PROS and CONS of Salt Lake City (and Utah) for prospective transplants (Provo: renting, low crime)

[lolagranola]

oh yeah.....

under PROS
low humidity
petroglyphs

(and I think there are fabulous festivals here! at Library Square and Liberty Park)

[MOlney]

Everybody has their preferences. For me, beaches are nice to visit...on occasion. Personally, I get bored with them fairly quickly and have never been able to understand what's so great about them. I greatly prefer the mountains.

For me, the mountains and the hiking, biking, camping, rafting, tubing, canoeing, etc. that goes along with them are a big PRO. Also, the contrast of summer and winter. Those are among my favorite about living in Utah...I'm a little too tired right now to think of much more...too many late nights working on projects. Speaking of late nights, I enjoy the relatively quiet night-life here. I've never have liked parties or clubs much.

Hmmm...Cons...well I think that I'm just too tired to do this right now...I'll have to come back to this later.

[msfoom]

I love reading everyone's friendly banter. It's good to have varying opinions! How boring it would be if we all thought the same. I am moving to South Jordan at the end of September and look forward to having my own opinion once I've been there a while.

[markg91359]

I don't want to be repetitious, but I think much of the decision to make Utah a home depends on the value that one places on outdoor recreational activities. My wife and I dearly love the fact that Salt Lake places us right in a sort of geographic center that is surrounded by national parks and other things to do. This summer we toured Yellowstone National Park (about 300 miles north). Last summer we toured Arches (about 250 miles South) and Zion's (about 300 miles South). Capitol Reef is also a favorite (about 250 miles away) and we enjoy camping with a tent in the Fruita Campground.

I enjoy downhill skiing and the last two winters I've taken my daughter skiing at several resorts. Not a cheap activity, but priceless in terms of fresh air, scenery, and quality time with a child.

In the autumn, we always select at least one Sunday to take a driving tour through an area where the leaves are turning. Some years, we go up Logan Canyon. Other years we have gone up and over the Alpine Loop or the Nebo Loop. I find by August, I'm already looking forward to this Sunday because of the sights and cool tempatures it will bring.

If you want day hiking or backpacking (low cost activities), I can name a long list of hikes for you to take depending on your experience, desire to exert yourself, and whom you are taking with you. If you have any interest in the outdoors, I promise you will find each one enjoyable.

Many things in Utah do cost money. However, if you compare them with places out-of-state, for the most part they are still a good value.

The pro's clearly outweigh the cons for me.

[Jonah Hex]

Originally Posted by cinnabon

Just a couple of points. Your opinion about being in a really fun place and mine differ. That's fine, but it is your opinion that walking on the beach is preferable to hiking in the beautiful mountains, not a universal fact, just an opinion. Both are free, although both involve driving your gas guzzling car to the location - unless you can afford real estate on the beach in San Diego, in which case you would have no concerns about money.

Gardens - Red Butte Gardens and Thanksgiving Point are the too largest gardens around here that I know of. Both are gorgeous. Red Butte is about $6to get in, TP is $10, but they were offering $2 Tuesdays in Aug.

There is a lot of stuff to do at Olympic Park - ziplines, alpine slides, etc., but these of course do cost money. To visit Park City from Salt Lake does not require getting a room - at 30 minutes away it is quite an easy day trip, and it is just as free to stroll around the cute town with unique shops and restaurants as it is to stroll around San Diego... just sayin. There are also a lot of discounts to be had for locals for winter sports and other activities. Although I am not sure if you are a local or not since you seem pretty unfamiliar with much of what is here?

Finally, why would you compare SLC to other "capital cities" and not consider population? Obviously population is a huge factor in how much a city can offer. SLC is about the size of Little Rock, AK, so that would be a more fair comparison. The cities you mentioned, some of the largest in the country, DO offer a lot more - they are also tremendously expensive both to live in and to visit. And LA and San Diego are not even capitols. Why compare apples to oranges? I don't think most people assume that SLC offers the same amenities as Boston just because it is a capitol. Look at Albany for example - the capitol of NY. It's a lot smaller than SLC.

One last thing, I spent my whole life in the Northeast except for the past year when I have lived here. I am well traveled and am familiar with many parts of the country. In my opinion, there is a ton of stuff to do here compared with most places, and in Utah in general. It is also cheaper to do things here than a lot of other places. Maybe it's not stuff you like to do, but the fact remains. I only bother to give such a detailed response because I do not feel that your opinion is very informed or factual. Do you even live here?

Edit: I see that you do in fact live here. You really need to get out and explore more - you are missing a lot!

Hiking here did not cost me a dime - very ho-hum I know!

Thanks for your opinion Cinnabon. What I listed is just my opinion , yes. I did not think I was offering my thoughts as universal fact, if that was the result I am sorry.
My reason for posting my list was because I wish someone else had told me this beforehand; what this forum is for. I am neither bashing nor celebrating the place.
Most of the places you speak of do take money, as you did mention. My philosophy is, I need to find a place where I have things that are ok for me within a close radius of home, because I am not well-off.
And close to beach living need not necessarily be san diego or luxurious, there is also east coast where some beach close property may not be arm and leg (i said beach close, not beach front).

Gardens:Red butte garden is simply a bunch of flowers. Yes, beautiful, but could you go there every day?
Thanksgiving Point is ok, w/ dinasaur thing and all, but would you go there every week?
How many days in a row can you go to temple sqare and "oooh-aaaaah" at christmas lights?
Park city is a great walk and what you say is fun. But I live in downtown salt lake and it takes me 30-45 min drive through mountains to get there. It is something i do not want to do often. (my proximity to home theory again). That is why i mentioned staying the night and other things. In san diego i lived a few minutes drive from similar venues.

