Things to Do in Salt Lake City

If you are headed to Salt Lake City, you are in for a treat. This beautiful city is full of exciting things to do.

From outdoor adventures to historical sites, there is plenty for you to enjoy. Whether you are visiting for a few days or you are a local, this article will give you plenty of ideas of things to keep you entertained.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Salt Lake City is Temple Square. This 10-acre block is located in the middle of downtown Salt Lake City and is home to the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Also located at Temple Square are two visitor centers, the Tabernacle, and the Assembly Hall. The Square is also home to beautiful gardens and pathways to walk along.

Free forty-five minute tours are offered daily. During the Christmas season Temple Square is filled with hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights.

It is quite the site and should not be missed. Just outside of Temple Square are more gardens and a reflecting pool.

Also located outside of Temple Square is the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. In this building visitors will find the Legacy Theater which shows a featured premier film daily.

Tickets are free but should be reserved in advance. Also located at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building are two restaurants on the top floor.

Not only do they serve a nice meal, but they also provide views of the Square. Also located in close proximity to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building is the Church Office Building.

Which is the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One interesting thing to do at this building is to head to the observation deck on the 26th floor.

The views are magnificent and will surely add to your visit. Another building to visit while in Salt Lake City is the Utah State Capitol.

The main floor of the Capitol offers unique exhibits and provides free guided tours Monday through Friday. If you have children they may enjoy visiting the Museum of Church History and Art.

There are interesting exhibits and activities for children including puppet shows and films. A few other great places to take children are the Hogle Zoo and Wheeler Historic Farm.

The Hogle Zoo has plenty of animals, gift shops, a train and a carousel. Wheeler Historic Farm also has farm animals, wagon rides, special events and picnic areas.

Both attractions will definitely be fun for the whole family. Located across the street from the zoo is This is the Place State Park, which is a historic pioneer village.

Live the life of a pioneer as you visit the houses, shops, schools and churches. If you love shopping, one of the best places to shop in Salt Lake is the Gateway Mall.

This outdoor mall has plenty of shops and restaurants. Also located in the mall is a large fountain where plenty of families gather during the summer to play and cool off.

The mall is also home to the Clark Planetarium, a large movie theater, and Discovery Gateway Children's Museum. Some other places to shop are Gardner Village (which is especially enjoyable during October when the whole village is decorated for Halloween), Trolley Square, and the Tanger Outlet Mall in Park City.

A few other enjoyable sites for children are the Living Planet Aquarium and Tracy Aviary, which is home to 500 different birds. Salt Lake also has many unique museums.

A few to check out are the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, the Utah Museum of Natural History, the Pioneer Memorial Museum, Utah's Historic Governor's Mansion, and the Museum of Utah Art & History. During the summer a few fun places to visit are Lagoon theme park and water park, Raging Waters, Red Butte Gardens, and Boondocks Family Fun Center.

During the winter it is always fun to visit the many ski resorts and the Gallivan Center which has an outdoor ice skating rink. For those sports fans, Utah has plenty of sports games to watch.

Visitors can enjoy a Utah Jazz basketball game, a Salt Lake Bees baseball game, a Real Salt Lake soccer game, a Utah Blaze football game, or a Utah Grizzlies hockey game. With plenty of sports teams, you are sure to find one you will like.

There are so many great things to do in this diverse city. You will have a great time whether just visiting or living in Salt Lake City!

Terry Daniels has been writing about things to do in cities across America. He recommends (www.thingstodo.com) for things to do in your area.