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Set against the snowy backdrop of the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains, Salt Lake City raised its visibility as a top destination for winter sports addicts after hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics. Area resorts boast of "the greatest snow on earth," and skiers flock to world-class getaways like Snowbird, Alta and Brighton. During summer months, resorts open their lifts and runs to mountain bikers in what is becoming a booming business.

The city also is renowned as the original settlement, and now headquarters, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with Temple Square and the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir among the many attractions evocative of LDS history and culture. The arts scene is packed with theater, symphony and opera events, as well as a variety of downtown galleries. And annual events, like Pioneer Day, bring residents and visitors alike out for a week's worth of celebrations and festivities.

Exploring Salt Lake City is best accomplished by car, but the Utah Transit Authority operates a light-rail (TRAX) and bus system throughout the area and even to several mountain resorts. There's no charge for service inside the Free Ride Zone downtown, while one-way fares are $1.50 and day passes are available for $4.

Salt Lake City International Airport is six miles west of the downtown area, with ground transportation available via UTA bus or taxi. Cab fare into the city runs about $11.

Hit the Slopes of the Wasatch Mountains
With the nearby mountains getting more than 500 inches of snowfall each year and several top resorts within easy travel distance of the city, no winter trip to the region is complete without an outdoor adventure. Skiing and snowboarding are always popular, but there also are many snowshoe trails for visitors who might prefer a more laid-back pursuit. During the summer, the mountains make terrific locales for hiking, biking and climbing, as well; note that many resorts open their lifts and runs to mountain bikers at this time.

Take in the Jazz at the Delta Center
The Jazz gave Salt Lake City its only major professional sports franchise when the team relocated from New Orleans prior to the 1979-80 season. NBA legends Karl Malone and John Stockton boosted the team to a pair of conference titles, and the squad remains popular among its fans — perennially ranking among the league leaders in attendance — even as it works through rebuilding around a new core of young players.

See what the Buzz is about at Franklin Covey
The Salt Lake Bees, triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, play their home games at Franklin Covey Field just outside downtown. The double-deck stadium opened in 1994 and features beautiful views of the Wasatch Mountains in the distance, as well as unique, angular infield dirt.

Join the Utes and Cougars for the Holy War
The football rivalry between Salt Lake City's public University of Utah and Provo's LDS-affiliated Brigham Young University (not to be confused with the Boston College-Notre Dame rivalry, also called the Holy War) dates to as early as 1896, though overmatched BYU didn't even win its first game against Utah until 1942. The teams alternate as hosts each year for what is traditionally their season finale, and the schools compete in a food drive benefiting United Way. The heated rivalry also carries over into other sports.

Get Fired Up for Salt Lake's Own Brand of Hooliganism
Real Salt Lake joined Major League Soccer in 2005 and plays its games at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium, typically drawing nearly 20,000 fans. Be prepared to stand and sing and show your support at the urging of two boisterous groups of fans — the Loyalists and the Rogue Cavaliers Brigade (who brag of being called "scary," "childish" and "immature"). Real Salt Lake will move into a new, soccer-only facility in 2008. Freddy Adu, who at age 16 in 2006 became the youngest ever to play for the U.S. Men's National Team, stars for the team.

Temple Square
35 N. West Temple St.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
This is one of the most heartwarming places you could ever visit. It holds the most complete genealogical records in the country-more than 750 million names from the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. Your family emigrated here from Poland? In 1902? On a ship that docked in Boston? Chances are good they have a ship's manifest, listing every passenger on the vessel. Most of the records, which date from the mid-16th century to the 1920s, were culled from governments, churches, temples and shipping companies.
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHL/frameset_library.asp

Family History Library
35 N. West Temple St.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
This is one of the most heartwarming places you could ever visit. It holds the most complete genealogical records in the country-more than 750 million names from the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. Your family emigrated here from Poland? In 1902? On a ship that docked in Boston? Chances are good they have a ship's manifest, listing every passenger on the vessel. Most of the records, which date from the mid-16th century to the 1920s, were culled from governments, churches, temples and shipping companies.
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHL/frameset_library.asp

Kennecott's Brigham Canyon Mine
Utah Highway 48
Near Copperton, Utah
Talk about holes in the earth. The world's largest open-pit copper mine, two-and-a-half miles long and three-quarters of a mile deep, is so huge, it can be seen from outer space. You can walk right up to the edge and peer down as super-size trucks load out ore. If you're lucky, you'll witness a series of explosions designed to blast away rock and expose more copper.
http://www.utah.com/schmerker/2000/kennecott_mine.htm

1984 Brigham Young University (NCAA Football)
1971 Utah Stars (ABA; defeated Kentucky Colonels 4-3)
1944 University of Utah (NCAA Basketball; defeated Dartmotuh 42-40)