What to do in Salt Lake City As A Young Adult

While a lot of what makes Salt Lake City a great spot has to do with what it is nearby, it also has a lot to offer within the city. As a young adult, I was pleasantly surprised at how much there is to do in SLC that appealed to me. These are a few of my favorite attractions that I got to experience on my trip:

1.) Visit High School Musical School in Salt Lake City!

As someone who was a young girl in the early 2000s, this was definitely one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. The famous East High from the High School Musical series is actually located in Salt Lake City and is available for self-guided tours after school hours.

While this school does not call themselves The Wildcats, there is still some Wildcat pride throughout the halls. For example, Sharpay’s iconic pink double locker is still standing boldly in the hallway. There is also a small array of HSM memorabilia located at the front of the school, right next to the highly recognizable cafeteria.

Overall, this was a great, nostalgic experience, and I recommend checking it out if the movies hold a special place in your childhood heart as they do mine.

2.) Walk Around Salt Lake City, Sippin’ Good Coffee & Visiting New Places

One of my favorite things about going to new places is finding a good coffee shop and walking around like a local. There’s just something fun about doing such everyday tasks in a city you’ve never been to before.

The first coffee shop in Salt Lake City that we went to happened to be the coffee shop we kept coming back to. Sugarhouse Coffee had such a welcoming environment and great-tasting drinks, which is really all you can ask for.

Once we had coffee in hand, we walked around downtown visiting Temple Square, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, the Capitol, and the Family History Library, where you can trace your family history and even create your own family tree. I was in awe of the architecture of each of these buildings, and of course, it is always nice when you find something that doesn’t cost you anything to enjoy.

3.) Hike Ensign Peak & Watch the Sunset in Salt Lake City

I always love a good hike. Well, to clarify, I always love a good view. Thankfully Salt Lake City has a fairly short hike that provides you with an amazing view of the city once you get to the top.

This was the first thing we did after arriving at SLC, so our lungs definitely were not used to such salty air yet. Needless to say, this short hike kicked our butts a little.

The Ensign Peak trail is one mile of nothing but incline, and while this trail is easy for some, it was something we were not used to. However, we were not going to give up, and I am glad we didn’t. The views of the city were worth every breath I struggled to take.

While hiking, we even saw a tarantula, which is something I have never seen outside of a terrarium. Along the way, you even get to learn about the historical significance of Ensign Peak if you choose to stop and read the provided signs. We chose this viewing point as our place to watch the sunset, and it did not disappoint.

Bonus: Get a Dirty Soda in Salt Lake City

As Mormons aren’t allowed to drink alcohol, it has become a trend to get drinks called “dirty sodas.” These are sodas spiked with flavored Torani shots, and I honestly wish these were more popular everywhere because they were pretty tasty. I got one called “No Diggity, No Doubt” from Thirst Drinks, which consisted of Pepsi, vanilla, and raspberry puree.

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