Visiting Salt Lake City
Tue, Jun 16, 2009
I have such mixed feelings about visiting Salt Lake City. I lived there for ten years so I know it well. I can drive around town and see certain shops and buildings and they bring back a flood of memories. Some of those memories are great, like the late night food runs with my buddies or the drives in the canyon after class. Others are not so great, like the blind dates that my friends put me up to or the hours spent studying in order to finally graduate. So every time we head out west, which is about once a year, I’m always a little hesitant.
But this time, the trip was different. This time, I found that none of the bad memories that I usually conjure up while seeing where I used to live and hang out. Instead, I visited old haunting grounds and found myself smiling at the great times that I had there. And I began to appreciate the things that the city has to offer. It really is a great city too.
It’s fairly large and has the typical things that a big city offers such as a skyline and a whole variety of goods and services.
The downtown area is clean and attractive.
The modern office buildings and hotels are surrounded by
historic places such as the Capitol Theater.
These buildings have been here for years and offer a rich history. They also have great architecture and details.
There are also little touches that make Salt Lake beautiful and unique. Things like these cool benches on the sidewalk.
Or these great pieces of art that we noticed while walking down the sidewalk.
The city uses a bus system to help patrons get around downtown and a several years ago, it installed its own light rail system called Trax. It’s sort of like an above-ground subway system.
If you look around the town closely, you’ll notice signs of the Winter Olympics that were held here in 2002. (Hint: the tall banner in front of the glass building.)
But one of the best things about Salt Lake is not the history or the great buildings, it’s the streets.
This road looks like a highway but it’s not, it’s just a regular street going through town. Salt Lake City streets are very wide. If we had streets like that here in DC, we wouldn’t have all of the traffic problems that we do.
The city’s not perfect, of course. There is a lot of construction going on such as this big hole where the downtown mall once stood.
It will be quite an eyesore until construction is completed, but I’m sure it will be a beautiful area some day.
Until then, one can enjoy the other views such as the surrounding mountains.
Salt Lake is, after all, a valley nestled inside these beautiful hills.
Drive a few miles outside the city, and you’re surrounded by them. Drive a little further, and you’ll reach the Great Salt Lake itself.
I think when I lived here, I forgot about all of this beauty. It was easy to look past it and focus on the things that I didn’t like.
I’m glad that we made this trip because Salt Lake City is a beautiful place and it was nice to be able to remember that.
Have you ever visited Salt Lake City? What did you think?
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Tags: salt lake city, utah
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June 16th, 2009 at 6:13 am
When I lived in Provo I LOVED going to Salt Lake and thought it was so cool. It was so fun to go to conference up there. Ah, I miss that place. But don’t want to live there again
The Wife of Odie´s last blog post..noteworthy birthday
June 16th, 2009 at 6:20 am
All I’ve ever seen is the inside of the airport. But it’s a nice airport! And it give a great view of the mountains!
Mindee´s last blog post..Stolen Horse
June 16th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I actually HAVE visited SLC, twice. Once in 2004 and again in 2006. I think it is gorgeous. I’ve visited both times in the summer, but would love to see it in the winter. And while it is certainly different from the South, the people are still very nice.
Jill´s last blog post..I lost it a little
June 16th, 2009 at 8:48 am
My only experience with Salt Lake City is arriving at their airport and then driving my rental car north to the Utah Shakespeare Festival where my husband worked building scenery several summers. We have always had a soft spot for Utah in general. Its a beautiful state. I love all the national parks. We camp for weeks out there!
Katie´s last blog post..Mommy Brain
June 16th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I’ve “visited” SLC only once, and it was just for half an hour between 11:00 and 11:30 p.m. on a trip from Denver to San Francisco via Amtrak last summer.
We had a little time to get out of the train and walk around the platform, but that was all. I did see part of the Temple, but I don’t really feel like my little stopover last summer counts as having BEEN to SLC!
r8chel´s last blog post..the turtle I didn’t imagine
June 16th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I’ve never been, but you make it sound so appealing!
Might have to see about a trip out West soon. See some REAL mountains!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I lOVE SLC and the mountains are gorgeous!!! There’s so much to see and do in and around SLC. We enjoyed the trip we took down south in Utah and all the canyons – my goodness – they are spectular to be sure. What pictures we have…just beautiful. There’s something for everyones taste. I’m looking forward to being out there sometime in the winter. We’ve hit some snow before which was great but I want to be there for the Christmas lights on Temple Square and some real snow (as compared to Atlanta’s snow which is almost none existant).
June 16th, 2009 at 11:03 am
In do love my town!
Kristina´s last blog post..Post Cornucopia
June 16th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I’ve never been to SLC but I’ve always wanted to. It looks as gorgeous as I’ve always heard it is. And those streets! At last, someone PLANNED for streets to be used for transportation.
I meant to tell you before in your airplane post, have a fun trip!
erin´s last blog post..did they ever get us good
June 16th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Hi, I’ve been a reader for a while, but comment only rarely, but seeing these photos make me wanna visit Utah again. I was in Park City and visited SLC too last year and fell in love with the area. And you’re totally right about the DC traffic – if only those wide streets…sigh.
June 16th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Great photos! Looks like you had a great trip. I’ve been to Utah a few times and thought it was beautiful. I think it is time to go again. Thanks for sharing.
June 18th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Can you swim in the Salt Lake anymore? I heard somewhere that now you cannot, but when I was a little girl, we did (in the mid 70s, probably). My father was so insistent that I try floating on my back, as the salt keeps one up, but it doesn’t if you panic as I did. I got a mouthful of salt water for my thrashing. I can still remember that sore throat!
Lori (Just Pure Lovely)´s last blog post..A Mouse
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:23 am
I’m actually heading up there today! Living in Provo (but only for two more weeks!!!!), Salt Lake is a breath of fresh air. When I really need an escape on a time constraint, I head up to Park City. Got to love it!
Engquist´s last blog post..borders "rewards"
July 25th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Your post was very interesting when I found it over google on Sunday by my search for car city lake salt used. I have your blog now in my bookmarks and I visit your blog again, soon. Take care.
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:42 am
Oh my! Those look delightful! I have NEVER been to Utah. Only a couple states here on the east, but the architecture is just astounding. I love it.