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Friday, March 15, 2013

101 Things to do in Salt Lake City



1. Watch an imax movie at Clark Planetarium or check out over 10,000 square feet of exhibits on telescopes, Marscape, meterorites and more.

2. Lagoon - features 50 amusement rides, or explore Pioneer Village with over 42 authentic 19th century buildings, or check out the waterpark Lagoon-a-Beach

3.  get scared at Nightmare on 13th - a terrifying haunted house

4. Seven Peaks WaterPark - with 16 waterslides, wave pools and more

5. Utah's Hogle Zoo - has over 800 animals from hundreds of different species

File:Hogle zoo entrance.JPG
 
6. go golfing: check out the courses and make reservations online (during the summer) here

7. race high speed go karts at FastKart Indoor Speedway

8. check out the beautiful scenery of Great Salt Lake, swimming is popular at sandy beaches of Antelope Island State Park where the water is so salty you float.

9. there are four world class ski resorts surrounding Salt Lake City including Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude Mountain Resort.

10. Grimm Ghost Tours - visit known haunted sites on this award winning riding and walking tour

11. play laser tag at Laser Quest Salt Lake City

12. go bowling: at Valley Bowling Lanes, AMF Rit Classic Lanes, Delton Bowling Lanes, Bowl Games of America or Bonwood Bowl.

13. Utah Olympic Oval - a speed skating oval built for the 2002 Winter Olympics now home to the U.S. Olympic Speed Skatin team, also offers skating lessons.

14. The Tracy Aviary - check out the different bird habitats or the historic Chase Mill, or the Amazon Adventure where you can get up close and feed the birds


Source: Tracy Aviary

15. Natural History Museum of Utah - explore nature and science in ten themed galleries

16. Family History Library - research their extensive records and build your family tree with help from the researchers and geneologists

17. Big Cottonwood Canyon - lots of hiking and snowshoeing and skiing in the winter months.

18. go biking, you can get maps of area bike trails at bikemap.net

19. Bald Mountain go for a scenic hike, or bikers can ride up the 9,400 ft ascent on the Sterling lift before making their way down the mountain.

20. go take a look at the Eagle Gate Monument which was the entrance to Bringham Young`s Farm

21. watch comedy plays and improv comedy at the historic Cliff Building

Image Source: LeggNet's Digital Capture

22. Red Butte Garden - wander through the themed gardens, take a hike or pack a picnic.

23. This is the Place Heritage Park - check out the different seasons including: beehive season, baby animal seasoning, heritage season, harvest season and holiday season. 

24. Visit Liberty Park Utah`s oldest park which features a merry go round, large playground, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, swimming, horseshoes, volleyball, paddle boat rentals and more.

25. Church History Museum - this museum details the history of the Church of Latter Day Saints

26. You can never beat the fresh produce and local offerings from a farmers market. There are several in the Salt Lake City Area including: Downtown Farmers Market, Millcreek Community Market, Park City Farmers Market, Murray Farmers Market, Park Silly Sunday Market, The People's Market, Thanksgiving Point Farmers Market, South Jordan Farmers Market and Wasatch Front Farmer's Market

27. The Leonardo Museum - a contemporary art, science and technology museum with interactive exhibits

28. Daughters of Utah Pioneers - discover the artificacts of the Pioneers as you walk back in history at this Pioneer Memorial Museum

29. Fort Douglas Military Museum this national historic landmark is a center for military history

30. Temple Square - experience Moromon culture in the 35 acres of Temple Square located in downtown Salt Lake City.

Image Source: Every Little Thing Photography

31. Go shopping at the Gateway mall - an outdoor mall located downtown with over 130 shops and restaurants

32. Thanksgiving Point - hosts the world's largest dinosaur exhibit with over 60 complete dinosaur skeletons

33. take a horse drawn carriage ride from Temple Square by Carriage for Hire

34. The Living Planet Aquarium you can see 1250 animals from 267 species as you make your way through the museum.

35. Bonneville Shorline Trail - a popular 90 mile hiking and cycling trail

36. Classical Cars International - an antique auto museum

37. Deuel Pioneer Log Home is one of the only two dwellings left that the pioneers built when they arrived to Salt Lake City in July 1847. It is fully restored and furnished to give you an accurate sense of Pioneer lifestyles.

