Holiday Activities to Do in Salt Lake City During the Winter

Winters in Salt Lake City are beautiful, especially with our stunning mountains covered in snow and our amazing city surrounded by lights and holiday cheer. If you are visiting Salt Lake or looking for something new to do this season, check out these fun activities you can do with your friends and family.

Zoo Lights

 This fun-filled event returns for its 11^th anniversary and has more lights than ever. You can find over 200 lighted animals and holiday-themed displays that sparkle and glisten as you make your way through Utah’s Hogle Zoo. You won’t want to miss out on the crowd favorite—a 135-foot lighted tunnel. You will need to pick up a set of hologram glasses to walk along the lit pathway and through the tunnel. But that’s not all; there will be nightly entertainment and activities that are free with your paid ZooLights admission. Sounds fun, right? Check out ZooLights before the holiday ends.

 

Outdoor Ice-skating at the Gallivan Center

Ice-skating is a classic winter activity that provides great exercise and fun for all. It’s the perfect date night idea and a great family activity. You might be teaching someone else to skate or you might be learning how to skate yourself. Whichever it is, you will get to bond with the people you go with and create amazing memories.  

Hit the Slopes

Utah’s snow is known as “the greatest snow on earth” by many skiers and snowboarders. If you’ve skied or snowboarded at any of Utah’s resorts, you know exactly what we mean. Utah has over 10 ski and snowboard resorts and most of them are within a one-hour drive from Salt Lake. Some resorts offer great kid-friendly skiing and snowboarding, so it’s a perfect activity for the whole family. So, get out of your house and enjoy the outdoors at any of Utah’s snow resorts.

Winter is a fun and festive season, so make sure you fill your schedule with these holiday activities. Winter weather is often unpredictable, so make sure you are keeping your family and friends safe in your vehicle on your way to make some memories. All-wheel drive vehicles are great for winter, so if you are in the market for one, come check out our inventory at Larry H. Miller Lexus Murray. We have over 100 all-wheel drive vehicles, so let us know what we can do to help start off your winter season right!

Haunted Places in Salt Lake City to Visit… If You Dare

As October rolls around, many people start getting into the Halloween spirit and start their festivities as early as the first week of October. With so many spooky festivities going on, some people take it upon themselves to do some real ghost hunting, hoping to find some paranormal activity and get an adrenaline rush. If you are looking for a real scare, you’ll be surprised to hear that Salt Lake City has many places that are haunted. Here are three of the best spooky spots to get your Halloween started off right.

Rio Grande Depot

The story about this haunted old railroad depot is one to remember. It has been told that a woman met her fiancé at the train station and got into an argument. The engagement was then called off and the man threw the engagement ring into the train tracks. When the woman went to retrieve it, she got struck by the train and was killed instantly. She is now known as “The Purple Lady” apparition.

West High School

Known as the oldest public high school in the state of Utah, West High has been the home of tragic student suicides. A former basketball player who died under suspicious circumstances is said to roam the gym, weight room, and boys’ locker room. Other students reported seeing ghosts roam the halls. Enter this haunted high school if you’re feeling brave and see what ghostly encounters await you.

Shilo Inn

Once known as the International Dunes Hotel, the Shilo Inn—and now the Holiday Inn—is home to many haunting tales. A woman went to the balcony of her hotel room on the 11^th or 12^th floor and started throwing her children off the ledge. Some of her children even jumped willingly from the balcony and she eventually jumped to her own death. One of her children was a survivor after the jump and had attempted to kill herself several times. People have reported hearing laughter coming from the pool area and witnessing the pinball machine randomly turning on and being played.

If these haunted places excite you, plan a night out with your friends and seek these ghosts out. As you are out and about, make sure you have a reliable ride to get you from place to place. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle come visit us at Larry H. Miller Lexus Murray or check out our inventory online.

Popular Spots in Salt Lake for Breakfast and Brunch

On your day off, especially on the weekends, there’s nothing better than waking up and enjoying some of your favorite breakfast and brunch dishes. Some of us are not morning people and love sleeping in. That’s why brunch is the perfect morning meal. Check out these popular breakfast/brunch joints that will fulfill your morning cravings.

The Park Café

This popular café is where friends meet for breakfast. The Park Café is located right across the street from Liberty Park and is always busy. There is usually at least a 30-minute wait, especially on weekends, so be sure to arrive early. Many people rave about their delicious french toast and their friendly service. Our favorite is their chai latte. So tasty! If you’re in the downtown area, stop by the Park Café where they serve generous portions and have reasonable prices.

Credit: Yelp user Hai-Yen D.

