Ski Utah
Details

Multiple ski resorts are a short drive from downtown Salt Lake City. But also, you can get there using public transportation!

Daily service is available to Snowbird and Alta from a bus stop adjacent to the convention hotel on Route 951. More flexibility is available in scheduling by taking the light rail (TRAX) south to the 7200 S or 10000 S stations. From there more frequent service is available. 

Click here for ski bus schedule information.

Click here for TRAX schedules.

Mormon Tabernacle Organ Tour

Your PTG Westpac hosts have arranged for a private tour of the Mormon Tabernacle Organ. Your tour host will be the lead technician for the organ, Robert Paul. This tour is scheduled for 2 pm on Saturday. If you have an interest in pipe organs, you won't want to miss this special tour of an American classic organ. Sign up at the registration desk when you arrive in Salt Lake City. 

PTG-WestPac Concierge Service

There are scores of activities and restaurants within walking distance of the convention hotel. But venturing farther in an unfamiliar city can sometimes be a challenge. Light rail (TRAX) and bus service in the immediate downtown area is free, and this will be helpful in getting to and from the convention hotel to other downtown locations.

If you'd like help planning your trips and outside activities, we are here to help. Contact your Salt Lake City host, Duane McGuire, by email at tuner@mcguirepiano.com, for help planning your transportation and services needs in advance of the convention. He'll be glad to help.

During the convention, feel free to call Duane at 801-830-5858. And certainly contact any member of the Salt Lake City or Utah Valley Chapters for help with services and activities in the area. 

Events, Activities and Sightseeing in and around Salt Lake City

Public Transportation

Utah Transportation Authority offer bus, trolley, and train service. See their website for details: www.rideuta.com

Mormon TabernacleVisit Temple Square
www.visittemplesquare.com

  1. Listen to the Tabernacle Choir, Rehearsing and Performing in the Historic Tabernacle on Temple Square. Rehearsals: Every Thursday evening at 8 pm, Open to Public. Performances: Every Sunday Morning at 9:30 in the Tabernacle. Must be in seats by 9:15am. Organ Recitals: Mon-Sat in the Tabernacle at noon. 30 minutes long.
  2. Family History Library - An absolute must visit. www.familysearch.com
    96% of the users are visitors from out of state, out of country. Hours: Mon 8am-5pm, Tues-Sat: 8 am–9pm. Closed on Sundays. This place is pure addiction. Be sure to bring some basic information like your parents' and grandparents' birth dates, place and marriage date. Then you will be amazed at what you find! Every day there are free classes to help you with specific research. Check familysearch.org in January 2012 for the class schedule.
    Amazing teachers helping you in small class settings with your research interests.
  3. Museums on Temple Square - All Free
    Church History Museum-historical archive
    Church History Museum-Art Museum and artifacts
    Brigham Young’s Beehive House: Open daily 9:30 -8:30 pm. Free Admission. A must visit.
  4. Free Guided Tours of Temple Square
    Guided tours of the Tabernacle, Assembly Hall, Visitor centers, the beautiful grounds, etc. Plus, visit the beautiful “Christus” Statue by Thorvaldsen.
  5. Dining on Temple Square:
    The Roof Restaurant with breathtaking views.
    The Garden Restaurant casual atmosphere with stunning views again.
    The Lion House Pantry just next to The Lion House.
    The Nauvoo Café in the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg.
  6. For the many events and concerts on Temple Square visit:
    www.visittemplesquare.com for the Feb. 2012 schedule.

The Mountains Are Right There!

No visit to Salt Lake City is complete without a foray into the mountains. Because of the pull of water from the mountains to the Great Salt Lake, the Wasatch Range is cut by several unique and visually stunning canyons.

