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Dec 14
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Yurts in Utah Perfect For a Remote Winter Retreat

By Outdoors

There’s a stillness to the mountain air when tucked into a remote yurt in Utah, a quiet at times which is almost startling. It’s the kind of quiet where the only thing breaking the hush is the mild tinnitus acquired from loud concerts, late nights and a life spent in earbuds. Now more than ever that audible void is serenity and safety, the chance to breathe deeply, filling your lungs with cool air instead of pestilence and anxiety.

It’s tranquility you won’t find on a typical ski vacation. Don’t look for it in the mess resort skiing’s become, what with mandatory online pass reservations and clandestine skier limits. Finding it means venturing beyond the frenetic restaurants, hotels, resorts and shops to somewhere more remote.

I’m talking about comfortably warm, rustic lodging for the medium-core outdoor enthusiast. You know, something in between the indulgent comforts of a posh slopeside Airbnb and the excruciating type two fun of winter camping. Lodging that requires some self-reliance but comes with outrageously convenient access to the outdoor activities that drive you. These three yurts in Utah are an escape. Exit chaos and enjoy.

Cross Country Ski at the Bear River Yurts

The Bear River Outdoor Recreation Alliance (BRORA) grooms the trails on a weekly basis and after large storms, and they also manage a system of yurts in Utah that lets you ski the trails right from your doorstep. Bunks, cooking utensils and propane stoves in the six yurts provide everything you need to stay warm and well-fed after a day spent working your lungs and legs. Reservations can be made by calling the Evanston Recreation Center, or book online. Yurts start at $100 per night and require a $20 BRORA membership. brorayurts.org

Mountain Bike at Gooseberry Mesa

Yurts in Utah

Composed of surrealistic sandstone shapes in Southern Utah’s red rock country, Gooseberry Mesa is home to famously technical and unique mountain bike trails. Even the desert gets chilly at night this time of year, which makes the Gooseberry Mesa Yurts your perfect hideout. Owner Kenny Jones, who coaches local rippers for the National Interscholastic Cycling Association’s mountain bike team, knows a thing or two about riding through the unique, iconic terrain atop Gooseberry Mesa, which is why he’s spent the past decade building and maintaining the yurts adjacent to the trails.

The yurts aren’t bespoke glamping shelters, and they aren’t ideal as a basecamp to explore nearby Zion National Park—the unforgivingly rugged road to the top of the mesa isn’t exactly a cakewalk, especially for low-clearance vehicles—but they’re the perfect temporary Gooseberry Mesa home for enjoying a little sun during an off season bike trip. The four structures dot the mesa’s edge with incredible views of the surrounding landscapes.

Reservations can be requested online and are available starting at $175 per yurt, which can fit between four and seven adults depending on how cozy your group wants to get. 801-318-6280, gooseberryyurts.com

Snowshoe and Backcountry Ski at The Castle Peak Yurt

Yurts in Utah

Tucked atop a knob at 9,600 feet in the Uinta Mountains, the Castle Peak Yurt isn’t exactly a piece of cake to get to, but it’s well worth the effort. The yurt itself is unremarkable, just another iteration of the Gooseberry Mesa Yurts traditional temporary Mongolian shelter with a few amenities like a wood stove, some bunk beds and a gas stove, but its remote location makes it the perfect basecamp for high alpine adventure.

Inspired Summit Adventures manages the yurt and offers both guided and unguided trips depending on your comfort in winter camping and experience in avalanche terrain. Those who want to go it alone can reserve the yurt starting at $450 per night (accommodates a group of four) for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing and snowboarding. Those who prefer a more inclusive experience can sign up for a guided trip that not only helps you safely find the best snow around but will also give you a snowmobile bump for the six miles trip to the yurt and cater your meals. Reservations available online at inspiredsummit.com.

Looking to upgrade your winter adventure to thrilling heights? Check out our list of heli-skiing, cat-skiing and backcountry tours in Utah!

Dec 13
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6 Benefits of Laser Hair Removal: Tips from Milan Laser

By From Our Partners

If you spend a good portion of your morning removing unwanted hair, listen up! Laser hair removal is the safest and most effective way to get rid of stubble for good. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can start seeing the results you want.

But we get it—laser hair removal is a big decision. However, the benefits of laser hair removal make the investment worth it. Salt Lake City’s laser hair removal experts and the country’s largest laser hair removal company, Milan Laser Hair Removal, shed some light on the major benefits of laser hair removal.

1. Permanent results = convenience!

Light from the laser targets and destroys the hair follicles so they can never grow again. When done correctly, laser hair removal results are permanent—many see a change in growth after their first treatment. Hair is constantly in different growth cycles, so multiple treatments are needed to ensure they’re all zapped. The average client at Milan Laser usually needs seven to 10 treatments to be 95%+ hair-free.

New hair follicles can become active due to age, hormones, and genetics, causing new hair to grow. Choose a provider who offers unlimited treatments rather than paying by the session. Some places like Milan Laser will even guarantee your results for life, so there are no touch-up or membership fees that can accumulate to hundreds of dollars a year.

2. It saves you money over time.

Laser hair removal is an investment, and it’s surprisingly cost-effective! The average person who shaves their legs and underarms spends upwards of $10,000 over a lifetime on razors, shaving cream, and exfoliators. But no one has ever shaved and then never had to again. The regrowth sometimes happens in just a day or two. With waxing, the average person spends $24,000 over a lifetime on salon appointments. Again, this is for temporary results.

On the flip side, since the results of each treatment are permanent, you can view the cost of laser hair removal as an investment rather than an expense. Many providers have different payment options to help make laser hair removal affordable for everyone. For instance, Milan Laser offers affordable laser hair removal payment plans to fit anyone’s budget.

3. It’s safe for all skin tones.

Laser hair removal is safe and effective for all skin tones with the proper technology. Milan Laser uses the Candela GentleMax Pro, which contains two separate lasers: Nd:YAG and Alexandrite. The Alexandrite is used for lighter skin tones, while the Nd:YAG is best for brown to black skin tones. It’s worth noting that not all providers offering this technology have safety protocols and proper training, so do your research!

