Things to do in  Salt Lake City

When Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, Brigham Young, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), proclaimed, “Here we will build a temple to our God.” That place eventually became known as Temple Square, the centerpiece of which is the Salt Lake Temple—the largest Mormon temple in the world.

The neoclassical Utah State Capitol Building opened in 1916 and is home to the offices and chambers of the state Legislature, governor, and other government officials. The building is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and features artwork, historical items, and monuments both inside and around the grounds.

Utah’s This is the Place Heritage Park commemorates the arrival of Mormon pioneers who settled in the Salt Lake City valley in 1847. Experience activities such as train and pony rides, blacksmithing, and gold panning at the 450-acre (182-hectare) park’s Heritage Village, which also displays restored structures and hosts events.

Built for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Utah Olympic Park was the site of the bobsled, skeleton, luge, ski jumping, and Nordic combined events. The park, located just outside downtown Park City, now serves as a training center for Olympic hopefuls and is a top tourist attraction for visitors and locals interested in Olympic history.

Utah's Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the largest natural lake in the United States that's west of the Mississippi River. Beyond the sheer spectacle of its proportions, the lake is also the setting for some of the state's best outdoor recreational opportunities. Sailors and kayakers ply the waters, while sunbathers bask on sandy beaches and swimmers float in the high-saline waters.

With its domed roof, massive pipe organ, and precise acoustics, the Salt Lake Tabernacle makes a fittingly grand home for the famed and hundreds-strong Tabernacle Choir. It is also a major destination within Temple Square, the 10-acre (4-hectare) complex in downtown Salt Lake City that is home to many key landmarks of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

At the base of Emigration Canyon, Utah's Hogle Zoo is one of Salt Lake City's most popular family-friendly attractions. Its 42 acres (17 hectares) are home to more than 800 species of animal. Exhibit highlights include the Elephant Encounter, with African elephants and white rhinos, and the Asian Highlands, featuring five endangered species of Asian cat.

The Natural History Museum of Utah is an interactive museum exploring a billion years of Utah’s natural history, including its dinosaur fossil deposits. Visitors watch paleontology technicians prepare real dinosaur bones for display and research in the dinosaur lab, and the museum’s exhibit of life-size dinosaur skeletons is a must-see.

Salt Lake City’s Clark Planetarium promotes greater public awareness of the sciences by creating educational experiences that inspire wonder and curiosity. Tons of free interactive exhibits, curated IMAX screening, laser light shows, and intergalactic adventures in the Dome make the natural world, space, and beyond accessible to all.

Salt Lake City’s Latter-Day Saints Family History Library is the largest genealogical library in the world. Founded primarily to assist members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to fulfill one of their fundamental tenets—to baptize and otherwise save deceased ancestors—today many individuals use the library to simply research their ancestry.

Liberty Park is Salt Lake City’s oldest and liveliest city park. Located just southeast of the city center, the park features numerous playgrounds, seasonal amusement rides, a swimming pool, basketball courts, concession stands, and a popular running path. The park is also home to the Tracy Aviary, a sanctuary for rare and endangered birds from around the world.

The Discovery Gateway Children's Museum is an interactive, hands-on museum in Salt Lake City’s Gateway District. Programs and exhibits encourage the whole family to learn about science, engineering, art, animals, music, and more. There are temporary exhibits too, and a daily offering of workshops and special activities for kids.

Opened in 2011 on Salt Lake City’s Library Square, this museum of science, art, and technology is named after Leonardo da Vinci, Italy's famous painter, mathematician, and inventor. Its mission is to inspire visitors to explore the creative side of science and technology through interactive exhibits.

A natural oasis set on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, Red Butte Garden blankets the foothills in blossoms, plant displays, and hiking trails. The 100-acre (40-hectare) garden is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West, and it is best known for its magnificent spring bulb blooms and educational water-conservation garden.

Formerly the lavish Hotel Utah, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building is now a social center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Named after the church’s founder, the Salt Lake City building acts as the welcome center for Temple Square and features the Legacy Theater, which regularly shows church-produced films.