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Salt Lake City is an ideal place to spend a few days with the family
and relax in a pleasant, small city atmosphere. Located amid the
towering mountains of the Wasatch Front, Salt Lake City offers
beautiful scenery and world-class sporting opportunities. Almost one
million people call Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas home, a
strong testament to the attractions of this special city. Millions
more from around the world will gather here for the 2002 Winter
Olympics.
Salt Lake City is probably best known as the world headquarters of
the Mormon Church. A majority of the citizens of Utah are Mormons
(Church of Latter-Day Saints), many of them descendents of original
settlers of the Utah territory. The Church's prominence has led the
people of Salt Lake City to erect several stunning monuments to
their faith and the trials of the original settlers. The Mormon
Temple was erected in 1893 after 40 years of hard work by expert
craftsmen. Only confirmed Mormons are allowed to enter, but the
public may tour Temple Square and enjoy its many monuments. The
Mormon Tabernacle was designed with acoustics that enable a listener
seated in the last row to hear a nail drop from the lectern at the
front. It is here
that the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle
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Choir performs.
Visitors interested in their families' roots may use the facilities
of the Family History Library, the largest library of genealogical
information in the world.
Outside the city, Utah's beautiful landscape and unique geological
features amaze visitors. The Great Salt Lake is the second saltiest
body of water in the world, and it has been mysteriously refilling
itself in recent years, leading to an explosion of life in and
around the lake. The Timpanogos Cave National Monument features
several miles of exciting and interesting underground sights. The
center of the caverns opens up to a vast array of dazzling white
crystals.
Salt Lake City's greatest outdoor venue continues to be its
mountains. The Wasatch Mountains offer some of the best skiing in
the world and are one reason why Olympic officials chose Salt Lake
City to host the winter Olympics in 2002. This prestigious event
will add to Salt Lake City's sports roster and further enhance this
western gem. For years, travelers tended to overlook this beautiful,
relaxed, historic city, but not for long. The whole world is coming
to Salt Lake City, and the city and its people are ready.
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Pioneer Memorial Museum
This museum lies directly west of the state capitol grounds, and it
holds thousands of artifacts including tools and carriages from the late
1800s and a doll and toy collection.
Marmalade District
This neighborhood contains many pioneer houses that are beautiful both
inside and out. It's a wonderful place to go for information on pioneer
life.
Utah Museum of
Natural History
This large museum presents Native American artifacts, dinosaur skeletons
and hands-on science adventures. This is a great place to take the kids.
Great Salt Lake
About 17 mi west of downtown Salt Lake City via I-80
Water flows into the lake, but there is no outlet other than
evaporation. This causes the lake to be the second saltiest body of
water on Earth, surpassed only by the Dead Sea. There are two beaches
here, each with showers.
Wasatch Mountains
Rising to more than 11,000 ft, the mountains provide an impressive
backdrop and recreational escape for city dwellers. Resorts here offer
hiking, biking, arts festivals and concerts in summer, and skiing in
winter.
Joseph Smith Memorial
Building
This Mormon community center is where visitors can learn how to conduct
computerized genealogical research. Other attractions include a film on
early Mormon history and the emigration of Mormons to the Salt Lake
Valley in the mid-19th century.
Hogle Zoo
This wonderful zoo has more than 1,300 animals in exhibits spread out
over a large, spacious area.
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Temple Square
This 10-acre expanse is the center of sites related to the Mormon
Church.. Two visitor centers house exhibits and art with religious
themes.
Salt Lake Temple
The six-spired granite temple is open only to church members, but the
public may enter the other buildings and monuments spread across the
beautifully landscaped grounds.
Park City
Utah's premier ski destination, Park City's three ski areas will host
much of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The historic Main Street has a
museum, galleries, shops, and restaurants.
Museum of Church History and Art
This museum displays Mormon artifacts, paintings, fabric art and
sculptures.
Family History Library
This massive genealogical library provides free public access to the
Mormons' huge collection of genealogical records, one of the largest in
the world.
Beehive House
Built in 1854, this house was the home of Brigham Young while he served
as territorial governor.
Hansen
Planetarium
The museum exhibits include a moon rock display among its many exhibits.
A domed theater hosts laser shows set to music, as well as various live
stage performances.
State Capitol
Completed in 1915, the State Capitol is a lovely Renaissance-style
building featuring depression-era murals in the rotunda, which depict
events from Utah's past.
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