29 Fun Things to Do in Salt Lake City for Adults

Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal called Salt Lake City "boring" on national television during the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend broadcast. It's one of those takes that stuck — and one that doesn't hold up once you've actually spent time here.

Between the Wasatch Mountains, a booming food and bar scene, and a packed events calendar, there are more fun things to do in Salt Lake City for adults than most people expect. Here are 29 of them.

1. The Living Room Hike A 2.2-mile trail starting near Red Butte Garden. The summit has rock formations shaped like living room furniture and a full panoramic view of the valley. Moderately challenging. Worth every step.

2. Big Cottonwood Canyon Twenty minutes from downtown. Summer brings world-class hiking and mountain biking. Winter brings Brighton and Solitude ski resorts. No bad season to go.

3. Little Cottonwood Canyon Home to Alta and Snowbird. Even if you're not skiing, the drive up the canyon is spectacular. In summer, the wildflowers at the top are outstanding.

4. Great Salt Lake State Park People underestimate this one. You actually float in the hypersaline water — the salinity makes it nearly impossible to sink. Sunsets over the lake are hard to beat.

5. Bonneville Salt Flats About 90 miles west of the city. The flat white expanse stretches to the horizon and looks genuinely alien. Go in late summer when there's a thin layer of water reflecting the sky.

6. Red Butte Garden Botanical gardens at the base of the Wasatch Range. The outdoor summer concert series draws serious acts. Even without a show, the garden is worth a few hours.

7. Glendale Regional Park Salt Lake City's first new regional park in 60+ years opened in December 2025 on the old Raging Waters site on the west side. It has a 350-foot zip line and a massive climbing structure. Free to visit. Female Foodie

8. Utah Museum of Fine Arts On the University of Utah campus. Rotating exhibitions plus a solid permanent collection. Admission is reasonable and parking is easy on weekends.

9. Natural History Museum of Utah One of the best natural history museums in the country. The dinosaur collection alone justifies the trip. The building itself, designed to blend into the hillside, is worth seeing.

10. Clark Planetarium Free to enter the main floor. IMAX and dome shows cost extra but are worth it. Good date spot.

11. Salt Lake Film Society Catch indie and foreign films at Broadway Centre Cinemas or the historic Tower Theatre. Both venues have a loyal local following and consistently interesting programming. Female Foodie

12. Ken Sanders Rare Books A genuine SLC institution. The shelves are dense with rare, used, and obscure titles. You'll find things here you won't find anywhere else. Worth an hour of browsing.

13. Utah Olympic Park (Park City) Salt Lake City was officially awarded the 2034 Winter Olympic Games on July 24, 2024, and many of the original 2002 venues are still operating. Visit Utah Olympic Park in Park City for bobsled rides and ski jumping. About 35 miles from downtown. Female Foodie

14. Utah Jazz (NBA) The Delta Center downtown. The Jazz have one of the more passionate fanbases in the league. Games are loud and tickets are still reasonable compared to larger markets.

15. Utah Mammoth (NHL) Salt Lake City finally has a hockey team. The Utah Mammoth play at the Delta Center and notched their first playoff berth in 2025-26. Tickets are still relatively affordable compared to other NHL markets, and the game-day atmosphere is excellent. Female Foodie

16. Real Salt Lake (MLS) Soccer at America First Field in Sandy, about 15 miles south. The supporter section is loud and the stadium atmosphere is genuinely great for an MLS venue.

17. Utah Olympic Oval (Kearns) Open to the public for skating on the world's fastest ice. One of the more unique adult activities in the metro area and a legitimate Olympic-caliber facility. Female Foodie

18. Craft Brewery Crawl SLC's craft beer scene is real. Start at Kiitos Brewing (sustainable ethos, excellent taproom), hit Squatters or Bohemian Brewery, and finish at the Beerhive Pub downtown. The scene has expanded fast in recent years.

19. Whiskey Street A downtown bar with a long whiskey list, a good food menu, and late-night hours. Central location makes it an easy first or last stop.

20. Bar X Co-owned by actor Ty Burrell of Modern Family, Bar X has a sophisticated craft cocktail menu and speakeasy ambiance. The bartenders are genuine mixologists. Momanditoday

21. Eight Settlers Distillery After two years in the making, Eight Settlers officially opened in February 2026. They noticed the downtown area had several breweries but few distilleries and stepped in to fill that gap. Watch for Whiskey Wednesdays. Utah Stories

22. Felt Bar & Eatery A 2026 restaurant and James Beard award semifinalist, known for dishes like Filet and Marrow Tartare and seasonal cocktails in a lively, upscale atmosphere. Utah Stories

23. HSL (Handle Salt Lake) Small plates, great cocktails, and a patio scene that gets busy on weekend evenings. One of the better upscale casual spots in the city.

24. Cooking Classes Options include date night classes, international cuisine, knife skills, baking, and the Chef's Table lunch series. Classes run a few hours and you eat what you make. It's a solid option for a date, a group outing, or just a solo evening out. Salt Lake Culinary Education

25. Arcade Bar SLC has at least one well-regarded arcade bar combo with strong drinks, good service, and a full floor of games. Good for a group that can't agree on what to do. Tripadvisor

26. Bodega & The Rest Bodega offers a unique bar experience with DJ events, dancing, and electric energy all weekend upstairs. One of the more interesting nightlife concepts to open recently. Utah Stories

27. Hot Air Balloon Ride Several operators launch from the Salt Lake Valley in the early morning. The views of the Wasatch Range and the valley at sunrise are hard to replicate any other way.

28. Comedy Club Salt Lake has a full calendar of comedy shows. Check Wiseguys Comedy — they book national touring acts regularly and it's a well-run venue. Visit Salt Lake

29. TRAX Around the City Free Green Line runs through downtown. Use it to bar-hop or hit multiple neighborhoods without worrying about parking or rides. Underrated way to spend an evening.