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Breweries and Distilleries
When you imagine Utah, breweries and distilleries may not be the first thing that come to mind. After all, Utah has historically ranked as the state with the lowest alcohol consumption on average. With that said, there is certainly no shortage of locally brewed favorites. Wasatch Brewery and High West Distillery were among the first of many to open-shop in the beehive state.
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Dining
The dining scene in Salt Lake City is booming. Cultures from around the world are represented by authentic eateries, many of which are locally owned. From breakfast to late-night food truck stops, you’ll always be able to find a great bite to eat. Also, fun fact: there are a handful of restaurants in Utah that serve fresh seafood that is flown in daily.
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Hiking
Nestled at the base of the Wasatch Mountain Range, you’re never far from great hiking when you’re in Salt Lake City. The foothills where neighborhoods meet mountain-sides are covered in trail networks, perfect for a morning or afternoon hike. Ensign Peak, The Living Room and Mount Olympus are a few local favorites of varying intensity, but there are plenty more worth exploring while you’re here.
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Shopping
If you enjoy shopping, then you know that sometimes it is more about the experience than what you end up buying. After all, locally owned stores tend to exude a sense of their city’s culture. Sure, you can easily find the most common stores when you need them, but the most enjoyable shopping might just be in the local boutiques and shops throughout the city. Plus, as you’re browsing the stores you might just pick up a few tips from the locals about what to do while you’re visiting.
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Skiing
Utah is home to The Greatest Snow on Earth® and there are 10 ski resorts less than an hour away from downtown Salt Lake City waiting to be explored. For many, it's the unmatched access to world-class skiing that spurs a trip to Salt Lake City. Beginner-friendly slopes, Olympic terrain parks and knee-deep powder await in the winter. During the summer months, many of the resorts are open for hiking, mountain biking and family fun.
Salt Lake City Inspiration
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11 Family-Friendly Activities Near SLC
From roller coasters to ski slopes, discover 11 fun family activities in and around Salt Lake City.
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A Night Out at the Rabbithole
Jazz means more than basketball in Utah. Jazz means music. The Rabbithole is just one example of Utah’s flourishing music scene.
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'Bad' Brad: A Story of Blues, Blood and Legendary Jazz
Meet Utah’s legendary DJ and blues musician, “Bad” Brad Wheeler. Take a peek into the history of Salt Lake City’s music scene through the memories of Bad Brad.
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Craft Chocolate Capital of America: Utah's Culture of Cacao
The craft chocolate scene in Utah is a wonder within itself. Join one of Matt Caputo’s chocolate classes to increase your appreciation and chocolate knowledge.
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Destination Ski City: Culture Élevé
After a day of skiing, soak up Salt Lake City’s culture and nightlife: Enjoy a live performance and explore delicious dining options and great bars. Check it out!
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Discover the Breweries of the Wasatch Front
Over the past two decades, Salt Lake’s breweries have grown into a culture all their own. Here’s what you need to start planning a pub crawl with this collection of Salt Lake’s most popular breweries.
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Discover the Shape of Utah's Coffee Community
See coffee shops in Salt Lake City on this short video tour of some of the best coffee shops in Utah.
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Family and Budget Guide to the One and Only Ski City: Salt Lake
With 11 family-friendly resorts nearby, Salt Lake City skiing, dining and entertainment options make Utah one of the best ski destinations in the western U.S.
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From Big Air to Big Ales: Utah’s Best Local Craft Brew Picks
Here's the thing about the craft brewing scene in Utah: it's thriving.
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Meet the Women Leading Utah's Food and Beverage Renaissance
When it comes to food and beverage in Utah, there are key influencers who have been the proponents of change, growth, and the role of women in Utah’s food scene.
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Rediscovering A. Fisher Brewing Company
One brewery where you can find both a rich history and a fresh perspective is the newly reopened A. Fisher Brewing Company (also referred to simply as Fisher Brewing). After more than fifty years this Utah classic is back to stay, providing a wide variety brews to enjoy.
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Salt Lake City’s Must-See Street Art
Salt Lake City, Utah has more than 80 murals and art installations to discover. Come and see how these urban street artists showcase their own flavor and perspective.
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Salt Lake City’s Rainbow Colors Fly Year Round
Take a trip to Salt Lake City, an LGBTQIA+ friendly city, which over the past two decades has become a destination for those who enjoy both a hip urban atmosphere and easy access to the great outdoors.
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Short List: Local Salt Lake City Nightlife Picks
Make the most of winter's shortened daylight by extending your Utah ski trip into the night. Sure, some resorts offer incredible night skiing — so, okay, after that — but then the night really gets going in downtown Ski City.
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Sundance, Full Circle
When visiting the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, movies are only part of the experience.
