Disarmingly
pleasant and easygoing, SALT LAKE CITY is well worth a stopover
of a couple of days. It's not a particularly thrilling destination
in itself, but its setting is superb, towered over by the
Wasatch Front, which marks the dividing line between the
comparatively lush eastern and the bone-dry western halves
of northern Utah, and which offers great hiking or cycling
in summer and fall and, in winter, some of the world's best
skiing.
Salt
Lake City's bid to raise its international profile by hosting
the 2002 Winter Olympics resulted in a major building program
both in the city itself and in the surrounding ski valleys,
plus an unwelcome notoriety following the taint of corruption
that surrounded its selection. Nonetheless, though people
elsewhere in the US still tend to imagine Salt Lake City
as decidedly short on spontaneous public fun, so long as
you're willing to switch gears and slow down, its unhurried
pace, and the positive energy and lack of pretence of its
people, can make for a surprisingly enjoyable experience. |
Temple Square
The world renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcasts its
program "Music and The Spoken Word" from the historic
tabernacle. Friendly guides give tours of the tabernacle
and grounds, including dropping a pin at the pulpit to demonstrate
the amazing acoustics. The architecture of both buildings
has been nationally recognized, as has the tabernacle organ,
which boasts more than 11,000 pipes and is the 12th largest
in the world. Concerts of many types regularly occur in
the tabernacle and adjacent assembly hall.
Thanksgiving
Point Gardens
The ten acres of gardens here are sure to inspire both serious
and novice gardeners with new ideas. A vegetable garden,
herb garden, rose garden and water garden are among the
areas where visitors can browse and learn. Free classes
are offered each week during the spring and summer on square
foot gardening and grow-box gardening. The garden shop is
well stocked with plants, flowers and garden decor, and
well staffed with knowledgeable, helpful clerks. The season
runs from March to October.
Beehive
House
Brigham Young, president of the Mormon Church and governor
of the Utah territory, lived in this genteel home with his
dozen children from 1854 until his death. Today, the house
is restored with period furnishings and open to the public
for tours. Named after the beehive, the state symbol signifying
thrift and industry, the house stands in vivid contrast
to the 300-square-foot cabin once occupied by the "prosperous"
Deuel family and now displayed just two blocks west near
the Museum of Church History and Art.
Alta
Ski Area
Proud of its inexpensive lift tickets, long-held ski traditions
and ski-anywhere policy, this friendly property is a favorite
among Salt Lake City locals. Although snowboarding is not
allowed, and slower lifts can lengthen holiday lift lines,
locals prefer the resort for its high-altitude powder and
pine-covered alpine terrain. Beginners praise the high percentage
of easy runs, while advanced skiers appreciate the ski-anywhere
policy.
Eccles Dinosaur Park
Paved
trails wind through naturalistic environments corralling
one-half size to full-size replicas of flying reptiles,
dinosaurs, crawlers and marine creatures. The replicas represent
creatures from the Permian through the Cretaceous periods,
and all are painted in accordance with the latest theories
on coloration. Some actual bones are on display, and a small
gift shop provides souvenirs. The park lies 35 minutes north
of downtown Salt Lake City at I-15 exit #347.
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