Salt Lake PlazaSelections
We want to keep you updated about all that’s happening at our hotel and in Salt Lake City and our blog is your best bet to see what’s new and now. Check back every month to see what you should be experiencing next.
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Check Out the Art Scene at Mural Fest
May 06, 2019
Get ready, pops of color are starting to take over Salt Lake this month. This Saturday, May 11, join in with the community to celebrate Mural Fest! This grand celebration will see 10 new public art pieces added to South Salt Lake (less than 15 minutes from our property!)’s growing artistic identity. Presented by the Utah Arts Alliance and South Salt Lake City Arts Council, Mural Fest attracts artists, art admirers, locals, visitors, and everyone in between to check out the new murals and get involved in the vibrant community here in Salt Lake. From 5-10 p.m., swing by for fun and exciting activities including live painting, music, food trucks, a beer and cocktail garden, kid-friendly activities, and so much more! Meet with art vendors, the muralists themselves, and peruse the amazing collection of artworks for a fun, community-driven event during your visit.
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Celebrate Spring Blooms at Red Butte Garden
April 01, 2019
You can celebrate spring at the Red Butte Garden all month long. As one of the most popular botanical gardens in the West and famous for its spectacular daffodil display every spring, the Red Butte Garden is one of the best spots to visit during the spring months in Salt Lake. Stand in awe at the magnificent yellow blooms of over 230,000 daffodils and another 230,000 of other colorful bulbs including irises, hyacinths, camassias, and more. The bulbs blossom at various times through March, April, and May, so try to plan a couple of visits during your stay to catch as many as possible! In addition to the breathtaking beauties are blossoming magnolia trees, lilacs, wisteria, and flowering pear trees that line the walkways as you make your way through this spring wonderland. Be sure to bring your camera—you’ll want to remember these vibrant flowers for years to come.
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Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the Annual Parade
March 04, 2019
It’s time to paint the town green! This month, watch as hundreds of visitors and locals alike flock together for the 41st annual Salt Lake City St. Patrick’s Day Parade! This time-honored tradition put on by the Hibernian Society of Utah is a fun, festive celebration of Irish heritage and culture here in Salt Lake. Join in on the excitement on Saturday, March 16, where, beginning at 10 a.m., tons of participants will march down 200 South and 500 East, proceeding west towards State Street (where the big finale will be held!). Feel the adrenaline pulsing through the crowds as you cheer on lively performers, bands, floats and more throughout the morning’s festivities. Once the parade completes its route, carry on the good times by exploring the city on this green holiday and filling up on Irish fare and crisp brews. No matter if you stay for an hour or the whole afternoon, you’re sure to have a great time!
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Step Back in Time at the Natural History Museum of Utah
February 04, 2019
Visiting in February? Don’t let the weather slow down your exploration of our beautiful city! With temperatures still low (and spring just around the corner) you’ll want to take your city-touring indoors, and there’s no better place to start than at the Natural History Museum of Utah. This expansive building not only stands as an architectural marvel on the outside (designed by architect Todd Schliemann of Ennead Architects) but the open door to discovery inside with over 5,000 artifacts on display. Walk through each exhibit, down every hallway, to uncover beautiful gems and minerals from all over the world, preserved artifacts from the prehistoric land that would become the state of Utah, and fascinating paleontology discoveries. With just one afternoon spent at the museum, you can access and experience incredible finds from all over the world, right here in Salt Lake City.
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Welcome in the New Year With the Utah Symphony
January 01, 2019
Welcome in your New Year at the symphony with Utah Symphony’s New Year’s Celebration! January 4 and 5, don your best arts attire and head to the Abravanel Hall for a harmonious evening of celebration. Guest conductor Xian Zhang will lead the evening’s orchestra through six classic melodies from The Sleeping Beauty, Joan Tower’s Fanfare, and selections of vibrant Viennese waltzes. Whether you’re a huge fan of classical music or a first-timer to the symphony, you’ll love (and recognize) Utah Symphony’s lively renditions on fantastic classics. Before you’re whisked away by the stunning music, be sure to spend time in Abravanel’s main lobby to enjoy desserts and bubbly before the show or during intermission. If this is how the new year is starting, 2019 is sure to be one for the books.
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Feel the Festive Spirit and See the Christmas Lights at Temple Square
December 03, 2018
It’s time to be merry! Not only does the month of December welcome in the holidays and winter festivities, but it also welcomes a time-honored tradition here in Salt Lake. Now through January 2, 2019, experience the most spectacular light display at the center of our beautiful city at Temple Square in Downtown. Spanning 10 acres and residing as the home to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Temple Square shines bright with over a million lights and decorations for the holiday season every year. Catch the evening lights from 5-10:30 p.m. throughout the week and check out the nativity seasons from around the globe. Whether you have a time for a quick visit or a leisurely stroll, Temple Square’s light display is a warm, celebratory way to get into the festive spirit.
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David Sedaris Brings Laughter and Tears to Eccles Theater
November 05, 2018
Take note, one of America’s most prominent humor writers is making his way to Salt Lake City. Grab your tickets for David Sedaris, live at the Eccles Theater in Downtown on November 18. With sharp wit and thoughtful stories of his childhood, Sedaris has become beloved for his personal essays, short stories, and commentary on society and humanity. The author of revered works including Barrel Fever, Holidays on Ice and Me Talk Pretty One Day, Sedaris’ shows are as insightful as they are hilarious. Listen as he reads excerpts from his past work and gives insight into his next projects; a night with David Sedaris will have you laughing, crying, and inspired. With the beautiful Eccles Theater as your backdrop, this November event is a wonderful chance to meet with friends and watch a master storyteller at work.
