Salt Lake City - A Place Like No Other

Salt Lake City is the capital of the American state of Utah. The city was established in the mid-19th century when Mormon missionaries came to the area. Today, the city is home to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is considered to be the biggest Mormon center in the United States.

However, the district of modern Salt Lake City was populated thousands of years ago when it was inhabited by Indian tribes - the Ute, Paiute and Shoshone.

Because of the fast economic development of the city due to the building of railroads, its nickname became the "crossroads of the West". Today, Salt Lake City has developed a powerful tourist industry based mostly on the winter sports which made Salt Lake host of the Winter Olympics 2002.

Getting to know Salt Lake City should start from the Temple Square and the famous Salt Lake Temple. Forty years were needed for the building to be completed. Although you can't enter the real temple, there is a great visitor center where you can become familiar with the religion, faith and customs of Mormons. While on the square you can visit the Lion and Beehive Houses which both belonged to the founder of Salt Lake City - Brigham Young. Lion House was the private residency of Young, while the Beehive, constructed in the Greek revival style, was more official. You can also visit the exact place Brigham Young pointed to for the settlement of his mission as there is a “This is the Place” Monument surrounded by a nice park.

Don't miss the Assembly Hall. It was built in the late 19th century in the Gothic architectural style. Some of the most interesting museums in Salt Lake City are the Museum of Church History, the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Another landmark of Salt Lake City is the Utah State Capitol. It is located in a splendid park featuring memorials and a pond in front. It is often compared to the Greek Parthenon because of the classical architecture used when it was constructed. However, there are specific Corinthian details that add uniqueness to the building. Its exterior is as spectacular as its interior but you should see it for yourself - it simply can't be described. All animal-lovers, should head to the Living Planet Aquarium and the Hogle Zoo where you can see the rare species that are indigenous to the area of Salt Lake City. Visiting the Clark Planetarium will also be really fun and entertaining, especially for younger tourists.

And if you feel tired from all the sightseeing you have done, Salt Lake City features some exquisite parks for your recreation. The best ones are Liberty Park, Pioneer Park and Sugarhouse Park. Lindsay and Gilgal Gardens are a superb display of colourful flowers.

To go to Salt Lake City and not visit the Great Salt Lake would be like you never even went to Utah. It is the biggest salt lake in North America and spans more than 4,000 square kilometers. The waters of the lake are fed by the Weber, Bear and Jordan rivers. The lake water is actually more salted than seawater. Great Salt Lake is often referred as the "Dead Sea of America" although the area is highly populated with shrimps, birds and waterfowls. Great Salt Lake attracts many bird enthusiasts from all over the country who come to watch more than 250 species. The lake is one of the best places for kayaking, sailing and boating in the whole state of Utah. In the Great Salt Lake Marina you can also swim or float on the surface of the water.

Salt Lake City is an extraordinary city waiting for you to discover it!