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SALT LAKE CITY — The Huffington Post named Salt Lake City in its five up-and-coming U.S. tourism cities Monday.
The online news blog praised the city for being a “classy yet outdoorsy city just 45 minutes from some of the country's top (ski) resorts,” claiming its aprés ski offers more than the typical ski town.
Salt Lake City was joined in the list by St. Petersburg, Florida; Kansas City (located in both Kansas and Missouri); Bentonville, Arkansas; and Bend, Oregon.
The Huffington Post highlighted various restaurants, entertainment and cultural aspects of the five cities across the country, and Salt Lake has plenty to offer.
If you're a newcomer to the Beehive State, here are a few unique places to visit.
Food
There isn’t a shortage of good eats in Salt Lake, and Pago is just one of the city’s unique dining experiences. Located in a 105-year-old building just outside downtown, the Spanish restaurant offers cuisine produced by local artisans. Pago’s menu changes with the seasons, providing diners with the freshest seasonal ingredients. Another critically acclaimed restaurant located in Utah’s capital is Forage, known for its 14-course tasting menu. Forage’s food is also local, including ingredients from the wild, small farms and ranches.
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Entertainment
For skiers looking for something relaxing to do during the evening after a day on the slopes, the Utah Symphony offers its best seats at a discounted price. All it takes is one phone call to the Utah Symphony box office and a mention of the key phrase “aprés ski.” This month’s upcoming concerts include Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” “Debussy, Francaix, Poulenc Ibert,” “The Pearl Fishers” and Strauss’ “A Hero’s Life.”
The world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir is also headquartered in Salt Lake. The choir performs its weekly program, “Music and the Spoken Word,” which has been inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the National Radio Hall of Fame. “Music and the Spoken Word” is performed every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. free of charge.
Outdoors
In addition to being recognized by Forbes for housing three of the nation’s greatest ski resorts, Utah’s outdoor scene has a lot to offer. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail spans about 100 miles across northern Utah with interconnected trails providing multiple access points, according to USA Today. Hikers and bikers from Logan down to Santaquin can find solace on this beautiful, expansive trail.
Another scenic activity for outdoors enthusiasts, located on the banks of the Jordan River, is visiting the International Peace Gardens. The gardens offer unique plants native to 28 different countries. They are open all day during the summer.
Historical attractions
The beautiful Utah State Capitol Building overlooks the Salt Lake Valley and stands on 20 gorgeous acres. The capitol building includes a historical art gallery, a variety of restaurants, large monuments honoring individuals who contributed to Utah's history and unique artifacts. Individuals and groups can book a variety of events — from weddings to free speech rallies — at the capitol.
Temple Square is another popular tourist attraction. At its heart is the 121-year-old Salt Lake Temple, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Temple Square also offers restaurants, gardens and historical sites. Free tours are available in more than 40 languages.
