Travel Help

Things to Know | Motels | Transportation | Restaurants | Resources | Shopping | Attractions

Things to Know

Navigating the City:
Finding your way around in Salt Lake City is easy if you've ever played Battleship. The city is laid out in a grid, with the Mormon temple at the center of the city. For example, the dance club Area 51 is at 451 S. 400 W., that means it's four and a half blocks south and four blocks west of the temple. So if you're at the club and you want to go to a sushi restaurant at 336 S. 400 E., you know you just have to go one block north and eight blocks east.

Take note: Salt Lake City streets were designed to be able to turn around a team of oxen without backing up, so city blocks are large.

Those Quirky Utah Liquor Laws:
Bars in Utah are called a "private club for members," but that's not about exclusivity; it's just that all bars that sell liquor in Utah have to be known as private clubs. You don't need to worry about having a membership to attend Dark Arts, because when you buy a concert ticket, the concert promoter becomes your sponsor. All you need is your ticket, which you can buy at the door if you desire.

Mixed drinks can have a maximum of 2.75 ounces of alcohol, and if you request a double, the second shot will be brought separately for you to mix yourself. Last call is 1am.

If you want to drink at other establishments while you're in town, you can go to a brew pub or a restaurant that has a liquor license, or you can buy a temporary membership to go to a private club. Buying a temporary membership is easy. You just fill out a short form and pay a small fee, usually about $5.

You can also purchase alcohol at state liquor stores, and 3.2% beer can be purchased in grocery and convenience stores subject to local ordinances.

Motels

Hampton Inn
425 S 300 W
(801) 741-1110

Best Western Garden Inn
154 W. 600 S.
(801) 521-2930

Motel 6
176 W. 600 S.
(801) 531-1252

Quality Inn City Center
134 W 600 S
(801) 521-2930

Super 8 Motel
616 S. 200 W.
(801) 534-0808

Armstrong Mansion Bed and Breakfast Hotel
667 E. 100 S.
(801) 531-1333
Built in 1893, the mansion has been fully restored to its original Victorian splendor. Enjoy a full all-you-can-eat gourmet breakfast.

Hotel Monaco
15 W. 200 S.
(801) 595-0000
The Hotel Monaco showcases distinguished architecture and features a high-style sophisticated interior which recalls the glamour of a 1940s home in the Hollywood Hills.

The Anniversary Inn
678 E. South Temple
(801) 363-4950
Each suite is decorated with a different theme, like "Sultan's Palace" or "Enchanted Forest."

The Grand America
555 S Main St
(801) 258-6000
Salt Lake's most luxurious hotel. Spacious and elegant guest rooms are decorated with fine fabrics in rich colors and French cherry-wood furnishings.

Transportation

Restaurants

One World Cafe
about 300 E. and 100 S.
10am-6pm, seven days a week
At this innovative restaurant, there is no menu and no prices. Diners eat whatever sparks the culinary imagination of owner and chef Denise Cerreta. Most days she offers soup, one or two salads, quiche, a main entree and a dessert, all of which are inspired by the fresh, organic produce and meats she buys that day. Customers can fill their plates with as much, or as little, as they want and pay what they feel their meal is worth. In place of a cash register, Cerreta has a brown basket where patrons place their money.

Orbit Cafe
540 W. 200 S.
(801) 322-3808
Open until 10pm
A rotating menu with creative fare like blackened salmon, Thai chicken, coconut shrimp, and vegan burgers. Reasonably priced at around $8.00 per entree, and with a rocking decor that feels more like a cozy dance club than a restaurant.

Ichiban
336 S 400 E
801-532-7522
Dinners nightly from 4pm to 11pm. Appetizers, sushi and sashimi, and full Japanese menu in a gorgeous old church.
Expect to spend $15-$20.

The Melting Pot
340 S. Main
(801) 521-6358
Monday-Thursday: 5 pm - 10 pm
Friday and Saturday: 5 pm - 11 pm
Sunday: 4 pm - 10 pm
Fondue restaurant. An expensive treat.

The Blue Iguana
165 S West Temple
(801) 533-8900
Often voted the best Mexican food in the city, with reasonable prices and generous margaritas.

Thaifoon
The Gateway
7 N. 400 W., Space 2040
(801) 456-THAI (8424) phone
Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11:30am-10pm, Fri. and Sat. 11:30 am-1 pm
Sumptuous Thai food in a welcoming environment at affordable prices

Thai Siam
1435 S State Street
(801) 474-3322
The most authentic Thai food in Salt Lake City, with a large vegetarian menu and affordable prices.