But it’s more than just having the right technology. For the safest treatments possible, select a provider with experience treating all skin tones and who knows how to tailor treatments to your skin tone and hair color. Providers at Milan Laser have extensive experience with Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser technology, and they safely and effectively treat all skin tones to make hair-free skin a reality for everyone.

4. Bonus skincare benefits!

Aside from impossibly smooth, hair-free skin, the skincare benefits of laser hair removal are myriad. If you deal with “strawberry legs,” the dark spots on the legs filled with oil, dead skin, and bacteria from shaving, laser hair removal can help by removing the dark pigmented hair and reducing the look of strawberry legs.

Everyone who shaves knows a thing or two about nicks, cuts, ingrown hairs, and razor burn. But with laser hair removal, you won’t have to worry about those things again! Laser hair removal can also treat razor bumps or inflammation on the skin and help avoid ingrown hairs and clogged pores from a dull or dirty razor.

5. It’s less painful than waxing.

Anyone who’s waxed their legs or bikini area knows about the ouch factor. Hair is ripped from the skin, and in delicate areas, this can cause bruising, bleeding, and clogged pores. Once again, this is all for temporary results.

Clients say laser hair removal stings like a rubber band snap, but only for a millisecond. The Candela GentleMax Pro used at Milan Laser works alongside cooling technologies to reduce potential discomfort so clients have the most comfortable experience possible.

6. It’s quick!

Who has time for shaving and plucking every morning or spending hours on one area with an IPL device? Laser hair removal treatments are so fast they can be done over a lunch hour. No more carving out time every month, every year for waxing appointments, or wasting time on fleeting results.

Are you ready to reap all the benefits of laser hair removal? Call Milan Laser at 833-NO-RAZOR or go for a FREE consultation and one complimentary treatment! Visit a local laser hair removal expert at any of Milan Laser’s Salt Lake City locations, conveniently located in Bountiful, Orem, Riverdale, and Sandy.
Keep up with Milan Laser and follow on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to learn more!

Learn more about laser hair removal in Salt Lake City.

Dec 13
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Where to Eat in the Delta Center

By Eat & Drink

Home to the Utah Jazz and a beloved venue for concert goers, the Delta Center (doesn’t it just feel right to call it that again?) welcomes 1.8 million guests each year. Apart from a night of thrilling live sports or music, the stadium is also expected to offer plenty of delicious eats. During the NBA All-Stars event last year, the Delta Center honed in on their local-first identity and became a home to several Utah-bred food stands. Most recently in October of 2023, five new local food and beverage providers joined the ranks, serving up dishes well-known to Beehive residents. 

So, when you’re ready to head downtown for a night at the Delta Center, be sure to arrive with an empty stomach. The stadium’s 31 food stands offer something for everyone, and we believe the following local vendors deserve a little extra love for their creativity, dependability and flavor. 

Eats at the Delta Center

Brisket Empanadas at Jazzmen’s Kitchen

Jazzmen’s Kitchen 

If you’ve ever wondered what a professional athlete eats on a daily basis, now is your chance. From the mind of Chef Anthony Zamora, the Utah Jazz nutritionist and dietitian, Jazzmen’s Kitchen is a limited-time pop-up restaurant serving dishes similar to those preferred by the players and coaches. The three entrees feature lean proteins, fresh produce and locally-sourced options. Try the Brisket Empanadas or Chilled Chicken Bowl before settling in for a game. 

Proper Burger 

The locally beloved burger and beer joint found a home at the Delta Center in 2017 and has quickly become a favorite for Jazz fans and concert-goers. Their stadium menu has been paired down, but still offers standouts like the BIG Proper burger and the Chicken Club Salad, you can even get a Plan Jane Cheeseburger for $9—pair it with one of their locally-brewed IPAs. 

Santorini’s

Award-winning local restaurant Santorini’s was introduced to the Delta Center in the stadium’s most recent 2023 update. Fans flock to their food stand on the third floor for healthy, and flavorful options, like the Puffy Pita Tacos or their signature Mediterranean Bowl. 

Salt City Smokehouse 

Fans were understandably upset when R&R Barbecue left the Delta Center, but the venue was quick to fill the void with another worthy BBQ stand: Salt City Smokehouse. Each menu item was designed to be eaten with ease, no wet wipes necessary. Try their Chimichurri Tri Tip Sandwich and finish with a S’mores Ice Cream Sandwich. 

J Dawgs 

In 2004, BYU student Jayson Edwards took a risk to open a small hot dog shack for the Utah Valley community. What started as a mission to offer simple and delicious street food turned into a successful business with locations throughout the state. Stop by one of their Delta Center locations between quarters for a Polish dog with all the fixins’. 


Iceberg

Utah-born burger stand Iceberg Drive Inn first opened their doors in 1960, and their over-the-rim shakes and classic eats had no trouble earning the devotion of Beehive residents. The restaurant began franchising in 1999 with locations across the Western United States—including our own Jazz stadium. The food booth is a top pick for fans craving some classic cheeseburger and shake action. 

Sweets at the Delta Center

Farr’s Ice cream 

The Farr brothers started their company in 1891 as one of the most substantial suppliers of naturally harvested ice from the Ogden River. In their second year, the business harvested eight million pounds of natural ice. Eventually, commercially-made ice overtook the enterprise and the brothers pivoted to focus their efforts on ice cream manufacturing. ⁠

⁠The business barreled on through the Great Depression, World Wars and transfers of ownership. Now in its 100th year of business, it’s estimated that over one billion servings of Farr Better ice cream have been enjoyed over the last century. Their flagship Ogden ice cream parlor is still serving up scoops!⁠ Get a taste of history at their Delta Center locations throughout the stadium 

San Diablo Churro

⁠San Diablo Churros 

San Diablo started up back in Fall of 2016 serving up churros to Cornbelly’s visitors at Thanksgiving Point. Since then, the churros have been featured at all kinds of events and pop-ups around the valley. Their Delta Center booths serve their beloved deserts piping hot, coated in sugar, and stuffed with your choice of filling. 