38. Double Key Treasure Hunts - experience a real life treasure hunt while you take a self guided tour of the citys historic sites

39. Gilgal Sculpture Garden - check out the original sculptures and engraved stones in this beautiful city park.

40. Governor's Mansion (Kearn's Mansion) - visit the historic Governor's Mansion, open Tuesday and Thursday 2:00 - 4:00 pm in June, July, August and December

File:Kearns Mansion Salt Lake City.jpeg

41. visit a classic movie theatre like the Tower Theatre or the Villa Theatre

42. go shopping at City Creek Center named for the creek which runs through it, where there are over 100 stores and restaurants

43. check out some noteworthy festivals through out the year: The Shakespearean Festival, The Greek Festival, Utah Country Fair, Octoberfest, Japanese Festival, Cinco de Mayo celebrations and Great Salt Lake Chili Affair (just to name a few)

44. Halloween events: check out Frightmares - various events held at Lagoon or Witch Fest at Gardener Village, the Strangling Brothers Haunted Circus or the Crazy Corn Maze

45. Christmas events: holiday market at Gallivan, Holiday Central at Thanksgiving Point, holiday lights display, Herber Valley Railroad North Pole Express, Festival of Trees, Dickens Christmas Festival and numerous Christmas concerts and productions

46. Utah Museum of Fine Arts features over 5000 years of art from around the world.

47. go to Global Indoor Golf to play simulation golf at over 66 renowned golf courses (no matter the weather)

48. visit Wheeler Historic Farm where you can see a working farm, pet the animals, milk a cow or tour the historic house

49. Fear Factory - get terrified at this haunted attraction that is located in an abandoned cement factory.

50.  Pioneer Day (July 24th) is celebrated with a weeks worth of activities including Days of '47 Parade, fireworks, and a rodeo.

51. visit Library Square - Salt Lake`s public library has amazing architecture with a beautiful outdoor space

52. Desert Star theatre - a dinner theatre that does comedy plays

53. visit the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum located in the Gateway Mall which has over 60,000 feet of fun and interactive exhibits for the whole family.

54. Trolley Square - check out the shops and eateries at this converted trolley

55. get a free guided tour of the recently remodeled capitol building

56. visit the Boondocks Fun Center in Draper or Kaysville where you can play a round of minature golf, ride the bumper boats, play laser tag, ride the go karts and more...

57. go shopping at Gardner Village - a once early mill industry has now been converted to charming shops and restaurants located in restored houses and buildings.



image source: Gardener Village

58. you cannot miss the Mormon Tabernacle Choir a Grammy and Emmy Award winning 360 volunteer choir of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

59. take a guided tour or check out the events and concerts held at the LDS Conference Center

60. Joseph Smith Memorial Building

61. Utah Arts Festival held annually in June at the Library Square

62. for a look at which films will be screening at the Sundance Film Festival check here

63. watch Friday Night Flicks - free movies held in the City's Park

64. go kayaking on the Great Salt Lake - you can take a tour or rent a kayak from Great Salt Lake Adventures, or you can take a mild white water adventure or try stand up paddleboating with High Country Adventure.

65. Schedule a tour of the Mrs. Field`s factory and see how their world famous cookies are made.

66. watch broadway and off broadway performances at the historic Capitol Theatre

67. visit FatCats Fun Center to go bowling, play indoor glow in the dark mini golf or play aracade games

68. City Creek Canyon - get a great scenic view in all directions, cars only on even numbered days and cyclist and pedestrians only on odd numbered days.


source: Stefan Larsson

69. Utah State Historical Society where you can learn about the history of Salt Lake City through photographs and artifacts.

70. take a tour of the historic Beehive House, the home of Bringham Young which was built between 1853 and 1855

71. Participate in or cheer on those in the Salt Lake City Marathon

72. Memory Grove Park is a beautiful park with great scenic back drops for photographs and is a great place for a run.

73. watch a Utah Jazz game

74. check out music festivals such as Folk and Bluegrass Festival, the Labour Day Music Festival held at the Gallivan Center, there are also free performances held weekly at the Gallivan throughout the summer

75. Wasatch- Cache National Forest is a popular destination with a desert leading to a mountain peak and lots of trails to discover the scenery.

76. explore the underground caves at Timpanogos Cave National Monument

77. Golden Spike National Historic Site - discover the history of how the first Transcontinental railroad was completed and check out the replica locomotives, Winter Steam Festival or May 10th Celebrations

78. Centennial Park is a great park with large open fields great for soccer, frisbee or flying a kite and lots of recreational activities including; tennis courts and inddor swimming pool and ice skating rink and an outdorr pool in the summer.

79.visit  Ensign Peak named by Bringham Young and other LDS church member, is just a short climb for a great view

80. visit the City and County Building built between 1891 and 1894 has gorgeous architecture and has been fully renovated with historical accuracy.

Photograph of the Salt Lake City & County Building in Utah; a winter photograph of the City & County Building in Salt Lake City, winter landscape photography, an architecturally significant building photographed in winter


81. Don't miss the Twilight Concert Series held on Thursdays evenings in July and August, you can check out the musical lineup

82. check out the many events held at Salt Lake County Equestrian Center

83. go shopping at Foothill Village

84. Visit Olympic Park built for the 2002 Winter games, has a museum with the history of the Olympics and you can pay to experience some of the activities like bobsledding.

85. you can listen to a half an hour Tabernacle Organ Recitals from 12:00 - 12:30 Mon - Sat and at 2:00 on Sundays.

