Destinations Magazine - November/December 2017 - 29

GO WEST!

Follow the path of pioneers to Utah's
No. 1 attraction-Salt Lake City's
world-famous Temple Square
BY MARYELLEN KENNEDY DUCKETT

TEMPLE SQUARE
INSIDER
STAY
The ABA member Salt Lake Plaza
Hotel at Temple Square is conveniently located next door to the
world's largest (and free) genealogy
library.
SHOP
Allow adequate time for exploring
world-class City Creek Center, the
23-acre retail and dining destination across the street from Temple
Square.
EAT
Treat guests to the home-style fare
and historic setting of Lion House
Pantry, located in Brigham Young's
personal residence.
PARK
The main drop-off spot is the Temple
Square West Gate, and free bus parking is available at 200 West 75 North.

emple Square is the historic heart of Utah.
Architecturally stunning and filled with activities to
engage guests of all ages, the 35-acre square is the spot
where the Mormon pioneers (led by Brigham Young)
settled Salt Lake City and Utah in 1847.
Fun Fact: The Great Salt Lake Base and Meridian (marked by
a small statuette at the southeast corner of Temple Square) is the
center point of Salt Lake City's easy-to-navigate city grid system.
All city streets are named and numbered based on their distance
from this spot-coordinates 0 East, 0 West, 0 North, and 0 South.
The same grid is used in nearly every Utah city
and town.
"The Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-which took 40
years to build with pioneer fortitude-is the cenContact
tral point for Temple Square, Salt Lake City, and
groups@
templesquare.
Utah," says Neil Wilkinson, director of tourism
com to arrange
and marketing for Temple Square Hospitality.
a customized
Temple Square
"Friends of all faiths will find much to do at
tour for your
Temple Square, from enjoying the arts, culture,
group.
music, and tours, to discovering their own roots in
the genealogy discovery center and listening to the world-famous
Mormon Tabernacle Choir."
Temple Square is open 365 days a year, but the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir's only regular performance is on Sunday mornings, along with an open rehearsal each Thursday evening. Since
some Temple Square attractions and restaurants are closed on
Sundays, consider planning a two-day stay (either Wednesday-
Thursday or Thursday-Friday). Following this strategy ensures
your guests can enjoy all the square has to offer-including hearing
the sounds of the 360-member singing ensemble President Ronald
Reagan first referred to as "America's Choir."

HOT

TIP

Free Activities and Family Trees

The best introduction to Temple Square is a free, guided tour,
available (with advance notice at www.templesquare.com) in any
of 40 different languages. Tours typically include stops at significant Temple Square sights, such as the South and North Visitor
Centers, the magnificent tabernacle, built in 1867, and Lion House,
the historic home of Brigham Young. While group tours generally
take about an hour, guides can condense or extend a tour to fit
your itinerary or to include areas of special interest to your group.
Reservations are required for groups of 20 or more.
Music enthusiasts may enjoy a tour timed to coincide with one
of the daily recitals of the 11,623-pipe organ at the front of the
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2017

\ DESTINATIONS 29

http://www.templesquare.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Destinations Magazine - November/December 2017