My Salt Lake Social Hub

HOT DEALS/DISCOUNTS
coupons and special offers for you

TRIP PLANNER
plan out your trip, day by day

MAPS
interactive help to find your way around

PHOTOS & VIDEOS
see it before you come

UPCOMING EVENTS
search Salt Lake's official event calendar

In the News

Salt Lake makes headlines, and here you'll find the places where Salt Lake has been making waves in the media - newspapers, magazines, and television.

Natural History, Modern Setting
May 08, 2012
Julie V. Iovine, Wall Street Journal -- There's nothing like a natural-history museum to give one a little perspective. Compared with the more than 160 million years that dinosaurs stomped the earth, mankind's roughly 20,000-year history is barely a sliver of time. In the past, the grandiose subject of where we came from and what we are made of called for appropriately solemn and magisterial architecture: sweeping stairs, baronial halls, relentless symmetries and axial certainty. In other words, something in the Beaux Arts style. continue reading...

Forbes: Salt Lake City third-best big city for jobs
May 02, 2012
Salt Lake Tribune -- Salt Lake City is third on Forbes’ list of the Best Big Cities for Jobs, the magazine announced. continue reading...

New airport TRAX line is in final push toward completion
May 01, 2012
By Lee Davidson, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Light is finally appearing at the end of the tunnel for the new airport TRAX line. "The last big push will be this spring and summer," said Jim Webb, project manager for the Utah Transit Authority, noting the project is 80 percent complete. "We will probably be substantially complete in the fall of this year." continue reading...

The University of Utah’s Latest Gem Sparkles Brightly
April 19, 2012
UtahBusiness.com -- The Natural History Museum of Utah’s rooftop was buzzing with excitement as a ribbon-cutting took place on April 16th, celebrating the completed, grandiose renewable energy solar photovoltaic project on the sky terrace of the museum and HPER East buildings. It is one of the largest new solar power electricity generations systems in Utah to-date. continue reading...

Resort Report: Snowbird, Utah
April 17, 2012
Larry Nuñez, Vans Snow Resort Report -- There are only a few mountains in The United States that qualify as legit big mountain riding. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Mt. Baker, Washington and a couple in Lake Tahoe, California to name a few. Snowbird, Utah deserves a spot on that list. continue reading...

The Pop Traveler: Eleven reasons to visit Salt Lake City!
April 16, 2012
By Dan Nailen, Special Correspondent for Pop Candy/USA Today -- Many people have an image of life in Utah capital Salt Lake City as some blend of Big Love and a never-ending episode of Donny & Marie, and there's no denying there's some truth to that. But many of us exist in a version of Utah that also is the home of great music, art and food, and a long-running "underground" scene that inspired the decent indie flick SLC Punk. We also have natural beauty that no other American city can match, courtesy of the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Great Salt Lake to the west. continue reading...

Shop in a natural nirvana: Salt Lake's City Creek Center
April 12, 2012
SeeAmerica.com by Sam Crespo -- Why do you go to the mall? To curate your shoe collection? To sample the day’s food court special on a toothpick? To people-watch? Or to appreciate the architecture? Sure, the 90-ish stores of Salt Lake City, Utah’s new City Creek Center will clamor for your attention. Nordstrom and Macy’s anchor the retail super-space; specialty and trendy brands like Tiffany & Co., Bose and H&M mix in. And there are plenty of restaurant (and outdoor dining) options, from food court fare to Texas de Brazil Churrascaria. But it’s the retail environment of City Creek Center that will really grab you. continue reading...

Despite lack of snow, Utah ski season finishes strong
March 29, 2012
Brett Prettyman, Salt Lake Tribune -- The 2011-12 Utah ski season wasn’t memorable, but it did have a few highlights. Brighton Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon marked its 75th anniversary, while Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in Little Cottonwood turned 40. continue reading...

Is Downtown Salt Lake City Finally Sexy?
March 26, 2012
Erin Harper, The Huffington Post -- Utah's capital city is one of the last places where I would expect to run into America's favorite imaginary girlfriend crew -- at least until I attended the grand opening of City Creek Center, one of the nation's largest mixed-use downtown redevelopment projects, located in downtown Salt Lake City. continue reading...

History Carved Out of the Hills
March 23, 2012
Edward Rothstein, The New York Times — All museums are temples of sorts, monuments to collectors or cultures, declarations of identity, gathering places for tribute. But museums of natural history have an even more distinctive stature. Their focus is not human history, measured in centuries, but natural history, measured in eons. And their subject is not a particular culture and its accomplishments, but a world that seems to stand beyond culture altogether. Natural history museums seek their ground in the earth itself. continue reading...

SLC Marks Triumphant Opening of City Creek Center
March 22, 2012
Jasen Lee, Deseret News — After years of anticipation, downtown Salt Lake City's newest crown jewel of shopping and economic development opened to the world Thursday with the parting of its signature retractable roof inviting in sunshine, shoppers and the just plain curious. continue reading...

City Creek Center: What to Expect
March 19, 2012
Lesley Mitchell, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Built to dazzle and impress, City Creek Center debuts in downtown Salt Lake City March 22 as one of the only large-scale shopping centers expected to open nationally this year. continue reading...

From Heated Pavers to Hotel Deals, Amenities Rich at City Creek
March 19, 2012
Derek P. Jensen, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Word is out on the showy stuff: the retractable skylight roof, the 18-foot waterfalls and the glitzy shops, a third of which are new to Salt Lake City. But City Creek Center’s amenities run deeper than the 1,200-foot-long re-created creek. continue reading...

Rick Steve's Roadtrip: Salt Lake City's Evangelical Librarians
March 08, 2012
Rick Steve, Huff Post -- ...it's important to realize that the town is not completely dominated by the Mormon Church. In fact, while the rest of the state is relatively conservative and red, Salt Lake City is relatively liberal and blue. (Provo, just an hour's drive away, is considered the most conservative city with over 100,000 people in the entire USA.) The Salt Lake City and County Building (which resembles a Neo-Romanesque castle) and the Utah State Capitol seem to stand like two behemoths facing each other in a political boxing arena. continue reading...

Is Salt Lake City More Vegan Than We Know?
March 06, 2012
Kathy Stephenson, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Salt Lake is famous for skiing, the Great Salt Lake, the Mormon Temple and — hold on to your tofu — vegan dining. In the March/April issue of VegNews, Utah’s capital city was dubbed “The Next Great Vegan City,” for the wave of restaurants, food carts, bakeries and general vegan options available for a city our size. continue reading...

Utah’s City Creek Center unveils its tenant lineup
March 01, 2012
The Salt Lake Tribune -- The City Creek Center, in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, released its list of tenants and put all the speculation to rest about the retail makeup of the mall. Although it’s been long known that the shopping center opening March 22 will be anchored by Macy’s and Nordstrom, there’s been a lot of speculation and guessing about the other businesses that will be operating there. continue reading...

Utah Scores 5th on Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index
February 27, 2012
HuffingtonPost.com -- A new report from Gallup shows just which state's the happiest in the union. Results of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, released Monday (Feb. 27), ranks the states based on their well-being. And the verdict is: life seems to be (figuratively) sunnier in the western U.S., while well-being was reported to be lowest in southern states. continue reading...

A month out, City Creek tenants in hurry mode
February 22, 2012
Lesley Mitchell, The Salt Lake Tribune -- So far, Taubman has announced a partial tenant lineup of about two dozen retailers, led by Tiffany and other high-end shops such as Michael Kors. Taubman is holding off on the next round of tenant announcements to generate more excitement closer to opening day, but a growing number of retailers are making their plans known as they prepare to open stores in the mall. continue reading...

Salomon USA to Open Flagship Brand Store in SLC's City Creek
February 07, 2012
SportsGuideMag.com -- Salomon USA and its parent company, Amer Sports Winter and Outdoor Americas, (ASWO) are pleased to announce the opening of Salomon’s first Flagship store in the United States. The Salomon store will be located in Salt Lake City’s City Creek Shopping Center. continue reading...

Largest solar energy array growing daily
February 01, 2012
Steve Fidel, KSL.com -- A new solar energy array atop the Salt Palace Convention Center is growing by 200 panels a day and will produce about 17 percent of the convention center's energy once completed this spring. continue reading...

12 places to visit in 2012
January 29, 2012
By Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times -- From historical celebrations to Oregon wines to a diamond jubilee in Britain to Warhol in Arkansas, here are a dozen places to explore and enjoy. Salt Lake City and environs: There are seven ski resorts within an hour of Salt Lake City International Airport, and down in Salt Lake City on March 22, local leaders will unveil City Creek Center, a 20-acre shopping, office and residential project with a retractable roof designed to revitalize the area around downtown's Temple Square. continue reading...

PV Coast to Coast: Utah, The Real Deal
January 23, 2012
Matthew Hirsch, Photon Magazine, Jan. 2012 -- "Conditions couldn't have been better in September 2010 when Peter Corroon kicked off the festivities for Utah's largest photovoltaic (PV) project, a 2.6 MW system planned for the Salt Palace Convention Center..." continue reading...