Totally Nutz

There’s nothing like wandering through a busy stadium full of excited fans, and you get that first whiff of cinnamon-roasted almonds. There’s no other choice but to follow your nose to the nearest stand and get yourself one of those oddly cone-shaped bag o’ nutz. 

Spilled Milk

Decadent ice cream meets your favorite childhood cereal with Spilled Milk. The local ice cream spot started as a food truck in 2019 and recently opened up their first brick-and-mortar location on 9th and 9th. Try one of their signature flavors, or mix it up with a creation all your own. 

Sips at the Delta Center

Swig

Would this even be a Utah stadium without a Swig? Through popular demand, Swig gained a spot at the Delta Center in October. Known for their “dirty sodas”, the drink stand your one stop shop for caffeine and cavities. 

Booze

We’ll be honest, there’s no avoiding doling out the big bucks for a brew at the Delta Center. Located throughout the stadium, Hop Shops offer local and national favorites in tall boy form. If you’re looking for something harder, and pricier, the Casamigos corner on the fifth floor doles out margaritas and mules. Expect to pay at least $12 for a one ounce shot of Titos though. 

Instead, we suggest hopping over to the Gateway to get your buzz on before the game. Seabird is a laid-back option for a craft cocktail and good conversation, or continue your post-game deliberations at Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club. The latter is fully decked out in their holiday best, and their Christmas Tiki Parlor is well-worth a visit. 


Dec 12
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Take the Train to a Holiday Getaway in Glenwood Springs

By Adventures, Travel

Amtrak’s California Zephyr runs from Chicago to San Francisco with a stop in Salt Lake City, the eastbound train boards at “Oh-Dark-Thirty” (3:30 a.m.) which makes for a bleary, early morning at Salt Lake’s Central Station. Once on board, though, you can grab a nap as the train moves through Provo, Green River and Grand Junction, waking up in time to view the scenic stretch through Glenwood Canyon along the Colorado River before arriving at your destination: Glenwood Springs, Colo. Glenwood Springs is famous for its hot springs. Once a railroad and mining town, it became a destination for travelers to “take the waters.” Fittingly, the town’s center is the world’s largest hot springs pool, making Glenwood an ideal destination for a wintertime getaway. Enjoy this historic, walkable western town all decked out for the holiday season, with your choice of basecamp.

The Amtrak train station across the street from the Hotel Denver. Photo courtesy of Visit Glenwood.

1. The Hotel Denver

During the early 1900s, the train was the heartbeat of Glenwood Springs. The train brought supplies, workers and tourists into town, who needed a place to stay. The Hotel Denver has been hosting visitors since 1915 and the classic three-story retains its classic charm but has evolved into a chic, modern boutique hotel. Its location, steps away from the train station, makes it an ideal base for exploring the town.

2. The Hotel Colorado

The Hotel was built in 1893 by Walter Devereux, a silver baron and one of the early settlers who saw the potential of the town’s main attraction, the hot springs. Devereux sought to attract the wealthy and elite to this grande dame of a hotel, which is a real name-dropper of a hotel. Its registries have logged many famous guests, notably President Theodore Roosevelt who visited the area on his many hunting excursions and would decamp to the Hotel, which would become a temporary White House during his stays. During the holidays, the Colorado is all decked out, with twinkling lights and a lobby stuffed with a menagerie of Christmas displays. Also, there are ghosts.

Exterior of the Hotel Colorado’s Holiday decor. Photo courtesy of Visit Glenwood

Spa of the Rockies at Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, Glenwood Springs, Colo.

3. Glenwood Hot Springs Pool

Glenwood’s therapeutic spring waters—called Yampah, or literally “Big Medicine,” by Ute Native Americans—have been bubbling up from the earth’s core for millions of years. The Utes were the first known visitors to the mineral-rich hot springs that flowed along the banks of the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon. Devereux bought the land around the natural springs and harnessed the 3.5 million gallons of naturally hot mineral water that rises from the source of the spring each day. The pool dominates the town’s center and is filled with soakers, basking in the warm water. You should be one.

4. Iron Mountain Hot Springs

The newest iteration of a hot springs destination that dates back to 1896, Iron Mountain is located on the banks of the Colorado River. Designed in the Scandinavian way, Iron Mountain has 16 pools dotting the site which range in temperatures from 98 to 108 degrees. Guests brave the winter chill between pools and hop around to find the perfect temperature. Iron Mountain also has an adults-only area and serves beer, wine and (in the winter) mulled wine.

Father and daughter tour Glenwood Caverns

5. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Although coasters and more adventurous attractions at the park are closed in winter, the park’s main attraction, the Glenwood Caverns, remains open for tours. Descend into a subterranean world guided by a young enthusiastic collection of tour guides who point out geology, unique formations and share the cave’s history.  

Getting There

Glenwood Springs is about eight hours from Salt Lake City’s Central Station by train. And while it would certainly be faster to drive, what’s your hurry? The train ride is half the fun of a trip to Glenwood Springs, you can play games in the club car, relax in the observation deck and just enjoy the ride. amtrak.com

One Cool Thing: Doc Holliday’s Last Stand

John Henry Holliday (1851-1887), better known as Doc Holliday, was an American gambler, gunfighter and, oddly, a dentist. A close friend and associate of lawman Wyatt Earp, Holliday is best known for his role in the events leading up to and following the gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Ariz. Holliday was afflicted with tuberculosis and spent the few remaining years of his life in Glenwood Springs, where he hoped the healing waters would cure his ailment. He died of tuberculosis in his bed at the Hotel Glenwood, now the Hotel Denver, at age 36. One of the Hotel Denver’s eventual owners, Art Kendrick, got his start as a bellhop, where he recalls Doc Holliday as a “pretty good” tipper. His name is all over the town, including the Doc Holliday Saloon, filled with memorabilia dedicated to the famous gunslinger (and serving Rocky Mountain Oysters for the brave). You can also explore the Doc Holliday Collection, a small museum in the lower level of Bullock’s Western Store. 

