Things To Do in Salt Lake in Winter
Ice Skating
Ice skating is a favorite winter activity among Salt Lakers. Channel your inner figure skater as you race and twirl around the rink. The Gallivan Center, an outdoor skating rink, falls within the free-fare zone of Salt Lake's public transportation. This means on chilly nights families can opt for a short ride on the TRAX light rail from this popular rink to Salt Lake City's top tourist attractions: Temple Square, the Delta Center (home of the Utah Jazz) and the Gateway Mall, which houses the Discovery Gateway children's museum, the Clark Planetarium/IMAX and Megaplex Theater.
You know Utah is home to The Greatest Snow on Earth®, but you may not have realized Utah is also home to "The Fastest Ice on Earth" thanks to the Utah Olympic Oval. More than 100 world records in speed skating have been claimed at the Olympic Oval. While you may not set out to beat those records, your family will love spreading out across its massive ice rink during public skating hours, available most evenings and Saturdays.
If you are staying south of the Salt Lake Valley, Provo's Peaks Ice Arena is a great choice. Near the Ogden-area resorts (Powder Mountain, Snowbasin and Nordic Valley), The Ice Sheet at Ogden (also known as the Weber County Ice Sheet) typically has open skate hours midday and evenings most days of the week (closed Sundays).
Temple Square
Après Ski & Spa
Snowshoeing
Sundance Film Festival
Ski City Hot Chocolate
Here are two fairly universal truths: Kids love hot chocolate and Utahns love hot chocolate. There is nothing like a frothy cup to warm the family up after a day in the snow. Almost anywhere you go in Utah, you'll find hot chocolate prominently featured on the menu. Even the widely distributed Stephen's Gourmet brand calls Utah home.
If you're ready to elevate your drinking chocolate experience, here are four Capital City cups that raise the bar:
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Hatch Family Chocolates — Thanks to national exposure on TLC's "Little Chocolatiers," the secret is out. Located in Salt Lake's historic Avenues, solid milk or dark chocolates form the base of their decadent drink, which can be prepared vegan or with dairy, or with espresso.
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Les Madeleines — Their buttery kouing aman (or kouign amann) made Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate." Pair that with the cafe's Valrhona Hot Chocolate and you're in for a special treat.
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Chocolate Conspiracy's Chocolate House — Their location next to RubySnap will make for a one-two punch in your search for a Salt Lake City vacation treat. You can expect an education in raw chocolate's nutritional value and exceptional delicacies, including a thick, not-too-sweet mug of hot chocolate. The Chocolate Conspiracy's products are sweetened with raw honey and enlivened with other raw ingredients to preserve their peak nutritional value. Additionally, make a point to savor the premium, natural ingredients in the recipes of RubySnap's beautifully frosted cookies whose flavors and quality are as unforgettable as their branding.
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Make your own — Drawing on Mayan culinary traditions and chocolate's own heritage, Mezzo is single-origin drinking chocolate with pure ingredients and unique Mayan-influenced flavors. Bags of Mezzo can be found at local grocery stores like Harmons and Tony Caputo's Market and Deli, or by the cup at Frida Bistro. (Read: "Where To Taste, Tour and Take Home Utah's World-Renowned Chocolate")
Behind Utah's love for hot chocolate you'll find a passion for the raw material of hot chocolate: cacao. As the Deseret News reported last year, Utah chocolate makers have not only put Utah on the map, they're establishing the state as the nation's epicenter for artisan chocolate production. In addition to the companies mentioned above, Solstice and Millcreek Cacao Roasters and the highly decorated Amano Chocolates are just a few of the Utah entrepreneurs leading the way. Each has a unique product worth exploring. You can even "try before you buy" at Tony Caputo's Gourmet Food Market. (Read: "Craft Chocolate Capital of America: Utah's Culture of Cacao")
World-Class Art and Culture
When the sun goes down, head downtown and soak up the metropolitan culture and nightlife of this world-class city. Arts lovers will enjoy catching a performance at the Utah Symphony or watching an opera singer belt out the tunes at the Utah Opera. For a theatrical show, catch a family-friendly performance at the Hale Center Theatre or the Pioneer Theatre Company, the professional theatre in residence at University of Utah. Salt Lake Acting Company is another local favorite for their irreverence and parody.
Dance aficionados can watch ballerinas perform at Ballet West or take in a contemporary dance performance by the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. Art lovers will also enjoy taking in the variety of galleries in the city as well as its many history and culture museums.

Winter Activities
Winters in Utah may be known for having The Greatest Snow on Earth®, but there is so much more to explore off the slopes.