Salt Lake magazine offers an insightful and dynamic coverage of city life, Utah lore and community stories about the people places and great happenings weaving together the state’s vibrant present with its rich past. Its Community section highlights the pulse of Salt Lake City and around the state, covering local events, cultural happenings, dining trends and urban developments. From emerging neighborhoods and development to engaging profiles long-form looks at newsmakers and significant cultural moments, Salt Lake magazine keeps readers informed about the evolving lifestyle in Utah.
In its Utah Lore coverage, the magazine dives deep into the state’s historical and cultural fabric, uncovering fascinating stories of Native American heritage, pioneer history, and regional legends. Whether exploring ghost towns, untold tales of early settlers, or modern folklore, Salt Lake magazine connects readers with the roots of Utah’s identity.
The Community section emphasizes the people and organizations shaping Utah’s present-day communities. Through stories of local heroes, grassroots movements, and social initiatives, the magazine fosters a sense of belonging and civic pride. It often spotlights efforts that promote inclusivity, sustainability, and progress, giving voice to the diverse communities that make up the state.
Utah is the most entrepreneurial state in the country, as found by a 2020 Seek Capital study. The study looked at factors like the growth of the working-age population, employment rates, business tax climate, cost of living and business survival rates. Utah-bred businesses of note that have grown from cool local startups:
Blue Boutique. Photo courtesy of Blue Boutique.
The outdoor gear and apparel retailer, Backcountry.com, began as a passion project in a Park City garage, offering hard-to-find outdoor gear. Today, it has become a trusted online destination, providing adventurers with a wide range of high-quality products to fuel their outdoor pursuits.
Blue Boutique started as a small lingerie store in Salt Lake City. Over the years, it evolved into a sophisticated and inclusive shop, offering a diverse range of adult products, while fostering a welcoming and empowering atmosphere for customers to… explore.
Entrepreneur Jeremy Andrus has left an indelible mark on the business world with his ventures. As CEO of Utah-based Skullcandy, he led the audio brand’s expansion into global markets, revolutionizing the headphone industry. He then revitalized Traeger, the iconic wood-fired grill company, propelling it to new heights.
Utah is the fastest growing state because we’re the best at having kids, but it takes a little extra planning if you’re traveling with the whole family. Parent and adventure blogger Stephanie Reed of Salt Project has some tips for getting kids excited about outdoor adventures:
Keep it short and sweet. Reed has a list of 88 Utah hikes for young kids on Salt Project. “These are tried and true favorites from our own family and, yes, age 5 or younger did every one,” says Reed.
Make it fun for everyone. Pack a special treat or go grab ice cream after.
Stay close to home. Living in Utah, you don’t have to go far for adventure. There is so much to do and see right here in our own backyard.
Make it a priority. “Your kids are only young once and they don’t need any more toys,” says Reed. “They just need YOU. Don’t put it off until tomorrow. Go make some memories today.”
Need ideas? “This is one of my kids’ favorite adventures,” says Reed, pointing to a packed weekend with the kiddos through Southern Utah. “This is a great adventure for ages 10-plus, but littles can definitely join in the fun with some assistance and encouragement.” The adventure includes:
We even have our own raptor named after us! Just as an example of our dinosaur discovery supremacy, more than 6,000 different fossils have been found at a single dig site in Emery County. Top paleontological spots to visit:
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, near Price, has the densest concentration of Jurassic-era dinosaur fossils in the world, according to the Bureau of Land Management. More than 12,000 bones, belonging to at least 74 individual dinosaurs have been excavated here, with many of them on display throughout various museums in Utah.
The Quarry Exhibit Hall is a true paleontological marvel nestled within Dinosaur National Monument. This site contains towering rock walls embedded with countless dinosaur bones.
Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park boasts life-size dinosaur sculptures that transport visitors to a world long extinct. Discover more than 100 species of prehistoric creatures while strolling along winding paths of interactive, educational and entertaining exhibits.
