As most (if not all) of my readers know, next week is the upcoming 2016 Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, and to my sweet, unending joy, it's being held in my hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. (I was born and raised in California, but currently live in Utah, where there are far more dinosaurs.)
While we at the The Natural History Museum of Utah are ready for the grand visit of the world's paleontologists, I personally have been thinking about local sites that may be of interest to visiting paleontologists and other science professionals and enthusiasts. On a larger scale, I've also been thinking for a while now about Salt Lake County/Utah as a whole when it comes to science-themed attractions: multiple museums, a zoo, an aquarium (soon to be two), an aviary, a planetarium, a botanical garden, beautiful mountains and wildlife, a salt lake (big surprise), and so much more. (On a personal note, if the author ever goes missing, this compilation may also function as a "places to search" list.)
I've been wanting to create a rundown/list of local places that I, and others like me, enjoy, to help visitors find things to see, and to help locals discover new things to enjoy in their home state. So, it seemed to me that a horde of visiting science enthusiasts coming all at once would be a good reason to compile my list!
I am quite sure this is probably incomplete, and if anyone knows of something I do not and therefore missed, please mention it in the comments. I don't intend to do total reviews or anything, but I'll give a few comments here and there as I see fit. I have visited most of these sites, but have not yet been able to visit all of them (like the time I tried to visit the BYU Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum only to find it closed for renovations).
My personal favorite sites in Salt Lake County:
The Natural History Museum of Utah
I must be honest, as a volunteer of this truly wonderful institution, I may appear to be biased (here's a hint: everyone is), but to be entirely truthful, I become a volunteer because of my high regard for the NHMU, not vice-versa. One of the most beautiful buildings you will ever see (inside as well as out), this treasure trove of natural history takes a localized approach to things, spans five floors, contains a beautiful Past Worlds (paleontology) gallery as well as galleries on life, geology, archaeology and anthropology, the Great Salt Lake, and a separate exhibit hall for travelling/special exhibits (currently, we have the AMNH's "The Power of Poison"), and is also the state repository for Utah fossils (that's where I come in: in the paleontology laboratory, paleontology collections, and when I can, excavation and prospecting for fossils in the field as well). Also make sure to check out the lovely hiking trails nearby. Most SVP attendees are already aware of this fine institution and will likely make it here if nowhere else, so I don't have to do much convincing, but to anyone else reading, it's a true gem and well worth a full day's time. While you're there, do make sure to check out the windowed paleontology laboratory and the windowed paleontology collections, where you might spy yours truly hard at work. The museum is associated with the University of Utah.
Hogle Zoo
While yet another zoo may not interest many (and depending on the zoo you have back home for visiting out-of-towners), for locals such as myself, the Hogle Zoo is a cherished place to see a wide array of animals. Updates in recent years have been quite excellent, and at this point the zoo boasts animal habitats from Africa, Asia, the Arctic, and a favorite of mine is the small animal building (filled with birds, reptiles, invertebrates, and more). I do miss their batcave, even though I had to stoop just to enter. Their yearly wildlife art show is well worth seeing, as well.
Tracy Aviary
As a lover of birds (I mean, come on, isn't it obvious? Dinosaurs!), one of my favorite places in the entire state is Tracy Aviary. Nestled within the enormous Liberty Park (where the author may or may not have been sighted LARPing on multiple occasions), this lovely aviary is home to many different species of birds, and it's a joy to have an aviary in Salt Lake City, and it makes me feel spoiled since many cities have no aviaries at all. Well worth your time to check out!
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Let's face it: being born and raised in California, I deeply love aquariums, and I've seen a lot of them. Second to natural history museums, they're probably my favorite kind of science site. The wondrous array of amazing animals, the blue colors of the water, the slow, steady swimming motions of the animals, the often delightful, mood-setting music...all a truly otherworldly delight to me. To outside visitors, if you have an aquarium or aquarium(s) back home, this may not be at the top of your list to visit. But, for me, as a local, I am truly beyond happy just to have an aquarium in the middle of what is largely a desert state. Not only that, the Living Planet Aquarium opened its own building for the first time in 2014 and is now known as the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium. It's a truly beautiful place to visit, a massive improvement, and is a favorite study spot for me as well as an exciting place to see some of my favorite animals. Life-size models of a whale shark, humpback whale mother and calf, a giant squid, manta rays, and exhibits featuring live penguins, deep-sea animals, sharks and many other marine creatures, and an Asian, Amazonian and Utah exhibit can all be found within the its walls. (Disclosure: during the process of writing [literally after writing the above], the author accepted an offer from the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium for a volunteer position, so now I maintain two volunteer positions, the other being the aforementioned NHMU paleontology position.)