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Fall Fun Features Utah’s Oktoberfest and a Pumpkin Patch
October 01, 2018
This month, our visitors and guests can select from a delightful variety of events. We realize it’s often difficult to choose among all of these, so here are a couple of suggestions for your consideration. First, imagine 2,000 Granny Smith apples’ worth of apple strudel, along with 4,500 pounds of chicken, and 6,000 pounds of weisswurst and bratwurst. These are all consumed annually at Snowbird Oktoberfest ongoing through October 21 at the nearby Snowbird Ski Resort. We haven’t seen any numbers on the
amount of gallons of beer drunk, but we believe it’s a safe bet the numbers are in the higher ranges! This annual Utah Oktoberfest is the state’s most popular German Festival and will feature all the traditional food, drink, and fun. Rub, and bend elbows and enjoy authentic Bavarian food, live German music, and yodeling as you browse local and regional arts and crafts in Der Marktplatz. Local breweries will be on tap, along with one-liter ceremonial beer steins for enthusiasts. Next, treat the family to Pumpkin Days at Wheeler Farm. This historic farm features loads of fun, with an un-scary hay maze, a cow train, wagon rides, and pumpkins galore, all through October 31. -
Journey to the Great Salt Lake
September 03, 2018
We may be biased, but at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, we’re hard-pressed to name a place with more breathtaking landscape than the state of Utah. You’ll definitely want to venture out of the city to explore a bit during your stay here, and of course, no sightseeing trip in Utah would be complete without a visit to the Great Salt Lake. With a surface area of around 1700 square miles, the Great Salt Lake is the biggest naturally occurring lake anywhere this side of the Mississippi, and because the water can escape only through evaporation, salty deposits build up in the lake, hence the name. The friendly and energetic staff at the visitor’s center will be eager to help you get the most out of your day, whether you’re looking for a refreshing morning swim, a relaxed family picnic, or an afternoon of wildlife gazing. Also, while there are lots of access points for the lake, we’re partial to Antelope Island, located some 60 miles northwest of the city and open daily from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M.
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Rock Out at The Depot
August 06, 2018
If you’re looking to catch an outstanding concert during your time in Salt Lake City, look no further than The Depot, our city’s premier live musical performance venue. Located in a former train depot along the historic Union Pacific Railroad, this venue opened a little over a decade ago and very soon became the go-to spot for touring acts from across the nation. The Depot has hosted everyone from Jeff Beck, BB King, and Robert Plant to Brockhampton, Cody Jinks, and Dua Lipa. With the capacity to seat an audience of 1200, The Depot offers visitors the opportunity to experience big stadium energy without sacrificing the intimacy of a more traditional nightclub setting. Performers coming to The Depot during the month of August include Beach House, Lil Night ft. DJ Flash and Flare with Concise Kilgore, The Wayne Hoskins Band, The Cadillac Three, and
SALTernative .Address: 13 North 400 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
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Worlds of Life Converge at Hogle Zoo
July 06, 2018
Spanning 42 acres of pristine land on the edge of Emigration Canyon, the Hogle Zoo has been delighting visitors for over a century with majestic creatures from across the globe. Hogle’s many claims to fame include Princess Alice, whose son, Prince Utah, was the first elephant born in the state, and Shasta, the first liger (that’s a lion/tiger mix) born anywhere in the country. Princess Alice, Prince Utah, and Shasta are long gone, but there’s still plenty to keep you entertained during your day at Hogle. The African Savanna transports you to the Serengeti, where you’ll encounter giraffes, zebra, and lions. Rocky Shores showcases animals native to the coastal areas of North America, including river otters, seals, sea lions, grizzlies, and polar bears. Our favorite exhibit is probably Elephant Encounter, which houses not only the expected pachyderms but also a rare white rhinoceros. Just a quick 15-minute drive from our hotel, Hogle Zoo is the perfect family-friendly spot for a day of outdoor fun.
Address: 2600 Sunnyside Ave S, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
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The Salt Lake City Public Library: A Work of Art
June 06, 2018
At the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, we love to get lost in a good book, and while your room at the hotel is as cozy a place as any you’ll find away from home, you simply must experience the Salt Lake City Public Library during your stay. With approximately half a million volumes in-house, you’ll certainly find something good to read, but the building itself, designed by celebrated architect Moshe Safdie, is a truly breathtaking work of art. Four of the library’s floors are adorned with spiraling fireplaces reminiscent of the blazing pillars of Exodus, and virtually every part of the library is saturated with natural light. Stroll along the six-story wall that curves gently along the central plaza. Have a bite at the café; then sit down in the reading area at the southern end of the building, where you can alternate between your book and the sublime views of the city and mountains, or opt instead for the full, 360-degree perspective afforded by the roof-top garden.
Address: 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
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Temple Square Family History Library, Salt Lake City
May 04, 2018
The world’s largest genealogical archive, the Temple Square Family History Library, draws tens of thousands of visitors annually. Over half a million books, maps, and other publications, along with 1.4 million rolls of microfilm, hold many secrets waiting to be discovered. The archive expands constantly. Visitors have free access to film, book, and photo-scanning equipment to preserve and share their own documents. The library’s 45 staff and 550 volunteers stand eager to help. Having said all that, this might be hard to believe: these facilities are free to use.
Planning your visit to the Family History Library
Here at the Salt Lake City Plaza Hotel, we created a Family Roots Package to make your historical explorations more affordable. You’ll enjoy a brisk walk across Temple Square to the library, our comfortable amenities during your downtime, and the opportunity to connect with fellow genealogists in our private library.
Hours:
Monday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday through Friday: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Closed SundaysLocation:
35 N West Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103Contact:
(801) 240-6996Website:
www.familysearch.org
