Autumn Travel: Salt Lake City Five Ways

Utah Office of Tourism

SALTLAKE CITY FIVE

NESTLED RIGHT AT THE BASE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, SALT LAKE CITY HAS AN AMAZING SLEW OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES RIGHT AT ITS DOORSTEP AS WELL AS A THRIVING DOWNTOWN SCENE THAT OFFERS EVERYTHING FROM SPEAKEASIES TO ART MUSEUMS.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT

Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek via Yelp

Stay: Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek is located smack dab in the middle of the city and is within walking distance of dozens of Salt Lake’s best restaurants, including Salt Stone, the hotel’s recently rebranded restaurant which is located right off the lobby.

Mary P via Yelp

See: Held in Pioneer Park until the end of October, the Downtown Farmers Market takes place every Saturday. Foodies shouldn’t miss the opportunity to chat with local deli owner Tony Caputo and friends. Known as the ‘old coots,’ they give away free advice to anybody who stops at their tent.

Do: There is no better way for foodies to get some hands on experience than diving right into a cooking course. SLC has a variety on offer, including various offerings at the Salt Lake Culinary Center, the University of Utah (classes on offer include dumplings 101 and Scotch classes) as well as the Sur la Table in Gateway.

Kathryn B via Yelp

Eat: The aforementioned Salt Stone offers a slew of dishes that have utilized locallysourced products. We loved the Fog River trout cakes, and the salted caramel milk shake was to die for. Elsewhere, HSL comes highly recommended.

Mountain West Cider via Yelp

Drink: Hard cider is all the rage in Colorado, so it’s no surprise that Utah is the same. Mountain West Cider uses local products in their beverages. The Ruby Hard Cider clocks in at a somewhat boozy 6.8% ABV but is easy drinking and crisp - perfect for autumn sipping during one of their Garten events.

Maile M via Yelp

Shop: Die hard foodies will know that fry sauce reigns supreme in the state of Utah. Hunt down the original fry sauce at Arctic Circle which can be purchased in 16 oz bottles. If you have a sweet tooth, stock up on delectable goodies at Hatch Family Chocolates

CULTURE VULTURE

The Peery Hotel via Yelp

Stay: For a peek into SLC history, stop in at the Peery Hotel. Built in 1910, it features Early Prairie and Classical Revival architecture styles. The interior is an eclectic mix of art and knickknacks from vintage to antique. The hotel is conveniently located for exploring the museums and historic landmarks downtown.

Period Communications

See: Modest in size but worth the $5 suggested donation, the Contemporary Art Museum offers interesting exhibitions on top of educational and outreach programs. The size of the museum means you can breeze through in less than an hour, but you’ll likely leave impressed by the exhibits.

Matt Morgan / Visit Utah

Do: Temple Square should be a stop on any visitor’s itinerary, particularly if you’re interested in architecture and history. Friendly volunteers abound and are always keen on answering questions and filling you in on the history of the buildings. After walking around stop by the library to search your genealogy and family tree for free.

Eat: The area in SLC between 200 South and 400 South was given the moniker of Whiskey Street as this stretch housed saloons, breweries, billiards clubs and parlor houses. Taking its name from this, Whiskey Street is a restaurant and bar that offers up great food. Go for lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch.

Lala P via Yelp

Drink: After a drink at Whiskey Street, head to The Red Door. Offering a range of expertlystirred (or shaken if that’s more your speed) cocktails, the bar offers a sultry setting for a night out. Located right across from the Capitol Theatre, the bar is perfectly located for a post-performance tipple.

Shop: Phillips Gallery is THE place to go for art, where prices and styles suit all budgets and tastes. Bookworms should check out Ken Sanders Rare Books where a selection of rare and collectible titles await.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Stay: With 850 guest rooms on a 10-acre property, Little America Hotel is more of a community than a hotel. The grounds are home to fountains and beautiful landscaping with indoor and outdoor pools that will keep the kids busy.

See: The Natural History Museum of Utah is as stunning on the outside as it is interesting on the inside. We recommend saving your visit for a Wednesday evening when admission is discounted. The later closing time means you can also catch the sunset from this prime spot.

Do: Snowbird ski resort offers a range of summer activities that wrap up mid autumn. Alternatively, pack the family up and head to the mountains for some amazing autumn hikes. Fall foliage peaks at different elevations so if you plan it right you’ll be able to do some seriously amazing leaf peeping.

