Today I am going to write about the things that you can do while visiting Salt Lake City, Utah. There really is enough to keep you busy for several days. If it is your first trip out to Utah, then you will definitely want to have a plan of action. If you haven’t been to Utah for awhile, there are a few changes. If you live in Salt Lake or the surrounding area, I have discovered a few things that I didn’t know were available, and that you might have fun doing.
Every time I go back to visit my family, I make sure that we take the time to visit Temple Square. This is a great place to visit. There are tours of Temple Square available, which will take you to each of the buildings and talk about the significance of the building or other points of church history. You can also wander around by yourself. There are two visitors’ centers on Temple Square. The North Visitor’s Center has a replica of Thorvaldsen’s Christus statue. The Tabernacle is currently under renovation. However, you can still attend a broadcast of “Music and the Spoken Word,” on Sunday morning, or a rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the Conference Center which is just across the street from Temple Square. You can also attend the Salt Lake Temple while there.
In close proximity to Temple Square you can visit the Family History Center, and complete family history work. Next to the Family History Center is The Museum of Church History and Art. On the other side of Temple Square, you can visit the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. You can view “Joseph Smith The Prophet of the Restoration,” at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, but reservations are needed. You can also stroll along the plaza around the church office buildings and look at the reflecting pool.
A short walk down the road and you can visit the Beehive House and Lion House, former homes of Brigham Young. Tours of Welfare Square and the Humanitarian Center are available with a courtesy shuttle leaving from Temple Square. It is best to schedule a reservation to attend these tours. While at Temple Square, you can eat at one of the two restaurants in the Joseph Smith Memorial buildings, or at one of the many restaurants within walking distance of Temple Square. There are two malls across the street, which also have food courts in them.
While in Utah you may want to visit This Is The Place Heritage Park. It has a monument open to the public. Recently they opened Deseret Village to the public. This is a working pioneer village where you can see the daily tasks that would have happened in pioneer life. There is an admission fee to the park, but it would be a fun experience. You can also visit nearby Hogle Zoo for a nice afternoon trip.
There really are a lot of fun things to do in and around Salt Lake City. There are many places to go shopping, and plenty of good hiking just up the canyon. In the winter, the skiing is wonderful. I hope that you get a chance to visit one day. My next vacation blog will be about church activities in other parts of Utah.