Salt Lake City Airport Overhaul Finally Taking Flight
January 18, 2012
By Brandon Loomis, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Salt Lake City is throttling up the jets on its long-delayed airport reconstruction plan, plotting a $1.8 billion makeover to break ground next year with freshly secured airline support. continue reading...

Gayest Cities in America, 2012
January 09, 2012
By Matthew Breen, The Advocate -- It’s no secret that megalopolises New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles have robust LGBT life — and we’ve even heard tell of little queer hoods like the Castro and P-Town. This isn’t that list. In our third annual accounting of the gayest places in America — according to our totally accurate if decidedly subjective criteria — we look at the per capita queerness of some less expected locales...Salt Lake City has earned its queer cred, coming in as "America's Gayest City." continue reading...

New look, menu, chef for Snowbird’s Aerie restaurant
January 05, 2012
By Kathy Stephenson, The Salt Lake Tribune -- The Aerie Restaurant, Lounge and Sushi Bar at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort has a new chef and a new menu to match its newly remodeled interior. The remodel was part of a recent renovation of the Cliff Lodge, that included changes to conference rooms, lodging, the Cliff Spa and common areas. continue reading...

Utah cities among top U.S. economic performers
December 15, 2011
By Tom Harvey, The Salt Lake Tribune -- When it comes to measuring how well cities nationally and in the region are functioning in today’s challenging economy, Utah metro areas are among the tops, two new reports show. Salt Lake City was No. 6, Provo-Orem No. 9 and Ogden-Clearfield No. 15 on the Milken Institute’s 2011 index released Thursday. continue reading...

SALT LAKE CITY TOPS LIST OF NORTH AMERICA’S BEST BARGAIN SKI HOT SPOTS FOR WINTER WANDERERS
December 13, 2011
TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel site*, today launched its inaugural TripIndex Ski – a cost comparison of 20 popular ski destinations across the United States and Canada. And Salt Lake City tops the list of "Top Skiing Steals and Deals." continue reading...

Salt Lake Most Popular Faith-Based Tourist Destination
December 13, 2011
By Joshua Bolding, Deseret News -- Salt Lake City is tied with Israel as the most attractive spot for faith-based travel, according to a survey of 1,600 tour operators. The inaugural survey, conducted by the National Tour Association's monthly trade publication "Courier," asked tour operators a series of questions ranging from best group restaurants to favorite cruise line to use while on the job. continue reading...

The Top 5 Ski Resorts in the United States
December 13, 2011
By Christopher Steiner, Forbes Magazine -- Alta and Snowbird: For those looking for a weekend of skiing, there is no better option than these side-by-side resorts that occupy a splendid apron of Little Cottonwood Canyon just 30 minutes from downtown Salt Lake. If you’ve flown to Denver and schlepped west for the last 10 years–or just two–please stop. Go to Utah. Just go. You won’t see the insides of Denver International for a long time after that, I can assure you. Alta and Snowbird average 600″ of snow a year–100% more than your typical Colorado mountain–and, to be fair, more than just about anywhere not in Alaska. continue reading...

Tour ski slopes with just a click
December 05, 2011
Vince Horiuchi, Salt Lake Tribune -- It may not be the same as strapping on a pair of skis and swishing through fresh powder down Big Emma or Regulator Johnson, but those who can’t head up to Snowbird, Solitude or other Utah ski resorts can now go online and get an eye-level view of the state’s best ski runs. continue reading...

UTA announces next round of schedule changes (Ski Bus begins!)
November 29, 2011
By Lee Davidson, The Salt Lake Tribune -- UTA plans mostly routine tweaks to schedules to improve reliability and make transfer connections easier — although some bigger changes include beginning all-day ski buses for the season, adding weekend buses between Salt Lake City and Park City, and giving Santaquin its first-ever bus service. Ski buses expand to all-day service, seven days a week in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. That will continue through April 14. continue reading...

The Best States For Business -- #1: Utah! Again!
November 28, 2011
Kurt Badenhausen, Forbes -- Utah repeats this year as Forbes Best State for Business and Careers in our sixth annual look at the business climates of the 50 states. No state can match the consistent performance of Utah. It is the only state that ranks among the top 15 states in each of the six main categories we rate the states on. continue reading...

Salt Lake City cultural district offers portrait of Utah
November 22, 2011
Tom Wharton, Salt Lake Tribune (Nov. 22, 2011)--The opening of the $103 million Museum of Natural History of Utah on Salt Lake City’s northeast bench added another major connection to those who love Utah. Its site on the shoreline of ancient Lake Bonneville overlooking the Salt Lake Valley and Great Salt Lake provides a physical connection to the world it interprets. continue reading...

New Utah Museums Natural History Museum & The Leonardo
November 21, 2011
Scott Renshaw, City Weekly -- Two recently opened Salt Lake City museums—the new Natural History Museum of Utah building and The Leonardo—represent the effort both to make the museum experience fully immersive and interactive, and to anchor the exhibits firmly in a unique sense of place so that it doesn’t feel that you could find the same exhibits in any museum in the country, or the world. continue reading...

The best cities to live car-free in America
November 07, 2011
By Charles B. Stockdale, 247wallst.com/msn.com -- Several factors make a city easy to live in without a car. The most important one is a widely available and efficient public transportation system. Another is having daily amenities, such as groceries, shopping, schools and entertainment, nearby and within easy reach on foot or by bicycling. The best cities have both features and 24/7 Wall St. has identified the ten best ones to live without a car...nd Salt Lake City came in at #8! continue reading...

First Peek at Utah's City Creek Center reveals some dazzle
October 26, 2011
Lesley Mitchell, The Salt Lake Tribune -- With features such as two 18-foot waterfalls, fountains for water and fire shows, a trout pond and massive retractable roofs, Taubman Centers is striving for a "wow" factor at its City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City. continue reading...

Salt Lake International Airport awards new taxi contracts
October 25, 2011
Jasen Lee, Deseret News -- Passengers at Salt Lake City International Airport will hail a new ride beginning next month. Two new cab companies have been awarded contracts to provide taxi service at the state's largest airport. The new providers will begin service in late November. continue reading...

Salt Lake City's Bohemian Rhapsody
October 14, 2011
By Nino Padova, VIA Magazine -- Salt Lake City sings with a cosmopolitan face-lift, a hip arts scene, and trendy restaurants. In a dark theater that was once a Mormon church, a man in his pajamas talks to a 12-foot angel. A mile away, a conceptual artist uses old Road Runner cartoons to explore themes of the American West while around the corner throngs of mountain-tanned twentysomethings sip high-octane martinis under the watchful gaze of Che Guevara. Welcome to Saturday night in Salt Lake City—the new Salt Lake City. Not since the 2002 Winter Olympics has the state capital flared with such civic excitement. Downtown is in the midst of a $2 billion redevelopment project, and beneath the scaffolding and hard hats, streets are thrumming with activity that belies some of the city’s oldest stereotypes. Chain restaurants? They’re still here, but so are a growing number of bistros and high-concept kitchens. Megamalls? You could just as easily stroll through a dozen art galleries and mid-century furniture shops. Sleepy nightlife? In 2009 the state relaxed its liquor laws, giving rise to a host of new cocktail bars and brewpubs. For the first time in over 40 years, a person could simply walk into a Utah bar and get a drink. continue reading...

Salt Lake City’s Leonardo unveils its meld of art and science
October 09, 2011
Ben Fulton, Salt Lake Tribune -- With its interactive displays and a mammoth art installation that responds to human touch, The Leonardo opened its doors Saturday morning to proclaim its unique status among Utah museums. True to its namesake Renaissance man, The Leonardo began life in concept as an attempt to meld science, art and even current issues under one museum roof. The mix has proved popular in select cities that have launched similar efforts, such as San Jose’s Tech Museum and San Francisco’s Exploratorium. continue reading...

A City’s Evolution
October 02, 2011
By Kevin Woo, ONE+ ...a funny thing happened on the way to having hard feelings about the host city. As some of the skeptical UUA attendees immersed themselves in the Salt Lake City community, the concerns about the Mormon influence and the city’s perceived conservatism disappeared. Salt Lake City wasn’t at all what they’d envisioned. Instead, what UUA members found was a community that’s open minded, cosmopolitan, (dare we say) liberal, tolerant and accepting of alternative lifestyles. continue reading...

Greater Salt Lake and Beyond: Where meetings, mountains and the arts merge
October 01, 2011
By Joan Christensen, Smart Meetings -- Back in July 1847, when legendary Mormon leader Brigham Young pronounced “this is the place” to the group of determined pioneers who followed him out west, he certainly wasn’t talking about meetings and conventions. And yet, 164 years later, that pronouncement is just as apt for meeting planners and convention attendees as it was for those worn-out men, women and children who had traveled halfway across the United States. What the early settlers envisioned as a sanctuary has now become a vibrant and sophisticated destination boasting a diversity of attractions for visitors. Avid skiers and snowboarders were flocking to the famously powdered slopes of Utah long before Salt Lake hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics—an event that expanded the state’s reputation to an international audience. With seven major ski resorts in the Wasatch Mountains that flank the east side of the city, the slopes remain a primary magnet for winter visitors. But Salt Lake is also home to a wealth of options in arts and culture, including the Utah Symphony, Ballet West, Utah Opera and art galleries galore. continue reading...

