Come see the Real Salt Lake

Salt Lake City, Utah, is famous for once hosting the Olympics and for being home to many different religious beliefs. Churches and sporting facilities aren't the only cool things about this eventful city, perched in a valley between the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains. In the winter, the typical temperature is usually above 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average summer temp is about 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Enjoy the beautiful weather and high elevation by visiting these three attractions:

Rio Tinto Stadium

Drive your Salt Lake City rental car to 9256 South State Street in Sandy to see the Real Salt Lake soccer club. This Major League Soccer team has a mascot named Leo the Lion. During the games he does acrobatics and performs stunts to entertain the crowd. He also sprays silly string, uses confetti cannons and launches T-shirts into the 20,000 available seats in the stands. The stadium has roofs over the east and west sides only, allowing for a beautiful view of the surrounding Utah area. The field is 15 miles away from downtown Salt Lake City and offers 6,700 parking spaces within a quick walk from the entrance. The facility has 32 luxury suites, three professional locker rooms and a full-service stadium club near the west sideline. There are also 27 concession stands for all your snacking and beverage needs while you enjoy the game. The stadium is only 20 minutes away from the airport, so it's a quick journey from the skies to the soccer field via rental car. Don your cobalt blue and royal gold and cheer the Real Salt Lake team on to victory.

Red Butte Garden

This University of Utah garden hosts 400,000 bulbs that bloom each spring and flower throughout the year. There are thousands of beautiful flowers to witness at their peak during the summertime, but the garden is open year-round for seasonal events, educational programming and guided tours. During the warmer months, the garden hosts film showings of Sundance-nominated movies. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the garden so you can easily bring a computer or tablet to do work or study. Take a guided tour or nature hike with the leadership of a docent who will talk about the many beautiful plants growing here. Sometimes the garden offers special tours for people interested in learning about the nearby natural areas, wildflowers, evergreen trees or birds. You might want to bring sunscreen and binoculars to this awe-inspiring place to protect you from the sun and allow you to see everything.

City Creek Canyon

Locals and tourists alike love exploring the outdoors at this stunning natural park. Dogs are allowed below picnic site No. 16 so feel free to bring Fido along to play! You can walk along a major part of Salt Lake City's Protected Watershed, a source of high-quality drinking water. No swimming or wading is allowed but it is definitely gorgeous to look at. The park is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., but cars are not allowed after 8:00 p.m. Visit on even-numbered calendar days if you want to drive your car straight into the park. On odd-numbered days no vehicle traffic is allowed in order to make room for bicycles, which are only allowed on odd-numbered days. The park is closed to vehicles during rifle deer hunting season in order to allow for safer hunting. Pedestrians are allowed every day and should use the creek-side lane of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail to gain access. You'll be glad you drove your Salt Lake City rental car here to walk or jog in this gorgeous park and really get a feel for Utah's natural beauty.