I grew up in Salt Lake City, left at 20 to chase rock-and-roll stardom in Los Angeles, built companies in LA and San Francisco, and came home with my wife, Sharon, and our son, Johnny, at the beginning of 2017.
I’m well known in rooms around the world, but I’ve remained something of a secret in my own backyard. That changes now.
If your conference or corporate event brings you to Salt Lake City, here are a few of the places and experiences I genuinely love—not because they appear on somebody’s obligatory tourism list, but because they reveal what makes this place special.
IF YOU HAVE TWO HOURS: GO UP A CANYON
From the center of Salt Lake City, you can drive into some of the most beautiful alpine scenery anywhere on Earth and still return in time for your next commitment.
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Big Cottonwood Canyon is home to Brighton and Solitude. The scenic byway runs through dramatic quartzite walls with turnouts, trailheads, picnic areas, and easy access to mountain views.
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Little Cottonwood Canyon leads to Snowbird and Alta through a spectacular glacially carved corridor. The granite used to build the Salt Lake Temple came from near the mouth of this canyon.
If conditions and time allow, ride the aerial tram at Snowbird to Hidden Peak. The photograph above looks out over Mineral Basin from the top.
Mountain weather and canyon traffic can change quickly, particularly in winter. Check resort operations and road conditions before leaving downtown.
IF YOU HAVE A MORNING: COFFEE, BREAKFAST, AND A WALK
Two of my favorite downtown stops happen to be almost next door to each other.
Three Pines Coffee
Three Pines Coffee is a small, serious coffee shop on Main Street. If you appreciate a beautifully made latte, cappuccino, or espresso, this is a very good place to begin.
Eva’s Bakery
Just down the street, Eva’s Bakery has excellent pastries, French baguettes, breakfast, and coffee. It is an easy place to meet someone or begin a walk through downtown.
From there, explore Main Street, City Creek, the Capitol area, or Temple Square. Salt Lake’s history is unusual, complicated, inspiring, and worth becoming curious about.
WHERE I WOULD TAKE SOMEONE TO DINNER
Harbor
Harbor Seafood & Steak Co. is a small neighborhood restaurant near Sugar House with excellent seafood, steaks, cocktails, and a relaxed atmosphere. It is one of my favorite places for a client dinner.
Takashi
Takashi is one of Salt Lake City’s standout sushi restaurants. There is often a wait. There is a reason.
Sawadee
Sawadee, on South Temple, serves authentic Thai food and has long been one of my local favorites.
Ask a local
Salt Lake City has become far more culturally and culinarily diverse than many first-time visitors expect. Ask someone who lives here what has opened lately. You may be surprised.
These are personal recommendations, not paid placements. Restaurants change, so check current hours and reservations before making plans.
IF YOU LOVE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE
Salt Lake City may be smaller than many conference destinations, but it has a serious cultural life. Check the schedules for Utah Opera, the Utah Symphony, and Ballet West. Touring musicians also often play smaller rooms here than they would in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York.
Music and performance have been part of my life since childhood. My father loved opera, my grandmother taught piano and wrote songs, and years as the lead singer of a rock band taught me lessons about performance, practice, presence, and recovering from mistakes in real-time that still shape my work onstage.
IF YOU HAVE AN EXTRA DAY
Ski or snowboard
Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Solitude, Park City, and Deer Valley are all extraordinary. Be sure to check each resort’s policies: Alta and Deer Valley are skiers-only, while the other resorts welcome snowboarders.
Hike or simply take the scenic drive
You do not have to be an extreme athlete to appreciate the Wasatch Mountains. A scenic drive, a short walk, or a quiet hour at a turnout can completely change the rhythm of a business trip.
Go fly-fishing
The Provo River and other waters put excellent fly-fishing within reach of Salt Lake City. Johnny and I practice catch-and-release and try to minimize the time a fish spends out of the water. As our population grows, respect for these resources matters more than ever.
WHAT SURPRISES PEOPLE ABOUT SALT LAKE CITY
Salt Lake is much bigger, more culturally rich, and more globally connected than the city I knew growing up. The 2002 Olympics changed its infrastructure and helped it become a far more welcoming international destination. The rise of Silicon Slopes has brought technology companies, entrepreneurs, and an increasingly sophisticated workforce to the region.
What has not changed is the setting. Fly into the valley, look at the ring of mountains surrounding the city, and you understand immediately that this is not an ordinary conference destination.
PLANNING A CONFERENCE IN SALT LAKE CITY?
I’m based near the University of Utah and available for keynotes, leadership conferences, executive conversations, workshops, and fireside chats throughout Utah.
Explore John Bates as a Salt Lake City keynote speaker, learn about John’s signature keynotes, or tell me what you want your audience to believe, feel, and do when the event is over.