50 Great Bars in Salt Lake City
September 26, 2011
The Salt Lake Tribune -- Visitors who hear about the Zion Curtain required by law in Utah nightspots, can be forgiven for thinking it’s difficult to get a drink in Utah. Locals know better. We know that watering holes throughout the valley are plentiful, and getting a drink is easy. It may not be all-you-can-pour liquor or an ABV stronger than 3.2, but that’s a minor detail when you want to enjoy nightlife in the Beehive State. continue reading...

Museum’s solar array boosts renewable-energy initiative
September 19, 2011
By Steven Oberbeck, The Salt Lake Tribune -- The new 30-kilowatt solar energy system unveiled Monday on the roof of The Leonardo museum in downtown Salt Lake City is more than just a series of panels that will capture the sun’s rays to produce electricity for the technology and art center once it opens in early October. It also represents another big leap forward for Salt Lake City’s ongoing effort to promote the development of at least 10 megawatts of renewable energy by 2015, said Vicki Bennett, director of the city’s Department of Sustainability and Environment. continue reading...

Utah museum changes name as gala opening nears
September 15, 2011
By Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune -- The state’s premier museum has reordered its name to the Natural History Museum of Utah as it puts the finishing touches on its new 163,000-square-foot home at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon in advance of its Nov. 17 dedication. continue reading...

America's Best Cities for Foodies: SLC #25
September 14, 2011
Travel + Leisure Magazine -- Salt Lake keeps racking up the "top listings" as voted on by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine. Voters gave top awards to this Utah city for being both clean and safe. The same could be said for its best dining, which has a big emphasis on organics. Three great places to find it: Oasis, the all-vegetarian Sage’s Café, and Forage, which recently won the Best New Chefs designation from Food & Wine. You can try them all without any fiscal anxiety: AFC voters gave the city the No. 2 spot for affordability. continue reading...

TAUBMAN ANNOUNCES 20 NEW-TO-THE-MARKET RETAILERS COMING TO CITY CREEK CENTER
September 13, 2011
Taubman Centers, Inc. (NYSE: TCO) today announced the first 20 retailers – all new to the market and most new to the state – coming to City Creek Center, the 700,000-square-foot retail component of City Creek, the major mixed-use development rising in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. The shopping center officially opens on March 22, 2012. continue reading...

Salt Lake City No. 3 in U.S. mid-size cities for same-sex couples
September 06, 2011
By Rosemary Winters and Lee Davidson, The Salt Lake Tribune -- To most of the world, Salt Lake City may be known for Mormons, skiing or maybe the Utah Jazz. But one characteristic that the world, and even some residents, may not have guessed is this: Salt Lake City has the third-highest rate of same-sex couples among America’s mid-size cities (those with populations between 100,000 and 250,000). Salt Lake City — the capital of conservative Utah — ranks in the top 10 for same-sex couples with such well-known liberal places as Berkeley, Calif.; Cambridge, Mass.; and Madison, Wis. continue reading...

Record-Breaking Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2011
August 12, 2011
Approximately 25,000 retailers, exhibitors and media closed out a record-breaking Outdoor Retailer Summer Market August 4-7 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 2011 edition of Summer Market saw increases in every measurable category, including exhibitor booth space*, exhibiting brands, retailers and overall attendance, with most categories posting double-digit percentage growth. continue reading...

Ski Every Utah Resort for $35/Day
July 27, 2011
PowderMag.com -- SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – New for the 2011-12 winter season, Ski Utah announces the Yeti Pass enabling pass holders to ski one day at every Utah resort for $499 ($35 per day).* Sale of the passes opens Monday, August 1, 2011. A very limited number of Yeti Passes are available. continue reading...

What’s to Be Done With 15 Feet of Snow in June? Utah Knows
June 10, 2011
New York Times, Wina Sturgeon -- At the base of a slope that at this time of year usually tests the skills of mountain bikers, roughly 60 skiers and snowboarders, hoping to get first tracks on the mountain, waited for the 8 a.m. opening of the tram at Snowbird resort. continue reading...

Best New Chefs 2011: Forage's Bowman Brown and Viet Pham
June 09, 2011
Food & Wine Magazine featured the "Best New Chefs of 2011," with Salt Lake's Forage restaurant having two make this elite list. The profile of Bowman Brown and Viet Pham will make you want to make a stop at one of Salt Lake's newest eateries on your next night out in SLC. continue reading...

Utah: Extreme, Extraordinary and Exhilarating
May 31, 2011
Meetings Focus, by Kelly Crumrin -- Utah's geological treasures and spectrum of terrain beguile visitors. Its snowcapped mountains beckon skiers. Its canyons and rivers were made for hiking and rafting. Golf on its award-winning greens presents jaw-dropping views. Its wonders can scarcely be captured on film, but it's impossible not to try photographing them. continue reading...

Utah’s picturesque beauty inspires meetings amid the great outdoors
May 02, 2011
By Julie Keller, Smart Meetings -- A longtime destination for outdoor aficionados, Utah offers a breathtaking display of natural bounty, ranging from arid sandstone deserts to verdant forests and majestic mountains. This 85,000-square-mile state is home to five national parks, two national recreation areas and six national forests. From the amazingly colorful rock formations of southern Utah to the elegant ski towns in the north, this tourism-friendly escape truly provides something for every nature lover. As such, planners who want to blend their meetings with exciting outdoor endeavors find it to be a perfect place for incomparable events. continue reading...

Snowbird Sets All Time Single Season Snowfall Record!
April 27, 2011
Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort hit a 40-year all time record for single season snowfall this afternoon (April 26), reaching the 690-inch mark thanks to a spring storm that has brought two feet to Little Cottonwood Canyon in the last 48 hours. Snowbird's previous single season official record was 688 inches, set in the 1983-84 season. The resort's mid-mountain base currently stands at 190 inches, with more snow forecasted through the weekend. continue reading...

Six Feet of Snow so Far in April at Snowbird
April 11, 2011
PowderMag.com -- April has picked up where last year left off at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort thanks to six feet of snow in the first 10 days of this month. With snow banks piled high and a mid-mountain base depth of 180 inches, Snowbird is half way to matching the 144 inches that fell last April, the snowiest month of the 2009/10 season. continue reading...

Women of Skiing: Snowbird
March 31, 2011
SkiNet.com -- Snowbird is the home base of some of the best skiers in the world. Here are the women who are pushing the progression of skiing in Little Cottonwood Canyon including Utah's newest movie star, and the only female ski-BASE jumper in the world. continue reading...

Epic Spring Skiing in Utah
March 15, 2011
By David McKay Wilson, Everett Potter's Travel Report -- When planning our trip of a lifetime to the Wasatch Mountains in February, my two sons and I dreamed of awakening one morning to a foot of that light, fluffy Utah powder. Midway through our weeklong jaunt, those powder visions became reality – and even more so. There were 18 inches on the ground one morning as we skied down from the Alta Lodge to line up for the lifts to open. As the snow continued to fall, and the first skiers boarded the Collins chair, we joined the crowd with whoops of joy. continue reading...

Subaru FWT Diaries: The Final Chapter
March 10, 2011
The 2011 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour came to a close on Snowbird’s North Baldy. Both winners - Drew Tabke and Angel Collinson - grew up skiing Alta and Snowbird. continue reading...

Picture Perfect
February 14, 2011
The Ski Salt Lake Shootout is an invitation-only photo contest that in four short years is quickly attracting some of the best talent in ski photography. The event wrapped up Saturday with an awards ceremony in Salt Lake City. This year, wily veterans like SLC-based Lee Cohen went head to head with talented newcomers (Matt Turley) and dark horse entries (like New York-based James Douglas Shields). I also scored an invitation, chalking one up for the writers out there. continue reading...

Embedded: Ski Salt Lake Shootout
February 11, 2011
By Tim Mutrie, PowderMag.com -- This week, for the Ski Salt Lake Shootout ski-photo competition, Powder.com has been embedded with a different photographer’s crew each day, at Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude. Each of the seven participating photographers is charged with coming up with the best portfolio of (8) images, two from each resort—so it adds a deadline component to the already well-known difficulties of banger image-creation in the first place. Based on what we’ve seen already, the final product will be impressive—thanks to some of that luck, including 16 inches of new snow on the eve of Day 1. continue reading...

21 million passengers in 2010 makes S.L. airport 25th busiest in nation
February 07, 2011
Salt Lake City International Airport served more than 21 million passengers in 2010, making it the 25th busiest airport in the nation. continue reading...

10 Reasons Why Families Love Skiing in Alta, Utah
January 04, 2011
Strap on your skis. This Utah ski resort, a 45-minute-drive from Salt Lake City, is one of the most affordable and convenient places for families to ski. continue reading...

