Exploring Salt Lake City

My latest adventure was a three-night trip to Salt Lake City. It’s not the type of place I ordinarily visit since I can’t ski, I am not very outdoorsy- but I loved it! Alt Summit, a conference for bloggers and creatives, brought me to Salt Lake and before my plane even landed I was blown away by the city’s beauty.

Over the next few days, in addition to attending the conference, I tried some local eateries with cult followings, toured the architecture, and visited an ice castle. And my friend Jill took a few photos of me. Let’s dive into part one of my adventure.

My friend Jill from Hot Pink Style left Chicago and moved to SLC a couple of months ago, and she very kindly let me stay at her darling new house with views of the mountains.

The day that I arrived we drove around to see some SLC landmarks, like the beautiful, and big, Mormon Temple in the center of the city. That night we set off on a culinary adventure. Jill read my mind when she thought that I would want to try the waffle joint that Utahns (yes, that is what they are called) are obsessed with. It’s called Waffle Luv and they have a couple locations and a couple food trucks too, and they make savory and sweet waffle concoctions.

I was given very specific instructions to try the Dulce De Liege Waffle and oh my goodness let me explain what it involved. A churro waffle (are you excited already?!) is topped with caramel, fresh strawberries, fried ice cream and whipped cream. It must be the most popular menu item since people asked me if that is what I tried when they found out I dined there. The waffle had a slightly crisp texture, like a churro, and the ice cream somehow seemed extra creamy. The fresh strawberries balanced out the sweetness. Now that is a dessert. Apparently since drinking alcohol isn’t very popular in Utah, dessert places and soda shops have popped up all over the city.

Once I achieved a solid sugar high, we headed to an ice castle. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it was much cooler than I anticipated. We drove up through to mountains, and off the beaten path, to discover a huge structure built out of snow and ice.

There were lights, music, mazes, and ice slides. It’s hard to describe the experience. Sure it was a little cheesy, and a little touristy, but it made me feel like a kid again.

Beside the Ice Castle was a wooden hut that served up hot chocolate and other drinks.

My first day in Salt Lake City ended with a stop at In-N-Out burger simply because I had never been before, and Jill’s husband loves it. I ordered a classic cheeseburger and gained an appreciation for why people are obsessed with this burger chain. (Although… I think I prefer Shake Shack, feel free to debate me on that in the comments).

Next week I will be back with part two of my Salt Lake City adventure. I will tell you all about the best toast I have ever had, and we will explore from vintage and antique shops.