For a quiet afternoon away from the noise of downtown, visit Salt Lake City’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Historic homes and inns, artisan coffee shops, craft beer breweries, the capitol building, cathedrals and restaurants line the quiet streets of this neighborhood.
Start with a tour of the Utah State Capitol Building, led by the capitol docent team every hour on the hour each weekday. After learning important history of the state of Utah and the building itself, head outside for a picnic on the capitol grounds. The architect, Richard Kletting, originally planned the grounds as a public park. Today, government employees, neighborhood residents, kids and pets flock here for outdoor relaxation. Plan a trip in spring to see the Yoshino cherry trees lining the walkways around the capitol covered with delicate pink blooms.
Follow the curved staircase down from the capitol building to stroll through Memory Grove Park. The park has trails to explore, picnic tables for alfresco dining and monuments to study. From here, hike, jog or bike along City Creek Canyon, which leads directly into the Wasatch Mountains.
To find out more about Utah’s history, stop at the Pioneer Memorial Museum, with hundreds of artifacts covering Utah’s history prior to statehood. Admission is free and you’ll see numerous functional items that helped early settlers live in the rugged developing territory as well as luxury items that reminded them of their easier lives back home.
When you’re hungry, stop for lunch, drinks or hand-dipped chocolates at neighborhood restaurants, pubs and shops.
Capitol Hill and its sightseeing attractions are accessible via public transportation. Various bus routes, a train line and the light rail all stop near the Utah State Capitol Building.
For an urban vacation and an inside look at Salt Lake City’s history, this enticing neighborhood is an excellent place to visit.