Salt Lake City/Park City - The Busy Beehive State
December 30, 2010
Jeff Heilman, Meetings Focus Magazine - Situated near the southeast corner of the Great Salt Lake beneath the majestic Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City often appears heavenly, as when its lights start sparkling as the setting sun paints the snow-brushed Wasatch peaks pink. Remarkably, this was empty desert when Brigham Young and his fellow Mormon pioneers first encamped here in 1847, but trusting his vision, Young declared, "This is the place," and the rest is history. continue reading...

Salt Lake City among top travel cities
December 28, 2010
By Jasen Lee, Deseret News -- The Wasatch Front has long been considered a hidden gem for travelers to the West, but a recent travel magazine article indicated that Utah's secret is apparently getting out. The December issue of Travel and Leisure magazine showed Salt Lake City ranked among the "top 5" in 12 categories, including No. 1 in "cleanliness," "safety" and "winter/Christmas" getaway. The state capital ranked No.2 in the "affordable getaway," "affordable hotels" and "family vacation" categories. S continue reading...

Utah's low-profile Solitude Mountain Resort
December 10, 2010
By Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times -- At last — a ski area suitable for our readers in the federal witness protection program. Solitude Mountain Resort lies about 30 miles from downtown Salt Lake City, tucked into the same Wasatch range that harbors such famed ski destinations as Park City, Deer Valley and the Canyons. But Solitude occupies a different canyon and a different category. It makes less fuss and draws fewer people than most of those other resorts. Yet it gets just as much snow, often more. And as I found a few weeks ago, it gives skiers plenty to handle. continue reading...

Salt Lake International ranks 3rd in nation
November 30, 2010
By ksl.com -- Utah is home to one of the best airports in the country. A new survey from Zagat names Salt Lake International Airport third in the U.S. for overall quality. The company polled more than 8,000 frequent fliers about their favorite airport. continue reading...

True Salt Lake City: Essential Guide
November 18, 2010
By Marit Fischer, Wild Blue Yonder -- There’s no better way to spend wintry days than in Utah’s famous snow-covered playground, the Wasatch Mountains, and in the city at the heart of it all. continue reading...

Greetings From Recoveryland: Where can you go to escape the recession?
November 08, 2010
By Joel Kotkin, NEWSWEEK -- Like a massive tornado, the Great Recession upended the topography of America. But even as vast parts of the country were laid low, some cities withstood the storm and could emerge even stronger and shinier than before. There’s Salt Lake City and its environs, buoyed by the arrival of such big names as Adobe, Twitter, and Electronic Arts. The Greater Salt Lake region, which follows the Wasatch Mountains from Provo to Ogden, has much to attract tech companies: short commutes, decent public schools, spectacular nearby recreation, and, perhaps most important, affordable housing. continue reading...

Promised Land: How Utah became the new economic Zion
November 08, 2010
By Tony Dokoupil, NEWSWEEK -- Greater Salt Lake City, the 75-mile corridor stretching from Ogden in the north to Provo in the south, has absorbed massive new data centers for eBay, Twitter, and Oracle; splashy new offices for Disney Interactive and EA Sports; and, just last month, a commitment from Adobe—the makers of Flash and Acrobat—to build a thousand-person software-development campus, where the minimum average salary will be $60,000. continue reading...

Forbes names Utah No. 1 for business
October 14, 2010
KSL.com -- For the first time, Forbes Magazine has named Utah the No. 1 state in the country for business and growth. It's a strong indication tough economic times are nearly past. "I'm here to tell you today that Utah is now the BCS buster of economic development in America," Governor's Office of Economic Development Executive Director Spencer Eccles said. continue reading...

Ski Salt Lake City and hit the slopes by noon
September 23, 2010
Ted Nelson, Chicago Adventure Travel Examiner -- Skiers can hit the slopes by noon at a Salt Lake City, Utah ski resort. Brighton ski resort, Solitude ski resort, Snowbird Ski Resort, Alta Ski Resort are all ski resorts adjacent to Salt Lake City. All four ski resorts are within an hour of Utah’s capital and more importantly only forty-five minutes from the Salt Lake City airport. continue reading...

5 Great Fall Foliage Drives Close to Salt Lake City
September 22, 2010
Aimee Maxwell, NileGuide -- The Salt Lake City area becomes a canvas of color in autumn as leaves turn spectacular shades of red, orange, and yellow. Colors are just about at their peak so take one of these fall foliage drives to see some gorgeous mountain scenery right outside of Salt Lake. Little Cottonwood Canyon continue reading...

Genealogy Travel - Salt Lake City, Utah
September 13, 2010
FlyingCompass - Visitors travel to Utah's Rocky Mountains to Salt Lake City, an urban center and mountain retreat, for many reasons including genealogy research. Just as the Mormons came here in 1847 to seek refuge, these urban pioneers come here in search of answers using a system created more than a century ago. They come not to look at today or even the future, but at the past. Genealogists come from all walks of life for the sole purpose of discovering more about their ancestors and ultimately themselves. For some it's just looking for that one missing puzzle piece or connecting dots. For others, it's the start of a new adventure. continue reading...

A list of America's most and least stressful metro areas
September 08, 2010
Daryl Paranda, Marketplace & PublicRadio.org -- We’ve heard about stress tests for the nation’s big banks. What about for the nation’s biggest metropolitan areas?... The least stressful metro area to live in? Salt Lake City. Perhaps it’s the water out there, or the fact that out of all the major metropolitan areas, is has the lowest murder rate. Plus, it has short commutes, low unemployment and generally a good health standing. continue reading...

Utah Delivers
September 08, 2010
By Kathy Chin Leong, Smart Meetings -- Against the scenic backdrop of the Wasatch Mountain Range, the state’s capital bustles. Downtown Salt Lake is on the verge of becoming a major destination for shopping and dining thanks to a nearly $5-billion investment from business and community leaders toward refurbishing the central business district. The city is close to several resorts for winter and summer sports, which are only a 35-minute shuttle ride away. Downtown is near the Salt Lake City International airport, only eight minutes west. continue reading...

Salt Palace to house largest solar-power installation in country
September 02, 2010
By John Daley, KSL News -- The Salt Palace Convention Center will soon be home to what would be, if built today, the largest solar-power installation of its kind in the nation. The solar modules will generate more than 3,330,000 kilowatt hours of electricity every year. That's 25% of the Convention Center's annual consumption or enough to power more than 350 homes in Utah. continue reading...

New businesses continue to open in downtown Salt Lake City
August 12, 2010
Downtown Alliance Blog, by Jason Mathis - More than 20 storefront businesses have opened in the Central Business District since January 2010, proof that the downtown community is continuing to progress and evolve as a more dynamic urban center. continue reading...

Outdoor Retailer Extends Through Summer 2014
August 10, 2010
UtahBusiness.com -- The news just keeps getting better and better for Salt Lake. The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010 experienced a 28 percent increase in pre-registered attendees and had a four percent increase in exhibit space sold, representing over 4,000 exhibitors. And the best news of all: The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau finalized the agreements for the Outdoor Retailer Winter and Summer Markets through 2014. (The previous agreement ran through Summer Market 2011.) continue reading...

10 Best Affordable Mountain Towns for Retirement: Scenic views and groomed slopes
July 12, 2010
US News & World Report, by Emily Brandon -- Gary Kunzer discovered Salt Lake City when Deluxe Corp. transferred him there in 1998. When he retired from his operations manager position in 2006 he decided to stick around rather than move back to his hometown of St. Paul, Minn. He now splits his time between a variety of part-time jobs including golf teacher, ski instructor, and sales. "When you go skiing in Salt Lake you are truly in the mountains and when you come down you are in a truly metro area," says Kunzer. "Skiing is probably the best family activity people can ever do: I have 3 daughters in their 20s and they won't always talk with me, but they always ski with me." continue reading...

Surprising Salt Lake City
June 30, 2010
Adam McCulloch, AAA Horizons -- I didn’t expect to find a world-class microbrewery in Salt Lake City. But, since the 2002 Winter Olympics, the city has finally loosened liquor licensing laws and filled new concert venues with big names to establish itself as an adventure playground. continue reading...

Valter Nassi sells Salt Lake with food, flamboyance
June 28, 2010
By Mike Gorrell, The Salt Lake Tribune -- With a flamboyance deeply rooted in his Italian roots, Valter Nassi sells Salt Lake City with his culinary creations and charm. The food connoisseur behind downtown’s Cucina Toscana restaurant sets out each day to give customers an eating experience that illustrates Salt Lake’s ability to match prominent cities when it comes to fine dining. And it’s delivered by a local work force that he thinks is second to none in terms of friendliness. continue reading...

Salt Lake CVB Bestows Tourism Achievement Awards
June 21, 2010
UtahBusiness.com -- The Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau (SLCVB) bestowed its highest honor, the Tourism Achievement Award, to the Salt Lake City Department of Airports and to Valter Nassi of Cucina Toscana as part of the SLCVB’s Second Quarter Board Meeting. This award honors Bureau members and Community organizations for their outstanding efforts in supporting the mission of the SLCVB and the larger tourism community of Salt Lake County. continue reading...

Skiing will continue another weekend at Utah's Snowbird
June 16, 2010
Salt Lake Tribune -- Snowbird's ski season will make it to Father's Day after all. A week after saying this coming weekend looked doubtful because of a rapid upper-elevation snowmelt, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort officials said Wednesday that "limited, expert skiing from Hidden Peak" will be available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. continue reading...

