Historic Main Street During Sundance Film Festival Credit : Visit Park City
Scenic Dog Sledding Credit : Visit Park City
ECCLES THEATER
The shiny new George S . and Dolores Doré
Eccles Theater is a world-class , state-of-theart , 2,500 seat performance venue with a six-story grand lobby , galleria , and on-site bistro . The Theater hosts national touring Broadway shows , concerts , comedy , and other entertainment events ranging from The Book of Mormon and Bob Dylan to John Cleese and Jewel .
TEMPLE SQUARE
Although Utah is a predominately Mormon state , Salt Lake City is an exception . Religious or not , the LDS Temple Square is a fascinating place to spend a morning or afternoon . The 10-acre Square ’ s centerpiece is the Salt Lake Temple ( accessible to LDS members only ), which clocks in at over 250,000 square feet . Non-LDS visitors are welcome on the grounds of Temple Square , and the Family Search Center and Family History Library host the largest genealogical database in the world . Go dig up some ancestors !
RED BUTTE GARDEN & ARBORETUM
Situated on the eastern edge of the University
of Utah and open to the public year ‘ round , the 100-acre Red Butte Garden is the biggest botanical garden in the Intermountain West . Via five miles of hiking trails and 21-acres of developed gardens , visitors will discover a mind-bending array of plant collections , including 450,000 springtime blooming bulbs . In summer , Red Butte hosts an impressive concert series showcasing the likes of Tony Bennett , Wilco , Grace Potter , Gary Clark Jr ., and many others .
GREAT SALT LAKE & ANTELOPE ISLAND
You wouldn ’ t want to visit Salt Lake City without seeing the Great Salt Lake , right ? Well , you ’ re certain to view parts of it out of the airplane window during your approach to Salt Lake City International Airport . But to get up close and personal , book a bus tour , rent a car , or bike to explore the Great Salt Lake , which is a mere 16 miles west of Salt Lake City . The prehistoric lake is some 75 miles long and 35 miles wide and is a terrific spot for kayaking , boating , or just floating , with a depth of only about 10 feet in most places . To avoid the infamous “ Lake stench ” created by brine shrimp , head for Antelope Island , which is usually odor free .
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Although Utah is a predominately Mormon state , Salt Lake City is an exception .”
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
During January ’ s Sundance Film Festival , Park City ( about 20 minutes from SLC ) — becomes the glitz and glamour capital of the planet . Movie stars and celebs abound , and getting a seat in a good restaurant becomes harder than wrangling a herd of cats . Don ’ t even think about driving . Trying to get around Park City during Sundance in a car is maddening — especially parking . Let the Festival ’ s shuttle system and Park City buses move you around . For lodging , live like a movie mogul by booking a residence at either the luxurious Washington School House Hotel or the sprawling , sensational , Riverhorse Imperial House on Main Street . During your Sundance sojourn , dine at Chef John Murcko ’ s outstanding Firewood restaurant in town or enjoy a truly unique eating and adventure experience at The Viking Yurt at Park City resort .
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
Salt Lake City is surrounded by mountains , so “ getting high ” at dinner affords some spectacular views . The Roof Restaurant , located atop the historic Joseph Smith Memorial Building at Temple Square downtown , is rooftop dining at its best , with spectacular views of the city and Salt Lake Valley . Up in Millcreek Canyon — just a few miles from SLC — is Log Haven restaurant . Situated in a historic log mansion in the Wasatch National Forest , just getting to this terrific eatery offers plenty of scenery . Once there , the grounds are surrounded by mountains , waterfalls , streams , a pond , and much more . It ’ s a magical place and well worth an excursion . Or , get really high at
FLYWASHINGTON . COM 36 WINTER 2017 / 18