SALT LAKE CITY: Wasatch Front’s Urban Heartbeat

Dear Adventurous Traveler,

Allow us to introduce you to a mini metropolis that thrives with the good life at the base of canyons with mountains that soar above 11,000 feet: Salt Lake City – population 190,884 in the city proper; 1,153,340 people living in the greater SLC metro area.

You’ll drive 15 minutes from the international airport for immediate access to hundreds of the prettiest and raddest trails, cuisine and cocktails from big-city chefs who relocated to SLC for quality-of-life purposes, a symphony orchestra that will remind you that humanity makes remarkable music, art from both locals and global visionaries in every nook and cranny, live music that will make hipsters jealous, and a craft brew scene that you’d never expect but it will knock your socks off. Perhaps this is why Thrillest has named Salt Lake City “The American City Where Your Best Life is Outrageously Cheap.” Come. And play a while.

ART & CULTURE

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM of UTAH

If you like nature, be prepared to get sucked in for hours and hours to Utah’s gorgeously designed and built Natural History Museum of Utah. You must go. Because you’ll learn about The Cave That Holds a Million Bones, walk through curated research by classically trained natural historians, bug exhibits that citizen scientists (that’s you) will win over even the most nervous, and events like the Chocolate & Cheese Festival or Navajo Rug Sales. And, best of all, it sits in the foothills overlooking the entire valley, and hiking and biking trails are literally right outside its doors.

THE LEONARDO

Want more science and cool stuff to see when the afternoons get a little too hot? The Leonardo. Go and see science in action with exhibits that make adults and children alike beam with delight.

WHERE THE LOCALS GET THEIR ART & CULTURE FIX

•Utah Symphony •Ballet West •Music at The Cathedral of the Madeleine •Salt Lake Choral Artists •Utah Museum of Fine Art •Utah Museum of Contemporary Art •Phillips Gallery •The State Room (live music) •Kingsbury Hall •Jazz SLC

OUTDOOR RECREATION

I know and you know that SLC is all about the outdoor access. You’ve heard it at least a bajillion times because it’s true and worth talking about a bajillion times. Why? Because you can walk from the center of downtown to City Creek canyon to instantaneous nature nirvana; because the Bonneville Shoreline Trail is a few minutes’ drive from downtown for you to enjoy on foot or bike; because Snowbird Mountain Resort is for skiers and hikers and eaters and spa-goers who are snobs about the view; because Big Cottonwood Canyon is full of a life-time’s alpine trails that change their scenery daily.

DINING & BARS

Where can you get a good meal and a good beverage? Lucky for you, Salt Lake City is going gangbusters with a glorious artisan food and drink extravaganza that’s getting international attention.

LOCALS’ FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

•HSL •Pallet Bistro •Copper Onion •Avenues Bistro •Takashi •Pago •Laziz Kitchen •Mazza •Rye •Yoko Ramen •Eva •Current

BARS YOU’LL LOVE

•Under Current •Beer Bar •The Rest Speakeasy •Lake Effect •Copper Common

COFFEE HOUSE OASIS – Locally Roasted Heaven

•La Barba •Blue Copper •Publik •Three Pines

GETTING AROUND

SLC is on the biking bandwagon and has implemented a green biking program that is making it easier and easier to get around town–ride your own bike or rent one of the city’s green bikes anywhere in town.

And then there’s TRAX–the super duper easy metro train that will get you from shopping to gallery strolling to historic sites.

WHERE TO STAY

Depending on what you’re looking for, there’s more than enough options for what you need: historic and charming B&B’s, grand hotels with pools and spas for luxurious vacays, or house rentals to test out your relocation fantasies. Because you’re going to end up living here. It’s that good.