Sky SLC is a ritzy live music venue in the city's bustling downtown area. The sprawling multifaceted space features a moving room and a spacious dance floor where crowds swirl to the groovy tracks spun by the DJs. Its breezy terrace is also a quiet spot for those who wish to escape the party buzz. Sky offers 18 ritzy VIP lounges, while some have private verandas. With more than 20 on-tap brews, toothsome grub options and high-tech audio visual set-up, it serves as one of the foremost event venues of Salt Lake City.

One of the city's largest parks, the Sugar House Park is a spacious retreat and is also among the prettiest parks to see, in any season. Several large pavilions are available for booking, but call early since they tend to go fast. There is a creek running through the park, which feeds into a duck pond on the west end. Stop by for a jog around the paved roads, or walk around the trail that lines the park's outer edge. Or, simply lie in the grass and watch the many squirrels.

A teeming nature preserve in Salt Lake County, this serene park rests along the southern shore of the Great Salt Lake. Sheltering a sprawling marina, the Great Salt Lake State Park began operations in 1978, and has been popular with bathers since the Mormon Pioneers first arrived in the middle of the 19th century. A small visitors' center offers a museum, local information and a video about the lake, while the private SaltAir development provides a few shops, food outlets, and space for events. A breeding ground for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, the park is sheathed in extensive wetlands, and has been a popular site with birders.