Teddy Roosevelt’s Failed Bear Hunt

Long before Barbie, there was the beloved childhood toy, the Teddy Bear, named after President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. The Hotel Colorado claims to be the “real” origin of the iconic stuffed bear. Although other accounts attribute its creation to a penny candy store owner in New York, there’s a large display in the hotel lobby dedicated to an apocryphal story. The president, despondent after an unsuccessful bear hunt, was cheered when the hotel staff presented him with a stuffed bear. True or not, it’s one of the many historical artifacts and displays located throughout the hotel, including limited bookings for the Roosevelt Suite, where the president would conduct business during his stays.

Dec 11
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Live Music, Spa Days and More—Experiences To Gift Your Loved Ones This Holiday Season

By Lifestyle

We have all been there. Standing at a picked-over rack of neckties in a crowded mall department store, debating over navy with a red pattern or red with a navy pattern, we start to wonder, “Wait. Did I get Dad a tie for Christmas last year? Or was it socks?” Regardless, he has more socks and ties than anyone who works from home could ever need. In fact, maybe we all have too much stuff. But what do you give for the holidays without adding to the clutter? Something that shows you actually love—and maybe even like—these people? 

As kids, whenever we asked our moms what they wanted for Christmas she would always say, “Time together with my beautiful children.” We would always roll our eyes. How do you gift-wrap “time together” and put it under a Christmas tree, anyhow? Nowadays, we’re starting to think she was on to something. You might have to get creative with how you wrap up these presents to open up on Christmas morning, but they give the opportunity for something truly priceless: quality time together and memories to last a lifetime.

Photo courtesy of Deer Valley

Tickets to Live Events

For the music buff and the sports fan—nothing quite beats the excitement of a live concert, performance or game. Become their favorite person with five simple words, “I’ve already got us tickets.” 

A Music Lover’s Retreat 

Park City has no shortage of summer music venues, but the centerpiece has to be the Deer Valley Music Festival, where good vibes and fresh air (and tunes) can always be had. Locals flock to the hills for the eclectic season at Deer Valley’s Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, but why not make a little getaway out of it? Deer Valley Resort has lodgings available just steps away from the amphitheater, and the Utah Symphony, which puts on the festival, offers gift cards for the music lover in your life. deervalleymusicfestival.org, deervalley.com, usuo.org

The Salt Lake Bee’s at Smith’s Ballpark

Summertime at the Ballpark 

Although we were all sad to hear the news that the Salt Lake Bees, the major league affiliate to the Los Angeles Angels, is going to be uprooted and moved to Daybreak. There are two more seasons of Bees baseball to be had in Salt Lake City. The Bees offer holiday specials on packs of vouchers for less than $100 that can be redeemed at any game for the best available seats (which are plentiful).
bees.spinzo.com

Members-Only Garden Party 

Anyone who has ever raced strangers to be the first to claim a patch of grass at a Red Butte show knows that a membership to the gardens makes all the difference. When trying to secure a ticket to one of the high-demand shows, it’s basically a must. And gifting a membership is easy. In addition to advance tickets to shows, most levels of Red Butte Garden memberships include benefits like admission to the beautiful Red Butte Gardens for 12 months, access to member-only events and discounts on classes and summer camps. It really is a gift that keeps on giving. redbuttegarden.org

Health, Wellness, and Escape 

Whether you’re looking for a gift for an overworked professional and/or parent, nothing says you care like “Why don’t you take the day off?” The following gift experiences are all about self-care—unplug, de-stress, relax and recover from life.

Snowshoeing meets Yoga 

Park City Yoga Adventures leads guests on guided snowshoeing excursions through Wasatch Mountain State Park’s snow-flocked Gambel Oak stands to a cozy yurt for an hour-long yoga sesh. Go for a post-asana dinner at The Galleria in Midway, where you can reserve one of their chic snowglobes for a party of up to six people. —Melissa Fields

Spa Days 

  • The Grand Spa at The Grand America

The Grand has always made it a point to cater to locals and the Grand Spa is no exception, offering deals and staycation packages. Give a gift card for a spa treatment (starting at $100 and afterward relax in the indoor and outdoor pools and lounge in the heart of Salt Lake City, while wearing a robe, of course. grandamerica.com

The massage room at Grand America’s Spa

Guests enjoy sips by the pool at Grand America

  • Edge Sanctuary at The Lodge at Blue Sky

With all the fuss about the popular show Yellowstone, a “cowboy moment” happening. The Blue Sky Lodge is smack dab in “Dutton” country. (A stretch of river where the Lodge takes guests for fly fishing lessons was used as a location in the show.) Fittingly, its Edge Sanctuary has some Western twang to it. Offering treatments accented with wild-harvested ingredients and a relaxation pool overlooking Alexander Creek. In addition, you can book fly-fishing lessons, “natural horsemanship” classes or blast shotguns on Blue Sky’s sporting clay range. That’s right. Serenity and firearms.
aubergeresorts.com/bluesky

  • The Stillwell Spa at Snowpine Lodge

Six treatment rooms compose the tranquil Stillwell spa along with a posh relaxation room and a serenely lit grotto replete with a plunge pool encased in granite walls. A yoga and fitness center add to the rejuvenating experience. Swen’s Restaurant indulges with breathtaking mountain views and delicious, locally sourced fare. Similarly sited nearby, The Gulch Pub cheers with creative cocktails and a relaxed, après-ski menu. Lounges on every floor invite convivial gatherings and The Nest—a fully equipped game room—invites fun off-the-slopes competition. A large, heated outdoor pool treats guests to dips surrounded by breathtaking scenery. snowpine.com  

Looking for a gift for the foodie in your life? Check out our gift guide for unique dining experiences!

