Dear NEXT TRAVELER to Utah!
There is SO much to see and do in Utah. We have been traveling to Utah for 30 years. We have been to Salt Lake City, Ogden, Orem, Provo, Logan, and Moab. We have spent the most time in Salt Lake & Moab so this post will be about Salt Lake City and you can also see my separate post on Moab (Arches Natl Park). The entire state is beautiful and each city has its own special features. They have great seasonal changes and you can swim in the summer & snow ski in the winter. Because the state has so many mountains and canyons, there are always places you can hike, camp, fish & hunt. We love UTAH!

Salt Lake City
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. Temple Square & Salt Lake City Temple
2. City Creek Center
3. Great Salt Lake
4. Natural History Museum of Utah
5. Summer Snowbird Tram
6. Snow Skiing
7. Hiking Trails
8. Delta Center

Temple Square. The most visited place in Utah is Temple Square. It is 5 city blocks and includes: Temple Square Visitor Center, Salt Lake City Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, The Conference Center, Family Search Library, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Church History Library, Beehive & Lion House, and Assembly Hall. There are also many other buildings, statues, a reflecting pool, and a cedars of lebanon tree that was planted in 1949 from a small seedling brought from the Middle East.

Temple Square Visitor Center. A great starting point for guests, the Temple Square Visitors’ Center explains what temples are and why they matter. There are exhibits and artwork showing how temple teachings connect to everyday life. One of the really neat features in the Visitor Center is the Inside a Temple Tour which provides a unique opportunity to see temple interiors.

Salt Lake City Temple. The Temple is 222 feet high and was originally dedicated in 1853. For the last 6 years the temple has been closed for renovations. An Open House to the public will run from April to October 2027. Once the temple is re-dedicated, it will not be open for public access. Attending the Open House in 2027 is a unique and rare opportunity for the public to see the inside of an incredibly beautiful religious building full of stone carvings, like stars, the sun, and phases of the moon reminding us of God’s promise to guide His children back to Him through Jesus Christ.

Salt Lake Tabernacle. This building is one of Temple Square’s most recognizable and beloved buildings. It was designed in the 1860s and the roof spans 150 feet without supporting pillars, creating extraordinary acoustics that allow even a pin drop to be heard across the hall. The organ inside has more than 11,600 pipes. The Tabernacle was the home of The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square for over a century.

The Conference Center was completed in 2000, seats 21,000 people and has no interior support columns to block views. “Twice a year this building hosts general conference sessions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where leaders share inspired messages centered on Jesus Christ. These addresses are translated into more than 100 languages and are broadcast worldwide, allowing people everywhere to hear words of hope and peace. The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square also perform here. The auditorium houses a 7,000-pipe organ, and the venue hosts concerts such as Music & the Spoken Word and the annual Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir.”

Joseph Smith Memorial Building. This grand ten-story building was built in 1911 as the prestigious Hotel Utah. In 1993, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building was rededicated and named in honor of the first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It serves as both an administrative center and a gathering place with restaurants, large banquet halls, and wedding reception rooms. It also houses a 500-seat theater that presents films produced by the Church, each sharing uplifting stories centered on Jesus Christ. The Joseph Smith Memorial Building has always been special to me because my parents were married and sealed in the Provo Temple and had their wedding day luncheon at the then Hotel Utah.

Church History Library. This Library was completed in 2009 and holds historical documents, photographs, journals, and artifacts that tell the story of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members. There are millions of items collected from around the world, including personal writings, scriptures, and records.

Family Search Library. This library holds over 8 billion records—the world’s largest genealogy library. The library’s records are from more than 100 countries, it has state-of-the-art technology, and multilingual experts. Everyone is welcome to come and explore their heritage. FamilySearch visits and resources are free to all.

The Beehive House. One of the most historic homes at Temple Square, built in 1854, and served as the official residence of three presidents of The Church: Brigham Young, Lorenzo Snow, and Joseph F. Smith. It was also a boarding house for nearly forty years. The Beehive House is currently closed for renovation and will reopen Spring 2027.

The Lion House. This was the family residence of Brigham Young, the second President of The Church and the first Territorial governor of the Utah Territory. The house was completed in 1856 and is named for the carved stone lion that sits above its front entrance. The Lion House is currently closed for renovation and will reopen Spring 2027.

Assembly Hall. A Gothic Revival building finished in 1882, using stone from the same quarry as the Salt Lake Temple. The Assembly Hall was a beautifully decorated gathering place for congregations and community events. There are murals on the ceiling depicting scenes from the history of the Church. The woodwork is painted to resemble marble.

City Creek Center. This is a great outdoor shopping mall with over 95 stores and over 20 restaurants. Costa Vida is one of our favorite places to eat.

The Great Salt Lake. The largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere is also called “America’s Dead Sea.” Because of a high accumulation of minerals, the lake is super salty, even saltier than seawater and swimming in the lake actually feels similar to floating.

Natural History Museum of Utah. The state’s official museum of natural history and part of The University of Utah. The museum is 163,000 square feet of exhibits including archaeology, botany, paleontology, zoology, mineralogy, and mycology. The building and location are stunning and even is a wedding venue.

Summer Snowbird Tram. At Snowbird Resort, they have a Summer Scenic Tram Ride where you can ride 2,900 vertical feet up a 13-minute trip to the top of Hidden Peak. There are concessions and an awesome photo op at The Summit of Salt Lake Valley, Twin Peaks and Mt. Baldy.

Snow Skiing. Utah has 14 world-class ski resorts full of activities even beyond snow skiing. Utah’s snow powder is unusually light, dry and fluffy, because of the Great Salt Lake effect, which increases snowfall and makes for exceptional skiing conditions. The state usually has over 500 inches of snow each year. Seven of the top-rated and favorite ski resorts in Utah are ~ Park City, Alta, Snowbird, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, and Brighton. This is a great comparison report of these ski resorts, if you’re having a hard time deciding where to go.

Hiking Trails. Utah has some of the best hiking in the country. Here are 10 of the top places to hike ~ Angels Landing, Zion National Park ~ Delicate Arch Trail, Arches National Park (I have an entire post on Arches National Park) ~ The Narrows, Zion National Park ~ Bryce Canyon’s Queens Garden & Navajo Loop Trail ~ Lake Blanche Trail, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City ~ Calf Creek Falls – Grand Staircase-Escalante ~ Island in the Sky Trails – Canyonlands National Park ~ Mount Timpanogos – Utah County ~ Donut Falls Trail – Big Cottonwood Canyon ~ Corona Arch Trail – Moab. This is a great comparison of these trails.

Delta Center. If you’re looking to see a basketball or hockey game while you’re in town, head to the Delta Center, which is the home of the Utah Jazz and the Utah Mammoth, in the heart of Salt Lake City. The arena has a seating capacity of 18,186 for basketball and 20,000 for concerts. During the 2002 Winter Olympics, figure skating was in the Delta Center.

Salt Lake City, Utah is FULL of so much to see and do. The city enjoys all four seasons and there are activities for all ages and interests. It has the allure of big city things to do but still has a hometown feel.