Travel Guides > Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City Travel

Long recognized as the capital of Mormonism, Utah's Salt Lake City welcomes visitors from around the world who come to admire the opulent temples built here and explore the history of the religion founded long ago by Joseph Smith.

Other visitors may avoid this smallish "big" city, with a population of less than 200,000, citing Salt Lake City's reputation for being "religious", a term that seems to relate to a lack of fun and absence of interesting things to do. That couldn't be further from the truth.

More and more travelers each year are recognizing the attributes of Salt Lake City as a good vacation destination and also as an affordable place to stay when exploring the mountain ski resorts and other winter destinations that are only a short drive from the city.

If you're interested in learning more about the church, start by making your may to Temple Square. This is a 10-acre site surrounded by high walls which houses the Temple (not open to the public), a Mormon visitor center, gardens, and statuary.

The famed Mormon Tabernacle seats 6,500 and has long been the cultural center of the Mormon community. Don't miss an opportunity to hear a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, an immense volunteer chorus which sings every Sunday morning and Thursday evening and presents special concerts all year long.

Besides monuments and museums that tout the history of the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon), culture and the fine arts are alive and well in Salt Lake City. You can spend at least half-a-day at the marvelous Utah Museum of Fine Arts, one of the largest museums in the state. The twenty galleries here span the centuries and include works from America, Europe, Greece, Egypt, and Asia. There's a neat sculpture garden here as well.

A smaller but equally as fascinating museum, the Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts contains interesting examples of Native American art from Utah area tribes, pioneer art, and other folk art genres.

Budding genealogists will want to make a trip to the Family History Library. The library houses an incredible collection of genealogical information from all around the United States, England, Scotland, and a number of other countries. The records span four centuries, beginning in the mid-1500s, and this is a wonderful place to look up information on long-lost ancestors for use in compiling a family tree.

Since Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah, you'll also find a number of attractive government buildings scattered throughout the city. Perched on a hill, the State Capital Building is a fine example of Renaissance Revival architecture and the inside is replete with ornate marble staircases, beautiful artwork, and even a replica of the Liberty Bell.