1. Liberty Park
600 Harvey Milk Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Liberty Park is the core of Central City. It was known as “City Park,” when it was established in 1882. Salt Lake bought 100 acres of land for $25,000 to create a common recreation area. The park’s name was later changed to “Liberty Park” to commemorate the nation’s centennial in 1876 and to symbolize freedom.
During its early years, Liberty Park adorned what is now the Central City, with beautiful gardens, walking paths, and recreational areas. It became a popular gathering spot for residents, offering a respite from the bustling city life. The park’s centerpiece, the Liberty Park Lake, was created as an irrigation reservoir and later expanded for recreational boating and fishing.
Throughout the decades, Liberty Park has seen several improvements and additions. In the early 20th century, the park’s iconic aviary was built. Tracy Aviary houses a diverse collection of birds. Over time, playgrounds, sports fields, and picnic areas were incorporated, making the park more family-friendly and accommodating to various activities. During World War II, the park served as a training ground for military personnel and a host for various war-related events. It continued to evolve in the post-war era, adapting to the changing needs and interests of the community.
Today, Liberty Park remains one of Salt Lake City’s most beloved green spaces. Its mature trees, well-maintained gardens, and recreational facilities make it a go-to destination for locals and tourists alike. From hosting cultural events and concerts to providing a haven for nature enthusiasts, Liberty Park is a cherished symbol of community and freedom in the heart of Salt Lake City. A favorite of locals is held on Sundays in the park. A drum circle and dancing bring the park to life along with vendors selling their wares to eager park patrons.
Some of the attractions at Liberty Park are as follows:
- A picturesque lake
A serene and picturesque lake where visitors can enjoy paddle boating and feeding the ducks and geese
- Tracy Aviary
One of the oldest and largest aviaries in the United States, housing a diverse collection of birds from around the world
- An accessible playground
A large and modern playground with various play structures, swings, and interactive features for children
- Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts
A charming historic home showcasing traditional folk art and crafts from Utah’s diverse cultural communities
- Tennis courts
Well-maintained tennis courts for tennis enthusiasts to enjoy a game or two
- A pool
A seasonal outdoor public swimming pool offering a refreshing escape during the hot summer months
- Seven Canyons Fountain
A beautiful fountain featuring water jets synchronized to music and lights creates a captivating display
- Running, biking, and hiking paths
Scenic paths and trails throughout the Salt Lake Valley attract joggers, walkers, and cyclists to explore the park’s natural beauty. Trails are lined with historic trees and inspiring views
- A farmers market
A local market held during the warmer months, offering fresh produce, artisanal goods, and crafts
- Picnic areas and BBQ pits
Shaded picnic areas are equipped with BBQ pits, perfect for family gatherings and outdoor dining
- A water play area
A splash pad where children can cool off and play in the water on hot days
2. Tracy Aviary & Botanical Gardens
589 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park opened to the public on July 2, 1938. Today, it is a part of the landscape and a community staple for education and entertainment.
At that time, the aviary became home to many birds, but they weren’t the only animals to make Tracy Aviary home. With about four acres in the early days, visitors could see seals, monkeys, and kangaroos.
A man named Russell Lord Tracy was a local banker. He spent his life collecting rare birds that he kept in his yard. He decided he wanted to share the birds with more people so he helped make the aviary possible by getting a small part of Liberty Park donated for the birds. The area had once been a city zoo.
He loved seeing the children enjoy the animals and was involved until his death in 1945.
The nature preserve has evolved over 80 years. It is now an 8-acre nature center. Today visitors can see:
- King vultures
- Macaws
- Hawks
- North American Owls
- and more!
There are more than 300 birds at this facility from around the world. Many are extinct or endangered species. The aviary is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
Get wild here with new exhibits and presentations that will tickle your nature bone and turn you into a lover of all things fowl.
3. Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
20 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art is a favorite of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The organization has granted UMOCA financial support seven times. The organization has received two Art Works Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The UMOCA came to be in 1931. “Today, UMOCA’s exhibitions, art education programs, community engagement, and one-of-a-kind artist residency support local artists and communities while showcasing art from across the nation and globe,” the organization’s official website says.
UMOCA recognizes the importance of the land on which it is built, “the land of the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Goshute, Shoshone, Paiute, and Ute peoples. We recognize the enduring relationships between Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. Indigenous peoples have been living, working, and residing on this land since time immemorial.”
Honoring indigenous people and their role in being stewards of the land means “ … we respect the sovereign relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government. We acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this land, and we honor and respect the Indigenous peoples still connected to the land on which we gather.”
Here you will find exhibits, events, artists in residence and opportunities for artists to submit their work for review.
