My friend is being posted to a company in Lehi/Utah for half a year and would like to know a little more about that area (Salt Lake City etc.).
I would like people who know about the area to give some advice.
What to do during free time? Any things to consider before going there? How easy would it be to get to San Francisco from there? Good places to visit? Shopping? Food?
Thanks for the help
And now, from someone who actually knows the area . . . .
(EDIT: cross-posted with Nylan, who appears to have some actual experience.)
So, I'm assuming your friend is working for Micron? They have a plant that they've finally taken out of mothballs right at the north edge of Lehi/Utah County (near an area called "Point of the Mountain, which is the dividing line between Utah and Salt Lake Counties.
As already noted, Utah County, in general, is largely LDS, so if your friend fancies the typical non-LDS lifestyle, he or she will probably enjoy Salt Lake City, more, and want to live north of Point of the Mountain. Actually, because of the likely work location, your friend will be in easy reach of Salt Lake City from Lehi - maybe a 20-minute drive.
From what I hear, SLC has a reasonable night life. It's not San Francisco, but it's not the Vatican, either.
Places to see and things to do: hiking and skiing are
right there: less than an hours drive. In SLC, itself, Temple Square and the adjacent blocks holding the LDS Church office buildings and conference center are must-see sites even for non-LDS (and completely free). The Gateway center, about three blocks west, is a relatively new shopping area, pretty much right next to the arena where the Utah Jazz play (if your friend is into sports).
The Sundance Film Festival is each January, in Park City and SLC. Locals get the opportunity to buy early tickets. However, those who don't care for the movie crowd should stay well away from Park City during that time: it's a gridlocked madhouse.
Down in Utah county, Lehi is where Thanksgiving Point is located, with some shops, gardens, and movie theaters. There is Utah Lake, which is good for some boating and water skiing. Up the (Provo) canyon is another ski resort: Robert Redford's Sundance, and further up are two more reservoirs for boating and fishing. (The Provo River is also a popular site for fly fishing.) And more mountains, mountains, everywhere: Timpanogos Cave, Alpine Springs, the Alpine Loop (a driving path around Mt. Timpanogos). There is a walking/bike path up the Provo Canyon that goes I-don't-know how far up: at least to bridal veil falls and a couple of miles beyond; maybe all the way to Deer Creek Reservoir, at the top of the canyon.
Southern Utah (4-6 hours away) has a number of fantastic national parks, including Zions, Bryce, Canyon Lands, etc., worth some great weekend get aways. Currently, a huge downtown renovation is occurring in SLC (financed by the LDS Church, which owns most of the property), so it's a bit of a mess, but generally speaking, SLC is
very clean for a city of its size.
San Francisco is a 10-hour drive away, and a straight shot on the I-80. (I drove that many times, while in college.) Salt Lake International airport also has flights to most places and is at most 40 minutes away.
That's enough to get you started, without writing several pages. If you have more questions, just ask, or PM me. We are a friendly people, and Utah is a beautiful place.
great info here...thanks, will keep the pm offer in mind (after all it isn't me who is traveling there)
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