Dec 07
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December Events in Utah

By Community

Whether its the ever-popular Festival of Lights, a show at Ballet West, or a scavenger hunt with the little ones, these December events in Utah offer something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season

Displays

Trees of Diversity – Utah Cultural Celebration Center

November 21 – December 31

Held at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, this year’s Trees of Diversity continues the community tradition started almost 20 years ago. Decorated trees represent different countries and ethnic backgrounds as well as family traditions.

Festival of Lights – Spanish Fork

November 24 – January 1

The 31st Annual Festival of Lights returns to Spanish Fork this holiday season. This year, the route has been altered slightly to accommodate advanced ticket-holders who enjoy expedited wait time and vehicle management. Learn more about the map here!

Lightwalk –Tracy Aviary

November 24 – December 23

Tracy Aviary has been illuminated with eight acres of twinkling light displays. Meander through tunnels and mazes while you enjoy holiday beverages, and don’t forget to make a stop at Santa’s life-size gingerbread house. Some of the aviary’s nocturnal residents are bound to be active, so keep an eye out for them as you enjoy the grounds! Reserve tickets here.

Holiday Window Displays at the Grand America Hotel

Christmas Village 2023– Downtown Ogden

November 24 – January 1

Every night at 5 p.m., Ogden is transformed into a winter wonderland full of twinkling lights and holiday displays. The free event also includes visits from Santa, train rides and occasional firework shows. Find the entire route here!

Candy Rush by World of Illumination –Utah State Fairpark

November 18 – December 31

The world’s largest drive-through audio-visual experience stops by SLC to transform our state fairpark into a magical land of larger-than-life Christmas characters. The mile-long journey featured millions of lights, gingerbread villages and enchanting Christmas music. Find tickets here.

December Events Utah
Flankers Kitchen and Sports Bar. Photo by Blake Peterson & Panic Button Media

Lights On! –The Gateway

Stroll through Gateway’s winter wonderland filled with oversized woodland creatures, vibrant holiday lights, and plenty of Christmas photo ops. When you’re ready to warm-up, head to Flankers who have transformed their Tiki Bar into a fantastical Christmas Parlor.

Holiday Window Displays and Gingerbread House –Grand America Hotel

November 4 – December 20

The Grand America’s 2023 window stroll theme is ‘Let it Snow’, and embraces the special time of year through the yes of Jaqueline Frost and her playful kitty, Snowball. The window stroll invites guests to follow the story through QR codes, quizzes, and drawings! Also, don’t miss the life size Gingerbread House inside the hotel.

GLOW Garden –The Gallivan Center

November 24 – February 1

Created by In Theory Art Collective, The Gallivan Center’s GLOW Garden features inspiring instillations and sculptures that focus on themes of joy, love, and Utah’s diverse natural, cultural and social landscapes.

Snow Globe Stroll –Park City’s Historic District

November 22 – January 5

The Snow Globe Stroll featuring seven life-size snow globes themed around holiday songs like “Frosty the Snowman,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Passersby can enjoy festive Historic Park City holiday decorations including Santa’s mailbox and Main Street Christmas tree.

December Events Utah
Hogle Zoo’s Zoo Lights

Things to Do

Zoo Lights –Hogle Zoo

December 1 – December 30

Held throughout the month of December, Zoo Lights is the perfect opportunity to see the animals and over 200 lighted animal and holiday-themed displays. Tickets are $11.98.

Gingerbread House Decorating–Deer Valley

December 15 – December 24

Join Deer Valley’s pastry pros for a festive time decorating your very own gingerbread house. With a cup of hot cocoa in hand, you’ll bring your gingerbread dreams to life with an array of frostings, candies, confections and cheer. Reservations available here.

Santa’s Village –Hyatt Regency Hotel

November 24 – December 31st

The Hyatt Regency hotel, a sleek and modern building in the heart of downtown, has pulled out all the stops this holiday season. The impressive interiors have been decked out in Christmas decor, and their 6th-floor terrace has been transformed into Santa’s Village. Visit on a Saturday to snap a photo with Santa and enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies. When you’re ready to warm up, head inside to Mar | Muntanya for Spanish tapas. The restaurant’s cocktail special, hot mulled cider with your choice of spirit.

Gingerbread Village and Holiday Market –Traverse Mountain

November 17 – December 23

Check off every item on your holiday shopping list at Traverse Mountain’s holiday pop-up market hosted by Market Lane. Located in the grand lobby mezzanine, more than 65 vendors will be at this year’s market. The shopping center also has also introduced an impressive Gingerbread Village, market by the 30-foot-tall gingerbread tower.

Thanksgiving Weekend in Utah
Ice Skating at Gallivan Center. Photo by Austen Diamond, Visit Salt Lake

Elf Scavenger Hunt and Photos with Santa –Gardner Village

December 1 – December 31

Find the elf displays through Gardner Village and get rewarded with a free piece of salt water taffy from the chocolate covered wagon! Perfect for entertaining the little ones while you shop eclectic shops at Gardner Village. You can also snap pics with Santa on select days through Santa with the pros at Camera Shy Studio.

Aurora –Evermore Park

December 8 – December 30

Evermore Park’s winter wonderland, Aurora, transports guests to an old European style village filled with classic Christmas decorations and a variety of holiday characters. The park also features a delightful holiday market, a Christmas Carol Adventure, ice skating and seasonal food items.

Ice Skating – Various Locations

Test your balance, and your patience, at the outdoor ice rink in the heart of downtown. The Gallivan Center always dresses up for the holidays and stays open as late as midnight during the weekend. The ice does tend to get crowded during peak hours, so make sure you’re properly bundled (and/or boozed) up before braving a crowd. Further south, Millcreek Commons has opened up a brand new rink complete with 11,000 square feet of ice!

Music, Theater and Sing-Alongs

Christmas in Connecticut –Pioneer Theatre

December 1 – December 16

Utah’s premier professional theatre, presents a new musical stage adaptation of the classic holiday film Christmas in Connecticut. While the musical had its world premiere at the Goodspeed in Connecticut during the 2022 holiday season, the show’s creators continue to develop and fine-tune the work, making the PTC mounting an all-new experience for audiences—and the only production of Christmas in Connecticut in the U.S. during the 2023 holiday season.