‘Genealogy tourists’ flock to Salt Lake City
June 11, 2010
Jennifer Dobner, Associated Press -- SALT LAKE CITY - When Jan Gow makes her annual pilgrimage from New Zealand to Salt Lake City, it's not to enjoy Utah's ski resorts, red rock canyons or five national parks. It's for the ribbons of microfilm and endless volumes of maps, cemetery and property records tucked inside the Family History Library. continue reading...

Utah: Mild West
June 07, 2010
Kelly Crumrin, MeetingsFocus.com -- Well mannered and family-friendly, Utah represents a kinder, gentler Wild West. It is home to some of the most extravagantly beautiful terrain in the U.S., much of which can be hiked, climbed, skied, biked and golfed, and it is a proud curator of its rich pioneer heritage. continue reading...

36 Hours in Salt Lake City
June 03, 2010
Jaime Gross, New York Times -- THERE’S a new party in Salt Lake City. Utah liquor laws were normalized last year for the first time since 1935, allowing patrons simply to walk into a bar and order a drink, as if they were in any other city. Add to that a budding film scene (a spillover effect from the nearby Sundance Film Festival), a fresh crop of indie galleries and boutiques, and an open-door stance toward refugees and immigrants, which has made the city more cosmopolitan. The city even passed an anti-discrimination law last year that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents — and with backing from the Mormon Church. continue reading...

10 Best Cities for the Next Decade
June 02, 2010
By the Editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine -- After researching and visiting our 2010 Best Cities, it became clear that the innovation factor has three elements. Mark Emmert, president of the University of Washington in Seattle, put his finger on two of them: smart people and great ideas. But we'd argue that it's the third element -- collaboration -- that really supercharges a city's economic engine. When governments, universities and business communities work together, the economic vitality is impressive. continue reading...

Wasatch Front boosters hope Connect Pass will be 2010 hit
May 22, 2010
By Mike Gorrell, The Salt Lake Tribune - Coming off a banner year, the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass is being promoted to draw even more recession-weary people to Wasatch Front tourism destinations. The pass, which provides discount-price access to 13 attractions from downtown Salt Lake City to Thanksgiving Point to Utah Olympic Park, will be sold on a three-days-for-the-price-of-two basis starting Monday and running through July 19. The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau also is offering a 365-day pass to increase its appeal to Utahns who have multiple opportunities in a year to visit participating attractions. continue reading...

People looking to vacation away from home this summer
May 19, 2010
Anne Forester and Andrew Adams, KSL.com -- A new survey shows more people are planning to take a vacation away from home this summer, and Utah's tourism industry hopes to benefit from those summer travelers. continue reading...

Snowbird: Only Utah Ski Resort Still Open
May 19, 2010
Wena Sturgeon, The City Weekly -- Anyone thinking snow season is finished should check out Snowbird’s parking lot. Though only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a few more weeks, enough snow riders pack the lot that it’s full. Some even have to park up on the main road. But is it worth it? Should you go? The answer is yes. To add a bit of country: hell, yes! continue reading...

Salt Lake City's Connect Pass good for up to a year
May 06, 2010
Jasen Lee, Deseret News -- It used to be that visiting all 13 attractions included in the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau's "Visit Salt Lake" Connect Pass had to be done in less than a week. Now doing so can be done at a much more leisurely pace. continue reading...

This Is The Place
April 28, 2010
Michelle Bruno, SmartMeetings.com -- Utah is one of the most beautiful, yet least understood, meeting destinations. The scenery is a study in diversity, with the snow-capped mountains of the Wasatch Range to the north and a full spectrum of color-washed cliffs and desert to the south. Add the modern architecture of Salt Lake City’s newly minted city center and the swanky syncopation of Park City’s nightlife to the solitude of southern Utah’s resort and recreation corridor, and the perfect canvas for meetings emerges. From executive retreats to citywide conventions, the words of the Beehive State’s founding fathers, “This is the place,” still resonate today. continue reading...

Convention hopes rising after tough year
March 23, 2010
By Mike Gorrell, The Salt Lake Tribune -- To no one's surprise, 2009 was not a banner year for the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. But the bureau still managed to help bring people (225,000) and money ($204 million) into Salt Lake County last year and booked another $160 million worth of future convention and meeting business. continue reading...

"Super Bowl of conventions" headed to Salt Lake City
March 09, 2010
Mike Gorrell, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Without blushing, organizers call it "the Super Bowl of conventions." Don't look to Scott Beck, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, to diminish the claim, not after the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) announced that its 2016 meeting will take place in Utah's capital city. Comparing this convention to last July's prestigious gathering of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Beck said, "If MPI were the Winter Olympics, ASAE would be the Summer Olympics. It's twice as big." continue reading...

Getaway: Altitude without attitude in Utah
February 28, 2010
Nancy Olesin, MetroWest Daily News -- Talk about convenience: Board a plane in Boston first thing in the morning and by lunch you can be skiing high in the mountains of Utah. Utah is a great choice for a ski getaway with friends or family, where lodging choices abound, from elegant to relaxing and rustic, in the 11 resorts within an hour's drive of the airport. continue reading...

Top photogs compete in ski resort shootout
February 24, 2010
Mike Gorrell, Salt Lake Tribune -- A fierce competition is being waged in the Cottonwood canyons this week to capture photographic images of skiing/boarding and Salt Lake County's four resorts in all of their glory. continue reading...

Utahns in Vancouver to tout 2002 Olympic legacy
February 19, 2010
By Mike Gorrell, The Salt Lake Tribune -- The topic of business luncheons Saturday and Sunday in Vancouver will be Olympic legacy -- not British Columbia's, but Utah's. Officials from the Salt Lake, Park City and Ogden convention and visitors bureaus will deliver slightly differing messages about how their communities benefited from the 2002 Winter Games. And, eight years later, are continuing to do so. continue reading...

America's Toughest Winter Jobs: A Day At Utah's Snowbird Ski Resort
February 10, 2010
Scott Mayerowitz, ABCnews -- We all know the old saying that you can't really understand another person's job until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Well what if those shoes are heavy, clunky ski boots? Somehow I found myself one morning before dawn at the top of a mountain, in near blizzard conditions, climbing an iced-over metal ladder. Did I mention the ski boots? I had come to the Snowbird Ski Resort to find out what it was like to bring this mountain to life each morning. My timing couldn't have been better: I arrived in the middle of a seven-day period where the ski area saw a whopping seven feet of snow. Needless to say, that complicated matters. continue reading...

The Legacy of the Winter Games: These Olympic cities still carry a torch
February 04, 2010
MSN, Crai S. Bower -- The world may arrive in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. in February, but the legacy of Winter Olympic Games changes the spiritual and economic future of a host city forever. The 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics showcased North American Nordic environments, demonstrating that the Sierra Mountains more than held their own against Europe's eponymous Alpine slopes while launching America's first nationwide ski boom. Lake Placid's U.S. hockey "Miracle" 4-3 defeat of the Russians may have restored America's post-70's pride, but it also established the legitimacy of USA Hockey. And considered the X-Treme Games, Salt Lake City established snowboarding, moguls and other X-Generation snow sports as some of the most popular Olympic events. These Games will also always be remembered because their very existence was once uncertain, scheduled just five months after the 9/11 attacks. continue reading...

Utah's Newly-Relaxed Liquor Law Has Spurred a Boom in Craft Beers and Whisky
February 01, 2010
ABC News, Scott Mayerowitz -- Utah isn't exactly the first place that comes to mind if you're seeking a good drink. Thanks to new liquor laws Utah's bar scene is thriving. But thanks in part to a recent loosening of the state's liquor laws there is a burgeoning booze business in the state. continue reading...

Eight years after hosting Olympics, Salt Lake City and other Utah cities find fruitful legacy
January 30, 2010
The Selective Echo -- Although it has been eight years since Salt Lake City dispensed itself well as the host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, the city’s travel and tourism portfolio continues to benefit handsomely from the highly valued visibility of this global event. continue reading...

Where should a gnome roam? Utah or Lake Tahoe?
January 28, 2010
Mike Gorrell, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Travelocity's mascot, the traveling gnome, is trying to decide whether to take a ski vacation to Utah or Lake Tahoe, a popularity contest that will be decided by voters on the gnome's Facebook page. Utah or Lake Tahoe? Where's a gnome to ski? continue reading...

Life in a Snow Globe
January 27, 2010
Talia Salem, Smart Meetings Magazine -- This weekend I embarked on my first journey to Utah. Snowboard in tow, I boarded my Southwest flight to Salt Lake City. After an easy 90-minute trip, we descended into the state capital—and what a sight it was. It was the most beautiful view, flying over the snowy Rockies into the city—I was craning my neck to get a better look the entire time. After we landed in the valley with stunning mountain vistas all around, we hopped on a Canyon Transportation shuttle to head up to the mountain to Little Cottonwood Canyon and the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. continue reading...

