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Background |
In a valley in north-central Utah, nestled between the Wasatch Mountains on the east and the Great Salt Lake on the west, at an elevation of 4,330 feet, lies Salt Lake City. Utah's capital and major population center is small as modern American cities go, with a population of just over 170,000. But travelers come from around the world to visit magnificent Temple Square, world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and to hear the inspired voices of the unequaled Mormon Tabernacle Choir. | |
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Leah
has
put together some suggested itineraries for you. |
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1 Day Tour |
Walking Tour 1: Start
your first day exploring Downtown Salt Lake. Start at Temple
Square on North Temple.
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2 Day Tour
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If You Have 2 Days,
spend the first day as suggested above.
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3 Day Tour
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If You Have 3 Days,
spend the first 2 days as outlined above.
On the third day, see all the attractions you've missed before,
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4 Day Tour
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If You Have 4 Days,
spend the first 3 days as outlined above.
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Wheeler Farm |
Kids particularly enjoy visiting this
working farm during the summer ice-cream social in late June. Other
special events occur throughout the year, including a brassband festival
in August, a teddy-bear Victorian tea party in September, and breakfast
with Santa in December. You can take a hay ride in the summer or a
sleigh ride in the winter; historic farming demonstrations take place
during the summer season. Call for a schedule of events. And be sure to
check out the facilities while you're there: The restored Victorian
farmhouse boasts the first indoor bathroom in the county. Contact Information 6351 S. 900 East  Location: In the
Cottonwood Regional Park, (just north of 1-215 exit 9)
Phone 801/264-2241Hours: Spring and fall daily 9:30am-5pm; summer daily 9:30am-8pm; winter daily 1-5pm Transportation:
Bus: 9 or 27 Prices: Admission $3
adults, $2 children 3-11 and seniors 65 and older.
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Temple Square |
This is Mecca for the members of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons. The 10-acre
square is enclosed by 15-foot walls, with a gate in the center of each.
In addition to the church buildings, the square is home to the North and
South Visitor Centers as well as lovely gardens and statuary. Even if
you start at the South Visitor Center, you may want to stop into the
North Visitor Center for a look at its murals and 11-foot replica of
Thorvaldsen's Christus. The majestic * Temple is used only for the Mormons' most sacred ordinances and is not open to the public. Brigham Young chose the site within 4 days of entering the valley, and work was begun on the six-spired granite structure in 1853. It took 40 years to complete. On Thursday evenings at 8pm, you can listen to the * Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearse (except when they're on tour; call tel. 801/240-3221 to check), and on Sunday mornings you can attend their broadcast from 9:30 to 10am (you must be seated by 9:15am). Half-hour organ recitals take place year-round, Monday through Saturday at noon, Sunday at 2pm. In summer, an additional 2pm recital is scheduled Monday through Saturday. Admission to these performances at the Tabernacle is free. Guided tours of the square, lasting approximately 45 minutes, leave every 15 minutes or so from in front of the Tabernacle; personnel in the visitor center can direct you. Tour guides provide a general history of the church (touching upon the church's doctrine) and take you around the square, briefly explaining what you are seeing. Our favorite part of the tour is in the Tabernacle: To demonstrate the incredible acoustics, the group is ushered to the back of the seats while someone stands at the podium and drops three pins-the sound is as clear as a bell! The tour ends at the North Visitor Center with a short film on Mormon beliefs. You are then asked to fill out a card with your name and address, indicating whether you'd like to receive a visit from Mormon missionaries. The square is bounded by Main Street (on the east) and North, South, and West Temple Streets. The enclosed square is open daily from 6am to 10pm. Visitor centers are open daily from 9am to 9pm; tours are given between 9am and 8:10pm. Hours are reduced on Christmas. Call tel. 801/240-2534 for more information. Buses 3, 4, 5, 23, and 50 will get you here. |
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The
Great Salt Lake |
Saltair used to be one of the most exquisite
attractions to Salt Lake. People would take trains from the
downtown area out to the Great Salt Lake for Dancing and galas.
The lake flooded (as it often did) and destroyed the Saltair. Many
times it was rebuilt. Now there is a pump system to prevent
flooding, and only one building remains. To get to the Lake and
Saltair, go west on interstate 80 and
take the Great Salt Lake/Saltair exit. You will see the grand
building that looks a bit like the Kremlin in Russia, or a middle
eastern palace. Inside, you will find
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Trolley Square |
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Antelope Island |
This is an Island in the middle of
the Great Salt Lake. There used to be antelope (hence the name)
but at this point there are no longer any populating the island.
Now it is a state park that makes a great day adventure, or an overnight
excursion. To get to the Island, go west on interstate 80 and take
the Great Salt Lake/Saltair exit.____________
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Big Cottonwood Canyon |
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Little Cottonwood Canyon |
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Timpanogos Cave |
Timpanogos Cave National Monument sits high in
the Wasatch Mountains. The cave system consists of three spectacularly
decorated caverns. Each cavern has unique colors and formations.
