For a lot of people, mentioning Utah automatically leads them to think of the Mormon religion. Yes, there are lots of Mormons and yes, there's a temple on every corner. However, Utah is so much more than church. Between the mountains, lakes, and deserts, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
My absolute favorite thing about Salt Lake City is the view. It doesn't matter where you are in the valley. You could be in the worst neighborhood in the city. But you can look up and see the towering Wasatch Mountain Range to the east and the red Oquirrh Mountains to the west. You can stand in a Wal-Mart parking lot and get a breathtaking panoramic view. As a girl from flat central Indiana, I had a hard time taking it all in at first!
A great day trip is to go up in the mountains by way of Big Cottonwood Canyon. If you take the road all the way to the top, you will find Silver Lake. This loop trail is less than 1 mile around and is great for anyone, including small children and those with disabilities. There are restrooms and picnic tables, as well as a building with information pertaining to the park. There are no domestic pets allowed in this park due to it being park of the Salt Lake City Watershed (This means that the people living in the valley get their water from this area, so they don't want your dog to poop in it).
I can't recommend any hotels in the area because we always stay with my family. However, I can tell you that there seems to be some really pretty places downtown. If you are staying in SLC, I definitely recommend staying downtown or at least visiting it. City Creek is an outdoor, two level urban mall with cool stores and some restaurants. If you travel all the way through City Creek, it will lead you to the main event: The Salt Lake Temple. This place is gorgeous. We've never been inside the main temple, but just walking around outside it great. The flowers and landscaping are immaculate and the people are so friendly. This is a good place to park yourself on a bench and just enjoy the atmosphere. Depending on where you stay, you may be able to easily catch the train that will drop you off right in the middle of it all.
I could go on forever, but the best part about visiting Salt Lake City is learning for yourself. Spend the day downtown or head up into the mountains. Either way, I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Words of the Wise(ish)
*Drink plenty of water. I know it doesn't seem like it when you're in the city surrounded by mountains, but you're in the desert. It's extremely dry. Drink lots of water before you start your day, and if possible, carry some water with you.
*Take chapstick for the same reason as above. It's dry!
*I recommend deciding whether you're a BYU or Utah fan before you go. There's no in between.
No comments:
Post a Comment