THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND SALT LAKE CITY

We've organized recommendations as concentric circles around the conference hotel — from a five-minute walk to a full day in the mountains.

If you have one free evening, stay in Circle 1 or 2. A free afternoon? Circle 3 is reachable by TRAX or short rideshare. Extending your trip? Circles 4 and 5 are where Utah's landscape really pays off.

Price guide (all prices in USD): $ under $15/person · $$ $15–30 · $$$ $30–60 · $$$$ $60+ (typical dinner entrée, without drinks)

City Creek Center. Open-air shopping center adjacent to the hotel, with a retractable-roof, creek running through it, and a small herd of trout. Worth a walk-through even if you're not shopping. The food court and casual restaurants here are also the closest option for quick, affordable meals ($-$$) — useful between sessions or when you don't want a sit-down dinner. Traveling with kids? There's a large indoor play area in the food court.

Temple Square. One block north. The historic center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the visual anchor of downtown. Welcoming to people of any background; the gardens, the Tabernacle, and the Conference Center are open to the public. The Tabernacle Choir often rehearses Thursday evenings — free and open to the public.

The Roof. Top-floor buffet restaurant in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, with the best downtown views of Temple Square. No alcohol or coffee served. Reservations recommended. $$$

The Garden. Casual lunch spot on the ground floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building — soups, salads, sandwiches, and a famous turkey pot pie. Lunch only, Monday–Friday. $

Everything in this circle is within the downtown Free Fare Zone.

Salt Lake City Public Library. A genuinely beautiful piece of architecture by Moshe Safdie. Free; the rooftop is worth the elevator ride. ~15 minutes' walk.

The Gallivan Center. Plaza with rotating events and public art.

Eccles Theater and Capitol Theatre. Both host touring Broadway productions, concerts, and the Utah Symphony.

The Gateway. Outdoor shopping district with restaurants, the Clark Planetarium (free exhibits, paid IMAX/dome shows), and the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum. ~15 minutes west. Traveling with kids? The Clark Planetarium's free exhibits and Discovery Gateway are both designed for families — easy to make an afternoon of it.

Delta Center Home of the Utah Jazz (NBA) and Utah Mammoth (NHL). If the schedule lines up, tickets are usually available.

The Garden. Casual lunch spot on the ground floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building — soups, salads, sandwiches, and a famous turkey pot pie. Lunch only, Monday–Friday. $

Salt Lake's dining scene has come a long way in the last decade, especially for New American, Italian, and chef-driven seasonal cuisine.

Price guide (all prices in USD): $ under $15/person · $$ $15–30 · $$$ $30–60 · $$$$ $60+ (typical dinner entrée, without drinks)

Fine dining:

• Urban Hill ($$$$) — One of the city's most talked-about upscale spots, with wood-fire cooking, refined service, and an excellent cocktail and wine program.
• Veneto Ristorante Italiano ($$$$) — Elegant Northern Italian; handmade pastas and a serious Italian wine list. Quieter, romantic atmosphere.
• HSL ($$$) — Contemporary New American with inventive small plates and seasonal, chef-driven menus.
• Valter's Osteria ($$$$) — Longtime SLC institution for upscale Italian hospitality and tableside service. Popular for celebrations and business dinners.
• Oquirrh ($$$) — Modern and minimalist, focused on local sourcing and creative tasting-style dishes.
• Current Fish & Oyster ($$$) — Seafood-focused upscale dining; especially strong for oysters and cocktails.

Comfort food:

• Siegfried's Delicatessen ($) — Longtime SLC institution for German comfort food: schnitzel, spaetzle, sausages, pastries.
• White Horse ($$$) — Elevated gastropub fare in a lively downtown setting; especially good burgers, fried chicken, and brunch.
• Franklin Ave. Cocktails & Kitchen ($$$) — Cozy upscale comfort food with strong cocktails and scratch-made dishes.
• Sunday's Best (Post District) ($$) — Extremely popular brunch spot with oversized pancakes and indulgent breakfast plates.
• From Scratch ($$) — Downtown staple for mac and cheese, meatloaf, chicken pot pie, and classic American dishes.
• Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana ($$) — Authentic Neapolitan-style pizza from a wood-burning oven, with imported Italian ingredients. Gelato too.

The Avenues. Historic neighborhood on the hillside northeast of downtown. Quiet, walkable, good casual restaurants, excellent valley views. Streets are steep — comfortable shoes recommended. ~15–20 minutes' walk uphill or a quick rideshare.