Anyhow, to sum up, you are right, to each their own. If someone has a decent wage where they are able to spend money daily and weekly then yes , slc has much to offer. Also, nature lovers and others who posted above are right, if this is your cup of tea, come on down.
You are also right that slc has more to offer than many places, like flat states in the middle or arizona, etc, without snow resorts.
You are also right that I am comparing apples and oranges with slc to cities I mentioned, but I originally thought as the capitol of ut it would offer more, maybe someone else would too. And if you base comparison only on population, what about Portland, Maine (more restaurants and cultural venues per size and population ratio-wise than any state, pop. 65,000)?

I do regret you state my opinion is not informed and not factual. It is for me, for my urbanite lifestyle and likes. It may be for some others too.

I do like that picture, though, it would truly be a great hike, even for uncurable urbanite me.

[BayouMove]

We moved here from Southern US just month or so ago, and I tell ya, it's very different. It is hard to make new friends in the area (without going through a church) because SLC is LDS...no doubt. I don't want to bash SLC or Utah for that matter because there have been some friendly people here and the scenery is beautiful. I have tried to be open-minded, thoughtful, courteous, and friendly, but I'm having a hard time fitting in because as soon as I open my mouth to speak they know (right away due to the slang/accent) that I am a newbie to the area and probly not LDS. I am also used to the friendly, casual conversations and am finding that people don't have time to talk or hang out...or maybe they don't need another friend because their family is so big. I am counting the days (308) before we move back south/east because this area is not for our family. We are in culture-shock..with the climate, culture, religion, accents, even water/air changes. There are very little trees (compared to south) and my skin is drying out due to lack of moisture in the air. There is nothing to do except stare at LDS-sponsored monuments and museums. The zoo is small, compared to other cities of similar size. I have Never seen a state in the United States so purposefully (and so unconsciously) run by a relgious affiliation - even in the South. The alcohol-content in beer is half of anywhere else (no doubt led by LDS), people complain about crime (but they're talking about loud stereos, for example), and it is family-oriented (which is a good thing if you have kids to raise). I'd feel sorry for any non-LDS, single people in this area. The families are huge and number of kids here is enormous. The more kids you have, the higher your ranking, it seems.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, I am not any particular religion (no, not baptist or mormon).

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Give your skin some time to adjust! I had to slather on moisturizer when I moved here from Miss. for about 6 months - then my skin kicked in and put out more oil.

The LDS are really busy w/their families and church duties. When I lived in New Orleans, it was hard to break into certain circles b/c they had all been in school since K, marched through private schools together, married each other, worked together, belonged to the same country club and Mardi Gras krewes and just didn't have time or interest in outsiders. Talk about a closed circle!

Look at www.meetup.com for groups near you. You put in your zip code and it brings up about 5 pages for SLC. There are wine-tasting, politics talking, knitting, rock climbing, so many I can't think of groups. I haven't looked in about 8 months and things have probably changed - maybe even more pages. BTW, this is a national organization and you can use it when traveling to look for things to do wherever you go.

Welcome to Utah and give it some time to "grow" on you. The outdoor activities can't be beat, all year long there is something to do w/o sweating up a storm.

[Lmejh]

Let's keep in mind that the Salt Lake-Little Rock comparison is a little skewed because they aren't a regional center like we are and their metropolitan population is half of ours.
Anyway, I'd disagree on the whole non-LDS kids will feel excluded. I didn't feel excluded growing up, at all. Sure, church activities being talked about all the time was a little odd but I got used to it.

[cinnabon]

Originally Posted by BayouMove

I have Never seen a state in the United States so purposefully (and so unconsciously) run by a relgious affiliation - even in the South. The alcohol-content in beer is half of anywhere else (no doubt led by LDS), people complain about crime (but they're talking about loud stereos, for example), and it is family-oriented (which is a good thing if you have kids to raise). I'd feel sorry for any non-LDS, single people in this area.

Actually, the beer is 3.2% by weight not volume, which is equal to about 4% by volume (how everyone else measures it). It's about 1% less than "normal" beer elsewhere, not half by any means. And yes, of course this is because of the LDS. To me having 1% less alcohol in my Corona is a fairly minor inconvenience. I guess you are exaggerating by saying "half as much as anywhere else"- and FYI Colorado also sells 3.2 beer in grocery store. And about the stereo thing? That's sort of laughable. There is a crime/gang issue, although much less than many other cites.

Just curious, are you actually in Salt lake City, or one of the neighboring suburbs? You seem more affected by the culture and religion than some people. Please don't feel sorry for me - a single, childless, non-LDS transplant because I could not be happier here!
But it's not for everyone, so good thing you are able to go back where you want to be. You could not pay me enough to ever go back East. I don't miss the humidity one bit!

Oh, Jonah Hex - you are silly! Most gardens are a bunch of flowers... I wouldn't go to New York Botanical Garden every day either, as impressive a place as that is! Oh, and it is the garden at T-giving point, not the dino thing that I was talking about. I went to their Tulip festival in the spring and it was by far the most impressive flower display I have ever seen anywhere - and I have been to botanical gardens all over the country.

If you want to do that hike it is in Brighton ski area - I think that lake is Lake Catherine (or Lake Mary - I get them mixed up).

[dcisive]

Having emigrated from another State years ago, I'd have to admit, if I ignore certain things this is a fairly ideal place to live. Yeah there's more rugrats than any other place I've gone or have been, yeah the drivers suck big time, but otherwise the business community at large as well as the medical care here are pretty hard to top. In general day to day living it's just on average a lot less stressful to live here. Apparently the media agrees, we were rated #2 as the least stressful place to live. I'm slowly finding more and more restaurants my wife and I can go to not over run by screaming families on the weekends, so life is getting better all the time