Red Butte Garden
Located directly next to the Natural History Museum of Utah, Red Butte Garden is, in my honest opinion, one of Utah's true gems. This botanical garden is very well maintained and is a botanist's dream, as well as the perfect place to go to unwind or reconnect with nature. The grounds are breathtakingly beautiful, and with so many different spots to visit, one can easily spend a day there. My favorites are the water garden and the oak tunnel, the latter being something that cannot be missed, others may prefer the rose garden, the herb garden, the children's garden, the giant lizard statues, the waterfall, or any of the many other wonderful places found within the garden's boundaries. It's a favorite spot of mine to spend time with friends, to go birding or naturalizing, to stroll about, or to calm my civilization-frayed self. Also of note are the many different events the garden holds (including an amphitheatre where concerts are held), my personal favorite being their Bonsai show. Truly, Red Butte Garden cannot be missed. The garden is also associated with the University of Utah.
Clark Planetarium
The Clark Planetarium is another favorite Salt Lake City spot of mine. I never had a planetarium back home in California, so I've indulged my astronomical interests countless times at the wonderful Clark Planetarium while living here. I'm told by a small handful of those who have resided in Utah longer than I have that the former precursor Hayden Planetarium was superior, but this I cannot personally verify. As it stands, the Clark Planetarium is a wonderful place, filled with exhibits on space exploration, the planets, physics, and more, and is highly recommended, especially for stargazers or astronomy buffs. A highlight of the planetarium is the Hansen Dome Theater: no, not they're fine 3D theater featuring documentaries and other films, I mean their dome theater, where they often hold lectures and (my personal favorite) an excellent monthly star show. This, in and of itself, is alone worth a visit (normal cost is $2.00 per person). The Planetarium is currently undergoing massive renovations and is closed. It reopens tomorrow, 10/21/2016, with its grand reopening falling on Saturday, 10/22/2016. Exhibit-wise, I am unsure what remains and what has been removed, so we shall see. I kind of hope they'll keep their photo dioramas though (where you can take a photo of yourself with the appearance of being on either Mars or the moon). I do have enough faith in the Clark Planetarium to be very, very excited at what might be in store.
Edit 10/22/2016: Just visited today for their grand opening, and I am well pleased. While the Mars/Moon photo op spots have been changed to Jupiter's moon Io, I am okay with this (especially if it can teach people something they don't know). Other favorites also remain: the Foucault pendulum, the giant rotating Earth model, the ceiling planet models, the ISS model, etc. Also, the new additions are interesting (the added gravity/orbit floor display was especially clever), and the carpet update is definitely appreciated (far less...how do we say this, childish?). They weren't done renovating in the spot that appeared to be where the meteorites are going to be placed, and as long as those are put back on display (again, appears they will be), I am perfectly happy. Check it out, people!
Other Utah sites:
Museum of Ancient Life - Thanksgiving Point
Just south of Salt Lake County, this museum isn't a research institution, but with all its dozens of skeletal mounts and fossil casts, it's well worth a visit. If you like dinosaurs or other prehistoric animals, this is a must-see (second of course to the NHMU). Also of note, their formerly always-empty paleontology laboratory is now the only place you can see the famous Utahraptor quicksand block fossil being prepped (which is alone worth the visit). It may not be much when compared to many of America's natural history museums, but it's still worth checking out if you get the opportunity to do so. (Also, see Cabela's, below).
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry
This world-famous site houses a visitor center/museum and nearby dinosaur fossils are still being excavated (yes, you can watch this). It's a must-see for dinosaur enthusiasts, especially those interested in predator traps (such as the author, thanks to his time working at the George C. Page Museum in the Rancholabrea tar pits) or Jurassic dinosaurian fauna.
Dinosaur National Monument
Not much to be said about this world-famous site other than it's a true must-see!
USU Prehistoric Museum
BYU Museum of Paleontology
A small building located on the Brigham Young University "Cougar" aka Lavell Edwards Football Stadium parking lot, this museum is largely comprised of fossils collected by the late paleontologist Dr. Jim Jensen, and is worth a visit for that reason alone. It contains some excellent fossils, but leaves more than a little to be desired in terms of presentation.
BYU Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum
BYU Museum of Peoples and Cultures
Paleo Safari Moab Giants Tracks Museum and Dinosaur Trail
The Leonardo
This more recent museum has had difficulty finding their own theme: a combination of art and science, it has improved, but still needs a lot of work. I only go when they have travelling exhibits, such as their current Flight exhibit (which is good). In recent years they've also had a few exhibits on mummies, Body Worlds (and the wonderful animal equivalent), and more.
Ogden’s George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park
To a true paleontology aficionado, I must admit that this park will leave you wanting, and may bring you frustration. The park is a collection of alleged life-sized outdoor dinosaur statues, and while the idea is something I love, so many of the animals (mostly dinosaurs, but some other prehistoric animals are found) range from moderately to extremely inaccurate that it's a true disappointment and feels largely geared towards children. A few of the dinosaurs are really good, though (such as Baryonyx or Utahraptor), but if you go, the best part of your visit will be the small museum, which includes a few skeletal mounts and other fossils and minerals, as well as a Jurassic Park style "electric" fence containing an animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex vs. a Triceratops adult and juvenile. The small paleontology laboratory there is staffed by NHMU paleontology volunteers.