The Night Before Christmas –Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center

December 8 – December 9

The Salt Lake Ballet Theater presents, the Night Before Christmas. The performance follows a young girl names Alexandria who finds herself immersed in a splendid dream of Christmas fairies, snow queens and a Nutcracker prince.

December Events Utah

Nutcracker – Ballet West

December 8 – December 27

America’s first and longest running Nutcracker production returns to Ballet West. As fresh as the day it was created, audience members are welcomed into the fantastical Land of Sweets. Find tickets.

39th Annual Christmas Carole Sing-Along – The Delta Center

December 11

The 39th Annual Larry H. Miller Christmas Sing-Along is coming to Salt Lake on Dec. 11th. The free event invites guests to enjoy performances from local artists and national artists The National Parks. Holiday treats and gift coupons available why supplies last. 

Dec 07
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Gift Ideas for the Outdoorsy Man in Your Life

By Adventures, Lifestyle, Outdoors

For a person of taste who stays on the move, gift ideas that are pragmatic, classicly styled and built to last.

RadRover 6 Plus Electric Fat Tire Bike

$1,399, Rad Power Bikes, SLC

Men’s Skycrest Insulated Snap Shirt

$185, Stio, Park City

IWC Schaffhausen Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire Steel 41MM

$7,400, O.C. Tanner Jewelers, SLC and Park City

The James Brand Redstone Knife

$89, The Stockist, SLC

GRID Antimicrobial Copper Wallet

$55, Man Up, SLC

Saxon 18K Rose Gold Double Link Napa Leather Bracelet by Walters Faith

$990, O.C. Tanner Jewelers

The Wasatch Box (Glass and Coaster Set)

$234, North Drinkware

ESKAPE 20 Kanvas Backback

$259, Kuhl

Explore Wasatch in the Winter

With your upgraded gear, navigating Utah’s plethora of outdoor winter adventures is a breeze. Read on for the complete guide to Salt Lake City, Ogden and Park City.

BASECAMP #1: SALT LAKE CITY

The two largest canyons within the mountains that tower above Salt Lake City City, Big and Little Cottonwood, are your access to four of Utah’s most famed ski resorts—Brighton/Solitude in Big Cottonwood and Alta/Snowbird in Little Cottonwood. Each canyon has its own vibe that derives from the landscape itself, which, in turn, influences how the resorts make use of the terrain. Big Cottonwood is a wider canyon with more gradual walls, meaning Brighton and Solitude feature wider runs and, for the most part, more gradual inclines. Little Cottonwood, on the other hand, is much more narrow and steep which informs Alta’s and Snowbird’s reputations for steep and, for the most part, narrow runs. (Read On)

BASECAMP #2: PARK CITY

Park City is a world-renowned ski destination and the home of Park City Mountain (the resort) and Deer Valley, both situated near the actual town of Park City and its lively Historic Main Street and iconic town lift (serving Park City Mountain). Lodging and nightlife abound, drawing visitors from around the world in every season. (Read On)

BASECAMP #3: OGDEN

The secret is out about Utah’s second city and its easy-to-access resorts—Snowbasin, Nordic Valley and Powder Mountain. In fact, even though both are farther from Salt Lake, they are often easier to get to than Park City and the Cottonwoods when snarled up with traffic. Ogden is the yin to Salt Lake’s clean-cut yang. Ogden-ites pride themselves on their town’s outsider status. Redneck rebels, tattooed, bearded hipsters and hard-drinking old timers all mingle on 25th street where you can play at night after a day on the slopes. (Read On)

Dec 06
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2024 Sundance Film Festival Reveals This Year’s Film Lineup 

By Film, Sundance

On Wednesday, the Sundance Film Festival revealed its lineup for the 2024 Festival year—including 82 films, eight episodic titles and a New Frontier interactive experience. 

This year marks the 40th edition of the Festival.

Festival organizers and programmers say this year’s programming, the 40th edition of the festival, is special. “Sundance’s passion and power shine through its programming. Curation is Sundance’s secret sauce and we’re energized by the range of films, stories, and artists we’ve watched and selected from around the world,” said the Director of Sundance Film Festival, Eugene Hernandez. “Our programming team, led by Kim Yutani, has curated 11 days of exciting new voices and stories for the many audiences we serve whether they’re joining us in Utah or experiencing the Festival offerings from afar. Sundance 2024 will be a special year for discovery and community.”

“While we don’t set out to program the Festival with a defined theme in mind, it became apparent this year that our slate’s biggest strength is how it showcases the vitality of independent storytelling,” said Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “These titles are inventive and they beautifully represent the kind of groundbreaking work we’ve sought to amplify at Sundance throughout our history.”

The Festival kicks off at noon on January 18 with premieres in Park City. Adding to the festivities that evening, Sundance Institute will host the Opening Night Gala: Celebrating 40 Years. The fundraiser will benefit artists and support the Sundance Institute. At the Opening Night Gala, the proceedings will recognize Sundance alum filmmaker Christopher Nolan with the Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award, as well as Celine Song and Maite Alberdi with the Vanguard Award for Fiction and Vanguard Award for Nonfiction, respectively. 

The 2024 Sundance Film Festival happens January 18–28, 2024, with in-person film screenings and events in Park City and Salt Lake City. Some films will be available to screen online nationwide from January 25–28, 2024. 

