Quick Hits | Salt Lake City, Utah Elevation Outdoors Magazine

EAT | Need a little je ne sais quoi in your morning? For a taste of France downtown, check out Eva’s Bakery on Main Street (evasbakeryslc.com). The bread and pastries are rich, buttery and flaky—guaranteed to start your day off right. Dig into the chocolate croissant and you won’t regret it. Come lunch time, The Rose Establishment (theroseestb.com) is also located downtown and it’s about as hipster as you can stomach. Shabby chic reigns here, with rough wood pillars and tables, sandwiches served on Eva’s bread and friendly bearded men in flannel and skinny jeans behind the counter. No matter your level of irnoy, the turkey on toasted walnut bread is a winner. For your evening meal, Bambara in the Hotel Monaco (monaco-saltlakecity.com) provides a casual fine-dining experience with something you only find in a big city that feels like a small town: friendly servers.

SLEEP | For the best downtown access (and sophisticated decor and service), treat yourself to the Hotel Monaco. Part of the Kimpton Hotels, you won’t be disappointed especially if you set up your trip for success by booking one of the beautiful and spacious Majestic Suites. The hotel is just a block from the Salt Palace convention center, Symphony Hall and City Creek Mall. It’s around the corner from Salt Lake’s large and modern library and an easy walk to many of the local eateries and other cultural establishments. And your animal print robes, signature of Kimpton Hotels, await in every room. Plus, they have a pet friendly policy.

PLAY | Ski season may be wrapping up, but the mountains are ever at the ready. Forty minutes from downtown, Park City (mountainbikingparkcity.com) reconfirmed its Gold-level IMBA rating for mountain biking in 2015. From lift-access downhill and cross country trails covering the ski areas to terrain parks and pump tracks, Park City can keep any level of rider busy for days on end. Road cyclists have the opportunity to ride the 26.2 mile Salt Lake City Marathon course (saltlakecitymarathon.com) or jump on a bigger ride like the Front Runner Century 100 (frontrunnercentury.com). Family friendly activities abound right in town. Hit Utah’s Olympic Park (utaholympiclegacy.org), Discovery Gateway children’s museum (discoverygateway.org) and the Seven Peaks Waterpark (sevenpeaks.com).

—Cameron Martindell