to see there year-round?

I hate to be so negative because I'm really a person who can find fun just about anywhere and makes the best of things, but Northern Utah just sucked. We couldn't wait to get the wedding over with and get out of there. I'm sure it's probably more interesting if you're Mormon or really into sports, but there's just not much for those of us who like to do other stuff. And then the rain and cold just made everything worse.

You're absolutely right...Northern Utah has nothing to do. I'm sorry I couldn't give you something spectacular. If it was further into late spring/summer, there would be things, but this is a sucky time of year. The weather isn't usually this crappy either. If you do ever get a chance to come back, either anything in the mountains, or Southern Utah, is the best to do.