Situated at the base of the Wasatch Mountains and extending to the picturesque shore of the Great Salt Lake, Utah’s capital Salt Lake City is a modern metropolitan city at the center of a metropolitan area which houses more than a million residents. It is a clash of urban and nature thus offering one of the most striking landscapes that any American city can offer. Its close proximity to wilderness lures its locals as wells visitors throughout the year. Fall and Salt Lake City are amazing and something to experience. The breezes from the nearby Canyon whisper throughout the land during the hot summer afternoons and make for immensely comfortable evenings. The snowy winter days are made more than tolerable as temperatures do not drop too deep.
In recent times, this (comparatively small) city has emerged as a cultural and economic center of the vast Great Basin located between California’s Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. The 2002 Winter Olympics changed the character of this place in a striking way. It’s a very popular destination for winter sports. Here we’ll take a look at what this city has to offer to the tourist.
In Downtown, the Mormon Church is located at the center in a beautifully sculptured four square block compound called Temple Square. Visitors to Downtown will also like the new commercial and shopping complex; City Creek and the quaint little streets that surround restaurants, bars, theaters and other places.
If you want to leave the city behind for the tranquility and serenity of nature, look no further than the cool canyons named the Wasatch Front Mountains. These are filled with stunning topography, all kinds of flora and fauna, great hiking trails and tons of adventure. Located only a short distance from the city these offer a great place to get away for the weekend.
The city’s Olympic legacy is still strong; The “Light the Fire Within” theme of the 2002 Winter Games is still seen everywhere. They helped put Salt Lake City on the tourist map, and still there are plenty of ways to experience the excitement of the games.
The city has its own inland sea as well and you can explore the Great Salt Lake area either on foot, bicycle or by car. If you’re looking to explore in detail, a bike is recommended. If you’re visiting in the summer, you can take a float off the many beaches located on Antelope Island – the water there is so filled with salt that you cannot sink.
The Natural History Museum of Utah also deserves a visit. This building grabs you from the moment you see its copper-and-granite form sparkling above the eastern foothills of Salt Lake City. Its dazzling exterior is just a prelude to a gold mine of engaging exhibits about land, sky, water, and life in the West.