What to watch for at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival

The Salt Lake Opening Night Film is Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, a documentary premiering on January 19 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. The documentary shows never-before-seen home movies and personal archives, which reveal how Christopher Reeve went from an unknown actor to an iconic movie star as the ultimate screen superhero, and how he learned the true meaning of heroism as an activist after suffering a tragic accident that left him quadriplegic and dependent on a ventilator to breathe. (Director and Producer: Ian Bonhôte; Director and Screenwriter: Peter Ettedgui; Producers: Lizzie Gillett, Robert Ford) 

A film screening in the U.S. Dramatic Competition category, Love Me, is the winner of the 2024 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, an annual award given to an artist with “the most outstanding depiction of science and technology in a feature film.” The film, starring Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun (who starred in the 2020 Sundance film Minari), is about “a buoy and a satellite” who meet online and fall in love long after humanity’s extinction. The award recognized the film’s directors and screenwriters, Sam Zuchero and Andy Zuchero. 

The Zucheros are first-time feature film directors at the Sundance Film Festival, which make up 40% of the feature film directors accepted into this year’s festival.

Stewart, meanwhile, has starred in several Sundance films over the years, including another film at this year’s festival: Love Lies Bleeding, an entry in this year’s MIDNIGHT lineup, which features horror, thrillers, and genre-defying works. The film follows “reclusive gym manager Lou, who falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Las Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.” Actor Jena Malone (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) appears in Love Lies Bleeding as well, along with Katy O’Brian (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), Ed Harris, Dave Franco and Anna Baryshnikov (Manchester by the Sea). 

Like Stewart, Malone has multiple projects at Sundance this year. Little Death (a world premiere in the Festival’s innovation-focused NEXT category) is the work of another first-time Sundance feature film director, Jack Begert. Dani Goffstein is the screenwriter and the film is produced by Darren Aronofsky (whose directorial debut, Pi, premiered at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival). Little Death is about “A middle-aged filmmaker on the verge of a breakthrough. Two kids in search of a lost backpack. A small dog a long way from home.” David Schwimmer, Gaby Hoffmann, Dominic Fike, Talia Ryder (who made her feature film debut in the 2020 Sundance film, Never Rarely Sometimes Always) and Sante Bentivoglio round out the cast. 

Those with multiple projects at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival also include Jesse Eisenberg with A Real Pain (director/actor) and Sasquatch Sunset (producer/actor); Filipina actor Dolly De Leon with Ghostlight and Between the Temples; Dungeons & Dragons actor Justice Smith with The American Society of Magical Negroes and I Saw the TV Glow; The Worst Person in the World actor Renate Reinsve with Handling the Undead and A Different Man; Emma Stone and Dave McCary produced A Real Pain and I Saw the TV Glow; and director Richard Linklater with God Save Texas and Hit Man.

Festival darling Aubrey Plaza returns to Sundance with the premiere of My Old Ass, written and directed by Megan Park and produced by Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley. The description of the film reads, “The summer before college, bright-yet-irreverent Elliott comes face-to-face with her older self during a mushroom trip. The encounter spurs a funny and heartfelt journey of self-discovery and first love as Elliott prepares to leave her childhood home.” A number of Plaza’s castmates from Mike White’s The White Lotus also have projects at the Festival this year: Murray Bartlett (Ponyboi), Will Sharpe (A Real Pain), Meghann Fahy (Your Monster), Fred Hechinger (Thelma) and Brittany O’Grady (It’s What’s Inside).

The full slate of 2024 Sundance films includes 82 feature-length films, representing 24 countries. Eleven of the feature films and projects announced today were supported by Sundance Institute in development through direct granting or residency labs. World premieres make up 85 (94%) of the Festival’s 90 feature films and episodic programs.

Tickets and film screenings

Films will be screened in SLC at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Megaplex Theatres at The Gateway and Salt Lake Film Society’s Broadway Centre Cinemas. 

In-person ticket packages and passes and online ticket packages and passes are currently on sale, and single film tickets go on sale January 11 at 10 a.m. Visit sundance.org for tickets and more information about how to participate in the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Dec 06
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Heli-Skiing, Cat-Skiing and Backcountry Tours in Utah

By Outdoors

The venerable chairlift has been the primary tool used to ascend hills on skis since the prototype appeared on the slopes of Sun Valley in 1936. Its ubiquity is embodied by the low-pitched hum emanating from the terminal that’s so ever-present, it’s hardly noticeable until it fades into the background. Sure, centuries of incipient skiers had to laboriously trudge towards summits, but several generations of recreational skiers have known little beyond navigating a maze of ropes and accepting a firm thud against the upper calf in exchange for a ride to the top of a crowded, groomed slope.

No more. Helicopters, snowcats and human-powered backcountry tours, once the exclusive realm of hardened experts and professional skiers with extravagant film-production budgets, are exploding in popularity throughout Utah as everyday skiers long to explore the mountains beyond the groomers, moguls and resort boundaries. There’s powder in them hills. Get after it.

Heli-Skiing in Utah

Heli-Skiing Utah

No disrespect to Snowbird, Alta, Brighton and Solitude—resort skiing doesn’t get much better—but spend enough time looking across Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons and the mind starts to wander to those looming peaks in the distance. Powderbird heli-skiing gives unparalleled access to powder-filled slopes in the Wasatch by whisking skiers to the top in mere moments via helicopter.

Talk about luxurious convenience, but it doesn’t come cheap. An individual seat on a Powderbird helicopter starts at $2,000 per person. A private guided group runs $20,000 and can accomadate one to eight guests. Get beyond that barrier to entry, and you’ll experience thousands of feet of powder skiing deep in incredible terrain throughout the Wasatch no matter if you start from their base in Park City or at Snowbird.

Don’t be intimidated by the thought of stepping out of a helicopter onto an exposed ridge with massive cornices. Powderbird guides are well-versed in tailoring terrain selection to suit each group’s abilities. Whether you’re a group of hardcore shredders looking to eke every inch of vertical out of the day or you just want to make some creamy powder turns with jaw-dropping scenery, you’re covered. The cost means Powderbird heli-skiing may be a once in a lifetime experience for many, and the exhilaration of riding in a helicopter and ripping untracked powder will make it exactly that.

