Traveling with Littles - SLC
Salt Lake City, Utah
For most of you planning a get-a-way, Salt Lake City is probably not a front runner for a destination! But in the off chance you have to travel to a conference or you are looking for something different before heading up to the Mountains, I have your inside guide!
Our favorite hotel is The Grand America which is an institution in the area! It’s strong architecture and stunning lobby make it an attractive sight, but not necessarily screaming kid friendly. The amazing part is that it actually is and offers an incredible toy store/candy store within the hotel to rival those of Disneyland! Yes, I said Disneyland! To top it off their Christmas decorating starts in October and features a life-size Gingerbread House and spectacularly lit up gardens.
The interior courtyard is a great place to run around and they have an indoor and outdoor swimming pool that is great for both the hot and cold months of the year (it is early October and the high is 42 today). The light rail train has a stop right outside the hotel and runs into Downtown which is an exciting activity for a 3 and 7-year-old. They also have warm chocolate chip cookies in the lobby throughout the day, which makes for a fantastic reward for your little ones.
Our favorite restaurant by far is called Valter’s and while it is not a “kid-friendly” institution and definitely screams special occasion, you can get away with going on the early side if your children can handle dressing up and a “fine dining” experience! I won’t lie, our children were borderline but we enjoy exposing the children to opportunities like that when we travel to make them appreciative getting to dine with mommy and daddy and they for now are willing to rise to the occasion. Valter is there almost every evening and delights with his authentic take on hearty homemade Italian. The food is truly divine!
The Children’s Store, Jou Jou, is beyond fabulous! The toy selection is very well sourced and covers a wide range of ages and that candy display is one of the prettiest I have ever seen! Don’t forget to peek at their board game collection which features the most incredible wall display of original board games. One more perk for children and adults alike, is their pastry shop, Bonne Vie, featuring hand made French pastries that are sure to delight the pickiest of connoisseurs.
Luckily getting there is easy as most airports offer non-stop service to SLC with Southwest and Delta being the two airlines that operate most out of that airport. They redid the City Creek Shopping Center almost 8 years ago and you can find everything from an Apple Store to Nordstrom’s and they are conveniently located across the street from the Salt Palace Convention Center.
My favorite part about Utah is the skiing in the winter and I have a special spot in my heart for the darling town of Park City. We will be going there this winter and I will be sure to do a post about it then!