  1. Little Cottonwood Canyon, home to Alta & Snowbird Ski Resorts - Ride Snowbird’s Tram to the top of the Wasatch Range.
  2. Big Cottonwood Canyon, home of Solitude and Brighton Ski Resorts. Donut Falls is a four-season hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon
  3. Emigration & City Creek Canyon - Hogle Zoo, open year round. A beautiful zoo on 42 acres at the mouth of the canyon. www.hoglezoo.org
    Going east past Hogle Zoo into the canyon is Ruth’s Diner, a must-stop for breakfast! Parley’s Canyon - the beautiful drive to Park City (30 min. east of downtown Salt Lake City) home to Deer Valley, Canyons Ski Resorts.
    The historic Silver Mine town of Park City Stroll down Main Street visiting the many shops & art galleries. (also home to the Sundance Film Festival).
    Also, just before arriving at Park City, at Kimball Junction is the large Tanger Factory Outlet Stores with really wonderful shopping for all ages and interests. www.tangeroutlet.com/parkcity/directions
    The Utah Olympic Park, in Park City. www.olyparks.com.
    Check www.visitsaltlake.com for the many, many hiking trails: visit www.trails.com
  4. West of Salt Lake City
    Visit the Great Salt Lake, west of downtown SLC.
    Visit Antelope Island, unique island and park northwest of downtown SLC.
    Visit the Spiral Jetty, an earth-work sculpture by Robert Smithson on the lake’s remote northeast shore. www.spiraljetty.org

Inside Salt Lake City

  1. This Is the Place State Park - See pioneer in living work experiences and activities! An exciting place to visit for families of all ages. Hours: M-Sat: 9 am to 5 pm, Sun: 10 to 5pm. www.thisistheplace.org
  2. Utah State Capitol Rotunda
  3. Discovery Get-away - A must for children! www.discoverygateway.org
  4. Clark Planetarium and Imax Theatre www.clarkplanetarium.org
  5. Hogle Zoo www.hoglezoo.org - open year round
  6. Tracy Aviary - www.tracyaviary.org
  7. Gateway Mall and Megaplex Theatres - www.shopthegateway.com
  8. At the University of Utah:
    New Natural History Museum www.umnh.utah.edu/home
    Museum of Fine Arts www.umfa.utah.edu
  9. The Utah Olympic Oval - the “Fastest Ice on Earth” www.olyparks.com
  10. Salt Lake Acting Company. “Red” a tony award winning play about artist Mark Rothko, playing in Feb. 2012. www.saltlakeactingcompany.org
  11. Carriage for Hire-year round carriage tours from Temple Square.
  12. Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum- six floors of pioneer heritage artifacts.
  13. Sunday Brunch at The Grand America Hotel!
  14. The Living Planet Aquarium www.livingplanet.com
  15. Classic Cars International www.classiccarmuseumsales.com
  16. FastKart Indoor Speedway www.fastkartspeedway.com
  17. Fort Douglas Military Museum www.fortdouglas.org
  18. Three Very Unique Utah Book Stores
    Sam Wellers Rare Books  samwellers.com Sam Weller’s is for all ages of great booklovers!
    King’s English
    Ken Sanders Rare Books
  19. Trolley Square Shopping www.trolleysquare.com
  20. Sweets Factory - Candy factory, home of the famous Salt Water Taffy. www.sweetcandy.com for tour times.

South of Salt Lake City

  1. 30 minutes south of downtown SLC is Thanksgiving Point: gardens, barnyard, cooking classes, restaurants, world’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils, the North American Museum of Living Ancient Life.
  2. Cabela's - (very close to Thanksgiving Point) Their famous taxidermy display, aquarium with feeding time. www.cabela’s.com

Further afield of SLC

  1. Heber Valley Historic Railroad www.hebervalleyrr.org Amazing old train rides and
    adventures.
  2. Hill Aerospace Museum www.hill.af.mil
  3. Sundance Ski Resort www.sundanceresort.com
  4. Park City Balloon Adventures: Hot Air Balloon adventures to suit your needs.
    www.pcballoonadventures.com
  5. Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah (50 minutes south of SLC) Really great to visit!
    Museum of Fine Arts
    Monty L. Bean Museum of Natural History
    BYU Museum of Paleontology