Hi! My husband and I are from Louisiana and have one week in Salt a Lake City in mid October. We will rent a car so we are able to travel to nearby states/cities. We enjoy food, art festivals, taking in local culture. We have little hiking experience but want to try. Does anyone have suggestions for places to stay, day trips (can stay multiple nights), places to hike, or must see sites? We will fly in and out of Salt Lake. Thank you!

I am confused as to how much time you have to travel other places vs. how much in SLC? You could get out of SLC and visit Arches and Canyonlands or Bryce/Zion. Mid-October is great for that. I will caution you that the weekend of October 18-21 is Fall Break for all Utah schools. The parks will be CROWDED and if you want lodging, you have to get it NOW--in park or in a nearby town. Zion and Moab will be the worst. You could go to Bryce--its a bit colder but not bad. I have taken my kids there for fall break before because it is less crowded. Or head down to Capital Reef and Escalante/Grand Staircase National Monument. That is all awesome sight seeing and hiking.

Or you could stay closer and go to Park City and Logan for day trips--go hiking in the nearby mountains or just explore those towns. I don't know if October Fest will still be going on at Snowbird (its a ski/snowboard resort near SLC). The canyons around SLC are very pretty.

Check out a Utah state tourism site for a list of any festivals that might be happening. Lots of stuff going on in September, not as much in October, but you never know. Salt Lake itself has some cool places--Red Butte Gardens, an amazing Natural History Museum, great food scene, and some fun neighborhoods. Check out Salt Lake City Weekly for a dining guide and an events guide.