5 reasons to visit Salt Lake City

Outdoor enthusiasts, rejoice! Salt Lake City is the vacation destination you never knew you needed. Every outdoor activity you could want is at your fingertips — and in a gorgeous setting. Yet, unless you live in SLC, you don’t know this paradise exists. Until now!

I visited SLC before driving south for a long hike at Zion National Park, so I focused on shorter hikes and low-key activities in SLC. If hiking isn’t your thing, there’s rock climbing, yoga, ATVs, camping, swimming, winter activities, and more. Here are just 5 of hundreds of reasons to visit SLC.

Reason # 1: The Living Room Hike
Up a short yet steep and rocky mile-long climb sits the Living Room, where rocks are situated as “living room chairs” so you can relax and take in the panoramic views.

SLC is beautiful. At sunset, it’s breathtaking.

We packed a light dinner and adult beverages to enjoy while the sun went down. I read the Living Room can get crowded, but there were only a dozen people who came and went. Bring water, especially when it’s warm, as shade is limited.

Reason # 2: Yoga with a view
The SLC Public Library is cooler than any other library I’ve visited, and it hosts free activities. I was lucky to stumble across rooftop yoga led by Salt Lake Power Yoga. The one-hour class was appropriate for all levels and enhanced by mountain views.

Reason #3: Lake Mary Hike
About 40 minutes southeast of SLC is the Lake Mary trail in Brighton that takes you to a stunning lake called — you guessed it — Mary. Follow the trail all the way through to hit three lakes: Mary, Martha and Catherine. We only went to Mary due to time constraints, but it was worth it — look at these views. Round trip, it was about 2.5 miles.

Reasons #4 & #5: Tracy Aviary and Gilgal Sculpture Garden
There are many outdoor activities and parks in SLC that don’t require a hint of athleticism. Tracy Aviary and Gilgal Sculpture Garden were the only ones I had time for, but the International Peace Gardens and Red Butte Garden were also on my radar.

At just $12 for adult entry, Tracy Aviary is a must. There are several bird exhibits, an interactive bird show and for an additional fee, up-close experiences with various birds. We spent about 2 hours here and appreciated the aviary’s dedication to education and conservation.

Gilgal Sculpture Garden is easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it. Tucked behind houses and businesses, the free garden features 12 enormous sculptures created by Thomas Child, driven by his “desire to give physical form to his deep-felt beliefs.” Pick up a brochure at the entrance to gain an understanding of what each sculpture means, and bring a book to read under a tree.

This sculpture was Child’s homage to his religion and the masonry trade.

Like this post? You might like my thoughts on what to expect on the Observation Point Trail at Zion National Park. Read it here!

Share your thoughts in the comments: What’s your favorite thing to do in SLC?