Beholding the Beautiful State of Utah

(Bridal Veil Falls)

As a kid, my only reference to Utah was watching Donny and Marie Osmond on TV. Later, shows like Sister Wives (don’t judge) showcased the state’s stunning landscapes in the background of the Brown family drama. Still, visiting Utah had never crossed my mind—until our 25th wedding anniversary.

My husband and I wanted to experience something entirely different, which was no small feat given how much we’ve traveled. Then it struck me—Utah would be fresh, unique, and visually spectacular. I’m thrilled to say it exceeded our expectations. No matter where we drove, we were surrounded by breathtaking views.

Mountains were seemingly everywhere

We explored three regions: Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden. If you enjoy shopping, art, and history, as I do, you’ll likely find all three destinations a delight.

Art and Shopping in Provo

Our first stop was The Shops at Riverwood, where we ate a delicious lunch at La Jolla Groves, then proceeded to explore shops like Jos. A Bank, Bath and Bodyworks and more. Being a bibliophile, Moon’s Rare Books caught my eye and, of course I had to venture inside.

The Shops at Riverwoods

What I experienced was an amazing collection of books set amidst a lovely, pleasingly aesthetic backdrop. Reid Moon is the owner and collector of the artifacts at Moon’s Rare Books, and it’s said that he’s a storyteller who enjoys the history behind the items that he’s collected over the past three decades. All I know is that it was the coolest bookstore I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Moon’s Rare Books is not only an interesting shop but also a beautiful one

The Federalist on the New Constitution

Brigham Young University Museum of Art

Our next stop was the Brigham Young University Museum of Art, a destination so impressive that you’ll marvel at the fact that admission is free.

The BYU Museum of Art houses a diverse collection of more than 18,000 works, which include American, European and religious art, with a large portion reflecting the university’s connection to The Church of Latter-Day Saints.

Titled, “When to Stop,” by Brian Kershisnik, an angel cautions a writer to stop and be quiet
The Museum also features contemporary art
The piece above was done by Li Lhong in China in 1974 and is called McDonald (Flowers and Birds) and is said to represent historical and contemporary circuits of global trade and exchange.
Crucifixion: A Triptych

Bernard Sleigh’s altarpiece depicted above is said to be a message of hope and was initially commissioned for a women’s prison in London.

Visitors can expect to spend about an hour in the museum, which is open Monday through Saturday.

Salt Lake City

Our next excursion was the Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park, where we not only interacted with the birds, but enjoyed a captivating show, along with a group of children, who were entirely enraptured by it all (pardon the pun). The bird shows are programs designed to be educational by showcasing the fowls natural behaviors.
Kids squealed with delight as various birds flew over their heads
This bird enjoyed pecking on my noggin
The birds at the Tracy Aviary were once part of a personal collection of banker Russell Lord Tracy, who collected and displayed them in his home in Salt Lake City. As the collection became more popular, he decided to work with the city to dedicate a portion of Liberty Park to the collection.
Over the years, the Tracy Aviary expanded from four acres to eight and is now home to about 400 different birds representing 135 species like vultures, macaws, hawks, owls and more. In 2016, the Aviary opened “Treasures of the Rainforest,” which is home to dozens of birds and plant species from along the equator.
A highlight of the show are the Spoonbills and the owls.
Bird shows occur at 11 a.m. from Tuesday through Sunday and are free with the price of admission.
A guide addresses the audience (photo courtesy of Tracy Aviary).
Temple Square
Our next stop in Salt Lake City was Temple Square, a 35-acre area that serves as the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) headquarters. We were a bit disappointed at the condition of the iconic temple during our visit, the view of which was practically obliterated by scaffolding. I learned later that the renovation work won’t be finished until 2026.
Renovations to the Temple will be finished in 2026

The Temple may have been a disappointment, but there was plenty to do in Temple Square , like listening to a daily organ recital in the iconic Mormon Tabernacle, or shopping at the nearby City Creek Center, which features upscale stores like Louis Vuitton, and such other well-known brands as Nordstrom, GAP, Lush and Macy’s.

