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I moved to Salt Lake City from New York a few months ago to get a scholarship from The Salt Lake Tribune. After living in my apartment for a year and a half, I was ready to embrace the natural beauty and space that Utah has to offer.
Still, it’s always difficult to move to a city where you don’t know a lot of people. To distract from that, I tried to see as many unique corners of Utah as possible, sometimes even with visitors to share the memories.
Here are my recommendations on what to do if you’re new to Salt Lake City:
(Chad Kirkland / Bravo) “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” returns on September 21st with Heather Gay, Jen Shah, Meredith Marks, Mary Cosby, Lisa Barlow, Whitney Rose and new cast member Jennie Nguyen –
1. Preparation: Watch the first episode of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
Yes, I’ll give you an assignment, but it’s only the first episode. This doesn’t require going anywhere or doing much, but it does do if someone is on their way to Salt Lake City. I forced a lot of people to watch this episode with only positive feedback. “It approaches art,” said my friend Liz in her absurdity.
It’s reality TV, but the Housewives team has found a slew of characters representing different parts of Utah, although the show is obviously extremely dramatized.
Beyond the people, Salt Lake City becomes a character of its own. Snow-capped peaks and Latter-day Saint temples highlight the scenes. Well-known bars like Lake Effect and White Horse Tavern become arenas for conflict.
Some complain that it poorly reflects Utah, and it is true, but all of the “Housewives” series do. This one is no different. Take it with caution – Utah has a lot to offer.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Valley View, in the Foothills Natural Area on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.
2. Go outside
It’s obvious, but the unique thing about this place is the access to beautiful nature. Sure, Salt Lake has hip cafes and restaurants like any other city, but few can claim to be close to red rocks and snow-capped mountains. My partner recently named Utah the Most Beautiful State by Square Mile. It’s only been to 39 of the 50 states so its claim is barely scientific, but I’ll buy it.
If you want to stay close, take a short hike on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which is near the University of Utah. It runs all the way to Ogden and Provo, but none of that is necessary. You get great city views anyway.
For a slightly longer hike, visit Little Cottonwood Canyon. There are great hiking trails and places to climb if that’s what you like. It was especially beautiful in autumn when the leaves were changing.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) This morning in Springdale, just outside the entrance to Zion National Park, it is very busy as hikers rush to the city shuttles to take them to the park, September 26, 2021. Springdale, population 529 , sees around 16,000 tourists every day.
3. Go to the national parks
I visited more national parks this fall than I could have imagined. In Utah, I saw everything but Capitol Reef and even went north to Grand Teton and Yellowstone for a weekend. The $ 80 annual pass is a great deal – you can split it up between two people and show it at the entrance to cover your car entry fee.
Here are my recommendations:
Zion and Bryce Canyon
Zion is the state’s most-visited national park, and when you step out of the huge tunnel cut into the rock and see one of the most dramatic views of your life, you’ll understand why.
Locals will tell you it’s too crowded to be worth it, but that’s because they’ve already picked it up. Visit if you can, during a break, but don’t let the shuttle put you off. If you find it overwhelming, there are some great hikes on the west end of the park near Kolob Canyon that have less traffic but require a little more driving.
The same locals rightly rave about Bryce Canyon, which is easy to incorporate into your long weekend getaway. It is an immense gain in beautiful landscape for little work. The hoodoos (pointed rock formations in the canyon) are breathtaking.
Stay in Kanab, which sits between the two parks and feels less like a hotel town than nearby areas. There are great Airbnbs.
Make sure to stop at The Creamery in Beaver on the way home. My friends and I came here looking for ice cream and didn’t expect a dairy wonderland. Try the fried cheese curds for me – they were outside when I was there but they must be good.
Arches and Canyonlands
When my twin brother was visiting, we originally planned to stay in Salt Lake City, but it was rainy so at the last minute we decided to visit Moab and see Utah’s iconic arches. I’m glad we did.
The journey takes about three and a half hours. It’s a little bit crazy for an east coast hiker who is used to slow roads, but the scenery is beautiful. I would take extra care on this trip if it rains or snows.
Arches is just outside Moab. It’s one of the most unique landscapes I’ve ever seen. Along the way, stop at as many arches as you can, even if you’re only looking at them from a parking lot.
If hiking is your thing, head to Delicate Arch. There are highs and it is a little strenuous but I saw some young children finish the trail. If you are comfortable with what you see, give it a try. Be sure to wear shoes with grip. And if not, there are more accessible viewpoints too.
Canyonlands, Utah’s largest national park, is about half an hour from Arches, but much less traveled. The view of the gorge with the mountains in the background is some of the best I’ve seen. If you have the time, you can take a hike here. It even has its own arches.
Travel north to Grand Teton and Yellowstone
Although not in Utah, the drive to these parks is quite similar to the drive from Salt Lake City to Zion. I recommend a long weekend here, splitting your nights between Jackson, Wyoming and West Yellowstone, Montana.
When in Jackson you can have breakfast and coffee at Persephone or its sister site Picnic, which is a great place to sit and work.
Travel north through Grand Teton, stopping at its lakes and mountain walks before reaching Yellowstone, one of the strangest places on earth. It’s like Disney World for geology, with steam vents and geysers abound. They even have their own Grand Canyon.
As for formations, Old Faithful is a must-see, but check online to see when it starts. Funny how punctual it is. There are some little vents nearby to keep you busy before and after.
Also check out Mammoth on the north side of the park. The steamy, step-like formations are unlike anything I’ve seen.
A Yellowstone trip will be a lot of driving, but since you stop often it won’t feel as strenuous as driving on the highway. You may even have to stop for bison or elk crossing the street – a spectacle in itself.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Laziz Kitchen in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.
4. Eat up, drink up
Salt Lake makes great food if you know where to look.
One of my favorite destinations is around West Temple and 900 South. In the same plaza you will find my favorite fast-casual restaurant, my cocktail bar and my favorite café in town.
Laziz Kitchen offers great Mediterranean cuisine. Try the grilled halloumi which was also our waitress’s favorite dish. Around the curve is Water Witch, a compact cocktail spot with green decor and craft beverages. For a spectacle, order the Flaming Mai Tai – they really light it up in front of your eyes. And right next door is the Blue Copper Coffee Room, which offers great biscotti, lattés and cold brew.
There are also many options for a more chic sitting experience. Finca, a small Spanish restaurant in Sugar House, has excellent paella to share with friends. Arlo in the Jam District has great farm-to-table choices, with a croissant-like bread as a starter.
And if you feel like going late into the night, try Arempas downtown. Their arepas and other Venezuelan cuisine are delicious and available until 3am on weekends, with the option for dinner.
When it comes to coffee, there are more coffee shops than I would have expected in a city with a large number of non-coffee drinkers. Publik has several locations, but I recommend the one near the ball park. It has two floors where you can do some work. The Rose Establishment near Pioneer Park also offers great coffee and lots of baked goods with floral accents.
And in your time here you have to get yourself a “dirty lemonade”, be it at Fiiz, Sodalicious or Swig. I can’t promise you will like what you choose, but you just have to try it out. You can find these more in the suburbs and in Utah County.
All in all
This is by no means an exhaustive list of things to do in Utah. If you are a newbie enjoy your trip! And if you discover great things on the go, the team at 150 Things to Do looks forward to your tips.
Editor’s Note • 150 Things To Do is a reporting project and weekly newsletter made possible with the generous support of the Utah Office of Tourism. Sign up for the 150 Things newsletter here.
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