Lamb's Grill Cafe
169 S. Main St.
(801) 364-7166
A downtown Salt Lake institution for over 80 years, the Lamb's Grill Cafe serves traditional western diner fare alongside stellar daily specials. Meat is a staple of the menu, but seasonal vegetables certainly hold their own. Fish, such as halibut, trout and snapper from the local rivers and lakes keep the selection fresh. Utah's oldest restaurant, the Lamb's Grill Cafe is housed in the Herald Building, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Cafe Trang
818 S Main St
Superb Vietnamese food. Try the lettuce wrap appetizer; you won't be disappointed.

Bombay House
1615 Foothill Drive
(801) 581-0222
Often considered the best Indian food in Utah; reasonably priced.

The Cedars of Lebanon
152 E. 200 S.
(801) 364-4096
Award-winning Middle-Eastern cuisine

Ever Green House
755 S. State Street
(801) 328-8889
Vegetarian Chinese cafe

Koko Kitchen
702 S. 300 E.
(801) 364-4888
Japanese home-style cooking at a good value for takeout or dining in.

Beto's
435 E. 400 S.
(801) 363-0788
24 Hour Mexican Food

Village Inn
910 E. 400 S.
(801) 355-3753
Mon. - Thurs. 6am-10pm
Fri. and Sat. 24 hours
Sunday 'til 1am
Slightly better than average diner food.

Denny's
250 W. 500 S.
(801) 355-1210
Diner food, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Other Downtown Resources

Shopping

The highest concentration of interesting shops in Salt Lake City is in the Sugarhouse neighborhood, at about 2100 S. and 1100 E. Within a two-block radius, you'll find a Barnes & Noble book store, an independent coffee shop, a natural foods store, a local thrift store, a number of restaurants, a dollar movie theater, a vinyl record store, and a place to get a manicure, not to mention the following shops that particularly cater to the underground:

Obscura Clothing
2030 S. 900 E.
801-466-0894
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 12-5
Clothing that caters to the counter culture: industrial, punk, goth, cyber, electro, and hardcore.

Arsenic Fashions Boutique
1103 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

The Blue Boutique
2106 S. 1100 E.
(801) 485-2072
Shop specializing in underground and fetish clothing.

Spellbound
1057 East 2100 South
(801) 521-5605
Salt Lake City's premier pagan store has over 300 different bulk herbs and can provide for all your witchy needs. They specialize in procuring rare and hard-to-find books and herbs and carry a vast array of books, cards, jewelry, gifts, cauldrons, candles and more.

Pib's Exchange
2144 S. Highland Drive
801 484 7996
This small, rowdy clothing shop caters to a young crowd with limited funds.

Haight Boutique
2126 S. Highland Drive
801 487-7771
A mind-boggling array of shoes, from psychedelic to fetish.

Orion's Music
2110 S. 1100 E
801-531-8181
Independent Record Store

Other Salt Lake stores that are worth traveling to:

The Gateway Plaza
100 S. and 400 W.
(801) 456-0575
This huge outdoor mall, close to downtown, was built for the 2002 Olympics. Some of the stores there include a Virgin Megastore, a Barnes & Noble bookstore, a Victoria's Secret, lots of restaurants like the highly recommended Thaifoon and Happy Sumo, and a movie theater.

Knucklehead's
443 E 400 S
You can't buy clove cigarettes in Utah, so this is where the locals go to buy Sweet Dreams cigarettes for a chocolate or cherry flavored smoking fix.

Grunts and Postures
779 E. 300 S.
(801) 521-3202
Used and vintage clothing with an outrageously creative flair.

Decades
627 S State St
(801) 537-1357
Vintage clothing, shoes and accessories cram the store. Decades also has one of the largest selections of antique hatboxes, hats and suitcases in the city.

Dancing Cranes Imports
673 East Simpson Ave. (2240 South)
(801) 486-1129
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 12-5
This "emporium of world culture" carries exotic jewelry, clothing, and home decor.

Tease & Keys
4832 Highland Circle, on the second floor of the Cottonwood Mall
801-272-3162
Rare CDs, fantasy collectibles, and gifts

The Abyss
4901 South State Street Ste. G
801-313-0266
Metal, gothic, and industrial music store

Attractions

The Main Library
Library Square, 210 E. 400 S.
(801) 524-8200
Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Admission: Free.
Forget about must, dust, and being shushed -- this is not your grandmother's library. This architectural marvel is less than two years old, and is all shining steel, airy atriums, and modernity. If the six stories of books aren't enough for you, try the computer center or the teeming audio visual section, or wander into the courtyard to visit a coffee shop, gift shop, or comic book store.

Gilgal Gardens
749 E. 500 S.
Hours: 8am-8pm
Admission: Free
This tiny sculpture garden is tucked away behind a Chuck-a-rama and a Wonder Bread factory like a secret urban treasure. It was created by Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. a stone mason and a Mormon bishop who built the to express religious and philosophical beliefs and worked on it from 1945 to 1963. The most famous piece is a large Sphinx, with the head of Mormon prophet Joseph Smith. A self-portrait of the artist wearing brick pants is also memorable, as is the 20-foot soldier with a sword in one hand and a boulder for a Head. Quotations are carved into stone everywhere you look. There are some photos here but it really must be seen to be believed.

