Salt Lake City & Park City

Destination 01

Salt Lake City

7 places

Two nights for Temple Square's lights and a Nutcracker.

• Photo: Andrey Zharkikh · CC BY 2.0

  Temple Square

  The 10-acre Latter-day Saint headquarters, strung with lights and nativity scenes from late November through December.

  Tip The Salt Lake Temple itself is under renovation; the lights fill the surrounding gardens and plazas.

  SeeDowntownFree75 minAfter dark
• Photo: Adrian Comollo · Public domain

  Cathedral of the Madeleine

  Salt Lake's 1909 Catholic cathedral, with painted interiors and Christmas concerts by its choir school in December.

  SeeThe AvenuesFree45 minEvening
• Photo: Beneathtimp · CC0

  Ballet West's Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre

  Ballet West dances Willam Christensen's Nutcracker, descended from the first full-length American staging, in a 1913 theater.

  Tip Book early for weekend matinees in the week before Christmas.

  DoDowntown$$$2.5 hrEvening

• Gallivan Center Ice Rink

  Outdoor rink in the downtown Gallivan Center plaza, open through the winter with skate rental.

  DoDowntown$60 minEvening

• Hogle Zoo

  Salt Lake's zoo at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, which runs its ZooLights evenings through December.

  Tip ZooLights uses timed tickets; go early in the evening with kids.

  DoEmigration Canyon$$1.5 hrAfter dark

• Red Iguana

  Family-run Mexican restaurant on North Temple, known for its moles and a line out the door.

  Tip Red Iguana 2, a few blocks away on South Temple, usually has a shorter wait.

  EatFairpark$60 minLunch
• Photo: Hänsel und Gretel · CC BY-SA 3.0

  The Grand America Hotel

  Salt Lake's largest luxury hotel, built for the 2002 Olympics, known for its holiday decorations and window displays.

  Tip Even if you stay elsewhere, the lobby and holiday windows are worth a walk-through.

  StayDowntown$$$60 min

Destination 02

Park City

9 places

Three nights to ski two resorts and walk the old mining town.

• Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Main Street

  Park City's steep historic main street of 1890s mining-era buildings, now shops, galleries and bars lit up for winter.

  Tip Free city buses stop at the top and bottom of the street; ride up and walk down.

  SeeOld TownFree2 hrAfter dark
• Photo: Maylingoed · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Park City Mountain

  One of the largest ski resorts in the US, reached from Old Town by the Town Lift and linked to Canyons Village by gondola.

  Tip Start on the Town Lift from Main Street and skip the base-area parking.

  DoPark City Base$$$$6 hrMorning
• Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY 4.0

  Deer Valley

  Skiers-only resort known for its corduroy groomers, limited lift tickets and lodge dining.

  Tip Have lunch at Silver Lake Lodge mid-mountain.

  DoDeer Valley$$$$6 hrMorning
• Photo: Domenico Convertini · CC BY-SA 2.0

  Utah Olympic Park

  The 2002 Winter Olympics sliding and ski-jumping venue, with public bobsled rides and a free museum.

  Tip Book the winter bobsled ride ahead; it runs on the Olympic track with a professional driver.

  DoKimball Junction$$$2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Egyptian Theatre

  1926 Egyptian Revival theater on Main Street, hosting concerts, comedy and Sundance screenings.

  DoOld Town$$2 hrEvening
• Photo: Saalebaer · CC0

  Park City Museum

  Main Street museum in the old City Hall, covering silver mining and skiing, with the original territorial jail below.

  SeeOld Town$60 minAfternoon

• High West Saloon

  Ski-in whiskey saloon and restaurant in a restored livery stable and garage at the foot of the Quittin' Time run.

  Tip Ski down at the end of the day and order a flight of the house whiskeys.

  DrinkOld Town$$1.5 hrAprès-ski

• No Name Saloon

  Crowded Main Street bar with a rooftop deck and buffalo burgers, a Park City après fixture.

  DrinkOld Town$$75 minEvening

• Stein Eriksen Lodge

  Ski-in, ski-out lodge high on Deer Valley's Silver Lake, named for the Norwegian Olympic champion who led skiing at Deer Valley.

  StayDeer Valley$$$$60 min