Man touching fossils in Quarry Visitor Center exhibit hall in Dinosaur National Monument Park (Adobe Stock)
Stewards of Utah’s prehistoric past
The Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) might be the best place to learn about Utah’s prehistoric past and one of the best places to get up close with some extraordinary fossils—short of making it out to a paleontological excavation site itself (but we’ll get to that, too). What sets NHMU’s fossil collection apart from other museums is its focus. “One thing I really love about our exhibits—they’re really focused on the fossil record of Utah and Intermountain West, so there are exhibits that you can only see in our museum,” says Randall Irmis, Ph.D., Curator of Paleontology and Head Curator at NHMU and Associate Professor of Geology at the University of Utah.
Irmis and members of his department split their time between working in the museum or the lab and prospecting or excavating fossils in the field. “Utah is the best single state or province in North America for understanding Earth’s past,” says Irmis. What makes Utah one of the best places to discover dinosaurs? “Our geology and our climate,” says Irmis. Most fossils are found in sedimentary rock, which Utah has in abundance, and, because we are a desert, the rocks are exposed rather than covered in vegetation, “which makes it easier to find those fossils and why we have such an amazing fossil record.”
Randall Irmis, curator of the Natural History Museum of Utah. Photo credit Mark Johnston
The fossils NHMU’s team excavates in the field might make it to the museum, but it takes a considerable amount of time and effort before the paleontologists are ready to reveal their findings to the public.
“I hope, when people come to see what’s on display at the museum, they see how much Utah and the Intermountain West have changed over geologic time. It may be a high desert today, but, in the Late Cretaceous, it was a subtropical flood plain like Southern Louisiana.” And, at other times, Utah was covered in ocean.
“There are so many amazing creatures from Earth’s past that draw the imagination, and Utah has become known for these weird and wonderful, extinct creatures. What’s so cool—whether you’re talking about dinosaurs, or soft-bodied animals that lived in the ocean—there are so many of these animals that we have the fossil record of. They’re not just something people dreamed up, these things existed.”
If you’re interested in volunteering with NHMU’s paleontology team, keep an eye on their website for calls for volunteers.
Utah is no. 1…on QuoteWizard’s ranking of the worst drivers in the U.S. Utah drivers rank high in every dangerous driving category—first in speeding, second in citations, fifth in accidents and eighth in DUIs.
The best at mental health crises
Utah reports higher rates of mental illness than any other state in the country. Researchers have found that, while the air and altitude likely contribute to the comparatively high prevalence of suicidality and depression in Utah, genetics play a role as well as culture.
The best at the lowest per-student spending
Despite being so good at having all those dang kids, Utah ranked 50th in the U.S. for student spending—just above Idaho who ranked dead last, according to The National Education Association. (Have we considered “Utah: At least we’re better than Idaho” as a state slogan?)
The best at the gender-income gap
Utah typically ranks low on analyses of how states treat women. This year, WalletHub had Utah listed dead last for women’s equality (which is the norm at this point). Why? A chasm of a gender-wage gap factors huge here. Utah men working full-time make 37% more than Utah’s full-time working women. Utah has among the lowest percentage of women in elected leadership or management positions, and survey analysis has found Utahns hold some of the most sexist and rigid views when it comes to gender roles.
Biologist, Dr. Bonnie Baxter, above, routinely gathers samples from the Great Salt Lake, which she began studying, “in a backwards way,” to discover how life survives in such an extreme environment. Recently, GSLI research efforts have turned to studying the microbialites being lost as the lake dries up.
We even have our own raptor named after us! Just as an example of our dinosaur discovery supremacy, more than 6,000 different fossils have been found at a single dig site in Emery County. Top paleontological spots to visit:
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, near Price, has the densest concentration of Jurassic-era dinosaur fossils in the world, according to the Bureau of Land Management. More than 12,000 bones, belonging to at least 74 individual dinosaurs have been excavated here, with many of them on display throughout various museums in Utah.
The Quarry Exhibit Hall is a true paleontological marvel nestled within Dinosaur National Monument. This site contains towering rock walls embedded with countless dinosaur bones.
Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park boasts life-size dinosaur sculptures that transport visitors to a world long extinct. Discover more than 100 species of prehistoric creatures while strolling along winding paths of interactive, educational and entertaining exhibits.