8333 Bypass Rd, Alta, 801-742-2800, powderbird.com

Cat Skiing at Powder Mountain

Heli-Skiing Utah

When it’s dumping snow, helicopters are grounded. Snowcats, however, can get to the goods regardless of the weather. Add in a substantially lower cost than its airborne counterpart, and cat-skiing offers a far more accessible path to powder-filled skiing and snowboarding. Powder Mountain’s cat-skiing operation is uniquely affordable and flexible. With a lift ticket, you can purchase single cat rides for just $39 each—season pass holders pay only $29.

Take a ride up the Lightning Ridge cat for powder-filled turns down Weber Bowl and Cache Bowl, or tackle some more technical terrain on Waterfall, Big Middle and Hair Raiser Chute. From the top of Lightning Ridge, hearty shredders can hike or skin to the top of James Peak to ski down from 9,422 feet. The Rain Tree cat accesses terrain west of the resort where untouched turns on moderately steep, tree-filled slopes linger long after storms pass.

All in, Powder Mountain’s cats access more than 4,800 skiable acres in a way that fits any budget and ability level. Powder Mountain also partners with nearby Whisper Ridge Backcountry Resort for full-day, guided cat skiing adventures for those willing to shell out for a more extravagant experience.

6965 E. Powder Mountain Road, Eden, 801-745-3772, powdermountain.com

Human-Powered Backcountry Tours

Get back to skiing’s roots with human-powered backcountry tours. Earn your turns by skinning to the top, all while avoiding the environment-destroying carbon emissions and solitude-ruining racket of helicopters and snowcats. There’s no better way to fully immerse yourself in the mountain environment.

Backcountry ski guide J.T. Robinson runs Vertical Integration, a full-service hosting company for human-powered backcountry tours. Robinson can help arrange lodging, transportation, gear and logistics, and he’ll take you deep into the mountains to safely see and ski terrain you wouldn’t be able to access on your own.

Heli-Skiing Utah

Robinson has permits to lead trips from the classics like Gobblers Knob in the Cottonwood Canyons to the North Face of Ben Lomond Peak near Ogden to the high Uinta Mountains where you can use snowmobiles to access remote peaks before heading to the top using your own two feet. Plus, he’s the only guide on earth with permits to ski on the backside of Mount Ogden—it’s private land. Tours with Robinson are fully customizable to meet varied preferences and ability levels, and they start around $250 per person, per day. Get in touch with Robinson through the Vertical Integration website to plan your perfect trip.

Vertical Integration: 801-940-1446, thevigroup.org

Dec 05
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2024 Kilby Block Party Lineup Drops

By Kilby Block Party, Music

While you were sleeping, Christmas came early and S&S Presents has revealed its once-again jaw-dropping 2024 Kilby Block Party Lineup. What started as a literal block party outside of Kilby Court has grown into a three-day, dare we say, palooza, with national appeal. The 2024 Kilby Block Party lineup’s main dopamine hits include LCD Soundsystem (the on-again-off-again dance music juggernaut), Postal Service, Vampire Weekend and Wu-Tang Clan. At this point, other power bands on the lineup like Death Cab for Cutie, Dinosaur Jr. and Courtney Barnett seem meh, no big deal—which makes the whole thing a really big deal. The full scope of the 2024 lineup is below.

So what about tickets? The festival, again at the Fairgrounds, runs May 10 to 12, 2024, for Kilby Court’s 25th Anniversary. For 2023, S&S got real cute with ticket prices and will start off sales with three-day passes only this year, starting at 10 a.m. on Dec. 6, 2024, at kilbyblockparty.com. Expect future announcements of single-day tickets and other configurations to come. And be sure to check back here to follow all of our coverage of the 2024 Kilby Block Party and explore our 2023 coverage.

Last year, the increasingly inaccurately misnamed Kilby Block Party was the first at the expanded space of the Utah State Fairgrounds. Although we Salt Lakers can’t abide change, the fairground location turned out to be a fantastic idea with plenty of room to roam, massive stages and lots of shady spaces to take a break from the constant onslaught of music. (Although we will not say the increase in beverage prices was a welcome addition.) The 2023 Kilby Block Party’s closing night has gone down in Salt Lake Concert Lore after the mid-set Pixies and their adoring crowd were chased away by a massive show of lightning and thunder. The die-hards, however, waited it out in various fairground barns and were rewarded with a (pardon the pun) thundering set by Pavement. Check our gallery of images from Day Three.


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2024 Headliners (as above)

  • LCD Soundystem

  • The Postal Service

  • Vampire Weekend

2024 Kilby Block Party (equally impressive cast of “supporting” acts)

  • Wu-Tang Clan

  • Death Cab for Cutie (performing Transatlanticism)

  • Interpol

  • Jai Paul

  • Joanna Newsom

  • Belle and Sebastian

  • 100 gecs

  • Dayglow

  • Courtney Barnett

  • TV Girl

  • Alvvays

  • Dinosaur Jr.

2024 Kilby Block Party (The Rest)

And, on the interstitial and side stages, comes a word salad of bands that surely someone has heard of: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Guided By Voices, Current Joys, Peach Pit, The Garden, Yves Tumor, Panchiko, Beach Fossils, Cautious Clay, Bombay Bicycle Club, Ty Segall, Pond, Yoke Lore, Yellow Days, Ginger Root, Andy Shauf, Slow Pulp, Petey, CSS, Ekkstacy, Yot Club, Krooked Kings, Choir Boy, Luna Li, Hemlocke Springs, Lomelda, Blondshell, Odie Leigh, Royel Otis, Abby Sage, Horse Jumper Of Love, Malcolm Todd, Fazerdaze, Model/Actriz, Arcy Drive, Annie DiRusso, TAGABOW, Water From Your Eyes, Joanna Sternberg, Kara Jackson, Gustaf, Hana Vu, 26fix, Little Moon, Blue Rain Boots, Sculpture Club, Nicole Canaan, Daytime Lover, Drusky, Body Of Leaves, Boyfriend Sushi Town, Persona 749 and….. (WHEW!) Bobo.

2023 Kilby Block Party Coverage from Salt Lake Magazine

Read more of our music coverage and get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.