If you spend any time in Salt Lake City, you’ll be impressed with how easy it is to get around without renting a car.
Trax is the light-rail system in Salt Lake City
Arriving at the airport, you only need go outside and board the light rail system (Trax) to take you into the city. Trax has four lines which interconnect and span across a good swath of the city. The cars are clean, bright, and well-maintained. Boarding at the airport, we had the choice of getting off at either our hotel or the convention center – the Green Line stopped at both.
If you are traveling around the city center, Trax is free. Jump on and off as often as you like and there’s no ticketing required. Just about all the major downtown area venues have their own stops, so you won’t have to walk far after leaving the trains. If you go farther than the “free fare zone,” you’ll need to buy a ticket before entering the train.
Ticket machines are available on each boarding platform. Some take credit cards while others take cash only. Couldn’t see any logic as to why credit cards aren’t available everywhere.
Fares are $2.50 for 2-1/2 hours of riding and $1.25 for seniors and disabled. All cars are handicap accessible. You can buy a full day pass for $6.25.
Bikes can also be wheeled right into the Trax cars, so you can bike to the stop and then on to your destination after you get to your intended stop. There aren’t any racks for your bikes, so most people stand with them in designated areas.
Head just about anywhere and Trax will take you – to the zoo, the airport, the convention center, two shopping malls, the basketball arena, the University of Utah, the Heritage Center…you name it.
City Creek Center is a combination of open air and enclosed mall with a retractable roof.
Walking is also a pleasure in Salt Lake City. Streets and sidewalks are amazingly clean. If you are walking across the downtown area, try cutting through City Creek Center – the large downtown covered and open-air mall area. It gives you the opportunity to a) find shade, b) listen to the babbling brook and numerous water fountains, and c) window shop along your way. Be forewarned however, the mall is closed on Sunday – so you can’t wander through the enclosed portion then.
For more information on getting around Salt Lake City, stop into either of the visitor information centers downtown. The people there are super friendly and helpful.
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