Man touching fossils in Quarry Visitor Center exhibit hall in Dinosaur National Monument Park (Adobe Stock)
Stewards of Utah’s prehistoric past
The Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) might be the best place to learn about Utah’s prehistoric past and one of the best places to get up close with some extraordinary fossils—short of making it out to a paleontological excavation site itself (but we’ll get to that, too). What sets NHMU’s fossil collection apart from other museums is its focus. “One thing I really love about our exhibits—they’re really focused on the fossil record of Utah and Intermountain West, so there are exhibits that you can only see in our museum,” says Randall Irmis, Ph.D., Curator of Paleontology and Head Curator at NHMU and Associate Professor of Geology at the University of Utah.
Irmis and members of his department split their time between working in the museum or the lab and prospecting or excavating fossils in the field. “Utah is the best single state or province in North America for understanding Earth’s past,” says Irmis. What makes Utah one of the best places to discover dinosaurs? “Our geology and our climate,” says Irmis. Most fossils are found in sedimentary rock, which Utah has in abundance, and, because we are a desert, the rocks are exposed rather than covered in vegetation, “which makes it easier to find those fossils and why we have such an amazing fossil record.”
Randall Irmis, curator of the Natural History Museum of Utah. Photo credit Mark Johnston
The fossils NHMU’s team excavates in the field might make it to the museum, but it takes a considerable amount of time and effort before the paleontologists are ready to reveal their findings to the public.
“I hope, when people come to see what’s on display at the museum, they see how much Utah and the Intermountain West have changed over geologic time. It may be a high desert today, but, in the Late Cretaceous, it was a subtropical flood plain like Southern Louisiana.” And, at other times, Utah was covered in ocean.
“There are so many amazing creatures from Earth’s past that draw the imagination, and Utah has become known for these weird and wonderful, extinct creatures. What’s so cool—whether you’re talking about dinosaurs, or soft-bodied animals that lived in the ocean—there are so many of these animals that we have the fossil record of. They’re not just something people dreamed up, these things existed.”
If you’re interested in volunteering with NHMU’s paleontology team, keep an eye on their website for calls for volunteers.
July 4th is right around the corner, and you know what that means—smokey BBQs, lively fairs, and brilliant fireworks shows! In order to make the most out of Independence Day, here is our list of the best July 4th happenings in and near Salt Lake City.
Stein Eriksen Lodge Hosts 4th of July BBQ
The Forbes Five-Star Stein Eriksen Lodge invites guests to the annual 4th of July BBQ on The Glitretind deck for a full spread of elevated backyard favorites. When America’s birthday party winds down, six weeks of Hops on the Hill kicks off, featuring local craft breweries and food pairings on Tuesday evenings beginning July 11. Of course, beyond our nation’s favorite holiday and weeknights sipping fresh suds, guests can refuel or kick back and enjoy the views at any Stein Collection dining entity to sample fresh, new summer menus all season long. $72 for adults, $25 for children (5-12). Call (435) 645-6455 to make a reservation.
Forum Fest at Canyons Village
Forum Fest 2023 kicks off at Canyons Village with a headliner concert in the amphitheater followed by four days of live music, great food and drinks, kids and family activities, public art displays, and more. Drone shows, all-day music, and two nights of fireworks are the highlights of this event.
June 30 – July 4
Balloon Fest
Top pilots from around the nation come to compete in this unique event. Watch as balloon pilots participate in competitive games in the air! Arrive at 6:00 am. Walk around the 25 giant balloons as they inflate. Watch them take off into the sky. No cost.
July 1st, 3rd, and 4th, 6 AM-8 AM, Fox Field 1100 N Freedom Blvd Provo, Utah
4th of July Celebration at The Gateway
INAUGURAL RED, WHITE & BLUE FESTIVAL IN HEBER VALLEY, UTAH
July 4, 6:00-10:00 p.m. Serving up one of the only local celebrations on the 4th, The Gateway invites the community to celebrate its independence on The Plaza. Classic American fare will be available from favorite Gateway bars and restaurants as well as served at the event. Two stages will be set up for live entertainment. Live music and DJs will appear on The Plaza Stage while Karaoke will be available on the South stage. Join the fun with yard games, face painting, photo ops, and contests throughout the day on the main stage. The evening will culminate with fireworks at 10:00 p.m.
