Safari on Antelope Island - Things to do in Salt Lake City

One of the fun things to do in Salt Lake City is a half-day safari trip to Antelope Island. Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake and is a 50-minute drive from downtown Salt Lake City. It is home to several hundred buffalo (American Bison), as well as hundreds of other animals such as antelope (Pronghorn), mule deer, coyotes, jack rabbits, and a great variety of birds. The island is quite large, at over 42 square miles, so plan on at least 4 hours for your visit, including travel time. Antelope Island includes a visitor's center, historic ranch, beach access, scenic views of Great Salt Lake and the Rocky Mountains, and hiking trails. Having an experienced nature guide with you can make a big difference in what wildlife you will encounter. Join us on the Antelope Island Wildlife Safari Tour. Reserve your seats online at http://toursofutah.com/antelope-island-wildlife-safari-tour/

Antelope Island - Things to do in Salt Lake City

Want to escape the city? One of the fun things to do in Salt Lake City is a trip out to Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake. The largest island on the Great Salt Lake is home to one of the largest buffalo (American Bison) herds in the country. The buffalo is the largest land animal in North America, and an absolute crowd-pleaser for visitors of all ages. Several hundred buffalo roam the island, along with the second-fasted land animal in the world, the antelope (pronghorn). Other wildlife include our adorable mule deer, burrowing owls, coyotes, and several dozen species of birds depending on the time of year. Antelope Island also affords the opportunity to swim in the saltiest body of water in the western hemisphere (bring lots of quarters for the showers)...or perhaps just dip a toe in it if you prefer. If you get hungry, why not try a tasty yet healthy buffalo burger.

For information about the Antelope Island Wildlife Safari go to www.toursofutah.com

Great Salt Lake - Things To Do in Salt Lake City

A remnant of an ancient lake, the Great Salt Lake is the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River and the saltiest body of water in the Western Hemisphere. A visit to the Great Salt Lake can be one of the most interesting things to do in Salt Lake City.

Many locals will tell you not to go; they'll mention the smell and the bugs. Most of the time, neither of those things will be a problem. The two public access points to the Great Salt Lake are the Great Salt Lake State Park Marina, located about 15 minutes west of downtown Salt Lake City, off of Interstate 80; the other is Antelope Island. Which should you go to? The Great Salt Lake Marina is much closer, with the smell and bugs being much less of an issue; though there isn't much to do, making it very important to have an experienced guide to explain why the Great Salt Lake is unique and speak about the interesting facts and stories that you simply won't discover if you go on your own. This is a major reason why many locals think that visiting the Great Salt Lake isn't worth your time as a tourist in Salt Lake City.

And what about Antelope Island? It's absolutely not a quick 2-3 hour trip. You'll need to plan on 4-6 hours to visit Antelope Island because it is a one hour drive from Salt Lake City, each way, and you'll easliy spend over an hour driving around to various attractions on the island, like the Antelope Island State Park Visitor's Center and Fielding Garr Ranch, located very far apart. Antelope Island is over 15 miles in length and the speed limit on the island is 25 mph. You will also make frequent stops as you spot wildlife along the way, as well as multiple scenic landscape photo points. Aside from the long drive, Antelope Island is also known to have more bugs than Great Salt Lake Marina. Should you visit in the spring, the island is enshrouded in a cloud of biting gnats. In the summer they dissipate, though you will still encounter bugs along the shoreline. The offensive smell locals refer to is hydrogen sulfide that is released by bacteria on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, formed from decaying algae and organic waste. The smell varies depending on the time of year, weather conditions that week, and even the time of day. It will be very strong on the causeway leading you to the island but dissipates once you're on the island. Most visitors to Antelope Island are there to see the wildlife, mainly the pronghorn and bison, rather than the Great Salt Lake. 

The best way to experience the Great Salt Lake is with a talented tour guide. Visiting the lake with no tour guide, or the wrong tour guide, can often leave visitors feeling disappointed. City Sights truly does have the best tour guides and the best tour experience for visiting the Great Salt Lake. Join us on our daily 2:30pm Great Salt Lake Tour!