Things To See in Salt Lake City

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Salt Lake City has much to offer for a day of exploration.

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Things To See in Salt Lake City: (Jump To)

• Temple Square

• Utah State Capitol Building

• Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot

• City Creek Center

• The Great Salt Lake

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With more time in the city, I would love to visit the Hogle Zoo and Red Butte Garden. Salt Lake City is also a great jumping-off city for hiking and outdoor adventure.

Temple Square

The main square in downtown Salt Lake City is home to a massive temple built over 40 years during the second half of the 19th-century. I did not enter the building, but it is an impressive piece of architecture. 

Additionally of note, the Salt Lake Tabernacle, home to the namesake choir is inside the square. The interior is open to the public free of charge and is another interesting piece of 19th Century architecture. 

My tip for visiting the square is to put in your loudest earbuds and don’t take them out for anyone. It’s your best way to avoid hearing about someone else’s religion. 

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Utah State Capitol Building

Salt Lake City is the largest city in Utah and also serves as the State Capital. The hilltop building is free to enter and explore after an ID check and a run through a metal detector. Inside is a wonderful open rotunda with painted murals and a large exposed dome.

From the hilltop location upon exiting the capitol you will have a view of the cityscape and the nearby Great Salt Lake.

Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot

Another cool building to explore is the decommissioned train station, the Union Pacific Depot. The polished tile floors, stained glass, and historic murals remind us of the glamorous railroad history of our nation’s past. 

The building serves as an entrance to a shopping and office area with a few shops and restaurants and comfortable outdoor space.

City Creek Center

The city’s main shopping mall is situated in the heart of downtown. The unique outdoor mall includes a man-made stream winding through the main passageways.

The majority of stores are the chains you know and love, with a few local treats throughout. 

The Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake isn’t the prettiest lake you’ll ever see, but it is certainly one of the most unique.  It is the largest lake by surface area in the United States (outside of the Great Lakes). Despite its size by area, the deepest point in the lake is just 16 feet.

It’s also extra salty, far saltier than the oceans. The salt makes the water denser which makes it easier for people to float while swimming. 

The water is uninhabitable for most species; the lake is completely devoid of fish. The few species that can survive (some shrimp and a huge population of endemic flies) provide an important food source for local and migratory bird species making the lake a hot spot for bird watchers.

SLC is a great jumping-off point for a visit to Grand Teton National Park.

Things To See in Salt Lake City:

1. Temple Square

2. Utah State Capitol Building

3. Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot

4. City Creek Center

5. The Great Salt Lake

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