We will be traveling from Las Vegas to Grand Tetons and stoping around Salt Lake City. I was wondering if any one could give us ideas on things to do and let us know how big of a city Salt Lake is. Thanks

lilcharmd1,

I'm not a city kind of girl so I really won't be of much help with Salt Lake City. It is a big city and spread out and traffic can be a nightmare if you hit commute traffic.

Have you ever been to Utah before? I can suggest a little detour off of I-15 to take you though some of the most beautiful parts of Utah.

Just after St. George take Hwy 9 though Zion National Park. Then Hwy 89 north to Scenic Hwy 12. This takes you right by Bryce National Park. Hwy 12 passes thought the Escalante - Grand Stair Case National Monument and over the Boulder Mountains. Take hwys 24 & 50 to get back to I-15.

This will add 140 miles to the trip from Las Vegas to SLC. It's a lot slower going but you will see so MUCH more scenery.

Utahtea

SLC is my home town. Granted, it has changed much since I lived there but one can spend several facinating days. If you don't have a car, go into city center, visit the LDS temple grounds, if you are there on a Sunday, I believe they will let you in to the tabernacle to hear the Mormon choir, a wonderful museum, and there are wonderful shops. They now have a little train that goes thru the center. Go up tot he city capital (few blocks from city center). Go up into the canyons, perhaps to Alta or Park City to see what the skiing industry has done for Utah. Most interesting thing about SLC is the history. Mormon pioneers came there in abt. 1849 and proceded to fulfill the bible quote to "make the desert bloom like a rose."

I go to SLC a lot to visit family and I usually go in the summer since Utahs humidity is almost nonexistant. I think its a better place to live than to visit, meaning its never really struck me as a big tourist destination, but more of a launching pad for other areas nearby. Temple Square, the BeeHive house, and the "This is the Place" monument. If you're LDS (I am)
these sights might have more of a meaning for you. I agree with Utahtea about St. George, Zion etc Also Logan Canyon going towards Idaho was beautiful.

I'm biased because I live in Park City, but I would recommend...Park City! It's a quaint mining town turned semi-quaint tourist destination. About a half hour drive east of Salt Lake City. Fun to walk old Main Street, shops & resteraunts, etc. Depending when you go, you can take a tour in the now closed Silver King mine which is pretty fun, especially with kids. Not alot to see in Salt Lake itself, outside of all the LDS (mormon) sites. Temple Square is pretty in summer with lots of gardens. Otherwise, might be fun to drive up Big or Little Cottonwood Canyons...ski areas, hiking, etc. If in summer, drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon, then take Guardsmans Pass (dirt road) over the summit & drop down into Park City. Tour around & return to SLC by interstate. (Only in summer, of course!) Let me know if you want more info! Have fun!

I'm biased too because I went to College at USU in Logan. I agree with the comment about the drive through Logan Canyon. I also like the scenery through Spider Canyon area between Brigham City and Logan. Going the other direction, Provo Canyon is also a neat drive.

Hi Lil!

Another Park City resident here. I agree that the city itself is not a big tourist destination, but eveywhere else in Utah sure is! FYI - the Silver King mine no longer offers tours. They stopped about 3 years ago because it wasn't profitable. They do rent out the mine for special events. One Sundance Film Festival party was held underground.

Park City offers tons of winter and summer recreation. The only sport you can't do here is surf. Utah Olympic Park where the Nordic jumps and bob sled track are located is fantastic. See my other posts for details.

Highly recommend hiking in either Big Cottonwood or the Albion Basin at Alta. Summer wildflowers are awesome! A ride up the Snowbird tram at any time of year is incredible for scenery. Take a jacket, Hidden Peak is at 11,000 feet.

Let us know if you want more suggestions.

If you decide to stop in SLC, go through the Mormon church site, it is very interesting, even if you are not a Mormon (and no they don't pester you then or later). If you can't make the Sunday morning service to hear the choir then I believe Thursday evening is the choirs rehearsal and that was awesome to hear them.