It was a chance to visit a new place in the U.S. and reconnect with an old friend. But I never could have imagined how enthralled I would become with Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City, sometimes referred to as the “Gateway to the West.” Until this particular trip, I’d never been all that taken with the American West; it had more than 20 years since I’d visited anywhere near the Rocky Mountains (Denver, to be exact). But this unique city helped me see this part of the world with new eyes. From the first hours spent exploring Salt Lake on my own, I was impressed by how much there is to do and see here -- from interesting cultural attractions to spectacular nature. Salt Lake, as natives often call it, is not a huge city (200,000 people; 1.2 million if you include the wider metropolitan area), but it’s big on fun. Situated at the western edge of the Rockies, it is nestled between two dramatic mountain ranges, the Wasatch Range to the east and north, and the Oquirrh (pronounced “oaker”) Mountains to the west. This means that, from anywhere in the city, you can see magnificent, snow-covered mountains – a view I never tired of. My visit to Salt Lake began on a late winter day, arriving to surprisingly mild weather – nearly 60 degrees. I’d decided to come a day earlier than my traveling companions, happy to have found a non-stop flight from Philadelphia. After an easy, 15-minute Uber ride from the airport, I was at our elegant hotel, the 700-room Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City, which opened in 2022. Located in the heart of Salt Lake’s downtown – and only a few minutes away from the historic Temple Square, the heart of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) -- the Hyatt had everything we needed. There were several gourmet restaurants, a cocktail lounge, a grab-and-go market and, in our rooms, floor-to-ceiling windows to capture breathtaking views of mountains and more mountains. It was a bit too cold to enjoy the outdoor heated pool, so our group splurged on a rooftop curling game that also came with everything needed to make gourmet S‘mores. It was just one more thing to love about the Hyatt, along with its modern, yet warm décor, and center-of-it-all location. Salt Lake City is a popular gateway for travelers heading to Utah’s ski resorts – there are 10 ski resorts less than an hour from the downtown. But Salt Lake has much to offer on its own terms, from museums to great restaurants to top-notch shopping. The look of the city is a fantastic mix of old and new, with plenty of green spaces and a free trolley system. Salt Lake – which will host the 2034 Winter Olympics -- was settled by Brigham Young and pioneers from the Latter-day Saints in 1847. (The church prefers LDS over “Mormon”). In the years that followed, Salt Lake City’s streets and buildings were built to follow a grid system, with Temple Square at the center. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, there are many fascinating LDS Church sights in the downtown, including the Tabernacle and the massive Temple which, in 2027, will be opened to the general public for the first time ever, following a years-long construction project. It’s expected that some five million people will visit during those six months. I even spent some time at the LDS FamilySearch Library, one of the largest genealogical libraries in the world. It was a thrill to discover my maternal grandfather’s 1923 passport, and I could have easily spent hours there. The Library is free and open to the public. Relaxing, fun and friendly, it was easy to become enchanted with this hip city of wide streets, and fun attractions – and I was equally impressed with the nearby mountain ski resort, Solitude, where we spent a few hours snowshoeing. Here are some ideas for first-time visitors to Salt Lake City. Enjoy Great Food Meal choices are boundless in Salt Lake – and don’t be surprised to see elk on the menu, and something called funeral potatoes, which are a luscious baked mix of diced potatoes, cheese, and sour cream – with a topping of crushed corn flakes. We had an excellent dinner at our hotel’s popular Salt Republic restaurant (the roasted chicken was a standout), as well as enjoyed a charcuterie board and wine-tasting at its spacious cocktail bar, Contribution. We also enjoyed a relaxing, tasty lunch at Solitude’s Honeycomb Grill (best red pepper bisque ever!). Dinner on our last night was a highlight of our three-night adventure: a meal at the acclaimed northern Spanish restaurant Mar/Muntanya, located on a top floor of the Hyatt Regency. In addition to creative tapas dishes, there were even Spanish-style coquettes based on the afore-mentioned funeral potatoes! On our last morning, we visited the popular Eva’s Bakery, which was like a visit to Paris, with a total bistro vibe and luscious pastries. A touch of Europe in this very American city! Enjoy the Great Outdoors Billed as having “The Greatest Snow on Earth,” there are several ski resorts near Salt Lake and nearby Park City. We visited Brighton, Utah’s Solitude Mountain, where our group enjoyed an hour of snowshoeing – walking on snow-covered ground with specialized footwear that’s cross between mini skis and boots. Solitude was a busy place even on a weekday, but it never felt crowded. In the warm weather months, there’s plenty of do there, too, including biking, downhill mountain biking, and an adventure park. Another unique place to check out is the 75-mile long, 35-mile wide Great Salt Lake, from which the city takes its name. Considered the largest (and saltiest) inland body of water in the Western Hemisphere, it’s fun for floating (all that salt!), and an excellent place to see wildlife. Herds of bison roam nearby Antelope Island State Park, and hundreds of uncommon bird species can be found at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The Great Salt Lake is about a half-hour drive from downtown Salt Lake City. Red Butte Garden -- another easy drive from downtown Salt Lake City -- is a large botanical garden and arboretum that offers diverse plant collections, themed gardens, hiking trails, and events such as concerts and educational programs. Get Cultured There are plenty of museums in downtown Salt Lake, including the popular Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA), The Leonardo – with a focus on science and discovery – and the popular Clark Planetarium, which also features an IMAX theatre. (I never imaged I would learn so much about the “Tyrant King” of dinosaurs, T. Rex.) Meanwhile, the beautiful 2,500-seat Eccles Theater hosts everything from pop concerts to Broadway road shows. Shop Til You Drop While there are many privately owned boutiques and shops in Salt Lake City, City Creek Center is the big attraction, with more than 100 stores in a 23-acre complex. We had fun checking the Salt Lake-headquartered Cotopaxi store, with its multi-colored outdoor clothing, luggage and gear. We were thrilled by what we experienced during our time in Salt Lake City, and I’ve already compiled a list of what I want to see next time. I’m hopeful that “next time” in this special place will happen again before long. For more information about Salt Lake City, go to www.visitsaltlake.com Nicole Pensiero is a South Jersey-based writer and a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA).