The Hornet Guide to Gay Salt Lake City
The first image pops into our mind about Salt Lake City is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But Salt Lake City is about more than just a strict religion and its rigid culture. The modern gay Salt Lake City is becoming a tourist destination.
Surprisingly, Salt Lake City even has a thriving LGBTQ community. As the liberal capital of a conservative state, this city recently celebrated the election of the City’s first openly gay mayor, Jackie Biskupski. Several trade publications also listed Salt Lake City as one of the queerest cities in America. So are you ready for a visit to gay Salt Lake City?
Fun facts about Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is well-known for its outdoor scenery, with majestic mountains and languid lakes surrounding the fast-growing city. Take a hike around the Great Salt Lake, one of the many favorite outdoor spots here, and try to swim; due to the high salt content, swimmers merely float.
You can also go mountain hopping in Salt Lake City since the mountains are all within 30 to 45 minutes drive from the city. Alta, Snowbird, Solitude and Brighton are the main attractions with the most snowfall during ski season.
Believe it or not, the Mormon majority is a thing of the past in the city, with the rest of the county not far behind. The non-Mormon population has been on a steady rise for the last decade.
And speaking of misconceptions, you can buy a drink in Utah. There are over 100 bars in Salt Lake City ready to serve you delicious cocktails and draft beer. There’s even a microbrew culture here, including breweries like Wasatch Brewery. So don’t worry about it being a dry trip.
Must-visit local attractions
Temple Square is more than a historic site. This massive complex offers fine dining and is a huge event space. While you’re here, explore several important buildings like Salt Lake Temple and the Church History Museum; they’re all within walking distance.
Beehive House is another site where you can explore and understand Salt Lake City’s past. This place was one of the official residences of Brigham Young, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Beehive House gets its name from the beehive sculpture atop the house.
Liberty Park is a favorite public urban park, perfect for a day of hiking. This park is Salt Lake City’s second-largest public park with 80 acres, featuring a pond with two islands.
Sugar House Park, another popular attraction, is a great place for a walk or a jog. There are tables for a beautiful summer picnic and great sledding hills during the snowy months.
Finally, if you want to have a panoramic view of the nature surrounding Salt Lake City, go to Mount Olympus and enjoy the hike up this legendary mountain.
Off-the-beaten-path attractions
The Pioneer Memorial Museum tells the stories of early Mormon pioneers and their lives in Salt Lake City. The artifacts and objects like quilts, dresses and more will give you a real idea what life was like in the early settling of Utah.
If you’re morbidly fascinated by creationism, the Summum Pyramid is the main attraction here and also serves as the temple for the believers. Summum is all about the ancient philosophy of the natural principles of creation.
Salt Lake City Library is not like any other library. This grand building has a modern feel to it, plus a rooftop garden for sunny days. The library also hosts art exhibits and events.
Gay Salt Lake City nightlife
Gay Salt Lake City has an active LGBTQ community with over 15,000 people attending Pride every year. Many visitors come here not just for the beautiful scenery, but the sense of tight community.
Making friends at Club Try-Angles is easy. This friendly bar has a great beer selection plus an outdoor space for warm nights. Club Try-Angles also has different theme nights throughout the month from underwear parties to leather nights.
Customers mingle and socialize at Sun Trapp, another gay Salt Lake City spot. This place has a cozy environment with a great outdoor patio for weekly live entertainment. Club 51 is the place in Salt Lake City for a night of top 40, EDM, alternative, pop and goth music. Area 51 has two levels with three massive dance floors — perfect to get your groove on.
