The next stop on our 2 week road trip took us to Salt Lake City. We really didn’t know what we wanted to see in Salt Lake, but as everyone says, see the Great Salt Lake.
While we headed into town, we decided to check into our campground. Have I told you we love staying at KOA? The Salt Lake City KOA was beautiful and had all the amenities we were looking for on our one night stop.
The Salt Lake City KOA was the closest campground we could find next to downtown Salt Lake City and Temple Square. The kids loved the playground and half basketball court. In fact, handsome boy challenged the hubster to a game. They also had a game room, laundry facilities, and a small convenient store.
Upon request, volunteers from the church and Temple Square will swing by and pick you up and take you down town. They dropped us off at the Church Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints for a free tour of the grounds.
We had the opportunity to tour the Assembly Hall that (photo above) that was built in 1882, made of all wood. I found it quite fascinating that much of the wood was painted to look like marble.
We were then lead to the Tabernacle, the home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square. Built between 1864 and 1867 the Tabernacle has a dome shaped roof with the elliptical design that projects the sound from the pulpit end of the building to be concentrated and projected to the focus at the opposite end of the building. While on the tour, the guides demonstrated with a pin drop and tearing a piece of paper – fascinating. The beautiful organ you see above houses 11,623 pipes, most behind the walls not scene.
We happened to be in Salt Lake City on a Saturday – the day of weddings. The Salt Lake Temple is not open for tours, however, it is quite busy with weddings and baptisms. As a matter of fact, while we were there, 4 brides and grooms were walking around with their photographers taking picturesque photos.
This little Pioneer House resides in Temple Square, and shares a little of the history of what life was like when Brigham Young and settlers arrived and lived in the Salt Lake area.
In 2000, the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Conference Center was built as the new home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. When you venture inside, it is quite a site to see. One of the largest religious centers built, it contains 21,000 seats and a beautiful 7,667 pipe organ.
Sky lights provide much of the lighting into the center, and you are able to tour the roof – which houses 4 acres of landscape from the Salt Lake City area. Beautiful fountains and waterfalls are also on the roof top and flows down the side of the building.
Salt Lake City was a beautiful place to stop on our family road trip. Funny thing – because it was a little late, we headed back to the RV Park for a quick bite to eat and were up early in the morning, heading out. Can you believe it? We didn’t even stop to put our toes into the Great Salt Lake – however we did see it from the road – next time for sure!
For more information about visiting Temple Square and Salt Lake City, go HERE
