Katie
Los Angeles
I'm going to be in Salt Lake City next month and will be on a pretty tight budget. I'm looking for the best free and inexpensive things to check out! I love the outdoors, art, museums, you name it. Thanks!
Hi Katie! SLC has great hikes, everywhere. It is an outdoorsy city. Check out this web site- there are too many for me to mention here. Some of my favorites would be Ensign Peak behind the capital, Lake Blanche Trailhead or Brighton tour through 4-5 different lakes. http://www.everytrail.com/best/hiking-salt-lake-city-utah
Thursdays are great for music. The Twilight Concert series is every Thursday for $10 at Washington Square.
Rye Diner & Drinks is a great restaurant next to the Urban Lounge venue. If you eat there on a Tuesday, they will give you a free ticket to the show that evening playing at Urban Lounge. (Free ticket Tuesday)
Check out groupon before you go to the Natural History Museum of Utah, Leonardo, they always have great deals. Or if you ask at the ticket window when purchasing, sometimes they will give you a rate.
I just bought a wine & drink night from groupon! They have cheap rates to the Utah Olympic Park in Park City or tram rides at Snowbird(both a must see).
Mentioned in this answer:
Temple Square is beautiful. Definitely spend time there. It is free. If you have a car, drive up the mountain to Park City or Little Cottonwood Canyon to Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort
Mentioned in this answer:
Well theSalt Lake City Public Library is a pretty sick looking building with glass elevators. Also don't miss going to temple square lights on the night time, right now while it's cold. I don't go downtown much, bot both those things are very enjoyable to me. Hope I helped!
Temple Square has a wonderful campus with multiple museums and presentations that tell about the history of the pioneers that settled Utah and the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Everything is free. The grounds are well kept and beautiful and there are plenty of guides available to take you on a tour or answer any questions. Lion House Pantry and The Beehive House are also free, and both are across the street from the incredible City Creek Mall.
Mentioned in this answer:
Head into the mountains - Lots of great hikes. Red Butte Garden & Arboretum is delightful. Have fun.
If you'll have a car, make sure to drive up both Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon and hike a little. The Lake Blanche Trailhead trail up Big Cottonwood is lovely, as are Red Pine Lake/White Pine Lake lakes up Little Cottonwood. Those trails are a bit strenuous, so if you want something easier and still beautiful, do Lakes Mary and Martha up Big Cottonwood. There are also a bunch of small trails surrounding downtown that provide good views of the city. Google Bonneville Shoreline trail and you'll find all the trailheads starting in various foothill neighborhoods.
The Salt Lake farmers market is great. It's every Saturday morning in Pioneer Park downtown. The Twilight concert series starts in July and goes into August ($5-$10 concerts at Pioneer Park every Thursday night). I believe Jenny Lewis and Big Grams are coming this summer, among others.
There are free outdoor movies at the Gallivan Center downtown on Monday evenings in July as well as big band swing nights on Tuesdays. There are free movies on the capitol building lawn on Friday evenings.
Fireworks at Sugar House (Utah) on the 4th and Liberty Park on the 24th. Or climb one of the bonneville shoreline trails and watch the fireworks all over the valley.
Probably visit Temple Square downtown. The gardens are nice and free.
The Capitol Building and city library are both cool buildings to visit.
Memory Grove Park is a nice little park downtown and is the trailhead for a walk that goes up city creek canyon.
Craft Lake City is a fun free festival at Gallivan Plaza, but it's in August.
Utah Arts fest at Library square is in June but costs $10.
Hope you have a nice visit!
Mentioned in this answer:
I agree with Liberty Park Pond and add spring for next door Tracy Aviary- not free.There's also The Beehive House and of course a tour of Temple Square including the Tabernacle - free !
Mentioned in this answer:
one fun thing to do is to visit Liberty Park on Sunday, they have all sorts of fun stuff going on.
I never could spend enough time in the Library there. The whole Square is free and beautiful. Dining outside on the patio is so amazing no matter where you dine there.