Fun things to do in Salt Lake City

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I'm so glad I bought tickets for the Utah vs. Celtics basketball game. The seats weren't great but what do you expect for $30 for a pair of tickets! It was entertaining and I think the entire town of Salt Lake City had to be there. The Utah Jazz has some truly loyal fans (from where I was sitting). Easy to get the the venue. Park where ever you can.

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This hidden gem I think is a much more interesting place to visit than the Red Butte Gardens. It consists of cultural displays from 15-20 countries along with a display of indigenous fauna from these countries. Best of all, it's free.

This is log cabin is one of the very few that remain from the early days when the pioneers were settling the Salt Lake City area. There is a very nice garden around here with lots of old fashioned flowers and plants. You can look inside the cabin, but you can't go in.

I haven't been to see this new science museum, so can't write much about it. I just wanted to put this in for now so that I will remember to come back later with more info. It is using the refitted space from the old library (though it was the new library back when I was growing up and the old old library was what became the Hansen Planeterium- since replaced by the Clark Planeterium,,,which is another tip I need to add,,, and the Hansen Planeterium/old library is now home to the OC Tanner Jewelry. I know lots of unneeded info, I just felt like sharing.) I'll be back with more when I've actually visited the Leonardo, but take a look at the website to see what it is all about.

This museum has been updated, moved and re-envisioned and is now open in a brand new facility near Red Butte Garden. I will add more after I have visited the new digs. Lots of excitement and buzz about it.

From 1866 to 1894 this building was the Salt Lake City Hall. From 1894 to 1915 this served as the city's police headquarters, and in 1961, the building was actually moved from it original location at First South and 120 East to its present location on Capitol Hill.

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Want a quick get away from the noise of the city? Memory Grove is the mouth of City Creek Canyon. City Creek runs just east of Capitol Hill. A short walk up North Temple past State Street bearing left around the City Creek Park on to North Canyon Road will lead you to the entrance of Memory Grove. It is a small memorial to veterans of all wars. City Creek runs through it, there is a pagoda and small chapel, plaques and tended flower gardens. A small meeting house can be rented. It has been the scene of weddings and funerals, socials, and more. No cars are allowed through Memory Grove.

Leading north from Memory Grove City Creek Canyon continues for several miles and is a popular jogging and biking path, in the summer cars are only allowed with prior reservations and on alternating days.

Downtown is the heart of the city. Headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints there are plenty of buildings related to the church: the tallest building, the well known Temple Square, the Family History Library, the large Conference Center, the historic Beehive House and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, to name a few.

Then there are the malls. Gateway is an open mall with restaurants, up scale shops, the Clark Planetarium and an interactive fountain.
Not yet open is the new City Creek development. Taking the place of the old Crossroads and ZCMI malls the excitement is building as this takes shape in the traditional shopping area.

Also downtown are: the interesting City and County building, the award winning City Library, the Salt Palace Convention Center, the Abravanel Hall Concert venue, the Capitol Theater- home of the Ballet West, the Energy Solutions Arena home of the Utah Jazz, and Cathedral of the Madeleine-the exquisite gem of the Salt Lake Catholic diocese.