Brigham Young Historic Park and the Mormon Pioneer Memorial Monument pay tribute to the achievements of the earliest settlers. The Beehive House served as Young's official residence when he was president of the LDS Church and governor of the Utah Territory. It gets its name from the wooden beehive perched on the roof. This symbol reflects the hard-working nature of Utah's pioneers. From this corner, the Eagle Gate arches across State Street and South Temple. The worldwide headquarters of the LDS Church and the Mormon Family History Library occupy adjacent blocks. Gardens burgeoning with fragrant flowers soften the appearance of the high, massive and imposing buildings.

Utah's state Capitol rises above a leafy neighborhood and the Pioneer Memorial Museum. A little green vale, known as Memory Grove Park, is just down the hill. This quiet enclave is a favorite among locals.

Olympic landmarks

This city of 182,000 welcomed the world to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. At Olympic Legacy Plaza, statues and gardens commemorate this shining time in the city's history. Fountains spew water to music, much to the delight of children who dance in the sunshine. The plaza is a component of The Gateway, an open-air complex of theaters, restaurants, shops, a residential tower, the Clark Planetarium, the historic Union Pacific Depot and Discovery Gateway, a family-focused learning center. Across the street, the Utah Jazz plays at the EnergySolutions Arena.

Shopping bags dangle from wrists of fashionistas at Trolley Square. Renovated trolley-car barns were transformed into trendy boutiques at this downtown mall. Nightclubs and restaurants attract a lively crowd, particularly on nights when outdoor concerts are held.

These prime shopping and nightlife areas get an enthusiastic nod from Salt Lake City's generous mix of bookstore browsers, microbrew guzzlers, vegetarians, pet lovers and extreme-sports enthusiasts. Cultural venues fit nicely into the entertainment scene. A coral-hued Dale Chihuly glass sculpture graces the foyer at Abravanel Hall, palatial home of the Utah Symphony. Repertory Dance Theater, the oldest modern dance company in the West, can be seen at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. On Pierpont Street, people watch artists at work in studios in historic warehouses. Fine art, photography, pottery, glassware and jewelry are available at UTah Artist Hands, a downtown gallery.

Architect Moshe Safdie designed the Salt Lake City Public Library to have a four-story-tall, windowed reading area. People quaff coffee at a cafe, sit in a rooftop garden, visit shops and relax in a piazza with reflecting pools and fountains.

The Foothills Cultural District is home to the University of Utah, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, the Pioneer Theatre Company and the Utah Museum of Natural History. Fort Douglas, a military historic site, represents the past, and Olympic Cauldron Park shows a new chapter in the city's history.

Desert day trip