Salt Lake City, Utah

Overview

Salt Lake City, Utah, a mountainous city of 200,000, hides an offbeat allure where quirky museums, secret urban haunts, and historic oddities draw adventurous travelers beyond the Mormon Tabernacle, attracting over 7 million visitors yearly. Founded in 1847 by Brigham Young as a Mormon pioneer settlement, this high-altitude hub sits 430 miles west of Denver and 300 miles northeast of Las Vegas, cradled by the Great Salt Lake and Wasatch Mountains. Beyond temples and ski slopes, Salt Lake City offers eccentric gems like a museum of folk art, a hidden speakeasy in a former garage, and vibrant street art in the Granary District. It’s an offbeat Western playground where pioneer grit, quirky creativity, and mountain vibes collide, perfect for those craving unique adventures over tourist staples.

Top Attractions (Folk Art, Sculptures & Space!)

Utah Museum of Folk Art

Located in Sugar House, this museum features over 1,000 pieces of outsider art, from quirky whirligigs to bottle cap mosaics.

Granary District Murals

Explore this industrial zone where the story of Utah’s urban evolution is painted on the walls of West Temple Street.

Gilgal Sculpture Garden

A hidden park in Midvale with 70 quirky stone carvings, including biblical sphinxes and a giant Joseph Smith head.

Underbelly Speakeasy

A hidden bar in a former garage, serving up classic Prohibition-era cocktails with live jazz vibes.

Clark Planetarium

A Gateway District gem with quirky cosmic exhibits, touchable meteorites, and a gravity-defying moonwalk simulator.

Great Salt Lake Marina

(20 mi W) Experience the surreal, salt-crusted shores and try a quirky floating walk on the hypersaline water.

Unique Stories & Facts (Sphinxes, Speakeasies & Salt!)

• Gilgal’s Sphinx: In 1945, artist Thomas Child carved a sphinx with the face of Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, which locals now call Utah’s weirdest yard.
• Mural Revival: An art boom in the 2010s turned the Granary District's old warehouses into vibrant outdoor galleries, reflecting Salt Lake’s urban grit.
• Speakeasy Garage: The Underbelly bar is located in a former 1920s auto shop that was known for smuggling moonshine during Prohibition.
• Salt Lake Buoyancy: The Great Salt Lake’s high salinity (up to 27%) allows you to float effortlessly, a quirky experience similar to the Dead Sea.

Best Travel Seasons (When to Visit Salt Lake City!)

Popular Activities (Beyond the Temple!)

• Folk Art Touring: Explore the Utah Museum of Folk Art to see quirky whirligigs and unique outsider sculptures.
• Mural Strolling: Wander through the Granary District, where the art on West Temple Street tells vibrant urban tales.
• Sculpture Wandering: Visit the Gilgal Sculpture Garden to see 70 strange stone oddities, including a biblical sphinx.
• Speakeasy Sipping: Slip into the Underbelly for classic cocktails in a hidden garage bar with a cool, jazzy vibe.
• Cosmic Playing: Test your balance on the Clark Planetarium’s moonwalk simulator and explore other quirky space exhibits.
• Lake Floating: Take a trip to the Great Salt Lake to experience the quirky, buoyant sensation of a stroll on its salty shores.

Casinos Nearby (~30 Miles)

There are no casinos within 30 miles of Salt Lake City due to Utah law. The nearest major gaming destination is the border town of Wendover, Nevada, approximately 120 miles away. For local thrills, it's better to explore the city's speakeasies or murals.

Oddities Nearby (~20 Miles - SLC's Quirky Side!)

Haunted Tourism Nearby (~20 Miles - Ghosts of the Wasatch Front!)

• Rio Grande Depot (Downtown):** Ghostly porters and a "woman in purple" are said to haunt the platforms of this historic 1910 train station.
• Fort Douglas Military Museum:** The spirits of Civil War-era soldiers are rumored to still roam the barracks of this 1862 fort on the East Bench.
• Shilo Inn (Downtown):** This 1970s hotel is said to be haunted by phantom children who giggle and play in Room 1102.