Suggested Itineraries for Visiting Salt Lake City

Suggested Itineraries for Visiting Salt Lake City Most visitors to Salt Lake City know to head right for Temple Square to explore this architectural and historical highlight. But there are a plethora of other notable things to do in Salt Lake City. Whether your interests lean toward arts and culture, relaxation, architecture, or something else, Salt Lake City can deliver. The following itineraries will help you plan your visit.
1-, 2-, and 3-Day Suggested Itineraries for Special Events & Attractions in Salt Lake City Whether you have enough time in the area to take a road trip to Park City or need to stay more local, there are a variety of special events and attractions for Salt Lake City visitors. Here are some suggested itineraries that will ensure that you don't miss any of the must-see attractions in Salt Lake City: 1 day: Take the free half-hour tour of the Temple Square block (Main and North, South, and West Temple sts), then spend the rest of your day exploring other attractions that highlight the city's peculiar history.
Take a tour of the historic Beehive House (67 E South Temple), just one of the many homes owned by Brigham Young, Utah's first territorial governor. Then visit the adjacent Lion House (63 E South Temple, 801-363-5466), and The Lion House Pantry for some "Mormon comfort food." Make sure to try the decadently sweet orange rolls, made fresh every day.
©2006 The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau/Jason Mathis Beehive House was owned by Utah's first territorial governor, Brigham Young. Then stop by Old Deseret Village (2601 E Sunnyside Ave) to watch volunteer docents recreate pioneer life in the 1800s. Near the University of Utah, this modern recreation of a 1800s pioneer town is an engrossing way to experience Utah's pioneer history. The village is open year-round, but volunteer docents recreate pioneer life for visitors between Memorial Day to Labor Day. The village includes shops, homes, and businesses that would have been typical of a pioneer town, including a printing press, barbershop, and saloon that serves ice cream. Finish the day at the Mobil Two-Star Market Street Broiler (260 S 1300 East St), a restored 1930s firehouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places that has been lovingly turned into a fine seafood restaurant near the University of Utah campus. The Broiler is famous for their clam chowder and grilled seafood, flown in fresh daily. 2 days: Start your day at one of Salt Lake's most memorable breakfast spots, Ruth's Diner(2100EmigrationCanyon Rd) in Emigration Canyon. Since 1949, the trolley car diner has offered Salt Lake City's populace a laid-back canyon hideaway. Try the banana walnut French toast or the "Rutherino," an indulgent omelet made with pasta, mushrooms, sour cream, Monterey Jack, and hollandaise sauce, named for the diner's original feisty owner.
Continue up Emigration Canyon until it merges with Parley's Canyon, then head east on Interstate 80 to Park City. The mining-hub-turned-ghost-town-turned-trendy-ski-village is home of the Sundance Film Festival, the largest and most prestigious film festival in North America. The festival's 10-day events are held in mid-January throughout the city. All the Hollywood glamour has fostered dozens of swanky restaurants and high-priced galleries. Walk off the Rutherino by spending the rest of the morning browsing the shops and boutiques that line historic Main Street. Near the base of Main Street, you'll find Zoom (660 Main St), Robert Redford's year-round outpost in Park City. The gourmet macaroni and cheese has been a staple side dish since this eclectic diner opened.
Continue your mini-road trip on Interstate 40 through the pastoral Heber Valley and through Provo Canyon to Sundance Resort (two miles up scenic Route 92 from Provo Canyon). Take in the views of stunning Mount Timpanogos at this "rustic-chic" alpine destination.
Depending on the season, you can enjoy mountain activities like horseback riding, mountain biking, or skiing. Throw back a cold one in the Sundance Owl Bar located in the center of the resort, which is a historic watering hole that was a favorite of Butch Cassidy's Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. 3 days: Take a walk on the wild side by visiting the oldest public aviary in North America, Tracy Aviary (589 E 1300 South). Then visit one of the state's newest attractions, Asian Highlands at the Hogle Zoological Garden (2600 E Sunnyside Ave).
Tracy Aviary, located on 7.5 acres in Liberty Park in the heart of Salt Lake City, is home to more than 135 bird species. A new exhibit opened in 2005, focusing on South American birds, and renovation is currently underway on the Chase Mill, Utah's oldest industrial building. For the best scenic view, it's best to enter the park from 600 East and 900 South and drive on the one-way road to the southwest corner of the park.
The new Asian Highlands Exhibit at the Hogle Zoological Garden opened in July 2006 and highlights big cats from the Orient. The exhibit features an Amur tiger, snow leopards, and a lynx in natural environments that surround a replicated Asian village. The tiger enclosure includes a waterfall pond exhibit where patrons can watch the huge feline catch fish underwater.
Finish the day at the Mobil One-Star Rio Grand Cafe (270 S Rio Grande St) with an order of Santa Fe Enchiladas -- blue corn tortillas layered with beans and meat and smothered in a tomatillo cream sauce. Look out for "The Purple Lady," a ghost that's rumored to haunt the women's restroom at this historic restaurant in Salt Lake's original Rio Grande Depot.
1-, 2-, and 3-Day Suggested Itineraries for Arts & Culture in Salt Lake City
There's so much to do in terms of arts and culture in Salt Lake City that you may be overwhelmed by all the options. See the itineraries below to help narrow down the field.
1 day: Explore the Utah Museum of Art and History (125 S Main), which focuses on western and Utah art. The small museum is housed in an old bank building, with a glass ceiling and ornate molding work.
Near Temple Square is the Church Museum of Art and History (45 N West Temple St). The first floor is devoted to the history of the Mormon Pioneers' trek to Utah and their subsequent settlement throughout the western United States. The second floor focuses on work from Mormon artists from around the world.
The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (1530 E South Campus Drive) on the campus of the University of Utah (201 Presidents Drive) is a fine way to spend an afternoon. The museum has one of the West's most comprehensive collections, with works ranging from ancient Egypt and Greece to post-modern works from contemporary artists.
Enjoy the alpine ambiance of Millcreek Canyon for dinner at Mobil Three-Star Log Haven (6541 E Millcreek Canyon Rd), one of Salt Lake's most romantic restaurants. The seasonal menu changes regularly, but highlights always include wild game like Utah buffalo tenderloin, venison, or grilled quail. The quality food is matched by a spectacular setting that includes hulking pine trees, waterfalls, and aspen, all surrounding a log mansion built by a local steel baron in 1920.