With so much to see and do in Salt Lake City, it may seem impossible to enjoy your trip without spending all your money. If you’re wondering how to experience everything the city has to offer while staying within your travel budget, keep reading for some helpful travel tips.
Find the Best Time of Year to Visit
Image via Flickr by sufw
Salt Lake City has two major times during the year when visitor numbers and hotel rates are at their highest. In the winter, the high snowfall and cold temperatures in the surrounding mountains bring in skiers and snowboarders from all over. As a result, hotels will usually charge more between the months of November and March.
Additionally, summer brings in plenty of visitors and sightseers. June through August will see high hotel prices and a shortage of available rooms. However, if you plan your visit in September or October, you can enjoy smaller crowds and comfortable temperatures. This is also the ideal time to find cheaper deals on Salt Lake City hotel rooms.
Use the Public Transportation System
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) provides much of Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas with affordable public transportation using their TRAX light-rail lines and city buses. This includes a Free Fare Zone in downtown Salt Lake City. This area, which encompasses about 36 city blocks, allows riders to enter and exit the TRAX service or bus at no charge. Since the zone includes popular destinations such as City Creek Center, Temple Square, and Energy Solutions Arena, it’s ideal if you want to explore downtown without paying transportation costs.
Take Advantage of Free or Discounted Admissions
There are so many museums around Salt Lake City that you’re sure to find a few that will interest everyone. If your timing is good, you can also visit for free or at a reduced rate. At the Pioneer Memorial Museum, you can see what life was like for the first pioneers of the state. Admission to this museum is completely free. Or, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts offers free admission on the first Wednesday of every month, so you can explore more than 17,000 pieces of art on display.
You can also look into city passes, which let you save money and explore some of the top destinations around Salt Lake City including Hogle Zoo, Clark Planetarium, and Red Butte Garden. Some city passes even offer discounts at certain retailers and fast-tracking privileges so you can avoid long lines.
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
The beautiful outdoor scenery is perhaps one of the most famous attractions in Salt Lake City. Best of all, it’s also one that is completely free to enjoy. One of the most popular parks in the city is the 80-acre Liberty Park. Here, visitors can enjoy a pond with paddle boat rentals, a 1.5-mile walking path, playgrounds, tennis courts, a swimming pool, basketball courts, volleyball courts, and much more.
For more information on ways to save money when you visit Salt Lake City, please visit my guide on Hipmunk’s Hotels in Salt Lake City page.
Author Bio: Kristen McCalla is a writer and avid blogger who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with her husband, cat, and dog. When she’s not writing on her blog, 31 Million Seconds, she enjoys traveling and exploring all over this beautiful country. She is currently working on the #HipmunkCityLove project.