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The Salt Lake Valley is full of fascinating historical, cultural and physical landmarks that impress visitors and residents alike. A guided tour through some of the biggest attractions is one of the best ways to deepen your appreciation for the area’s sites and stories that have endured for well over a century.
If you’re up for an adventure, take a look at a few of the tour options that might just change the way you see the city. Sail along the Great Salt Lake, hop on a trolley around town, photograph wild horses and even commune with spirits — if that’s your thing.
Each of these activities comes highly rated by past tour participants, so choose your favorite and book those reservations today.
See the Great Salt Lake by boat
You might be thinking, “Wait — is there even enough water to go out on the Great Salt Lake?” Yes, though it’s smaller than it used to be, you can still hop in a boat and sail around the saltiest body of water in the Western Hemisphere.
Photo: Tomas Nevesely/Shutterstock.com
On the 45-minute Great Salt Lake Boat Tour, you’ll learn all about the history of the lake as you keep an eye out for wildlife and admire the scenery. The tour is capped at nine participants and offers multiple departure times to account for different schedules. Guides also provide riders with special net-covered hats — just in case you’re worried about bugs.
Enjoy a Tabernacle Choir performance and a bus tour of Salt Lake
Taking a guided bus tour through Salt Lake is a definite must for anyone who wants a good overview of the city. You can take your pick among them, but only one includes a live performance by the world-famous Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
As one of the most highly-rated downtown tours on Tripadvisor, this City Sights tour also includes a trip to some of Salt Lake’s top attractions. You’ll start with the Utah State Capitol building, hit the Mormon Pioneer Trail and then finish off with a performance by the choir.
The tour is scheduled around the choir’s Thursday evening rehearsals or Sunday morning concerts.
Ride a bike around the city
Cardio junkies might prefer to ditch the bus tour in favor of a biking loop around town. The Big City Loop Bike Tour is another highly-rated adventure that starts off at Liberty Park and takes you through different points in the city.
Cycle by Temple Square, take a gander at the Gilgal Sculpture Garden, head up City Creek Canyon and top things off at the Salt Lake City Public Library. The tour begins and ends at Liberty Park. Bikes, helmets and light refreshments are included.
Go on an old-fashioned trolley tour of downtown
If you don’t like bikes or buses, there’s always the option to travel by trolley downtown! The City Sights Salt Lake Trolley Tour features a sightseeing “show tour” led by theatrical performers who will keep you entertained the whole time.
The 90-minute ride is perfect for all ages and includes an old-timey snack of Cracker Jack popcorn and Coke.
Explore the historic Beehive House
Given the importance of early pioneers to Utah’s history, it would be a shame not to include something like the Beehive House on this list. The historic building in downtown Salt Lake was Brigham Young’s primary residence from 1855 to 1877. It later housed two other presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith.
Come see Brigham Young’s office, his carpentry tools, beautiful woodwork and more in this free 30-minute guided tour. Once you finish that tour, you can check out the other Church tours that are within walking distance of the Beehive House.
Visit the Kearns Mansion/Governor’s Mansion
Driving along South Temple, you may have noticed that gorgeous, chateau-esque building around 600 East. Some know it as the Kearns Mansion and others know it as the Governor’s Mansion — but few people are familiar with its history.
Thomas and Jennie Kearns, Park City magnates who made a fortune from silver mines, selected the finest craftsmen and materials to create this architectural masterpiece in 1902. Several years after her husband died, Jennie Kearns donated the building to the state and asked that it be used to house Utah’s governor.
For the full story and to see the building up close, register for a tour at preservationutah.org.
Go on a private wild horse photo safari in Tooele
When you’re looking for an immersive experience that’s far off the beaten path, here’s a good wild card for you. Just 40 minutes west of Salt Lake is the town of Tooele where you’ll have the opportunity to photograph mustangs in their natural habitat with Wild Horse Photo Safaris.
Guided by professional photographer Jennifer Rogers, you’ll drive along the historic Pony Express trail from Lookout Pass into Skull Valley on your way to snap some photos of the wild Onaqui mustangs. Since the herd consists of around 450 wild horses, your chances of catching a memorable shot are good during your 3.5-hour stay.
Photography instruction is included (you do need to bring your own camera) and participants walk away with complimentary digital images as a keepsake of the experience.
Take a Grimm Ghost Tour
Whether or not you believe in the paranormal, a Grimm Ghost Tour through the city is sure to deliver a spine-tingling good time! This 1.5-hour tour takes you through Salt Lake City’s darker history and favorite haunted spots.
See if you can summon the Hoppity Lady and other lost spirits who roam about in some of the city’s oldest buildings. You can even try your hand at ghost hunting with the equipment provided. Some Tripadvisor reviewers claim to have snapped photos of a few apparitions that prove these stories are true. Reserve your spot on the next ghost tour — if you dare!
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