The first annual Red, White & Blue Festival will take place in Heber Valley, Utah, on Tuesday, July 4th, 2023. The festivities kick off at 6:00 am with soaring hot air balloons over the valley. The full day of fun includes scenic morning races, patriotic walk, games, food trucks, live music and entertainment, art exhibits, local market, train rides, and so much more. The evening concludes with a spectacular fireworks display at 10:00 pm.
Explore a Pioneer Village, pan for gold, ride trains and ponies. Learn about Utah’s mining history, see a blacksmith, a tinsmith, a “spinster,” and much more. Have some great grub at the Huntsman Hotel, soft serve ice cream, Brigham’s Donuts, and candy at the old-fashioned ZCMI Mercantile. Visit the Irrigation Station Splash Pad, and take a Horseback Tail Ride. Also, don’t miss the best little Gift Shop West of the Mississippi!
Independence Day Celebration at Thanksgiving Point
All are welcome at our Independence Day Celebration: July 4th at Electric Park in Lehi, starting at 4 p.m.Admission is free—bring a blanket and enjoy the fireworks, food vendors, and outdoor fun! Gates, concessions, and vendors at Electric Park will open at 4 pm. Bring a blanket and enjoy an evening outdoors with food and fun.*Personal fireworks and/or personal grills are not allowed at Electric Park.
Salt Lake City will be hosting drone shows this summer on Saturday, July 1st at Jordan Park & on Monday, July 24th at Liberty Park. Each show will begin at 10:00 PM and last 10-15 minutes. Best seats in the house at Jordan Park will be in the main field area. Best seats in the house for Liberty Park will be in on top of the hill near the pond on the southeast side of the park or in the main east event area. This event is open and friendly to all ages and admission is FREE! Outside food and drink (non-alcoholic) is permitted.
July 1 – 8 pm-10 pm Jordan Park
Salt Lake Bees Baseball and Fireworks
Spend Independence Day the classic American way and watch the SLC Bees take on the Sacramento River Cats. Afterwards, enjoy a fabulous fireworks show! Get your tickets here.
July 4 – 6:35 pm Smith’s Ballpark – 77 West 1300 South, Salt Lake
Freedom Days
Freedom Days is a 2-day event that is sure to thrill the whole family. There will be live entertainment, a carnival, art exhibits, handcrafted jewelry, food trucks, vendors, and more. Free entrance, attractions’ and vendors’ costs vary
July 3rd, 10am-11pm & July 4th, 11am-7pm, Provo Center Street (Downtown Provo)
Freedom Run
Whether you are an avid runner or a beginner, you can take part in the Freedom Run! There is a 10k, 5k, or the mayor’s one-mile Fun Run. Participants are encouraged to come decked out in patriotic garb for the run – red, white, and blue; Uncle Sam costume; etc.! $12-$45 depending on the event; free for spectators. Participants register here.
Confession: when we first heard about goat yoga, we couldn’t help but scoff. People will make a fitness fad out of anything these days, won’t they? Still, we signed up…
In the heart of Salt Lake’s ever-growing Granary District, Evo Hotel contains a skatepark. Yes, a skatepark. (Oh also, a climbing gym, hotel, cafe, retail store, bar and rooftop deck.) Evo is eclectic and that’s the point says manager Garret Clements, “Evo is a chaotic, high-energy place, and we want it that way.”
‘All Together’ Skatepark
Photo Courtesy of the Evo Hotel
Utah’s skating community is riding the revival of the sport into the future. After its debut in the 2020 Olympics, the number of people who got into skateboarding rose from 6.4 million to 8.8 million and are trading make-shift backyard half pipes for professional parks. Enter Evo, a non-traditional space that embraces the new skate scene with its 5,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor skatepark.
As you enter Evo, you are greeted by ramps and rails and usually you’ll see some skaters on them. SJ Johnson, head of the All Together skatepark, says all are welcome. “Unlike a regular hotel, we want to be non-traditional and show that everyone is welcomed to do whatever they want,” they say. “It’s such a tight-knit community that it feels more at home than any other regular skatepark would.”