Temple Square
15 E. South Temple
(800) 537-9703
Hours: 9am-9pm
Admission: Free, with tours starting every 10 minutes
The most popular attraction in the state; this is the place if you want the scoop on Utah and Mormon culture. (Note: the church does reserve the right to impose dress standards on its grounds, so its best to avoid wearing your more revealing or extreme clothing if you choose to visit.)

Clark Planetarium
110 S. 400 W.
(801) 456-STAR
Hours: 10:30am-midnight
Admission: Imax shows are $8.00.
Site of Utah's only Imax screen.

Memory Grove Park
135 E. North Temple
(801) 972-7800
Admission: Free
Memory Grove is dedicated to Utah veterans and to the memory of those who died while serving in various battles, from World War I to the Vietnam War. It features peaceful greenery and the quiet sounds of City Creek. The striking veteran monuments offer interesting diversions while you enjoy an afternoon by the Harbor of Beauty pond.

Tracy Aviary
589 E. 1300 S.
(801) 322-BIRD
Hours: 9am-6pm
Admission: $4.00
Open to the public since 1938, the Tracy Aviary maintains a collection of approximately 400 birds representing about 135 species. Many of these birds are considered rare or endangered. "Free flight" bird shows are at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm on Saturdays and 1pm and 3pm on Sundays and are included in admission price.

Red Butte Garden
300 Wakara Way
801-581-4747
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9am-9pm Sunday 9am-5pm
Admission: $5.00
With over 150 acres of gardens with walking paths and natural area with hiking trails, Red Butte Garden is the largest botanical and ecological center in the Intermountain West that tests, displays and interprets regional horticulture.

Wheeler Historic Farm
6351 S. 900 E.
(801) 264-2241
Hours: Dawn 'til Dusk daily
Admission: Free
A restoration of a turn-of-the-century dairy farm. Maintaining the farm presents to the public the history of Utah family agriculture. It is a representation of the rural lifestyle in Salt Lake County from 1890-1920.

Utah Olympic Park
3000 Bear Hollow Drive
Park City, Utah
866-OLY-PARKS
Reservation Hotline: (435) 658-4206
Hours: Daily, 9am-6pm
Admission: $8 entrance, plus extra for some rides.
This state-of-the-art park was the site of 14 Olympic gold-medal events in February 2002. It's now an athletic training ground, but is also open to the public for recreational use. Here you can take a summer bobsled ride, go ice-skating, or take a hot air balloon ride.

Lagoon
17 miles north of Salt Lake City, in Farmington, Utah.
(Take I-15 North to the Farmington Lagoon exit, or take UTA bus route 70.)
(801) 451-8000
Hours: 11am (or 10am on Saturday) until about midnight; varies with the weather. Open April through October.
Admission: $31.95 + tax. Parking is $7.00.
This amusement park is over 100 years old, and offers a wide variety of rides, including the Colossus Fire Dragon, a steel coaster that was selected in 1984 by People Magazine as one of the top ten coaster rides in the country.

Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway
25 miles south of Salt Lake City. (Take the 6200 South "Canyons" exit from I-215 and continue east to the canyon on U-210, following signs for Snowbird and Alta.)
The Salt Lake area is known for its majestic mountains, and this is one of the best places to view them. Drive up a glacially carved corridor, catch sight of mountain goats, see a panoramic view from the roof of the Rockiers, and glimpse Utah's most famous areas of wildflowers. This 7 mile scenic byway from the Salt Lake Valley to Alta and back requires approximately one hour.

The Great Salt Lake State Park
16 miles west of Salt Lake City on Interstate 80.
Hours: Daytime
Admission: Free
Visit Utah's own dead sea. At 75 miles long, it's the fourth largest terminal (no outlet) lake in the world, and is 3 to 5 times saltier than the ocean. No fish live here, just creatures like brine shrimp. The lake has a maximum depth of 35 feet, so it's possible to wade out for miles. The park offers a beach, showers, modern rest rooms, and picnic tables.

The Bonneville Salt Flats
120 miles west of Salt Lake City on Interstate 80. (3 miles east of Wendover, take exit #4 of exit #4 off I-80 and go 1 mile north then 3 miles east.)
30,000 acres of flat ancient salt beds, a remnant of the prehistoric sea, Lake Bonneville, which once covered a huge expanse of the Great Basin, and is now reduced to the Great Salt Lake. The Salt flats are legendary for their high speed raceway, which provides a perfect surface and size for the jet powered rocket racers which attain speeds of over 600 mph.