Derik B via

Eat: Red Iguana is one of Salt Lake City’s best casual eateries and has garnered numerous awards. The menu offers tasty Tex Mex dishes as well as a kids’ menu. The food is great, prices reasonable and service is friendly and prompt.

Thirst Drinks via Yelp

Drink: For dessert or a post-lunch hydration stop, try Thirst Drinks. Build your own drink with a base, flavor shots, fruit purees and flavored creams among other add-ins. If the pressure is too much they have a drink menu that includes the delectable sounding ‘Yer Killin’ Me Smalls - root beer, toasted marshmallow and vanilla

Shop: City Creek Center is located smack dab in the middle of downtown and offers a range of upscale retail offerings for mom and dad, with a few fun shops that the kiddos will enjoy (Disney Store among them!). They also put on regular fountain shows at Transcend fountain in Richards Court.

TREND- SETTER

Kimpton Hotel Moncaco Salt Lake City

Stay: Centrally located and as trendy as they come, Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City has all of things we love about the brand - a social wine hour every evening, a great ‘forget it we got it’ borrowing program, yoga mats in every room, and the place was practically as full of dogs as it was people. We rest our case.

See: The Gateway offers a combination of shopping, dining and entertainment. They also have all kinds of events including art strolls and pop up galleries. And stay tuned for a new boutique hotel which is slated to open in the very near future.

Tony L via Yelp

Do: Ax throwing is all the rage these days so it stands to reason that SLC would have its own ax throwing hall. Social Axe is housed in an old steel fabrication shop. They have four dedicated walk-in targets for experienced throwers and a beer license.

Ginger Street via Yelp

Eat: The newly-opened Asian restaurant Ginger Street is a funky mix of delectable Asian cuisine and 90s pop culture. The dishes are authentic (don’t’ miss the Bird’s Eye View cocktail and kao soi). Self-described as ‘Southeast Asian Hawker Style Street Food” - they really hit the nail on the head. Don’t leave without trying a G-bar for dessert.

Alice W via Yelp

Drink: Sip on a perfectly-crafted cocktail at Lake Effect’s Rabbit Hole basement lounge. Jazz in the Rabbit Hole at Lake Effect is Salt Lake City’s only jazz “listening room” with a good list of craft cocktails and beers, an extensive wine list and dining. Live jazz is every Wednesday from 7.30 pm to 10 pm.

Shop: Antoinette’s Antique Jewelry offers rare pieces of vintage and handcrafted jewelry. From amazing antique pieces to whole sets of boho finds, the prices are reasonable and the selection great.

FITNESS FANATIC

Residence Inn at Cottonwood

Stay: With tennis courts and a fitness center, the Residence Inn in Cottonwood has the facilities to keep you up to date with your fitness regime, but the most appealing aspect for fitness buffs is the proximity to the mountains to get a sunrise hike or mountain biking session in before you kick-off your day.

See: Speaking of sunrise hikes, Salt Lake City is a stone’s throw from the mountains. There are numerous hikes that can be accessed right from the city, with Ensign Peak being a local favorite. Catch it as the sun rises or sets for some good selfie action.

Do: Colorado has its fair share of farm goat yoga, but in SLC you can do it right in the heart of the city. The Gateway offers goga (a portmanteau of goat yoga, obviously) every Tuesday.

Eat: Zest offers organic plant based and gluten-free dishes with a cocktail bar that uses fresh ingredients (beet sangria anyone?). After your hike up to Ensign Peak try the “antioxidrink” with organic green juice mixed with local gin and green Chartreuse.

Drink: If you’re lucky enough to get Mamachari Kombucha at the taproom, count yourself lucky (they’re only open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 2 - 6 pm). If not, you can still find their drinks at Harmon’s. Flavors include Lemon Ginger, Mint Lime, Roots & Botanicals, Jasmine Rose, Concord Grape, Honey Hops, Flower Power, and Lavender Honey.

Cotopaxi via Yelp

Shop: One of our favorite outdoor brands, Cotopaxi is headquartered in Salt Lake City so it’s a no-brainer to visit a retail outlet and support a local brand when you’re in town. Known for colorful and fun apparel and accessory items, the trendy servers at Ginger Street even use their fanny packs as server aprons!