9th & 9th. Charming commercial district at 900 South and 900 East. Independent bookstore (The King's English), coffee, restaurants, boutiques. ~10-minute rideshare.

15th & 15th. Similar small district at 1500 South and 1500 East. Pair with 9th & 9th on the same outing.

Liberty Park and Tracy Aviary. Big urban park with a small but excellent aviary inside. ~10-minute rideshare south. Traveling with kids? The park has a small amusement area with rides, and Tracy Aviary's bird shows are a hit with younger kids

Central Ninth and the Granary District. Up-and-coming area south of downtown with breweries, distilleries, and restaurants in renovated industrial spaces.

University of Utah. Red Line TRAX, ~15 minutes from downtown. Three things worth the trip:

• Natural History Museum of Utah — striking architecture, excellent paleontology.
• Utah Museum of Fine Arts — small but well-curated.
• Red Butte Garden — botanical garden on the foothills with mountain views.

Traveling with kids? The Natural History Museum is the strongest of the three for kids — dinosaur skeletons, interactive exhibits, and lots of room to roam.

Salt Lake Chinatown. Asian shopping plaza on State Street about 3 miles south of downtown, built around Utah's largest Asian supermarket. Cluster of Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese restaurants, plus Asian bakeries and desserts. ~10-minute rideshare from the venue.

More to Explore. Salt Lake City has more attractions than we can cover here — including Hogle Zoo (great with kids), This Is the Place Heritage Park (also family-friendly — a recreated pioneer village with rides, animals, and demonstrations), Ensign Peak (the short hike behind the State Capitol), and many more. For a fuller list, see Tripadvisor's Salt Lake City attractions or Visit Salt Lake.

Fine dining:

• Table X ($$$$) — Chef-driven tasting-menu dining with a strong local and seasonal focus. Often considered the city's most ambitious culinary experience.
• Log Haven ($$$$) — Upscale mountain dining in a historic log mansion up Millcreek Canyon. Worth it as much for the setting as the food.
• Franck's ($$$$) — Smaller, intimate fine dining with polished service and seasonal tasting-style menus.

Comfort food:

• Red Iguana ($$) — The city's most famous Mexican restaurant, known for its moles. Often featured in national food coverage. Expect a wait.
• Atomic Biscuit ($$) — Southern-inspired comfort food built around biscuits, fried chicken, and gravy.
• Blind Rabbit Kitchen ($$) — Sugar House spot known for elevated comfort food, especially brunch and Southern-inspired dishes.
• Hook & Ladder Co ($$) — West-side favorite for massive burgers, fries, sandwiches, and classic American comfort food.

Mid-October fall colors are usually past peak in the canyons but lingering at lower elevations, and the high country may already have a dusting of snow. Layers are essential. A rental car is the easiest way; rideshares work but get expensive for the return.

City Creek Canyon. Closest option — trailhead is walkable from downtown (start at Memory Grove). Paved road through a wooded canyon, great for a morning run or walk. Free, no car needed.

Millcreek Canyon. Closer in and lower elevation, easier hiking and good fall color. ~25 minutes from downtown. Small entrance fee per car.

Big Cottonwood Canyon. ~30 minutes from downtown. Drive up to Brighton or Solitude for short walks around alpine lakes — Silver Lake at Brighton has a flat, accessible boardwalk loop. Traveling with kids? The Silver Lake boardwalk is stroller-friendly and short — easy to do with even small children.

Little Cottonwood Canyon. Adjacent canyon, home to Alta and Snowbird. The Snowbird aerial tram may still be running for foliage rides in early October — check the schedule.

Antelope Island State Park. ~1 hour northwest. A causeway drive across the Great Salt Lake to an island with bison, pronghorn, and surreal lake views. Bring a windbreaker. Traveling with kids? The bison are visible from the road — easy wildlife viewing without a hike.

Park City. ~35 minutes east via I-80. Historic Main Street, restaurants, shopping, and the Utah Olympic Park (which will host events again for the 2034 Winter Olympics). Easy half-day or evening trip.

Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. 3.5–4 hours southeast in Moab. Doable as a very long day trip, much better as an overnight.

Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. 4–5 hours south. Different landscapes — slot canyons at Zion, hoodoos at Bryce — both spectacular. Worth a 2–3 day extension.

Capitol Reef National Park. ~3.5 hours south. The least-visited of Utah's "Mighty Five," and many people's favorite for exactly that reason.

Bonneville Salt Flats. ~1.5 hours west on I-80. Otherworldly, especially at sunset.

Goblin Valley State Park. ~3.5 hours south. A surreal landscape of mushroom-shaped rock formations you can walk among freely.