By David Cross (MOVOTO Blog) -- This is your insider's guide to everything that makes Salt Lake City wonderful.
1. Free Concerts at Pioneer Park
During the summer, the Twilight Concert Series assembles bands popular enough to sell out giant venues– for free. And I am not talking Bieber. More like MGMT, Empire of the Sun, The Nationals, Ludacris… All you have to do is get in line a year ago.
2. We Got Your Job Right Here
Tech businesses go here to blow up. Adobe and the peeping-tom-NSA just opened up shop, and the unemployment rate is way below average. So, if you can’t get a job here…
3. The Mountains Are Your Neighbor
You’re surrounded by them. They serve two main functions: being gorgeous and blocking tornadoes. No SHARKNADO here.
4. Every Other State’s Snow Might as Well be Yellow
Some magical combination of density and moisture makes Utah snow the absolute best if you ski, snowboard, or throw snowballs for a living. Speaking of…
5. Skiing and Snowboarding Wonderland
Seven world-class ski resorts are within minutes of Salt Lake City. If you hate snow, Solitude Mountain Resort turns into a Frisbee golf course during the summer. Ever thrown a frisbee from a balcony? Times that by a mountain.
6. Every Celebrity Goes to Sundance
Oh, you know, just that annual Sundance Film Festival hosted in Park City, turning out films like “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Reservoir Dogs”, and “Momento”. Nothing really.
7. A Big Salty, Alien Gravesite
You know when Will Smith is punching aliens in “Independence Day” on a big, white plain? Those are the Bonneville Salt Flats. They’re salty, flat and…. thats about it. However, fast cars make use of them to break sound barriers.
8. Salt Lake City Is the Mormon Mecca
Salt Lake City is the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or in others words, “Mormons.” Everyone loves to hate on them, but they are responsible for an architectural masterpiece in the Salt Lake Temple, which took over 40 years and 5,604 prayers to build.
9. Everything Is Closed on Sunday
Not everything, but you’ll be snubbed quite often when you try to visit different shops. Hopefully you don’t need to eat or anything on Sunday.
10. Home of World’s First KFC
I am not sure what that says about Utah. I’ve never actually eaten at KFC because I like my heart, but I guess Utah is responsible for thinking buckets of greasy chicken is a good idea.
11. You Can Pretend You Are an Olympian… Until You Land
In 2002, Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympics. That’s pretty cool. But what do you do with Olympic venues after the Olympics are over? Why, open them up to the public!
12. Be Part of a “Holy War”
Its Brigham Young University versus the University of Utah… Locally, it’s thought of as saints versus heathens, respectively. Just be careful about what color you wear on game day. Red is for University of Utah, Blue is for hell.
13. Local Bands that Will Be Famous Very Soon
Salt Lake and the surrounding areas are known for awesome local music. You may have heard of a few… Neon Trees? Imagine Dragons? The Used?
14. Local, Independent Radio – X96 Radio From Hell
X96 is one of the longest running local radio stations. They actually play good music… which makes it the only one in the US. The “Radio From Hell” morning show is a healing salve for commuters, and the “Boners of the Day” segment features people who make you feel like a genius.
15. A More Useful Engine… Sorry Thomas
A high speed choo-choo! The UTA Frontrunner gets you 80 miles in just over an hour. And when you are in downtown Salt Lake, the smaller light rail system is free, with 80 percent less weirdos compared to other mass transit cities.