Salt Lake’s cultural
amenities rival cities twice its size. From Salt Lake's earliest days,
a high priority has been placed on the arts.The nation's first State
Arts Council was organized in Utah in 1899. Once established, theaters
were built as quickly as churches. Today, Salt Lake is home to the world-famous
Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and boasts its own symphony, ballet, theater,
opera, and modern dance companies. Monthly gallery strolls are conducted
to showcase the city's many art galleries, including Artspace and the
Leftbank, areas which have become Salt Lake's own "SoHo."
SaltLake has hundreds of restaurants and brewpubs as well as dance clubs
and private bars. Several downtown parks and plazas house free concerts
and community festivals in summer months and ice-skating rinks during
the winter. Salt Lake is home to the NBA's Utah Jazz, 1997 and 1998
Western Conference Champions. Salt Lake is also home to professional
baseball, hockey, and indoor-soccer teams.
Temple Square, the symbolic heart of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) is Salt Lake’s biggest tourist attraction.
Free concerts of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and beautifully landscaped
grounds make this 10-acre block an impressive site. Other city-based
attractions include the largest genealogical library in the world, Hansen
Planetarium, restored pioneer homes, Hogle Zoo, galleries,
and the Utah State Capitol building.
Salt Lake is also a western oasis for shoppers who crave selection,
quality and unusual shopping experiences. Two major indoor shopping
malls sit in the heart of the city. For visitors who want something
special, Salt Lake offers Trolley Square, a block of enclosed trolley
barns dating back to the 19th century filled with exclusive boutiques.
Gardner Historic Village offers dozens of shops in buildings that date
back to pioneer times clustered around Archibald’s Mill, once owned
by a famous Mormon Polygamist.
Salt Lake City is home to the University of Utah with its accompanying
Health Sciences Center, Research Park, Red Butte Arboretum, and art
and natural history museums associated with the school. Westminster
College is another fine educational institution located on the east
side of the city.
The seven canyons that flow into the city center provided water
to Mormon pioneers who settled here in 1846. Today, the canyons provide
a convenient release for Salt Lake’s modern citizens. In the spring,
the canyons are filled with wild flowers and impromptu waterfalls. During
summer months, hiking, fishing, biking, rock climbing, boating, and
picnicking are just minutes from the heart of downtown. A blaze of gold,
red and orange erupts on canyon walls in the fall. In the winter, locals
and visitors flock to seven ski resorts less than an hour away to experience
some of Utah’s white gold. Daily sunshine, low humidity and refreshing
mountain breezes combine to offer a comfortable climate year round.
The city is also the gateway to ten national parks, including
Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, and Zion; seven national monuments, and nine
national forests, all within a day's drive. America’s dead sea,
the Great Salt Lake offers sailing and nightly dinner cruises, while
Nevada and the halls of gambling are only 90 minutes away. |