Major winter events bring economic rewards to Utah
January 21, 2010
Shara Park, KSL.com -- Three major events officially kick off Thursday -- the Sundance Film Festival, the X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival and the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. The combination of these three events brings a lot of excitement to areas like downtown Salt Lake City and Park City, but they also bring in millions of dollars to Utah's economy. continue reading...

Restrictions Lifted, Salt Lake City Revs Up Downtown Revitalization
January 13, 2010
Meetings + Incentive Travel -- Salt Lake City, Utah, has lifted an antiquated law that for decades allowed only two bars per block downtown. continue reading...

Salt Lake OKs $6 million renovation for Gallivan Utah Center
January 09, 2010
By Jared Page, Deseret News - The John W. Gallivan Utah Center is on track for a $6 million makeover. The Salt Lake City Council, acting in its capacity as the city's redevelopment agency board of directors, Tuesday unanimously approved conceptual drawings for the expansion project, specifically the two-story building to be constructed along 200 South to house permanent restrooms, banquet facilities, plaza security and the ice skating rental office. continue reading...

Ski Photographers Get Ready To Shoot It Out In Utah
December 14, 2009
Jill Adler, OnTheSnow.com -- The marriage of professional ski photographers and local professional athletes battling it out for cash and bragging rights is back on. Enter yourself for the opportunity to win $1,000- $2,500 If you've got the creative chops. This competition isn't just about photographers. Both skiers and shooters have until Jan. 21, 2010, to submit an entry form and examples of their work for a slot on this ride slated for Feb. 21-27, 2010. continue reading...

Affordable Skiing: Alta
December 13, 2009
Cindy Hirschfeld, New York Times -- For 70 years, the Utah resort has been known for its no-frills approach, letting the challenging terrain and abundant snow speak for itself. Though you won't find dirt-cheap hotels or lift tickets, Alta offers few temptations for spendthrifts. Hard-core skiers come here to ski (snowboarding is still verboten), not to ride fancy gondolas or blow their budgets at trendy boutiques or aromatherapy spas. continue reading...

Cheers! Salt Lake City erases downtown bar limit
December 09, 2009
Derek Jensen, Salt Lake Tribune -- With just a handful of residents and a Boy Scout troop looking on, Salt Lake City made a seminal change in its alcohol rules Tuesday, eliminating downtown's two-bar-per-block restriction that has vexed tourists and business travelers for decades. continue reading...

Salt Lake City: Beehive State Buzz
December 02, 2009
Hunter Holcombe, Meetings Focus -- From the days when Mormon leader Brigham Young was a perpetual thorn in the side of the U.S. government, due to his colony’s aberrant ways, up until only about a dozen years ago, it never seemed that becoming a top-draw meetings destination was in the cards for Salt Lake City. But things have changed for this picturesque city nestled beneath the Wasatch Mountains. In 2002, Salt Lake and neighboring Park City hosted the Winter Olympics, and they both built up significantly in preparation. Suddenly a global magnifying glass was focused onto this relatively small and humble city, and the world took notice of its seven world-class ski resorts, pristine setting and comfortable feel. continue reading...

Salt Lake City: There's much to do besides ski in this valley
November 22, 2009
Tracy L. Barnett, Miami-Herald -- Skiers who flock to this region for its legendary white powder and steep slopes often grab the first shuttle to their resort of choice, bypassing the state's capital city. But to do so is to miss half the fun. This cultural oasis in the middle of the desert has been defying expectations since its founding in 1847 by Mormon settlers, or Latter-Day Saints as they prefer to be called, and it's continued to yield surprises and contradictions ever since. continue reading...

Cheap Skiing in Family-Friendly Brighton, Utah
November 20, 2009
Ron Bozman, FamilyTravelForum.com -- Some families will fly into Salt Lake and make this Utah visit their one big, blowout family ski holiday. If you don’t want to be limited to only one mountain, yet need to sample all of the resorts in both Cottonwood Canyons at a reasonable cost, the best value is the Ski Salt Lake Super Pass. With this pass you get lift tickets to any of the four Cottonwood Canyon resorts plus daily bus service to and from. continue reading...

Top five bargain destinations for winter
November 20, 2009
By Christine Sarkis, USA Today -- Whether winter calls for sun or snow in your book, there are plenty of deals to put a vacation on your horizon. As destinations attempt to pull themselves out of the recession funk, they're offering winter deals worth serious consideration. Salt Lake City and the surrounding mountain destinations stand out as an affordable winter vacation spot this year. Domestic airfare sales and ski-friendly offers make getting there a bargain, and more discounts on hotels and ski expenses can bring down the overall cost substantially. continue reading...

All-purpose Rail Event Center boasts modern vibe
November 19, 2009
David Burger, Salt Lake Tribune -- "We are a great concert hall, but we're not just a concert hall," said Brad Davis, general manager of The Rail. The Rail has been booking weddings, corporate events, quinceañeras, Sweet 16 parties and community events. The owners spent nearly $7 million to renovate what was once a Modern Display warehouse into a 42,000-square-foot, all-purpose venue. continue reading...

Salt Lake airport a great place to get stuck
November 18, 2009
Paul Beebe, Salt Lake Tribune -- A traveler could do a lot worse than get stranded at Salt Lake City's aging airport, according to SeatGuru.com, which bills itself as the Web's most complete resource for airline information. On Tuesday, SeatGuru released its pick of Salt Lake City International Airport and four other domestic airports as the best places to be stuck during the heavy holiday travel season, which starts next week. continue reading...

Facing the wild snowy yonder
November 11, 2009
TRACY L. BARNETT, Houston Chronicle -- Curled up in front of the fire, I look out to a line of snow-frosted pines. Twenty-three inches of snow fell last night, so the snow is still fluffy and soft. Beyond the trees, I can see the tops of the mountains I will be ascending tomorrow. I'm trying not to think of all the things that can go wrong. I'm fluctuating between “Really, it's no big deal,” and “What in the world was I thinking?” continue reading...

Happiest U.S. states are wealthy and tolerant: Utah tops list
November 10, 2009
By Jeanna Bryner, MSNBC--Though you might not be able to run away from your problems, moving to another state could be good for the soul. New research suggests U.S. states with wealthier, better educated and more tolerant residents are also happier on average. continue reading...

Powder Play: Eight reasons to ski Utah
November 07, 2009
STEPHEN REGENOLD, Special to the Star Tribune -- Utah's Wasatch Mountain Range has it all: deep snow, steep slopes and good value, with cheap flights to nearby Salt Lake City. Staked like a wall at the western edge of the Rocky Mountains, the Wasatch Range towers over Utah's Great Salt Lake and the vast desert basin beyond. For skiers and snowboarders, the range's sharp peaks and plunging valleys -- plus hundreds of inches of powder snow each season --create an ultimate playground for fast descents in deep snow. continue reading...

City Creek casting noteworthy shadow: Mixed-use project changes downtown landscape
November 04, 2009
Paul Beebe, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Three years after demolition of the Crossroads Plaza kicked off construction of City Creek Center, the massive retail, residential and office project in downtown Salt Lake City is beginning to take shape. The project is widely credited for keeping the worst of the recession in Utah at bay. And when completed in 2012, City Creek is expected to spark more economic growth in the area. continue reading...

Ski season kicks off in Salt Lake!
November 03, 2009
MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset Magazine -- Very exciting news, people....Salt Lake's ski season kicks off THIS FRIDAY, November 6th, at Solitude Mountain Resort. Time to get your ski on! I personally don't like being marooned at a ski resort (no matter how great it is), and Salt Lake is really the perfect place to base yourself in the city, with awesome skiing a quick 30 minutes away. continue reading...

America's top snow: Skiing readers laud Utah resorts - again
October 30, 2009
Mike Gorrell, Salt Lake Tribune -- Readers' choice: Alta and Snowbird, two iconic areas that continue to draw hard-core skiers, are once again featured in Skiing magazine as among North America's top 10 ski areas. continue reading...

Salt Lake City convention bookings look promising in recession-tinted picture
October 20, 2009
Les Roka, The Selective Echo -- There is no doubt that Scott Beck, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, relishes a challenge. In competing with other venues to host association conventions and meetings, corporate business gatherings, and city-wide events, many of which have had their budgets severely curtailed in the recession, Beck sees a long-term payoff in building the destination value of Salt Lake City especially once the economy rebounds. continue reading...

Which Airports Have the Fewest Delays?
October 18, 2009
ABC News, Ron Scherer -- This might be one of the few good things to come out of the recession: airport delays are down. Yes, you read that correctly – even if you are sitting in an airport wondering when your flight will take off. The best of the metro airports: Salt Lake City. continue reading...

Greater Salt Lake City: CROSSROADS OF THE WEST
September 22, 2009
John Anderson, Smart Meetings -- We’ve all heard that flat is the new up, with businesses and meeting planners adjusting to an economy that’s more about sustaining revenue than growing it. Assuming that’s the case, then bland might just be the new wow, pleasingly plump the new slim and, if the hotel folks in Utah have their say, Salt Lake City the new Las Vegas. And while no one will mistake “The Entertainment Capital of the World” (as Vegas bills itself) for the capital of the Beehive State—you won’t find mammoth casinos, a faux New York City or miles of neon in Salt Lake City—there are plenty of advantages for not being Las Vegas these days. continue reading...

Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Salt Lake City, Utah
September 17, 2009
Ann, Cochran, Peter Greenberg Worldwide -- Salt Lake City has dual mecca status: religious and athletic. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is based in and around glorious Temple Square and there are seven world-class ski resorts 30 to 45 minutes away, 11 within an hour’s drive. Utah’s tourism slogan, “Life Elevated,” couldn’t be a more appropriate personification of its state capital. Salt Lake City is orderly, clean, flowered and treed. The rugged Wasatch Mountains provide a movie-set backdrop for a vibrant downtown where broad boulevards and avenues are usually free of traffic. The valley is blessed with good weather—in the winter, daytime temperatures are usually above freezing, while the surrounding slopes are blanketed in dry powder. continue reading...

Skiing Magazine -- Best Snow: Alta/Snowbird, Utah
September 16, 2009
The heavens really open up in Utah. These neighboring resorts at the end of Little Cottonwood Canyon typically get more than 600 inches a year. During winter, Utah State Highway 210 winds up Little Cottonwood Canyon, passes Snowbird, and dead-ends near Alta and the canyon’s head, at 8,600 feet. Storms follow the same path. Moisture-laden air moves up the canyon, gets Heismanned by a wall of 11,000-foot peaks, and, in a meteorological miracle known as orographic uplift, often barfs more than 600 inches of light, dry powder in a single winter. In the 2007–08 season it snowed an astounding 701.5 inches. continue reading...

Salt Lake hopes to benefit from travel agents' meeting
September 08, 2009
Mike Gorrell, Salt Lake Tribune -- The 600 travel agents meeting in Salt Lake City later this week aren't really coming to learn about Utah. Their focus is expected to be on seminars the Travel Leaders company put together to help franchisees nationwide understand and react to trends in the struggling industry. Or on the chance to network with their counterparts from all around the country. Still, the company meeting Thursday through Saturday at Grand America Hotel exposes Salt Lake City's attributes to the trained eyes of people who know what is important to the traveling public. "Just having them here promotes Salt Lake," said Scott Beck, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau. "They get to experience our hospitality, go to dinner at the Metropolitan or get a beer at Squatters. ... They'll get to see Salt Lake as a viable destination, overcoming the reputation of no night life, that there's nothing to do here, that there are goofy liquor laws." continue reading...

Utah to host 2011 national meeting of governors
August 26, 2009
Robert Gehrke , The Salt Lake Tribune -- Salt Lake City will host the 2011 gathering of the National Governors Association, the association announced Wednesday. It will be the fourth time the association has met in Utah since 1919. continue reading...

Salt Lake City airport tops in on-time flights...again
August 13, 2009
Salt Lake City International Airport remains the best airport in the country for on-time travel, according to an article this month in Travel and Leisure Magazine. The publication ranked the best and worst airports for on-time performance using data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics from April 1, 2008, to March 31, 2009. For a second time, Salt Lake International had the best record. continue reading...

Fine art has home in the midst of a construction zone
July 31, 2009
Keith McCord, KSL.com -- When you think of the great works of art by Rembrandt, Degas and others, you probably think those paintings are mostly hanging in museums in Europe. Some are, yes, but there's a huge collection right in downtown Salt Lake City. continue reading...

Pastrami Meets The Patty in Utah
July 28, 2009
John T. Edge, New York Times: RAGGED strips of pastrami, fatty edges tinged russet by a long immersion in a serving-line vat of paprika-spiked beef broth, spilled from beneath the bun of Cindy Rutland’s burger... Here, Crown Burgers and various imitators have, over the last three decades, convinced the citizens of Utah that it is perfectly normal to wedge a quarter pound of thin-sliced pastrami between a cheese-draped charbroiled beef patty and a sesame seed bun, slathered with a Thousand-Island-like sauce and dressed with sliced tomatoes, shaved lettuce and onions. continue reading...

Retailer expo can translate into big money
July 20, 2009
Lana Groves, Deseret News: Utah made its mark on the winter sports community when the Olympics arrived in 2002, and now the Beehive State is taking all types of outdoor recreation by storm. As thousands roll into Salt Lake City for the outdoor retailer convention this week, Utah's economy welcomes the growing reputation for outdoor recreation and the $19 million impact officials say the 20,000 attendees make during the weeklong visit. continue reading...

SLC to host world congress for convention and meeting planners
July 06, 2009
Les, The Selective Echo: Thousands of representatives from more than 30 nations will convene in Salt Lake City this coming weekend at the annual World Education Congress of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world’s largest association for the event and convention industry. continue reading...

Utah's private clubs fade into history Wednesday
June 30, 2009
Lisa Riley Roche, Deseret News -- Starting Wednesday, Utah's private clubs won't be so private anymore. That's when the new law eliminating private club membership requirements takes effect, turning the state's equivalent of bars into, well, bars. continue reading...

Utah relaxing liquor laws to entice tourists
June 22, 2009
Valerie Richardson, Washinton Times: Utah's liquor laws are set to relax July 1, bringing them more in line with those of the rest of the nation, but don't expect Salt Lake City to morph into Sin City any time soon. continue reading...

Visitors Bureau extends ski pass idea to golfing
June 16, 2009
Mike Gorrell, Salt Lake Tribune -- Because the super pass idea has worked so well stimulating tourist interest in skiing Salt Lake County's resorts, why not try it with golfing in the summer? And why not make it available to locals, too? The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau is giving the idea a shot. continue reading...

Nonstop flight from Utah to Tokyo begins
June 03, 2009
Associated Press: A nonstop flight from Tokyo is making its way to Salt Lake City. The 12-hour flight is the first in a new service from Delta Air Lines. It is the first time Salt Lake City will see an Airbus 330 jet on a regular basis and the first trans-Pacific service in the intermountain region. The flight will run five times a week. continue reading...

Bureau markets S.L. to …Utahns
May 27, 2009
By Lee Benson, Deseret News -- The staggering economy has changed more than a few vacation plans this summer. Before you were thinking of maybe the Left Bank in Paris or a Serengeti safari, or at least the three-day park hopper pass at Disneyland. Now you're thinking something a little more conservative and a wee bit closer to home. The Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau knows this. Which is why its marketing plan for the summer of 2009 is targeting a tourist who looks very familiar: Us. continue reading...

Second Homes: Skiing, hiking and biking in Salt Lake City
May 15, 2009
Larry Olmsted, USA Today: In February, Salt Lake made the news when it was named the nation's fittest city by Men's Health magazine. But second-home owners have known this for years. Skiing is the highest-profile active pursuit, especially since the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Utah receives "Champagne powder," and 11 major ski resorts are within an hour, with some as close as 10 minutes. continue reading...

Overlooking the Mormon Temple, a New Center
May 12, 2009
Linda Baker, New York Times: While the economic crisis has silenced hundreds of real estate projects around the country, 1,100 construction workers are toiling on a 20-acre development here that is springing up across the street from the Mormon Temple in the center of downtown. continue reading...

Inspiration takes Wing at Tracy Aviary bird festival
May 11, 2009
Judy Fahys, Deseret News: Visitors to this year's urban bird festival are enjoying about $1 million in improvements to aviary exhibits since Labor Day. The Kennecott Wetlands Immersion Experience opens to the public later this month, as does the updated Amazon Adventure. continue reading...

It's (Zion) 'curtains' for restaurant booze barriers
May 10, 2009
Lisa Riley Roche, Deseret News: Starting Tuesday, the restaurant portion of the state's sweeping changes to liquor regulation becomes law. Utah's version of bars, private clubs, have to wait until July 1 to eliminate their membership requirements, however. continue reading...

Boxing: Utahn works his magic
May 08, 2009
Jay Drew, Salt Lake Tribune: Salt Lake City's Rick Montoya doesn't need validation, after spending most of the last 20 years of his life developing Utah youngsters into some of the finest amateur boxers in the country. But if this week at the Golden Gloves National Tournament of Champions is proving anything, it is that Montoya deserves to be called one of the state's best trainers. continue reading...

Visitors bureau launches carbon offset program
May 06, 2009
Paul Beebe, Salt Lake Tribune: Green-minded visitors, whatever their political hue, can now fly or drive to Salt Lake City without worrying about their carbon footprints. The Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau has started a carbon offset program on its Web site, www.visitsaltlake.com, for travelers to gauge the number of tons of carbon dioxide that will get belched into the atmosphere on their trips to and from Salt Lake City. continue reading...

At 25, Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau masters a sustainable brand
May 02, 2009
The Selective Echo: Perhaps there is no better way to mark the 25th anniversary of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau than to gain the global housekeeping seal of approval from Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world’s largest association for the event and convention industry, which will hold in SLC its annual World Education Congress this summer. continue reading...