4. East High School
840 S 1300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
East High School was founded in 1913. Education was of paramount importance to settlers who served with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1997, a new brick home was built for grades nine through 12. It is also home to special education courses. There are around 2,000 students who attend this school.
Why am I telling you about one of many high schools in Salt Lake City? This one was made famous when the Disney Channel used the school to film parts of the hit sensation High School Musical and sequels.
Part of the 1991 movie Dream Machine, starring Corey Haim, was filmed on the school grounds.
The school is open to the public for self-guided tours Monday through Friday from 3:30–5:30 p.m.
5. Trolley Square
602 E 500 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Trolley Square has enjoyed a few heydays since it served as a Trolley hub in the late 1800s.
It’s typical of Utah cities to honor the past by preserving a physical part of it. It is common to incorporate those mementos (big and small) into modern commercial designs that appeal to modern people. That target is ever-moving but Salt Lake City is well-equipped to keep up.
That’s what happened to Trolley Square. What once was an important logistical hub for trolleys, is now a beautiful mall with an exciting story to tell and some shops you’re not likely to find anywhere else.
The full history of Trolley Square is detailed on the mall’s website. For the sake of accuracy, I’ll rely on their story in a brief synopsis.
Ulysses S. Grant was the President of the United States in 1871. The Civil War ended six years before. At the time, cities all over the world were building public transportation systems. Salt Lake was no exception. “By early summer, in June of 1872, the first tracks had been laid from the rail depot at 300 West and South Temple to 300 South and Main Street,” the website says. The next month, mule-pulled street cars were open for business. The mule-pulled street cars were used from 1872 – 1888.
The mules were put out to pasture and when electricity rolled into Salt Lake, so did electric trolley cars. The first electric trolley left the station in August 1889. The cars were an instant success.
In the 1930s buses began to replace trolleys. By 1946, the last trolley went out of service. “. . . in the early 1950s, the buildings were painted yellow and turned into bus storage. Eventually, the property fell into disrepair and was threatened with demolition in 1969.”
A family bought the square in 1972 and imagined a beautiful place where tourists would come to shop in boutiques, visit the pubs, and be entertained throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It has undergone some changes over the past century but haven’t we all? Trolley Square became one of the most popular sites in Utah. In 1973 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
The ambiance at the mall today is absolutely charming and well worth an afternoon meandering through the shops, and the history.
Coffee, Paninis, Art, and Eclectic Decor are Part of the Hipster Coffee Vibe
You don’t have to love coffee to love Central City’s quaint coffee shops but it helps. In the hip neighborhood, the arts of drinking coffee and socializing are taken seriously. These are work hard, play hard, and relax easy people. Some connoisseurs prefer a small, cuddly space to let down their hair. That entails soft muzak raining down like rose petals, bro hugging, incense, and deeply intellectual conversation. Others like the patio scene where steam rises from comforting coffee on a brisk morning, there’s plenty of room to spread out, and greetings are always handshaking, back-slapping hearty. Once in a while a guy just wants a cup of coffee. Well, you can get all of that right here.
1. The Coffee Shop
500 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(Located in the Little America Hotel)
I don’t know how long diners have been in existence, a long time, I suppose. The Coffee Shop inside the Little America Hotel is hanging on to an era when things seemed so much simpler, including the American diner. That’s what The Coffee Shop is. It’s an all-American diner with a bright space, nice people, and quality food made from fresh ingredients.
“Deep in the heart of American culture is a culinary tradition that remains both nostalgic and forever relevant—the diner. Part lunch counter, part breakfast café, diners are reliable mainstays of reliable menus. But, above all, diners have steadfastly remained the iconic American eatery because of the warm welcome and personal service expected the moment you walk inside one of their unassuming doors,” The Coffee Shop website says.
Customers rave about breakfast here, especially Eggs Benedict, French Toast, and Belgian Waffles. They’re opened for dinner too when they serve melt-in-your-mouth Prime Rib, Turkey Dinners, Hot Rolls and more. The coffee is always fresh. It’s a diner, remember?
2. Cupla Coffee
77 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Cupla Coffee takes brewing coffee to heart. This woman-owned business is located on the first floor of Broadway Media. Here you will find locally roasted brews and confections. Relax and unwind in a cozy, quiet atmosphere. People come here to study, read, and enjoy conversations with friends old and new.
This coffee house has a fun back story. It’s owned and operated by identical twins. Sisters Abigail Purdie and Bethany Heath work the coffee roastery together. It’s the kind of place you can go again and again and people really will remember your name.