86. Abravenal Hall houses the Utah Symphony and also hosts a lot of other perfomances as well.

87. Check out the architecture of The Salt Lake Tabernacle located on Temple Square

88. watch an amazing performance by Ballet West

89. Sugarhouse Park - over 100 acres of lush grounds and is also the location of several events including the Sugarhouse Farmers Market

90. Don't miss the Salt Lake Home Show held annually in early January, with celebrity guests including Ty Pennington. There's also the Salt Lake Tribune Home & Garden Festival held in March.

91. Millcreek Canyon is a great place for a hike or picnic and dogs are allowed off leash on odd numbered days.

92. visit one of the many trade shows for a complete listing of shows in Salt Lake City visit BizTradeShows

93. get a complete listing of upcoming concerts in Salt Lake City and area from SongKick

94. Memory Grove Park is a great urban park and a popular spot for photographs

95. Salt Lake County Equestrian Center and County Fairgrounds

96. visit movie filming locations, lots of popular movies were set or filmed in Salt Lake City

97. Pony Express National Historic Trail

98. International Peace Gardens at Jordan Park

99. cool off in a splash pad

100. Benson Grist Mill

101. The Wairhouse Trampoline Park

102. Bingham Canyon Copper Mine also known as Kennecott Utah Copper - you can explore the hands on exhibits and watch the in pit crusher crush ore. For more information: Visitors Center update: is currently closed due to landslides

29 comments:

  1. You do realize that only about half of these are in SLC, right? Some of these things are over an hour away!

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    1. I tried to choose things that were under a half hour drive away - I will have to update it soon. Was there anything in particular?

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    2. Also the Villa closed years ago. It's been a rug store for some time.

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  2. What if you're under 50 years old...?

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  3. Thanks for the list. Some people just like to complain!

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  4. Great list, thanks

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  5. The list is amazing. Thanks!

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  6. Was this written by a Utah native?

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  7. Thanks for all the great ideas!!! Lots for all ages!

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  8. Great list! Here's a little input from someone who just recently moved away from the area but did lots of these things while there. Eagle Gate was the entrance to Brigham Young's farm... the statue commemorating arrival in the valley is at This Is The Place State Park. Some additions you might consider: Brigham Young gravesite, Salt Lake City Cemetery (info for a walking tour available in the Sexton's office), International Peace Gardens, 8th Ward Chapel (same block as Gilgal Gardens), Salt Lake County Equestrian Center and County Fair Grounds, Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City Cultural Fair... there is also a Japanese Festival and Cinco de Mayo celebrations. LDS Hospital has a huge collection of historical material and photographs displayed throughout. The Greek Orthodox Church downtown has a cultural museum in the basement - I know it's open during the Greek Festival but unsure of other times. And nearby, but not really in Salt Lake City, are the Golden Spike Monument, Spiral Jetty, Train Museum at Union Pacific Depot in Ogden (the building also houses a gun museum).

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  9. Thanks so much for all the great info! I am updating the list now.

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  10. One thing you missed is Desert Star Theater. It's a dinner theater that does comedy plays. It's great for the whole family. And the Gateway mall, an outdoor mall in downtown SLC. Really good list though!

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  11. Such a great list! I will have to share this with my family and friends. However I did notice you have Kennecott Copper Mine on there (number 52). But they actually will not be open to visitors this year due to all the landslides they've had. :(

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    1. Thanks for the info I have updated the list and added the previous suggestions. And thanks so much for sharing!

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  12. There is a neat free museum at the jewish community center across the street from university hospital. While my daughter spent two weeks at primary childrens, I would sometimes walk up the road to it and it would bring me peace :) also if you are up in that area walk the university's beautiful campus then have lunch at the Pie pizzaria and write your name on the walls.

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  13. liberty park is listed twice. 1st time talks about horse shoes and the 2nd time mentions the ferris wheel.

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  14. I liked that you included things that were outside of Salt Lake (even the ones that were more than an hour away)

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  15. It was a good list but you should add Real Salt Lake games.

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  16. Really a great post and nice blog thanks for the sharing.
    lake city homes

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  17. Real salt lake, hockey games, bees games, shooting ranges, rmr, miller motor park, eat pho, and go raving. The foreigner

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  18. Love these ideas! Would love for you to check out our list for Christmas time.

    http://somethingsplendidblog.wordpress.com/2013/12/04/salt-lake-city-christmas/

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  19. Thanks for the list! I live in the area and would add the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, which is in downtown Salt Lake. It's free :)

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  20. This list is only for cretin times of the year and not on Sunday and not at night... The main things to do in salt lake are not even in salt lake. Go see the sights.. um.. got something else for the other 23 hours and 50mins?

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  21. nice advertisement... not

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  22. Great list! Our website www.GoDavis.biz focuses on local events/ activities for the Davis County Utah area all year long. Davis County Utah is just north of Salt Lake City and just south of Ogden. Davis County includes Bountiful, Layton, Syracuse, Farmington and a dozen other cities. There are many other things-to-do especially in Davis County like visiting Cherry Hill (waterslides, etc), Antelope Island, Lagoon, Farmington Station, Farmington Bird Refuge, and more!

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  23. Thanks for this list, I'm going to Salt Lake City in 2 weeks and I was looking for good place to see.

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