Where to eat, play, and stay in Salt Lake City

If you want a slice of the American West without getting too much sand in your boots, it’s hard to beat Utah's capital city.

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EAT

Start with a sampling of life in the valley by grabbing breakfast on the patio at The Park Café, located across the street from Liberty Park. The menu spans the classics: biscuits and gravy, omelets, breakfast burritos, pancakes the size of dinner plates... For a quick lunch option, try Buds, a walkup vegan sandwich shop. And speaking of sandwiches, if you love a good Italian deli, then swing by Caputos at 15th and 15th, nestled next to Tulie, one of the best coffee shops and European-style bakeries in town.

PLAY

After breakfast at The Park Cafe, stroll across the street to Liberty Park, one of the city's largest green spaces, replete with a running path, volleyball courts, bocce courts, and plenty of spots for picnics and people-watching. At the west side of the park, visit the Tracy Aviary, where ducks and peacocks wander freely, and you can see exotic birds, owls, eagles, and other colorful fowl. (Pro tip: Designate an honorary photographer at the Lorikeet Adventure, where you can hold tiny dishes of sugar water as lorikeets use you as a landing spot—it's hard to move once all those birds perch on you.) And if you want to embrace the scenery that Salt Lake has to offer (to be fair, you’ll get a great view of the mountains no matter which way you look), then take a  5.2-mile hike along Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook, a great vantage point to watch the sunset.

STAY

Situated in the heart of downtown, The Grand American Hotel provides a fantastic view of the mountains and is just a short walk from Temple Square, another great spot for a morning walk. If you’re looking for something a bit more budget-friendly, consider an Airbnb in the Sugar House neighborhood, where you’ll find a smattering of breweries, restaurants, vintage shops, coffee houses, and entertainment.

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