16 May 2021

Salt Lake City, UT

by | posted in: City Docs | 0

SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Gorgeous Salt Lake City is known for its majestic mountain views. Whether you’re looking for a hike, ski run with plenty of powder, eclectic food options or even a large collection of dinosaur bones, Salt Lake City has it all. My friend Inez has lived in the city for the past few years now and shared her favorite spots. Happy traveling!

Travel Tip:
  • Leave yourself enough time to spend time on a desert detour. Moab is pretty close, around 3 ½ hours away. It’s great for camping or you can also book an Airbnb. Canyonland National Park and Arches National Park (2 out of the Big 5 in one trip) are in Moab! 
One fun thing:
  • Go on a sunset walk on the trails behind the University of Utah. Start at Red Butte Gardens and walk around the well-marked trails. You’ll be able to see the rolling hills in the north and gorgeous views. After a day of touring around, it’s nice to have a picnic up on the hill.
  • Airbnb: the AirBnB options in Salt Lake are super cool. Airstreams (luxury trailers) rentals are abundant too. 
  • Grand America: a super fancy and classy hotel. The interior has lavish chandeliers and intricate decorations. They have great room service, especially their brunch.
View from the Pfifferhorn 

  • Natural History Museum of Utah: a museum worth exploring. They have a huge dinosaur exhibit because Utah is a big burial ground for dinosaur bones. The Native American section is fantastic as is the geological section. 
  • Liberty Park: a spacious park with loads of activities. In addition to a pond, picnic tables and playground, there’s an aviary, and a museum called Chase Home that highlights pieces from Utah artists from the state’s American Indian, rural, occupational and ethnic communities. The beautiful mountain view makes it a perfect place to bring a picnic and enjoy Utah at its best.
  • Salt Lake Utah Temple: when in Utah! You won’t be able to go into the temple itself unless you’re Mormon, but you can check it out from the outside and explore the visitors center too. The visitors center has lots of information on the local history. Be aware that missionaries will hang out around there. 
  • Go brewery hopping: a wonderful way to spend the day. Inez’s favorite spots are TF Brewing and Fischer Brewing Company.  

Big Cottonwood Canyon & Little Cottonwood Canyon: a scenic drive about 30 mins away for hiking or skiing/snowboarding. Stop into the resort spots for a beer or whatnot on your way back. Here are the best local spots:

  • Hiking: Catherine’s Pass: an intermediate hike where you can take in views of a pretty lake and fields of wildflowers if you time it right. From the lake, you can take a further path that extends to Sunset Peak. 
  • Hiking: Pfeifferhorn: an intense 11-mile all-day hike also known as the Little Matterhorn. It is home to one of the tallest peaks in Salt Lake.
  • Ski Resort: pick any of the four (Little Cottonwood: Alta (ski only), Snowbird,) (Big Cottonwood: Brighton and Solitude) and you won’t have a bad day! The mountains are more favored by locals than those in Park City. They don’t have a huge town at the base, so they are more secluded. Inez likes Brighton the most for its “randomness” and epic runs.
Wildflowers on Catherine’s Path
View from Sunset Peak
Big Cottonwood Canyon 
Canyonlands
  • Hub and Spoke Diner: a charming modern sit-down breakfast spot. They have the best chicken and sweet potato waffles served with a spicy maple syrup. The dish is light and delicious. The crab cake eggs benedict is also mouth-watering. For a beverage, try either the tasty mimosas or locally brewed coffee.
  • Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade: a spot where you can sit down to eat or get takeout to eat elsewhere. They are known for their flavorful and light biscuits. Can’t decide which one to get? Try the biscuit sampler. Their Hoss Sandwich with fried chicken, bacon, cheese, egg and gravy served on a biscuit is outstanding. Their hashbrowns made with quinoa are also a favorite.
  • The Bagel Project: a bagel place with fluffy bagels. Grab a bagel to go or something in their fridges full of local eggs and juices.
  • Hruskas Kolaches: a perfect grab-and-go option. They serve kolaches which are essentially balls of dough that they put a breakfast sandwich or other filling into. Savory and sweet options are available, but be mindful that the hours fluctuate, they serve until they sell out.
  • Caputo’s: a local Italian mecca. Along with their incredible sandwiches, they offer fancy oils for sale, your classic pasta salad sides, and home-cured Italian meats. They sell charcuterie boards too. Inez’s favorite sandwich is the Roasted Reds with prosciutto served on ciabatta bun. Check out their indoor and outdoor seating, but you can also grab and go.
  • Feldman’s Deli: great classic Jewish Deli with all your typical deli sandwiches. 
  • Taco Taco: where you can find delicious tacos for lunch Tuesday-Friday. Try the flavorful cauliflower taco. They also have quesadillas and burritos. 
  • Ginger Street: an Asian fusion place. They have great cocktails, food and even an ice cream window. Some favorites include Drunken Noodles with pastrami and the Dan Dan Noodles. Anything on the menu is fabulous.
  • Tsunami: the best sushi in Salt Lake! It’s very fresh and tasty. They have a sushi bar that you can sit at. For dessert, get the Coconut Glory which is fried banana, ice cream and chocolate.
  • Pago: a fancy place for a special occasion. They serve local farm-fresh food. Their menu changes seasonally, but if they are offering the duck, definitely order it.
  • Skewered Thai: wonderful Thai food. Try any of their curries, they are phenomenal.  Inez’s favorite is the Panang curry, which is nice and spicy.

  • Spilled Milk: a fun twist on an ice cream shop. They take soft serve and mix in classic kids cereals (think Reese’s Puffs, Fruity Pebbles and Captain Crunch). Get your pick in a coconut waffle cone. They do shakes too!
  • Crumbl cookies: massive gourmet cookies with flavors that rotate weekly.
Crumbl Cookies
  • Alibi: a trendy bar with awesome ambiance. Big green plants are hanging from the ceiling. They serve unique and a large variety of cocktails. They will make anything they can- just ask! Inez’s go-to is the Bees Knees.
  • Quarters: a basement arcade bar. Play Nintendo and have a Mario Kart race with friends while drinking a beer.
  • X Wife’s Place: a divey spot with pool tables and pitchers of beer.
  • Campfire Lounge: a low key spot with campfires outside. Grab a pitcher of beer, sit around a campfire and hang with your friends.

Disclaimer: all beers on draft are 5% and cocktails are measured out to all be 1 shot. The bars get audited, so this rule is pretty strict.