Christian and Nate are full-time RVers, travelers, parents, and avid eBikers. They spend their days exploring the country with their family and often turn to their eBikes as a convenient method to explore new places!
They recently spent some time in Salt Lake City, UT, and Christian shared this blog about her experience. Check it out!
Utah is by far my favorite State in the Union. There’s a quiet boldness about the entire region that speaks to the adventurer in everyone. Home to The Mighty Five (Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks), Utah is also home to Moab - the Mecca of 4-wheeling, and over 20 ski resorts across the region! For the outdoor enthusiast, there aren’t many states that stack up to what Utah can offer.
At the heart of Utah is Salt Lake City - a city rich with history about the area’s humble beginnings. Who would have known that the Mormons banished to the desert were sitting on a tourism gold mine?!
While there are nods to Salt Lake’s religious upbringing all across the city, there’s so much more to the rapidly growing metropolis. Utah’s Capitol City is host to dozens of corporate headquarters, World-class restaurants, breweries, climbing gyms, 5-Star hotels, zoos, museums, amusement parks, and street art. With such a sprawling downtown area, you know I couldn’t help but bring you a guide to ebiking the City of Saints. Salt Lake city is very bike friendly, and on popular avenues with limited space, the city has implemented "shared lanes," designated by 4-foot wide green stripes, whereby bicycles can utilize the entire lane just as vehicles do until the street widens again and a bike path begins, making your ride around the city safe, and fun!
Liberty Park
There’s no better way to start a city bike tour than with free parking. Liberty Park is a stunning municipal park with tons of free parking. Even a quick ebike tour of Liberty Park is worth the visit. Vast paved trails take you through the Park’s amenities which include a splash pad, a serene pond, rolling grassy landscapes - perfect for a picnic before touring the rest of the city. During the summertime you can catch live performances and festivals. After enjoying a quick snack with the Peacock and Flamingo locals, be sure to visit the Tracy Aviary, inside the park.
For something a little kitschy head north on 700E to the Gilgal Sculpture Garden. I won’t lie, it was the Joseph Smith/Egyptian Sphinx hybrid statue that got me. There is no admission fee to this fun detour.
Washington Square Park
From here we head due west to Washington Square Park. This relatively small plot of land surrounds the ornate county building. During the more hospitable spring-to-fall months, Washington Square Park is a mainstay of celebration of all walks of life that Salt Lake City encapsulates. Given it’s fringe beginnings, Salt Lake is no stranger to the exercise of free-speech rights. Many of the surrounding streets have become canvases to colorful, Instagram-worthy street art. If street art is your thing, be sure to download the THE BLOCKS Public Art and Mural Trail app. This app will guide you to some of the best street art all over SLC. Right next door to Washington Square is The Leonardo, an immersive STEAM museum.
At this point, you’re probably ready for some grub. If I had to pick one place to eat in Salt Lake it would be the Blue Iguana. This Mexican eatery is right on the way to our next stop as well - I recommend any of the Molé dishes, but honestly, for authentic Mexican cuisine you can’t beat this place. With a full belly, its time to fully appreciate that twist throttle.
As you ride north on State Street, you’ll pass Temple Square - the heart of the LDS church here in Utah. Even if the Church isn’t your thing, the architecture alone is worth a quick stop. The story behind how Salt Lake City became the epicenter of the Mormon church really is an interesting read.
Utah State Capital grounds
If you continue on State Street a half-mile past Temple Square, you’ll arrive at the Utah State Capitol. This is a perfect stop for not-so-perfect weather days. The artwork and architecture are stunning. The surrounding grounds are equally as impressive. The paved elliptical pathway at the perimeter of the property is a favorite amongst locals for exercise.
Memory Grove Park
If nerding out over American History isn’t your niche, ride right across the street to Memory Grove Park. With striking views of the Capitol Building, this park with a babbling creek running right down the middle of it, is a perfect way to end a day touring Salt Lake City. Besides a bottle of water and an appetite, the only other thing I suggest bringing with you on this ride is a lightweight, compact hammock. With this many grassy parks, Salt Lake City isn’t about the metro hustle and bustle. This is a nature-lover’s dream masquerading as an urban jungle. With the powerful 48v Lithium Ion battery in all Lectric 2.0 bikes, you’ll have plenty of range left to ride back to your vehicle at Liberty Park.
