Who doesn’t love free stuff? Especially when you travel, getting free swag or doing/experiencing something for free makes all the difference. When I moved to Salt Lake City, I was all about finding free things to do…and still do to this day. Sometimes you want to have an adventure that isn’t going to cost an arm and a leg. Sure, jumping out of an airplane would be an epic adventure, but it isn’t always within the budget. If you’re coming to Utah in the near future, here are my top 10 free things to do in Salt Lake City:
Ensign Peak
Address: 1002 Ensign Vista Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84103
No matter where your hiking enthusiasm lies on the crazy-hiker-scale, taking the short jaunt to the top of Ensign Peak is a must-do for any visitors or new Utahns. Ensign Peak is a local favorite urban hike that leads to sweeping views of the Salt Lake Valley; from Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake to the west, to the Bingham Copper Mine to the south, and the University of Utah to the east. The best part? You drive most of the way to the top, leaving .5 miles to hike up to the summit and monument. When anyone is looking for free things to do in Salt Lake City, this is always my #1 recommendation.
Historic Wheeler Park
Address: 6351 South 900 East, Murray, UT 84121
Wheeler Park is one of the last remaining farmsteads in the Salt Lake Valley, dating back to the late 1800s. Today, the Park is an agricultural living history museum, with acres and acres of beautiful old buildings, gardens, trees, animal pastures, and a barn. Cow milking, wagon rides, and everything in between will make you forget which century you’re living in. Take a walk around the back 40 acres of the Park and be instantly transported to the middle of a lush wilderness. Bring the kids, let them run. Want to take some memorable family portraits with an epic backdrop? Look no further! With the imposing Wasatch mountain range in the background, the historic barn and lush vegetation in the foreground, you’re almost guaranteed a picture-perfect location!
Temple Square
Address: 50 N Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
Temple Square is considered Salt Lake City’s top tourist destination, and it should definitely be on your radar. Occupying 3 city blocks in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, Temple Square offers a welcoming and serene respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, where visitors can explore, reflect, learn, and enjoy. Not only will visitors find access to historic and culturally rich buildings, but colorful, vibrant, and well-manicured gardens that are open for all to enjoy. Curious about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Chat with church representatives (known as missionaries) in one of the Visitor Centers. Interested in the history of Utah? Take a free tour and learn about the Mormon Pioneers. Visiting during the Christmas holiday season? Catch the world-famous Tabernacle Choir, dubbed “America’s Choir” by former United States President Ronald Reagan.
LDS Genealogy and Family History Library
Address: 35 North West Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
Interested in where your family comes from? The LDS Genealogy and Family History Library across the street from Temple Square is the largest in the world of its kind. Stop on in and learn how to search for your ancestors. The Library has 5 floors jam-packed with 2.2 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records, 742,000 microfiche; 300,000 books, and 4,500 periodicals, all of which are lovingly and meticulously cared for and preserved. Don’t know where or how to start? Think your family story is untraceable and complicated? I dare you to stop by and try to stump any one of the 400+ professional staff members and well-trained volunteers, while experiencing the most educational of our list of free things to do in Salt Lake City!
Farmers Market
Address: Pioneer Park, 350 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
2018 marks the 27th year of the Downtown Farmers Market in Salt Lake City and can be argued as one of the most beloved summer traditions for locals and visitors alike. Vendors come from all over the state (and sometimes Idaho and Colorado) and share their passions to support the motto “Make it, bake it, grow it.” Have you ever seen the Disney movie “Bedknobs and Broomsticks?” If you have, think back to the scene where they’re in Portobello Road, with all of the vendors and kitchy stuff. Got that in your mind? Now, class it up a lot and you’ve got the craft section of the market down pat. There is such a wide variety of trinkets to buy, soaps to smell, paintings to get lost in: from animals made from silverware, to organic bath bombs and famous paintings with the Tardis making an appearance. My favorite? Journals made out of discarded children’s books.
Red Butte Garden
Address: 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Located on the eastern side of the University of Utah campus, Red Butte Garden is a beautiful arboretum of the state of Utah and the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West. With over 5 miles of hiking trails and 21 acres of developed gardens, the Garden boasts award-winning educational programs. During the summer, visitors and residents alike look forward to the world-class concert series that hosts a wide range of musical artists, from the Violent Femmes to the Lumineers to Chicago to Steve Martin. Come tour the Garden, participate in an Arbor Day celebration, or check out an art exhibit from a local artisan. A visit to Red Butte Garden offers a controlled environmental respite from the hustle and bustle of the city!
Gilgal Garden
Address: 749 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Gilgal Garden is a treat for the eyes. Thomas Child built Gilgal Garden in the mid 1900s as a way “to give physical form to his deep-felt beliefs.” This small garden, tucked away in a non-descript street in the Liberty Wells neighborhood, is a wacky, weird, and yet beautiful place. Strewn across moss-covered hills lay some of the most abstract sculptures of arms, legs, hearts, and verses from the Bible. If you need a break from traffic and screaming kids, spend an hour or so meandering around this unique corner of Salt Lake City and have your eyes and minds opened.
Clark Planetarium
Address: 110 S 400 W, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Located at the Gateway Shopping Center, the Clark Planetarium opens visitors eyes to the wonders of space and time. Admission to the exhibits are free of charge, and if you’re feeling adventurous, tickets to the Hansen Dome and Orbital ATK IMAX Theatres for mind-blowing shows are inexpensive for both adults and children. Stop in and learn about the earth, moon, stars, and even a meteorite that you can touch! There are 3 interactive floors, filled with exhibits to discover, things to touch, play, and learn.
Downtown City Library
Address: 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Rounding out my list of free things to do in Salt Lake City is the Downtown City Library. Now, normally I wouldn’t recommend making a city library a priority, but let’s face it: the library is gorgeous! Built in 2003 in the very heart of downtown, the City Library utilizes the wonders of natural light throughout the six-storied structure. The rooftop garden and fireplaces throughout four of the floors create a haven from the bustling city down below, and the design of the building creates a peaceful space on the upper levels, perfect for studying. If nothing else, step into the ground-level atrium and take a ride up the glass elevator!
Street Art
Believe it or not, Salt Lake City is home to some of the most eclectic, colorful, and vibrant street art I’ve seen in a while. Tired of walking around downtown? Trying to stay out of the sun or snow? Take a few hours to drive around and experience one of the top free things to do in Salt Lake City. While there’s no official map outlining where all the work of art exist, I’ve written a few posts about my favorite pieces, including where to find them:
Street Art in Salt Lake City, Part 1
Street Art in Salt Lake City, Part 2
Street Art in Salt Lake City, Part 3
Of course, there are tons of other free things to do in Salt Lake City, especially if this is your first time visiting. These are my favorite 10 free things to do in Salt Lake City, and what I recommend to friends and family members who are looking to experience a variety of what the city has to offer!
Have you ever been to Salt Lake City? What are your favorite free things to do in Salt Lake City?
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