The Temple in Salt Lake City’s Temple Square. Photo courtesy of pandrcutts.
For those looking to travel on a budget, there are many free things to do in Salt Lake City. Whether you want to enjoy the outdoors, educate yourself on history and religion, or get in touch with your creative side, you’ll be able to do so without spending a dime. To help you plan your trip, here are some top suggestions for free things to do in Salt Lake City.
Stroll through Temple Square
Exploring Temple Square is one of the top things to do in Utah, as there is much to experience. On Thursday nights from 8pm to 9:30pm visitors can see the world-famous Grammy-winning Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearse in the Tabernacle, while on Sundays at 9:30am visitors can enjoy a live broadcast by the choir of the country’s oldest continuous nationwide broadcast, Music and the Spoken Word. During the summer there are also free concerts held at the Brigham Young Park. Tour the Museum of Church History and Art, which contains artifacts, photographs and artwork from LDS Church history. In the Legacy Theater, you can take in a free screening of the film Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration, which shows every hour and half between 9am to 7:30pm Monday through Saturday, and in the North Visitors’ Center on Sundays. And for a scenic stroll, simply walk around the square and admire the many detailed and historic buildings.
Get outdoors
Salt Lake City is home to numerous beautiful parks and gardens that offer outdoor recreation for free. First there’s Conservation Garden Park, whose mission is to educate the public on waterwise landscaping through educational garden paths. Moreover, Bonneville Shoreline Preserve features wild open space with hiking and biking trails, Wasatch Mountain views and wildlife like mule deer and elk. The 25-acre (10-hectare) Cottonwood Park is another favorite with many outdoor amenities, including picnic tables, a playground, and sports fields and courts. Other Salt Lake City parks worth exploring include Donner Trail Park, Ensign Downs Park and Fairmont Park.
Explore local art
Salt Lake City makes it easy to explore local art culture on a budget, especially as there are many free creative institutions. Start at the Chase Home Museum of Folk Arts, which boasts being the country’s only museum dedicated to “displaying a state-owned collection of contemporary folk art.” The adobe building itself, built over 150 years ago, is a work of 19th century folk art, while going inside will introduce you to Navajo beadwork, Polynesian quilts made by local immigrants, wooden furniture made from local pine and more. Visiting the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art is another great free thing to do in Salt Lake City, as it features thought-provoking works from local, national and international artists across four galleries. Family Art Saturday is held the second Saturday of every month from 2pm to 4pm, and allows families to create their own art projects — like beehives, abstract sculptures and creations made from teaching supplies — under the supervision of a trained artist. And if you’re a fan of visual works from different cultures, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts features artwork from around the globe.
Visiting in the winter? Check out our Salt Lake City Winter Travel Guide
-Jessica Festa
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