Helictites and anthodites are just a few of the many dazzling formations
to be found in the many chambers. As visitors climb to the cave entrance,
on a hike gaining over 1,000 feet in elevation, they are offered
incredible views of American Fork Canyon. |
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Doughnut Falls |
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Kennecott Copper Mine |
The world's largest open-pit copper mine is a
sight to see. The visitor center is inside the mine, with exhibits and a
video presentation that show the history and geology and describe the
operations of the mine. No guided tours are offered, but you'll get a
spectacular view of the open-pit mine from an observation area; you might
even see an explosion, as rock is blasted away to expose additional copper
ore. Contact Information Utah 48 (7200 South) Location: about
25 miles southwest of Salt Lake City outside of Copperton
Phone 801/252-3234Closed Nov-Mar Transportation:
Take 1-15 south to exit 301 for Midvale, and head west on Utah 48 to the
mine Prices: Admission $3 per car, $2
per motorcycle. Apr-Oct daily 8am-8pm |
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Liberty Park |
This delightful city park has trails for
walking and jogging, tennis courts, a small lake with ducks and paddleboat
rentals, picnic facilities, a playground, a children's garden, a
children's amusement park (tel. 801/521-0962), a museum, and an
excellent aviary. Covering 100 acres, this is a favorite gathering spot
for locals, as well as one of the best dog-walking areas in the city (dogs
must be leashed and owners must clean up after them). The museum (tel. 801/533-5757),
located in the historic Brigham Young/Chase home, contains exhibits of
folk art. Tracy Aviary (tel. 801/322-2473 for recorded
information, or 801/596-8500), in the southwest section of the park, has
more than 500 birds, including a number of endangered species. There's
also a special exhibit of Australian parrots called lories (50¢ extra per
person), and free-flying bird shows are presented in summer (call for
schedule) Contact Information Between 500 and 700 East, and 900 and 1300 South
Location: Entrances from 900 and 1300 South
Phone 801/972-7800 for the city parks departmentHours: Park daily 6am-11pm (dawn to dusk in winter); Tracy Aviary daily 9am-6pm (closes 4:30pm Nov-Mar) Transportation:
Bus: 10, 32, 33, or 44 Prices: Park
and museum admission free; Tracy Aviary admission $3 adults, $1.50 seniors
65 and older and children 4-12
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Hogle Zoo |
This zoo near the entrance to Emigration
Canyon offers a good selection of creatures for kids of all ages to ogle.
There's a petting zoo for the little ones, as well as a small replica of
an 1869 steam train that gives rides in the summer for the
bargain-basement price of 70¢. You'll also find a solarium with exotic
plants and birds, a recently-completed primate forest, and a giraffe house
with a balcony so you can see eye-to-eye with the tall-necked creatures.
Emigration Creek meanders through the tree-shaded grounds. As with any
zoo, it's best to visit in one of the cooler seasons, or at least the
coolest part of the day, when more animals are out and about. Contact Information 2600 E. Sunnyside Ave. Phone 801/582-1631Hours: Nov-Feb daily 9am-4:30pm; Mar-May and Sept-Oct daily 9am-5pm; June-Aug 9am-6pm Seasonal Info: Closed
Christmas and New Year's Day Transportation:
Bus: 4 Prices: Admission $5 adults, $3
children 4-14 and seniors over 65, free for children under 4
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Dinosaur Park |
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Hansen Planetarium |
Housed in the former city library, this
planetarium presents star shows (801/538-2104 for information) and laser
music concerts (801/363-0559 for information), plus three floors of
interactive exhibits ranging from the naming of the planets to a Foucault
pendulum. The planetarium's original Spitz star projector is also on
display. 15 S. State St.
Phone 801/538-3383Hours: Mon-Thurs 9:30am-9pm; Fri-Sat 9:30am-midnight; Sun noon-5:30pm Transportation:
Bus: 1, 2, or 49 Prices: Free
admission to museum, $3.50-$7.50 for shows |
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International Peace Gardens |
Begun in 1939 by the Salt Lake Council of
Women, the Peace Gardens have grown and expanded over the years, and now
belong to the city. Take a soothing stroll along the Jordan River, through
the many gardens and past statuary and displays representing different
countries; benches are scattered about for moments of rest and
contemplation. Contact Information 1000 S. 900 West Location: Jordan ParkHours: May-Sept dawn to dusk Transportation:
Bus: 16 or 17 Prices: Free admission
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Salt Lake
City FAQs, Insider Tips and Links Great Travel Tips Our Favorite Travel Links |
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If you have any comments or if you have any full or half day trips you
would like to add, we would be very happy to share them with the
world! Send all the details to info@destinationcoupons.com |
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