DAY 1: the mormon history tour is coming to take you away
This is the Place Heritage Park, Salt Lake City
This is the Place heritage park
When Brigham Young first set eyes on the land that would become Salt Lake City, it was love at first sight; he boldly proclaimed "this is the place." You'll fall in love too as you stand in the exact spot he did, marked by monument, to survey the land before you.
Note: There are other activities on site, including an imitation settler village, train ride, visitor center and gift shop. To make the most of your time, skip these, unless you have children in tow. The train ride around the village is a nice option.
Temple Square, Salt Lake City
Temple square
It's touristy, but the center of the Mormon church is worth seeing for its grand architecture and landscapes. Take a stroll through the beautiful garden, surrounded by buildings of worship. You may even feel compelled to convert if you haven't done so already.
Note: You can skip the visitor center and building tours. The best tour is across the street, at your final stop of the day.
The Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City
the TABERNACLE on temple square
The one building in Temple Square that's really worth checking out is The Mormon Tabernacle, especially if you can catch the Mormon choir in action. Check the website for choir schedule and plan accordingly.
The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS Conference Center, Salt Lake City
The church of jesus christ of lds conference center
Free, volunteer-led tours tell the story of the Book of Mormon through paintings. It gets kind of boring when they talk about the current church hierarchy but if you can pretend to be interested just long enough, you'll be treated to a beautiful view of Temple Square, Salt Lake City and the sunset from the roof of the center.
Note: If you're not Mormon, please be respectful when learning about Mormon beliefs and customs.
STAY THE NIGHT IN: SALT LAKE CITY
For restaurant and hotel recommendations, reservations and more, check out our Customize section.
DAY 2: SALT LAKE CITY... AND BEYOND!
Gilgal Sculpture Garden, Salt Lake City
gilgal sculpture garden
Seeing the sculptures in this garden makes you wonder if the artist was under the influence of LSD, though we know he was definitely under the influence of LDS (Mormonism). Don't miss out on Thomas Child's equally beautiful and bizarre masterpiece.
antelope island state park
Also home to a large number of bison, Antelope Island is a good introduction to the wilderness of Utah. It's close to Salt Lake City, has wild animals, hiking trails, beaches, and a restaurant that serves... bison burgers? At least they're locally sourced.
Note: Don't leave your car to photograph bison. They appear docile, but that's only because you haven't tried to approach. If you do approach, they will appear less docile. If you're dumb enough to get closer, they will make a burger out of you.
Inside the Park:
Dooley Knob, Antelope Island
Dooly knob
This two-hour long, moderately strenuous hike will reward you with stunning views of Salt Lake. The more adventurous will opt for the half-day Frary Peak, but that's a lot more effort for only slightly better views. Plus we need to save as much time as we can for our next stop.
Note: To see a list of the best hikes in Utah, check out our UV blog post, Power Rankings: Hikes of Utah.
Bridger Bay Campground, Antelope Island
bridger bay campground
Most tourists don't know that you can swim in Salt Lake. But not only can you swim in it, you can float in it too - effortlessly - Dead Sea-style. Don't be alarmed by the millions of micro-critters swimming all around you. They're a type of shrimp, totally harmless and actually, kinda cute.
Note: The beach terrain is solid and sharp from salt. Wear shoes to walk to the water and back. Showers are also available to rinse off.
STAY THE NIGHT IN: SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
For restaurant and hotel recommendations, reservations and more, check out our Customize section.
DAY 3: as above, so below
Snowbird Ski Area, Utah
SNOWBIRD ski area
A popular ski destination in the winter, Snowbird is the best way to see the depth and beauty of Little Cottonwood Canyon without doing much hiking. Take the tram to the top, behold the views, walk through the mountain via tunnel, and ride the chair lift down.
Note: During the off-season (April-October) the park is only open on Saturdays and Sundays.
silver lake trail
Part of Big Cottonwood Canyon, this hike is a breeze - the trail is paved by boardwalk. It should take you no longer than a half hour to encircle the lake, but when you get here, you might feel more inclined to take your sweet time.
Note: To see a list of the best hikes in Utah, check out our UV blog post, Power Rankings: Hikes of Utah.
If this is the end of your Utah adventure:
Depart: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
If continuing your journey to Part 2...
STAY THE NIGHT IN: SALT LAKE CITY
For restaurant and hotel recommendations, reservations and more, check out our Customize section.