Salt Lake City

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Salt Lake City and Suburbs

A May 2006 trip to Salt Lake City by bananasaregreen

Hogle ZooMore Photos

Salt Lake City is an amazing place with a lot of fun things to see and do. Remember, Mormons are regular people. They don't have horns, they wear normal clothes, and drive cars. This is a very friendly clean place to visit. Salt Lake City's Website

  • 12 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 20 photos

Salt Lake City and SuburbsBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Salt Lake City Skyline
Wow! This city is amazing and so beautiful. There are so many things to see and do for any age. Temple Square is a must! The mountains are amazing especially during the winter with all the snow. They have world-class ski resorts which are a blast! There are plenty of museums and many outdoor activities available. The people are friendly, helpful, and fun! The city is full of a rich history and provides a great adventure.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The easiest and cheapest way to get around SLC is Trax, the public transportation system. This is a commuter rail system with several stops. It is clean and fun! You can get a pass to use on Trax and on the connecting bus system. A rental car is good but there can be lots of construction.

Pie PizzariaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "The Pie Pizzeria"

This restaurant is uniquely located underground which makes it seem a little scary at first but its great. The staff are friendly and helpful. The restaurant was decorated nicely but was unique in its own way. It kinda looks like a bar/pub. Everyone writes on the wall and it's fun to see what people have written. The food was great! The best pizza I ever had. Very enjoyable and relaxing. They also serve salads, subs, and pasta.

The Pie's Website

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on July 18, 2006

Pie Pizzaria
1320 East 200 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
(801) 582-0193

Museum of Church History and ArtBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Church Museum of History and Art
This museum houses many artifacts, art, and history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a well designed place. The exhibits are wonderful and some are interactive. The art is amazing and shows the history of the church. There is an exhibit including all the Presidents of the Church. Each president has a picture and a display case encasing things they used and held dear. Each year this museum holds an art contest and displays the winners. The museum is located directly west of Temple Square and north of the Family History library. It is free and has a gift shop where great souvenirs may be bought. The Museum is always open except on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Museum's website

Latter-Day Saints Official Website

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on June 30, 2006

Museum of Church History and Art
45 North West Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
(801) 240-2299

Hogle ZooBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Hogle Zoo
The Hogle Zoo is amazing! There is so much to do and see. They have many exotic and exciting animals including bats and all sorts of reptiles. The butterfly exhibit is really cool and kids really love it. Asian Highlands, a new area in the park, just opened up! There is a train ride which kids also love but the thing the kids love best is the playground. Shows and animal feedings happen regularly so be sure to get one in. They are fun and educational. The zoo has just been remodeled and it’s great, up to date, and clean. There are souvenir stands throughout with fun mementos and also a food court area with some pretty tasty food. This zoo can take up to many hours so plan ahead. They do have a parking lot right out front.

Hogle Zoo's Website

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on June 30, 2006

Hogle Zoo
2600 East Sunnyside Ave Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
(801) 582-1631

Temple SquareBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Christus
The main building on Temple square is of course the temple. It is a marvelous beautiful building. There are two visitor centers which are fun, educational, and interactive. There is also an assembly hall and the tabernacle. The tabernacle is home to the world famous Tabernacle Choir. Right now the Tabernacle is undergoing renovations so no one is allowed inside. You are allowed inside the Assembly Hall. Temple entrance is only available to church members. The flowers are gorgeous and the fountains dazzling all over the grounds. It is great to visit during Christmas-time with the lights all lit up. There are also free tours offered here. Sister missionaries take you around the square, acquaint you with it, and explain some historical information. They are also open to religious questions as well. These tours are offered in many languages which is also helpful. In one of the visitor centers is a large Christs statue. It is beautiful and worth seeing. They play an inspirational message when you sit in front of the statue. The Conference Center is directly North of Temple Square which is also a great attraction to tour.

Temple Square Website

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Website

Latter-Day Saints Official Website

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on June 30, 2006

Temple Square
50 West North Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
(801) 240-4872

Lagoon RV Park & CampgroundBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Lagoon"

The Rocket
Wow! What a rush! This place is great for family fun. Everyone will find something that fits there level. From roller coasters to haunted houses and everything else in between. There is even a water park inside the park which doesn’t cost extra. Don’t worry about the little kids there are even rides for them in Kiddie Land. Lagoon encourages picnics and outside food. They have many pavilions and grassy areas to eat. There are also food places in the park as well as Arbys and Subway. You do have to pay to park. $7 There are many games which have great prizes. Pioneer Village inside the park is a rendition of pioneers living style. You can go in some of the homes and discover how they lived. There is live entertainment at various stages throughout the park. There are even live animals and you can feed some of them. If you take the train ride it goes past all the animals they have. They have tigers, zebras, hogs, camels, and more. Overall this place is great!

