Things To Do
Chill Hikes
ENSIGN PEAK: 0.9 mi roundtrip, moderate difficulty. Panoramic view of the entire Salt Lake Valley, Wasatch mountains, and Great Salt Lake. DONUT FALLS: 3.3 mi roundtrip, easy. A unique waterfall that flows through a doughnut-shaped rock formation. BELL'S CANYON RESERVOIR: where we got engaged. :) Different starting points, but ~1.5mi roundtrip. Moderate difficulty. Leads up to a beautiful reservoir nestled in the canyon, offering surrounding mountain views.
Bonneville Salt Flats
This vast white expanse is a remnant of the ancient Lake Bonneville, which covered a third of Utah over 10,000 years ago before it dried up, leaving a thick, vast crust of salt. Fun fact, Davy Jones Locker from Pirate's of the Caribbean was filmed here.
Sugar House Park
A large relaxing park with a clear view of the mountains and sunset. Great for walks or a picnic and is close to some local restaurants and stores.
Breakfast
MONSIEUR CREPES: they serve both sweet and savory crepes. One of the few 5-star breakfast restaurants in the area. LAZY DAY CAFE: classic breakfast with eggs benedict, potatoes, and sausage-type meals. HUB AND SPOKE: a common place to go for breakfast in Salt Lake. They also serve classic American breakfasts.
Lunch/Dinner
bb.q CHICKEN SOUTH SALT LAKE - fresh, juicy Korean bbq chicken. They make it on the spot, so you'll have to order 20-30 minutes ahead of time if you don't want to wait. SPITZ: Mediterranean street food. Rich, flavorful taste that's fresh and healthy at the same time. THE PIE PIZZERIA: Old-school hand-tossed pizzas with fresh ingredients. But it's more known for its "underground" dine-in experience. Located near the U. TACOS LOPEZ: the only authentic Mexican restaurant in Salt Lake (heads up, the menu is in Spanish). Flavorful, high-quality, cheap, and they're open until 2am if you need a quick food run. Their Al Pastor meat is most common to order. FRESHIES LOBSTER CO: Apparently, our land-locked state won the world's best lobster roll in 2017 (we even beat New England). The lobster is shipped in from Maine daily, marinated in butter, and it tops a toasted roll.
Drinks
SWIG or THIRST: these are 2 common soda shops around SLC. People go crazy over them. MAMACHURI KOMBUCHA: SLC's first kombucha brewery, known for their creative flavors that change every few weeks. Get a couple of flights of kombucha/water kefir and relax in their shop a bit. THE TEA GROTTO: A cozy serene tea house known for their walls of tea and tranquil atmosphere. I like ordering the $8 pot because you can get a free refill. Later if you like the tea, you can buy a pack for $15. BEER BAR: Popular and lively downtown establishment that offers a modern take on the traditional beer hall experience. Features a huge rotating selection of beers, a variety of German-inspired food, and a vibrant atmosphere. A BAR NAMED SUE: Offers a comfortable, classic pub atmosphere with a focus on sports, drinks, and free games.
Shopping
CITY CREEK MALL: Upscale, open-air shopping and dining mall in downtown SLC. Known for its pedestrian skybridge and realistic stream that runs through the mall. You get free parking in the parking garage for 2 hours. TROLLEY SQUARE: Historic and unique shopping destination housed in renovated trolley barns. Features a variety of specialty shops, restaurants, and a Whole Foods Market. 9TH & 9TH: Known for its local businesses and diverse restaurants. Fun fact, you can see "East High" from High School Musical if you keep driving up past the whale (you'll know what I mean when you see it). MILLCREEK COMMONS: a large plaza with new activities every week. It's a peaceful area for families to hang out. Features an indoor market that's always open, a climbing wall, roller skating, and food.
Drives
BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON: (~1hr roundtrip) drive alone SR-190 to get a taste of why people move to Salt Lake. The road winds through alpine scenery, with access to great hiking and picnic spots (Silver Lake, Donut Falls, Jordan Pines Group Campground, Storm Mountain Picnic Area). LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON: (30 minute roundtrip) Just south of Big Cottonwood along SR-210. This canyon has more granite walls. In the spring, you'll see stunning wildflowers in Albion Basin where people like to hike and picnic. Or if you want to stay near town, driving along the Wasatch Blvd between Big and Little Cottonwood is beautiful. You can to see the mountains towering over while also catching views of the Salt Lake Valley. Alpha Coffee is located at the mouth of Big Cottonwood if you want something to wake you up in the morning. Or if you're into outdoor gear, The Gear Room is the go-to place. I would recommend stopping at the Mount Olympus Trailhead for a good view of the sunset over the city.