Penny Ann’s Café

Penny Ann’s is a family-run café that offers delicious breakfast. Open from 7 a.m. –2:30 p.m., you have plenty of time to sleep in and still enjoy a scrumptious meal. Their signature “Heavenly Hot Cakes” is a must-try, light and fluffy pancake that attracts a lot of attention from foodies all over town. For dessert, they have over 10 different flavors of pie for your eating pleasure.

Roots Café

One of our favorite brunch joints on the east side of Salt Lake is definitely Roots Café. They offer outdoor seating, an extensive menu, and vegetarian-friendly options. From their breakfast burritos to their specialty pancakes, there’s something for everyone. It’s definitely hard to decide what to get because there are so many delicious choices. One of our favorite brunch items is the eggs benedict. For all you eggs benedict aficionados, you must try Roots Café.

Credit: Yelp user Abby S.

Go on, try out these places and let us know what you think of them in the comments below. Have a favorite place you’d like to share? Tell us about it. If you love exploring the city as much as we do, you might be interested in a new luxury vehicle for your many foodie adventures. Let us help you find the perfect vehicle at Larry H. Miller Lexus Murray and feel free to check out our inventory online.

Fun Date Night Spots in Salt Lake City

Do you have a hot date coming up? Impress your date by taking them to one of Salt Lake City’s best date night spots. Not sure where those are? No problem—we have compiled a list of our favorite restaurants, bars, and hang-out spots that are perfect for dates.

Credit: David Barth

Pallet

Pallet, located in Downtown Salt Lake City, is a cozy restaurant that comes highly recommended by food critics and locals. The beautiful wood works and modern décor sets the right mood for a first date or a relaxing dinner without the kids. In 2014, Pallet won “Best Atmosphere” in Salt Lake City Weekly's Best of Utah 2014! Their menu is outstanding with something for everyone and is crafted by a team of culinary experts. If you plan on giving this spot a try for your next date, make sure you get a reservation as the wait can be a bit long. Click here to make a reservation online. Wondering what the locals have to say about Pallet? Check out this review:

“What a gem in Salt Lake City!! First restaurant ever for me in SLC and couldn't have chosen better. Nice cozy and romantic setting, this restaurant is a great place to bring someone special. They will not only be impressed by the overall ambiance but even more by the food.” –Nuno S.

Credit: BTG Wine Bar

BTG Wine Bar

If you and your date like wine and tapas, you are going to love BTG Wine Bar! This bar is located in the heart of Downtown Salt Lake City, across the street from City Creek, and provides the perfect atmosphere for a date. They have a selection of over 75 wines which are available by pour, flight, or bottle. BTG also offers a great selection of bites. We highly recommend the duck meatballs and charcuterie board. Google Local Guide, Dirk Linderman, says in his review of BTG:

“Great selection and knowledgeable staff. They have a great By The Glass (hence BTG) selection and you can order different flights. The staff are happy to help with your selection and suggestions.”

Credit: NYTimes.com

Bodega + The Rest

Bodega is, hands down, the hippest bar in Downtown Salt Lake City. Bodega’s bartenders will craft you one of their delicious cocktails while you play Cards Against Humanity or Jenga with your date. Underneath Bodega is one of Salt Lake’s best hidden secrets: The Rest. The Rest is a speak-easy that you can only get into with a reservation. In The Rest, you can enjoy their amazing dinner menu and cocktails. Their décor is unlike anything you will ever see in another bar. Google Local Guide, Jarrdon Cozad, raves about The Rest in his review:

“The. Best. That's all you need to know. If you want to know more, read on. I'm not sure what it is, maybe it's the bitters that they make and use in house. It could also be the extremely talented bartenders. Or it could be the bit of Unicorn they use. Whatever it is in their drinks, it works.”

Want to read more of their reviews and get directions? Check out their Yelp page here.

 Credit: Globeslcc.com

Brewvies Cinema Pub

Are you more into movie dates? If so, Brewvies is the place to go for a movie and dinner. That’s right — you can eat dinner and drink a beer while watching a movie at Brewvies.This is the only movie theatre in Utah of its kind. Brewvies has been open since 1997 and is a local favorite. With over 400 reviews on Google, they have a 4.4 star rating. Locals love Brewvies because of their movie selection and low pricing. Start planning your next date at Brewvies by checking out their website to see what they are currently showing.

Now that you know all the hot spots to impress your date, it’s time to get the car to match. Be sure to browse our inventory online or come visit us at Larry H. Miller Lexus Murray so we can help you get matched with the perfect vehicle. Even if the date doesn’t go as planned, you’ll always be able to experience amazing in your new Lexus.