3. Midway Coffee
270 S 300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Give your body and soul a boost in this eclectic Salt Lake City coffee house where the people are as warm and friendly as the coffee. Fresh pastries and fun conversation make this a hip hangout. Whether you’re thirsty for hot coffee or a cold-brewed cup, you’ll find it here. The menu even includes a killer Espresso Tonic. Add a house-made syrup to your espresso or experiment with tea-based drinks. Take the kids and the dog! Yes, they will actually serve your dog! Older children will enjoy craft sodas and ice cream in a calm and soothing environment.
Outdoor seating in the summer is a bonus!
4. Salt Lake Coffee Break
430 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
This little coffee shop exudes charm! It offers a fun, light atmosphere and is LGBTQ+ friendly. In addition to some of the best coffee, chai and other drinks you’ll taste on the Wasatch Front, this shop has solid Wi-Fi if you need a place to stop and work for a while.
Salt Lake Coffee Break is opened until 1 a.m. seven days a week. It’s a little quirky (that’s a good thing) and you can get a solid bite to eat at the deli and/or the bakery display.
5. The People’s Coffee
177 E 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
This small but spacious coffee house features throwback decor with a modern flair. The coffee is great but you might also enjoy tea, hot cocoa, and a heaping dose of art from a wide variety of artists. Enjoy baked goods and other sweets – like the sweet attitudes of baristas who will serve up a smile with your choice of delicious food and drinks.
The paninis here are delicious.
Mom and Pop Shops in Central City
A day of browsing Central City’s mom and pop shops is never wasted. Grab some lunch, shop until you drop, and stop in one of the area’s eclectic coffee shops so you can peruse the stores’ great collections some more!
We love big box stores, but there is something heart-warming about walking through businesses that have become a way of life in this enchanting part of the city where people still try to make each other feel welcome. Carefully-curated unique products will make you want to return to these collectors’ retreats again and again.
1. Oliver & Princess Natashas Unique Home Decor
1531 Major St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
If you’ve got an eye for vintage clothing, furniture, decor and gifts, you’ve got to plan a stop at Oliver & Princes Natashas Unique Home Decor. If you’re in a time crunch just determine the amount of time you plan to spend here and double it. I get that you might never want to leave, but you have to and I’m sorry about that. The great news is, you can come back time after time to check out new inventory. Prices here are very reasonable. The store also carries new products in its collection.
On the hunt for vintage vinyl? You can find that here. Some art supplies are also part of the eclectic inventory. The store is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so don’t wait too late in the afternoon to stop and shop.
2. Salt & Honey
926 E 900 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
This funky little vintage market features items made and distributed by people who honestly love unique handmade gifts, apparel and decor. Prefer to make your own? That’s great too because Salt & Honey regularly offers crafter’s workshops.
The boutique offers the work of many local artists and business men and women. Whether you’re looking for books, cards, pens, hats, or rattles – whether you’re feeling salty or a little sweet, you will find the perfect prize here to reflect your mood or simply sing to your soul.
3. Jitterbug Antiques & Toys
243 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Get lost in Jitterbug Antiques and Toys! The inventory is ever changing and it’s a great place to go on a treasure hunt. Antique model cars and nostalgic toys, old watches, and products guaranteed to take you back to the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. The store is said to have opened 40 years ago and its owners keep it well-stocked with treasures that spark memories and can make an old mind smile like a child.
Take plenty of time here to peruse, look through, remember, and (of course) buy. The owners and shop keepers will always be glad to see you.
4. Annata Collective
362 E 900 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
This divine vintage clothing store is the perfect place to spend an hour or 10 combing through the carefully curated collection. It doesn’t stop with unique clothing, here you will find trinkets, home decor and so much more. Never underestimate the power of a pile of vintage jewelry, a flower plot with a human-like face, or that skirt you’ve been searching for literally your whole life.
The shop owners know what they’re doing here and their collection is a sight to behold! If you have vintage clothing or other items you want to sell, Annata Collective is the perfect place to go.
5. Hip & Humble
1043 E 900 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
You can never go wrong being hip and humble. If you are, you will fill right at home in this fun mom & pop shop in the heart of Central City.
“When you step into a Hip & Humble store or explore our digital shelves, you’ll encounter a curated selection of products reflecting a deep care for sourcing, sustainability, and quality,” the store’s website says.
This unique shop is locally-owned and woman owned. You will find something new each time you venture here.
The Scoop on Central City Schools
Public K-12 schools are highly-rated in Central City. Students are served by the oldest school district in the state, the Salt Lake School District.
Niche.com, a community data collection and ranking gives many schools here an “A” grade including:
- Canyon Rim Academy
- Academy for Math, Engineering & Science (AMES)
- Salt Lake Arts Academy
- West High School
- Beehive Science & Technology Academy