Ashton Gardens - Thanksgiving Point
Seaquest Interactive Aquarium
This aquarium will be in Layton, and is said to open sometime this Fall.
Willow Park Zoo
Fort Douglas Military Museum
Hill Aerospace Museum
Big Water Visitor Center: Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Small, so perhaps only worth checking out if you're nearby, but with some great dinosaur-themed items on display, including a beautiful mural. The gift shop is also excellent.
Utah geographical sites:
The Great Salt Lake
Antelope Island State Park
Canyon Country Paleontology
Wasatch Hiker
Many wonderful trails in the beautiful Wasatch mountains are perfect for hikers or naturalists. In my opinion, an at least brief visit to the mountains is an absolute must when visiting Utah. Even a brief drive through Big or Little Cottonwood Canyons (see below) would at least be something. (In the author's humble opinion, if you must choose, go for Big Cottonwood Canyon, unless you're interest is skiing.)
Big Cottonwood Canyon
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Uinta Mountains
The Uintas are farther from Salt Lake, but still well worth the visit if you can make it. Plan to spend a full day if you're driving through, far more if you choose to hike the many trails or do some naturalizing. Breathtaking, and rather unique (for example, the range is the highest in the continental United States of America that runs east-west).
Utah National Parks
Utah State Parks
Stores:
(Note: most of the above contain excellent gift shops, my personal favorites being NHMU, Red Butte, Museum of Ancient Life, and Clark Planetarium. The NHMU Cafe is also delicious.)
Natur
This small shop in the city of Midvale, Salt Lake County, is a personal favorite. Filled with natural history items, from mounted insects and invertebrates, fossils, and gems, to extant-species bones, wet specimens, and other glorious oddities for the naturalist, this store is one of the greatest you can find in the entire state. And if you commission a certain piece, you won't be disappointed (I have done so twice). The owner, Jean-Michel Arrigona, is also one of the nicest people I have ever met. Go there (or order online). Buy things. Tell him Spencer Bronte sent you.
Cabela's - Lehi, UT
Why would I mention an outdoor retail outfitter? For one reason, and one reason only (aside from it being a good place to get birdwatching gear or camping gear for all those paleontology digs): Cabela's has a museum-quality collection of taxidermied animals, and a small freshwater fish aquarium. In the center of the store is a "mountain" with North American mammals, and another separate room is devoted to even more North American mammals. A small display of African mammals can also be found, and a small yet delightful freshwater aquarium is also present. Near the mountain, kids and others interested (read: yours truly) will enjoy being able to feed fishes with a .25c/quarter vending machine, the only part of the experience that costs anything, as all of these exhibits are free to the public, no charge needed (although I am sure they would prefer you purchase something!). Also, it's across the freeway from the Museum of Ancient Life (see above), so you can knock both of them out in one trip as well as fill your belly with an elk or bison burger. Yum.
Eborn Books
Be fooled not, ye readers and bookish persons, by the LDS content on their webpage; while this bookstore does have a very large LDS section (it is Utah, after all), the store itself is massive and has just about every subject you can think of. As a reader of nonfiction (mostly science and history) and some occasional fiction (usually sci-fi), this bookstore is a place I can often be found. Their science section and their nature section both are pretty good, their history section is exhaustive, and everything else is impressive, too. Even the simple experience of exploring the bookstore can be a fun time; it is so large you can literally get lost inside. My favorite is the basement side-room where they keep their National Geographics. I remember the first time I went down there, looking for a Dian Fossey issue...without the lights on, it was literally pitch black. You could not see the hand in front of your face. That's how massive this bookstore is. I highly recommend a visit, but I do forewarn you, I personally cleaned out their paleontology section, and continually check their other science sections as well, so you may have to compete with me....
Weller Book Works
Similar to the above, but a little bit smaller, this bookstore is charming, warm, and inviting inside, and is well worth the visit for book lovers. I personally enjoy their science and history sections (Don't miss the second floor! Found a rare dinosaur paleontology book there once.), and especially appreciate their multi-book discount. If you can, do check it out!
The King's English Bookshop
As above, another local independent bookshop. I admit I have yet to have the chance to visit this one, but I hear good things about it.
That's just a basic list of what Spencer thinks a science and nature enthusiast would enjoy about Utah. This list is in no way meant to be exhaustive, but it's at least a starting point.
Know of something you think should be on the list? Comment below!
Spencer Bronte / Science, to a Student
P.S. Of course, due to topic relevance I've chosen not to list the many wonderful restaurants in Salt Lake's burgeoning foodie scene, some of the excellent local bars and pubs, the twice-annual Salt Lake Comic Con, the Lego Store at Fashion Place Mall, or Abravanel Hall (where the excellent Utah Symphony plays), the art museums, or even the world-class Cedar City Shakespeare Festival. If interested in any of the above to help plan for your visit, please comment below and I'd be happy to try to help.
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