What you should ACTUALLY do while visiting Salt Lake City, Utah

When you see that Delta has a nonstop flight to Salt Lake City for $250, you buy a ticket without second thought.

Utah holds a special place in my heart; it's a state that overflows in natural beauty, and I've dedicated a decent chunk of time exploring its landscapes. However, on this particular adventure, I found myself heading north to the city of Salt Lake City.

As I mapped out my week-long stay, I couldn't help but wonder which of these experiences were actually worth my time. So, I decided to help you out: I rolled up my sleeves, dove headfirst into every opportunity, and separated the gems from the merely good. Now, I'm here to make your trip planning easy by sharing the absolute must-dos in Salt Lake City. Hope this helps you narrow down what you should actually do!

Washington Square Park

First things first, let’s talk transportation. Downtown is a quick 15 min drive from the airport and there are other methods of getting into town other than renting a car, including a light rail that takes you from the airport right into town. They even have a “free-zone” where you can hop on and off the light rail for free!

However, if you are to do anything outside of the immediate downtown area (which I highly encourage you do), it would be easiest to rent a car.

Food Worth Eating in Salt Lake City

To be honest, I was a little bit surprised by the food choices here. As in, there weren’t quite as many varieties as I was hoping. And none really stood out to me as “omg I HAVE to try this!” so every day, deciding what to eat was the hardest part. Let me make it a little easier for you:

Pretty Bird: a local fried chicken favorite - dry rub with a variety of spice intensities.

Wild Wood: quaint little restaurant tucked away into a neighborhood offering a rotating menu - their beignets are quite tasty too!

Honest Eatery: I can’t travel without finding a place full of healthier options - so this was my go to for most lunches! Smoothies, sandwiches, açaí bowls...all so so tasty.

Copper Onion: the chicken, the pasta, all of it - so good! A perfect place for dinner.

Tradition: comfort bites and endless charm in this little place.

Eva’s Bakery: a smaller menu, but oh so delicious! Also has a great bakery section with fresh bread and pastries. Very aesthetic too which is a plus!

Aqua Terra Steak and Sushi: on the pricey side but worth it if you are planning on treating yourself while you travel. Serving sizes are also pretty big which is nice.

Renourish Kombucha Tap Room: if you are a fan of kombucha, this is the place for you! They even have the option to do a flight of kombucha so you can try multiple flavors.

Dough Miner: big, dense donuts as well as many other doughy goodies. You’re on vacation - treat yourself!

Roots Coffee & Co, Cupla Coffee, The Honeysuckle, Picnic Cafe, Publik Coffee Roasters: All delicious coffee shops!

Things to do near Downtown Salt Lake City

While I wouldn’t call downtown “bustling,” there are still a decent amount of things to do. If you’re efficient, you can probably knock these items out in a couple of days.

Natural History Museum - what an incredibly cool and massive museum! Specifically the dinosaur exhibit. They have a room packed full of Dino bones and a window where you can watch paleontologists work on their newest finds. It felt like I was in Jurassic Park! Took me about 2 hours to get through the whole thing.

Walk the city - I think it’s definitely worth walking the city and checking out all of the beautiful parks in the area. Soak in the sights and get a feel for what the city is like. It has an interesting mix of European design and modern builds.

Planetarium - another incredibly cool place to check out! From floating globes to amazing light shows, the planetarium is a great way to spend a couple of hours.

Temple Square - you can’t come to Salt Lake City without checking out the Temple. It is quite stunning and interesting to see the history of the city here.

Catch a show at the Theatre - Okay, so I actually did not get the chance to do this and I am incredibly disappointed. Please catch a show on my behalf and let me know how it is!

City Creek Mall - a large, beautiful indoor/outdoor mall that is not only functional but aesthetic as well. You can find a variety of shops, dining, and seating areas. While I am not much of a shopper, it was still fun to walk through.

Trolley Square - another very cool mall built within an old trolley house. Make sure to check out the Rare Books Store while you are there!

Play Sand Volleyball at Liberty Park - this is the same park where the Zoo is located. There is a great grassy area, walking path, pond, and sand volleyball courts.

Great Salt Lake - there are two ways to access, through Antelope Island and through the State Park. Antelope Island is about an hour away from downtown but if I were you, I would go here instead of the State Park (which is not really worth the $5 admission in my opinion).

Ensign Trail - quick hike up offers you a great view of the city. I would probably go during a sunrise or sunset though for optimal views.

The Capitol - from the inside out, this is such a beautiful capitol. Inside is full of marble and beautiful paintings. The area surrounding is also very nice and worth a walk/drive through.

Day Trips from Salt Lake City

This is mainly why I would suggest renting a car. There are sooo many amazing things outside of downtown that I would highly suggest checking out. Specifically all of the nature items.

Hike Sunset Peak via Brighton Lakes Trail - About a 45 min drive outside of Salt Lake City in Brighton. You’ll park at the resort and access the trails behind the lodges. It’s about 6 miles hiking round trip. You pass expansive lakes and make your way up to breath taking views. Hiking is so great out here - you’re bound to love your time out in nature.

Fifth Hot Springs - This two-mile hike is worth it to take a dip in nature’s hot tub! This was one of my favorite days. The whole area is gorgeous and it is so cool to be able to soak for a while. Just remember to bring a towel and dry clothes for the hike back!

Park City - If you’re looking for some extra adventure, check out the adventure park at Park City (summer time). I did the Alpine Slide and I wish I could have gone multiple times. It was so exhilarating racing down the mountain via slide. Plus taking some time to window shop is always a good idea.

Bonneville Salt Flats - This takes about an hour and a half to get to and the road there and be warned that the drive there is very unexciting. I wish more than anything that there were other attractions on the way, but nope. But fear not! The destination is worth the drive. Bring a lunch and camp out for a while once you get to the salt flats.

Provo - Provo is about 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City and has a quaint little downtown area to explore. While it houses quite a few university students, it still has plenty for visitors to enjoy. Stop by on your way back from visiting the hot springs!