SALT LAKE CITY - GREAT POWDER, PRICES : More snow, fewer skiers means Salt Lake City is ideal
April 08, 2009
Michael Cervin, SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS -- To ski or not to ski, that is the question. Aspen boasts movie stars and the chance to be seen, but it has crowds. Whistler is beautiful, but it's a whole other country. Then there's Utah. Not necessarily on everyone's short list, the Salt Lake City region offers four prime skiing locations, all within a 40-minute drive from downtown. Dollar-conscious travelers would do well to stay in Salt Lake City and commute the short drive to ski or snowboard rather than stay at a secluded resort. continue reading...

SLC hotel proposal raises hope
April 07, 2009
Jeremiah Stettler, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Should Salt Lake County accommodate a new 1,000-room hotel overlooking the Salt Palace? That's the question the County Council will raise today as officials consider creating an exploratory committee to figure out whether a Salt Palace hotel makes financial sense for Utah's capital and whether public funds should support it. The hotel would rise within easy walking distance of the Salt Palace, offering convention-bookers 1,000 rooms, about 90,000 square feet of meeting space and full-service accommodations, including fine dining, gift shops, fitness centers and an indoor swimming pool. continue reading...

Pedicabs rolling into SLC
April 03, 2009
Derek P. Jensen, The Salt Lake Tribune -- Downtown Salt Lake City's public transportation scene just got a leg up. Well, two. A new bicycle taxi service called Stick Dog Pedicabs is cruising the capital's bar and restaurant scene -- ready to pedal people between stops, back to the hotel and even home for a "driver" tip. The rickshaw-like rigs, brightly colored and able to carry two at a time, can be hailed afternoon or evening. And they are rolling just in time for LDS conference weekend. continue reading...

Top 10 Drive-Free Resorts: #4 - Salt Lake City
April 02, 2009
SkiNet (SKI/Skiing Magazines) - Ok, so Salt Lake City isn’t typically known as a ski resort. It’s a city, obviously. But it’s so much more: it’s a city with an international airport that lies within one hour of 11 different resorts, including Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, and Brighton. For that reason, it qualifies as a premium-access region. continue reading...

Utah lifts 'weird' drinking curbs
March 31, 2009
BBC News - Utah has eased its strict controls on public drinking by announcing the end of restrictions under which bars had to function like private clubs. From 1 July, anyone wanting a strong drink in the largely Mormon state will no longer have to fill in a form and pay a fee in order to enter a bar. continue reading...

Delta beefs up Salt Lake City connections
March 27, 2009
Associated Press, Salt Lake Tribune: Delta Air Lines will launch a nonstop daily flight from Salt Lake City to Chicago's Midway Airport to compete with low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines. continue reading...

Ski tour group impressed with SLC
March 26, 2009
Mike Gorrell, Salt Lake Tribune: One day, visiting ski tour operators were taken skiing up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The next day, they hit the Little Cottonwood resorts. But skiing was not the only activity on the itinerary of the Ski Tour Operators Association during its four-day stay last week in Salt Lake City. Far from it. There was a night at a Jazz game, and an excursion to the Utah Olympic Oval, where they could skate laps, play a little hockey, even try their hands at curling. continue reading...

Liquor laws may be immediate boon
March 19, 2009
Brice Wallace, Deseret News: The changes in Utah's liquor laws could have positive consequences even before the measures take effect this summer, a member of the Utah Board of Tourism Development said Thursday. continue reading...

Salt Lake convention business strong despite recession
March 11, 2009
Salt Lake Tribune (Mike Gorrell) -- This is a big year for the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. It's celebrating its silver anniversary, 25 years of marked growth that includes a prominent supporting role in securing and staging the 2002 Winter Olympics. But like everyone else, the bureau is trying to withstand the onslaught of the recession -- something it has been able to do thus far. continue reading...

Utah Tops List of America's Best States To Live
March 11, 2009
Rebecca Ruiz, Forbes: Utah earned the highest marks. Here residents reported a high level of satisfaction in several areas, including work environment, emotional health and their local communities. One major factor for Utah's strong performance might be its unemployment rate: When last reported in January, it was 4.6% compared with a national rate of 7.6%. continue reading...

Goodbye private clubs
March 09, 2009
The Salt Lake Tribune -- Legislators and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. announced a deal Monday that would make the most sweeping changes in decades to Utah's liquor laws, including an end to the state's one-of-a-kind private-club law. Huntsman, who made doing away with the nettlesome club law a priority before the session, said it was a task that "many thought to be quite impossible early on." continue reading...

Salt Lake's reputation may now be an asset
March 06, 2009
Mike Gorrell, Salt Lake Tribune: The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau has not had any companies or associations cancel meetings out of fear they might look like a junket in difficult economic times. continue reading...

Salt Lake City’s come a long way
February 25, 2009
Houston Chronicle (Tracy L. Barnett) -- Skiers who flock to this region for its legendary white powder and steep slopes often grab the first shuttle to their resort of choice, bypassing the state’s capital city. But to do so is to miss half the fun. continue reading...

Ski Photo Competition
February 23, 2009
Brett Prettyman, Salt Lake Tribune: After a successful first run in 2008 the second annual Ski Salt Lake Shootout got underway Monday at the four resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. The contest brings local and global ski photographers to the canyons and pairs them with Utah-based athletes for four-days of skiing and shooting. continue reading...

Temple Square Ranked One Of America's Most Visited Tourist Attractions
February 20, 2009
Rob Baedeker, ForbesTraveller.com: The Mormon church's headquarters are here, but Temple Square is more than just a destination for Latter Day Saints. In 2008, visitation to the square, which is festooned with lights for the holiday season, numbered around five million, making it Utah's top tourist destination. continue reading...

Salt Lake Airport on top
February 19, 2009
Laura Hancock, Deseret News: For the second consecutive year, Salt Lake City International Airport is first in the nation for on-time arrivals and departures, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. continue reading...

Salt Lake rolls out 'aggressive' green plan
February 17, 2009
Deseret News -- Salt Lake City leaders rolled out an "aggressive" environmental agenda aimed at curbing emissions, imporoving air quality and drastically reducing waste sent to landfills. continue reading...

Utah's ski resorts offer plenty of powder at affordable prices
February 13, 2009
USA Today -- In a season in which ski areas from Maine to California are offering cost-saving balms to soothe the economically battered, Salt Lake City-area resorts remain a haven for value-conscious skiers. Eleven ski areas are within an hour of the airport. Competition among city hotels - particularly if you avoid visiting when major events are in town - bring substantial savings over slope-side lodgings. Public transit eliminates the need for a rental car, an added bonus for inexperienced snow drivers. The city offers diversions on days when weary skiers want a break. And the Super Pass offers savings and flexibility. continue reading...

Brew Pubs Gain an Unlikely Following in Utah
January 25, 2009
New York Times (Vanessa Chang) -- In the 1980s, a good beer was hard to come by in Utah. Although the state wasn't dry, its alcohol laws were strict, a reflection of a traditional Mormon culture that frowns on drinking. But masses of skiers were invading, bringing their thirst into Utah along with their boots and poles. Greg Schirf, a ski bum who had been making his own beer at home, saw opportunity. continue reading...

2009 Fittest Cities: #1 Salt Lake City, UT
January 16, 2009
Men's Fitness Magazine Now that's an impressive debut. A newcomer to MF's annual list, the Utah capital jumped (or shall we say, slalomed) to the top of the survey because of its abundance of park space, athletically motivated residents, and below- average obesity rates. While the 2002 Winter Olympics host is known for its abundance of cold-weather activities, Salt Lake City is also athletically impressive away from the mountains. continue reading...

Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau Celebrates 25th Anniversary
January 16, 2009
Utah Business Magazine -- Salt Lake for many years has been a hot attraction for skiing, vacations and even business conventions. In recent years, the Salt Lake area has seen a rise in tourism from people all over the world, a result of the 2002 Winter Olympics. The Salt Lake Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (SLCVB) is one the key organizations involved in bringing people from countries all over the globe to Salt Lake. The organization, which is the most senior convention bureau in Utah, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. continue reading...

The Best Cities For Men
January 16, 2009
Men's Health Magazine -- Our annual statistical showdown reveals which city ranks as America's top metropolis for men. How does your hometown stack up? The 10 best 1. Madison, Wis. 2. St. Paul, Minn. 3. Salt Lake City... continue reading...

The Best Cities For Women
January 16, 2009
Women's Health Magazine -- Only one city can reign supreme in our first-ever nationwide search for America's Capital of Health. And the tiara goes to... The 10 best 1. Salt Lake City 2. San Francisco 3. Seattle ... continue reading...

Uncovering Utah's Epicurean Side
January 16, 2009
Wine Enthusiast Magazine -- Thoughts of Utah might include visions of spectacular mountains filled with incredible powder, miles of rugged red rock landscape, proselytizing Mormon missionaries; rarely does fine wine and food make the list. For the past decade, though, this notoriously dry state has undergone a quiet culinary evolution. As hundreds of stars alight on Park City for the Sundance Film Festival and as the 2009 ski season commences, we present some tips on experiencing Utah's myriad epicurean delights. continue reading...

Best Affordable Ski Resorts
January 05, 2009
Travel & Leisure Magazine -- Where to find downhill ski bargains in an economic downturn. Savvy skiers, listen up: This could just be your year to find great deals at some of America’s best ski resorts. continue reading...