An organ recital is held daily at the Mormon Tabernacle
Nordstrom is just one of the stores at the sprawling City Creek Center
Another interesting Salt Lake City attraction is the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOC).
Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the UMOC hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions, featuring local and international artists working in a diverse range of media like painting, sculpture, photography, video and more.
Below are a few pieces I thought were interesting, including this one by Dalila Sanabrias, who uses cardboard as a medium to reflect on her childhood and her family whose father was deported to Columbia when the child was 12 year’s old.
Dalila Sanabrias, Repisasi 2024
Rene Magritte, L’aube a’ L’antipode, etching

The etching above depicts a man with a shattered mind, exploding in multiple directions. The deeply traumatized person’s memories lead to a kind of rupture of the self and a shattering of the brain.

Portrait of My Anxiety

Portrait of My Anxiety, by Margaret Curtis, shows a knitter tied up in knots while the world burns outside. Curtis is an artist who hails from Bermuda and her work can be seen in galleries across the United States.

The State Capitol
Also located in Salt Lake City is the Utah State Capitol. Completed in 1916 in the Beaux-Arts style, the capitol overlooks downtown Salt Lake City.
Lions greet visitors at the entrance
The impressive structure with its marble floors and ornate ceilings is home not only to the legislature, but also the Governor. The 10-acre site features monuments and sculptures that are situated on beautifully landscaped gardens and walking paths.
Brigham Young is just one of the many statues in the Salt Lake City Capitol
Visitors take photos of the impressive dome

Visitors can take advantage of free guided tours, which last between 45 minutes and one hour.

History and Art in Ogden

Ogden reminded me of an old-west town with its painted horses everywhere and its retro feel. A visit to Historic 25th Street will take visitors through the small town where they will be reminded of a simpler time.

My first stop was a chocolate shop that is beautiful in an old-world way. The owner was extremely welcoming and we had a nice chat before I moved on.
Lene’ Marie Chocolates is a great place to satisfy a sweet tooth
I recommend the salted caramels.

Plenty of old neon signs on Historic 25th Street

Union Station is an old train station that now attracts visitors from all over the world. It contains the John M. Browning Firearms Museum and the Utah State Railroad Museum.
Guns displayed at the John M. Browning Firearms Museum

I particularly enjoyed the antique automobiles on display at the station.

Our last stop in Ogdon was the Eccles Art Center located in the historic home of David and Bertha Eccles in the historic Jefferson District. Its mission is to promote visual and performing arts.
The beautiful Victorian mansion was an impressive place to stroll through and I even spotted a cute feline sunning himself near a curved radiator–a shape I’ve never seen before.
The Eccles Art Center is housed in a beautiful Victorian mansion
A cat suns himself in this cool nook.

Those who visit the area are likely to see the Eccles family name more than once. The family members were influential business leaders in Ogden who were instrumental in the success and prosperity of the town.

David Eccles, in particular, was known as Utah’s first multimillionaire who built an empire with the Ogden Lumber Company.
A painting of the outside of the Victorian

The Great Salt Lake

On our final day, we returned to Salt Lake City to explore the Great Salt Lake, otherwise known as the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.

The lake is highly saline, with salinity levels ranging from 5% to 27%, much higher than typical seawater (which is around 3.5% salinity). This high salt content is a result of the lake having no outlet, meaning that water flows in but doesn’t flow out. The evaporation process leaves behind minerals, creating the lake’s saltiness.
Visitors enjoy various recreational activities at the lake, including boating, swimming, and birdwatching and the lake’s high salinity allows swimmers to float easily.

By this time, we felt like we had covered a lot of ground, but there really is quite a bit to do in the area, so I hope that this overview gives you somewhat of an idea of what’s in store if you decide to visit the beautiful areas of Salt Lake City, Provo and Ogden.

The end of a great trip.
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Admin
25 days ago

Thanks for the post, Stephanie! Utah sure is an interesting and beautiful state.

24 days ago

Thank you for your post. Moon’s Bookshop sounds worth a special visit. Just over a year ago, my wife and I visited Utah, also for the first time. We spent a few days in the South, and the scenery is absolutely stunning. I attach a picture of the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park at sunset. It really is that colour and does look just like the picture on the Utah vehicle licence plate.

PB160521a-Delicate-Arch-Arches-Nation-Park-Utah-2023.11.16
Stephanie Kalina-Metzger
Reply to  Roderick Simpson
24 days ago

Beautiful!

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