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Temple Square: The Geographical and Musical Heart of Salt Lake
Learn more about Temple Square: The Geographical and Musical Heart of Salt Lake City and home to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and their weekly performances.
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The Salt of Sound: Live Music in Salt Lake City
Check out the live music scene while visiting Utah. Salt Lake City’s numerous music venues offer something for every music lover. Watch Salt of Sound for a taste.
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Urban and RYE: An Intimate Mixture of Music and Local Eats
Come in and experience the unique fare from the RYE Diner, one of the best restaurants in Salt Lake City. Then enjoy the hot beats at the Urban Lounge.
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Urban Vibe and Funeral Potatoes
For fun places to eat in Salt Lake City find the Garage on Beck. Check out the vintage artifacts, the fresh food (funeral potatoes) and the fine live music.
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Utah’s Women Make History
Walk in the footsteps of Utah’s earliest women’s suffrage leaders at sites throughout downtown Salt Lake City. Along the way, view public art installations commemorating voting rights and stop at trail-adjacent local women-owned businesses.
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Utah's Rum Underdogs
Utah distilleries are becoming very popular. Distillery 36 is rising to the top of the list. Drink in their story and then let’s toast with Brigham agricole rum!
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V Is for Variety
Gary Vlasic, Salt Lake City’s premier event designer, creates spellbinding experiential design in a city that offers unparalleled freedom and space.
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Where to See Women's Art in Utah
There’s no shortage of art galleries in Salt Lake City and across Utah's Wasatch Front. Beyond the major metropolitan areas, there are also small artist communities across the state where artists seeking a slower pace have flocked for decades. Here are a few recommendations for where you can experience art in Utah.
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Where to taste, tour and take home Utah's world-renowned chocolate
The Utah chocolate world is expanding deliciously. Visit some of the world's premier chocolate stores and producers for true moments of chocolate bliss.
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Where’s the Meat?
Taking the blue highways, finding a local diner or picking up fresh fruit from a family-run farm store gets us that much more in touch with the flow of seasons and feeling grounded in our sense of place as we travel. And shrinking the circle of our food sourcing has become a priority for many people even, and especially, while on the road.
Ave Maria mural by El Mac & Retna in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Eccles Theater is easily recognized by its spectacular five-story glass lobby and distinctive chandeliers.
The Living Room Trail offers scenic views of Salt Lake City.
More Activities
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Bonneville Salt Flats
As the ancient Lake Bonneville dwindled into what is now Great Salt Lake, it left behind the Bonneville Salt Flats — vast stretches of nearly perfectly flat desert floors. The Salt Flats are best known as the location where landspeed world records have been set numerous times, but they are also a serene backdrop for photo opportunities and art exhibits. They cover much of the stretch between Salt Lake City and Wendover, Nevada. If you’re going to visit, be sure to stay on public lands and travel responsibly.
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Eccles Theater
The Eccles Theater hosts popular touring Broadway shows and concerts in downtown Salt Lake City.
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Great Salt Lake
There’s a lot to do at Great Salt Lake. As you know, it is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for swimming and floating. It’s also a great place to see wildlife, being that the lake is one of the largest (and saltiest) inland bodies of water in the Western Hemisphere. Herds of bison roam Antelope Island State Park, and hundreds of uncommon bird species can be seen at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. A quick half-hour drive from downtown Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake is an idyllic place to spend a mellow day experiencing one of Utah’s most famous natural spaces.
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Hale Center Theatre
Housed at the Mountain America Performing Arts Centre in Sandy, the Hale Center Theatre performs many well known live stage plays and musicals throughout the year.
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Hogle Zoo
Hogle Zoo has long been one of Utah’s favorite attractions, dating back to 1931. It’s truly a world-class zoo with 42 acres nestled in a canyon setting and hosting over 800 animals. It has received accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its excellence. It’s only 15 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City in Emigration Canyon, right across the street from This Is The Place Heritage Park, a great spot to experience Utah’s pioneer history.
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Natural History Museum of Utah
The Natural History Museum of Utah boasts the largest collection of horned dinosaur fossils in the world, and is packed with other fascinating and engaging exhibits to orient you to Utah’s unique geology and ancient history.
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Red Butte Garden
Sharing the same property as the Natural History Museum of Utah, Red Butte Garden is a perfectly calm follow-up to the museum. Expect to learn about the state’s natural vegetation and see plenty of exquisite garden arrangements.
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Temple Square
As you may know, Utah was settled by Brigham Young and pioneers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (popularly known as Mormons) in 1847. In the years that followed, Salt Lake City’s streets and buildings were built to follow a grid system, at the heart of which is Temple Square. The gardens in the square and Salt Lake Temple’s architecture are magnificent. Regardless of religion, Temple Square is a beautiful cornerstone of Utah’s heritage that is well-worth visiting and access to the grounds, museums and visitor centers outside the temple are free to visitors.