All Together skatepark hosts events, fundraisers and runs drop boxes for Coconut Hut, Utah Pride Center and the homeless shelters. The park offers camps for youth and adults every week in the summer, and seasonal parties and rollerblading nights during the winter. There’s also a weekly after-hours gathering for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The skate scene + hotel has attracted skating legends like Amelia Bordka and Tony Hawk, who have both stayed (and skated there). On sunny days, All Together opens its garage doors to offer skaters a chance to shred some natural terrain. With a tight-knit group of skaters of all ages and skill levels, and a commitment to giving back to marginalized communities, the All Together skatepark offers more than just a place to skate.
Photo Courtesy of the Evo Hotel
Evohotel.com, @evohotelsaltlake, 660 S. 300 West, SLC
Edison House, a new urban social club, adds vibrance to the energized social scene in downtown Salt Lake west of State Street.
Salt Lake City is going through some big changes, and one of the noticeable shifts is west of State Street. Even mid-week, the sidewalks are bustling and clubs and restaurants have customers lined up. It’s no longer the Salt Lake of a few short years ago.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
With a subtle presence on Second West, the Edison House offers a friendly destination with plenty of options for enjoying oneself. Above, the large E on the metal panel is the only cue to its identity. The door opens to a host vestibule for checking in and verifying club membership.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
To the left of the vestibule, a grand space opens with a variety of seating and meeting spaces and a full bar and a spacious restaurant. The Edison House is a new building specifically designed for its variety of social spaces built by Okland Construction, designed by HKS Architects, and with interiors by Avenue Interior Design.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
A canopy calls out the central bar’s presence in the open plan.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
The large space is marked by several more private nooks; one is this private dining room.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
If you take the right-hand door off the host vestibule, it’s a healthy turn because it opens to the fitness center and lockers.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
Central to the second floor is a casual bar for meeting, mingling, and watching games.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
Down the hall to the north is the Speakeasy with a stage for performances and its own bar.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
Adjacent to the Speakeasy is a retro piano bar with soft velvet furnishings and wall coverings.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
Staying on the second level and moving south of the central bar is a spacious pool room with music memorabilia. Adjacent is an aerobic fitness room.
Photo by Scot Zimmerman
A rooftop bar, pool, sky lounge, and banquet/ballroom occupy the top level. Glass doors fold back to unite the space. It a wonderful place to watch the sun set over Great Salt Lake, and with the open views to the sky, you can appreciate the changing colors of the clouds.
Putting myself in the place of someone possibly new to Salt Lake or maybe newly a resident of downtown, it seems like an easy place to make new friends and spend some delightful evenings.
Read more stories like this and all of our Community coverage. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
Growing up In Utah hiking was just how we got places, usually woefully underprepared. (Example: One summer in Logan, my roommate and I spent our time rambling around above Tony Grove looking for caves in the sinkholes up there. He’d tie off a climbing rope and descend until the rope ran out. I stood up hoping he’d get back out. It was pretty stupid).
But the point is, we didn’t say “let’s go hiking” it was more like “let’s go up to Desolation Lake” and a hiking trail was the way to get there. It wasn’t until I got older and got to know a lot of flatlander newcomers that I realized hiking was a “thing.” And, that having a water bottle, a light pack and layers was super helpful. Also a few “summit beers.”
Editor Jeremy Pugh atop Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park
Over the last decade, I have gone on a series of magazine assignments that took me to every corner of Utah. I explored the Mighty 5 National Parks during winter, hiking long ambitious trails in each, I followed photographer Austen Diamond on a whirlwind tour of Utah State Parks to capture morning sunrises and starry night skies and spent a week with a BLM archeologist on Cedar Mesa uncovering the mysteries of the ancient peoples whose cliff dwellings are found around every corner.
Yep, as the Johnny Cash song goes, “I’ve Been Everywhere” and hiking was how I got there.
I love showing newcomers and visitors around and helping them find their way. So, as summer approaches we highlight six essential hikes all around Utah (“Oh the Places You’ll Go”) to whet your appetite for exploration. And speaking of appetites, you’ll need fuel for the trail, so we also guide you to the best lunch spots around the city (“Love Your Lunch”).
Finally, we direct you to the easiest hikes ever—strolling through the crowd at the first festivals of the summer season (“Set Your Clocks to Summer” )—starting with Living Traditions in May.
If you’re sensing a theme here, you’re right. Welcome to the Outside Issue of Salt Lake magazine. It’s time to get out there and play!