Lagoon's Website

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on June 30, 2006

Lagoon RV Park & Campground
375 Lagoon Dr Salt Lake City, Utah 84025
(801) 451-8000

Gateway MallBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Gateway Mall
The Gateway Mall is the best place to shop! It is a very large open-air mall. It is very modern and has all the popular clothing shops and novelty stores. You should be able to find anything you need and want. There is also a food court, several restaurants, and a movie theater. A large fountain is in the middle of the mall and children love to play in it during the summer months. In March the St. Patrick's Day Parade runs through it. There is a parking garage below it and you can get parking validation at the shops.

Gateway's Website

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on July 18, 2006

Gateway Mall
90 S. 400 W. Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
(801) 456-0000

Great Salt Lake State ParkBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Great Salt Lake Beach on Antelope Island"

Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake is very salty and you can easily float in it, which makes it very fun. Some areas have freshwater showers available, as well as restrooms. Boating is also available. There is a bad odor caused by the salt and brine. Water shoes/sandals are a good idea, as the ground is very rocky. Don't touch your eyes while in the water or it will sting! The water is warm during the summer and wearing a wet suit is not needed.

Great Salt Lake Website

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on July 18, 2006

Great Salt Lake State Park
7200 West Lake Point Salt Lake City, Utah 84074
(801) 250-1898

Abravanel HallBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Abravanel Hall
Abravanel Hall is an amazing concert hall and is home to the Utah Symphony. They are an amazing orchestra and definitely worth hearing. I have gone several times and enjoyed each time. Many soloists and guest conductors perform here, each one unique and a treat to hear. The building itself is very beautiful and its lobby has an amazing large sculpture made of glass. It hosts other groups concerts and many special events.

Utah Symphony Website

Abravanel Hall

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on July 18, 2006

Abravanel Hall
123 West South Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
(801) 355-2787

Tracy AviaryBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Tracy Aviary
The Tracy Aviary is an amazing bird sanctuary. It has such a relaxing atmosphere and is very enjoyable for all ages. This place is home to birds from all over the world. Some you will recognize but many you will not. They have many shows scheduled throughout the day as well as feedings. The shows are definitely worth going to. Some birds are even free to roam about the whole place. There is a lot to discover here! Their hours vary by summer/winter seasons. Check their website for more info.

Tracy Aviary Website

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on August 3, 2006

Tracy Aviary
589 East 1300 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
(801) 596-8500

Cathedral of the MadelineBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Cathedral of the Madeleine"

Cathedral of the Madeleine
This is a beautiful Catholic cathedral. It was built in the early 1900s and still houses religious worship and confessionals. The architecture is very well designed and the inside is beautifully ornate and decorative. There are even many stained glass windows and murals. They are all very beautiful and tell a story. Make sure to look at the ceiling! There is also chapels on the sides. There is a choir that sings there often and they sound "heavenly". It is usually open throughout the week. On their website it has a schedule of the choir and of their worship services. You can also read about its history.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on November 4, 2006

Cathedral of the Madeline
331 East South Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
(801) 328-8941

Conference CenterBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

LDS Conference Center
The Conference Center tour is fascinating and beautiful. This tour takes you onto the roof of the building to view the foliage, garden, and the breathtaking view. The garden is large and includes trees, fountains, flowers, and birds. It is a very peaceful place, there are benches to sit on and relax. It is amazing that a structure could support all of that weight on the roof. The tour guides are very helpful and knowledgeable. They are always open for questions. The tour lasted about a half hour and was free! It was worth going on and the walking was easy. There is an elevator to the roof for the disabled and elderly.

Conference Center Info Website

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by bananasaregreen on November 5, 2006

Trax-Commuter RailBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Trax Train
Trax is the commuter rail system in Salt Lake City. It begins at the Commuter Hub downtown and has numerous stops including the EnergySolutions Arena, Temple Square, and downtown main street. The line runs throughout Salt Lake all the way down to Sandy. There is also a branch up to the University of Utah. It was a very fun and easy way to get around Salt Lake! They even have a free fare zone in which all riding is free. The trains are clean, and heated/air conditioned and run every 15 minutes. They recently introduced the tap on tap off system in which credit or debit cards can be tapped on the electronic ticketing system and it automatically calculates the correct fare to charge. Tickets are on the honor system but they have random checks for them. Some tickets bought for Trax will also work on the bus system and vice versa. Check their website for schedules and route maps.

Trax-UTA Website

About the Writer

bananasaregreen
bananasaregreen
Draper, Utah

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