The Best of Salt Lake City and Northern Utah, 4 Days

Day 1: Salt Lake City

Many people begin their explorations of northern Utah from the comfortable hospitality of downtown Salt Lake City. Grab the TRAX light rail from Salt Lake City Airport to Temple Square and begin a walking tour of the city. The temple itself is off-limits unless you belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but its grounds and the rest of the complex make for interesting wandering. Immediately south is City Creek Center, the city’s first upscale shopping district. The Discovery Gateway children's museum and Clark Planetarium are best bets here, as well as the Olympic Legacy Plaza. Complete your walk by crossing Pioneer Park, heading east through Gallivan Plaza (you may catch live music midday or evenings) as far as Salt Lake City Main Library—a modern architectural gem that includes a soaring roof that you can ascend for one of the best views of the city. Salt Lake Roasting Co., in the library promenade, is a good place for a drink or snack. There’s ample downtown lodging to choose from. Pamper yourself at the Grand America Hotel or bring your pooch to the pet-friendly Kimpton Hotel Monaco. Dining and drinking options are varied. Sample the microbrews from Squatters Pub Brewery, then fill up on America’s best Mexican food at Red Iguana or check out The Copper Onion for Continental cuisine.

Days 2 and 3: Park City

(40-minute drive from Salt Lake City)

Salt Lake’s majesty lies in the hills surrounding it, so tackle them today. Park City is 25 miles to the east along I–80 and you can easily spend the entire day wandering its historic Main Street, where the discovery of silver in 1868 led to a boom era of prospectors, mine workers, and schemers. You can still see in the storefronts that dozens of saloons and a red-light district once flourished here in defiance of the Mormon Church. ThePark City Museum is the perfect place to discover the town’s colorful history, and the Park Silly Sunday Market (June to September) portrays its modern-day fun side. For lunch or dinner, Wasatch Brew Pub is at the top of Main Street, and Handle and High West Distillery are just off Main on Heber Avenue and Park Avenue, respectively. You can’t go wrong with any of them for a meal. If it’s winter, hit the slopes; if it’s summer hit the trails, where you might just encounter a moose. Either season, stop at Utah Olympic Park where you will often glimpse America’s next gold-medal hopefuls training in any of a half-dozen disciplines including ski jumping, bobsled, or luge. If you have time and love roller coaster thrills, ride the bobsled course from top to bottom with a trained driver. Indulge in the spa, lounge, or restaurant at Deer Valley’s Stein Ericksen Lodge, or opt for the equally refined (but no less expensive) Waldorf Astoria Park City. The Newpark Resort is a more affordable option near the outlet mall.

Day 4: Sundance Resort or Ogden

(45-minute drive from Park City to Sundance; or 1 hour 10 minute drive to Ogden)

You can easily spend several more days in Park City, but its environs are beckoning. There’s fly-fishing and rafting on the Provo River, balloon rides, and hot springs. Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort is a year-round destination for artists, filmmakers, and musicians—not just tourists and skiers. It’s about 45 minutes south of Park City through the gorgeous Provo River canyon. Dine at the Foundry Grill or Tree Room and keep your eyes open for Mr. Redford. Railroad buffs may prefer to make the hour drive north to Ogden, where Union Station has welcomed trains on the transcontinental route since it opened in 1924. Historic 25th Street has a multitude of restaurants. From there, head west to Promontory, Utah, to see where the golden spike was hammered in to connect East and West in 1869.