Car Hire in Salt Lake City, United States

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is the capital of the state of Utah, and is perhaps most famous for being the worldwide headquarters of the Mormon Church, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or the LDS Church. The city’s name is derived from the nearby Great Salt Lake, which is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Due to the lake’s proximity, and the Wasatch Mountains close by too, the city is a popular tourist spot, which has especially flourished since 2002, when the Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City.

Attractions

In the city centre, Temple Square is the most popular tourist attraction in Utah, and houses many prominent Mormon buildings, including the Salt Lake Temple, the biggest and most famous Mormon temple, and the Tabernacle, home to the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and which hosts choral performances for members of the public.

Next to Temple Square is the Museum of Church History and Art, which contains exhibits that chronicle the history of the Mormon Church since its inception in the early 19th century. The LDS Conference Centre hosts the semi-annual conferences of the Mormon Church, and is one of the biggest conference centres in the world, with a capacity of 21,000 people; from the rooftop there are spectacular views over the city.

Brigham Young was the second president of the Mormon Church, and his home, Beehive House, has been preserved and contains many furnishings from the mid 19th century. Other recommended museums include the Museum of Utah Art and History, and the Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts, which has a collection of Native American artwork.

The Winter Olympics 2002 were held in the city in 2002, and the Olympic Cauldron Park preserves the legacy of the Games. A visitor’s centre contains photographic and film exhibits that allow visitors to relive the action of the Games.

With the success of the Winter Olympics, combined with the proximity of the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City offers a number of opportunities for visitors to go hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and camping.

Shopping

Two of the larger and better-known shopping centres in Salt Lake City include Trolley Square and The Gateway, which offer a wide selection of branded goods. For specialist shops, Salt Lake To Go sells a range of Utah-themed items, and Cummings Chocolates is considered by some to be one of the best chocolate shops in the country. Perhaps surprisingly, it is also possible to find British foods and gifts at the British Pantry and The London Market.

Nightlife and Eating Out

For local cuisine, some popular restaurants include Ruth’s Diner, The Plum Restaurant, and JB’s Family Restaurant. Salt Lake City has Utah’s best selection of international cuisine, and some recommended restaurants are the Red Iguana for Mexican food, Mikado for Japanese dishes, the Golden Phoenix for Chinese food, Cedars of Lebanon for Middle Eastern cuisine, and Star of India for Indian food.

Salt Lake City has a number of brewpubs that offer freshly brewed beer, and 2 of the most popular include Red Rock Brewing and Squatters Pub Brewery. For non-beer drinkers, The Mynt Martini and Panache Wine Bar are worth a visit. In terms of nightclubs, W Lounge and Vortex are popular spots to dance the night away.

Tourist Information

Salt Lake City Convention and Visitors Bureau
90 South West Temple
Salt Lake City
84101

Telephone: +1 801 534 4900
Website: www.visitsaltlake.com

Airport

Salt Lake City Airport is located approximately 6 miles west of the city centre, and is easily reached by taxi of bus. The airport is mostly served by domestic carriers, and so most visitors will not fly directly into the city, rather transiting at a larger international airport in the USA, such as San Francisco or Phoenix.