This is part of my remote work travel series where I review places I visit as a digital nomad. Check out the rest of my posts and follow me on Instagram, YouTube, Substack, or on TikTok for more travel content!

When my partner Kyle and I were planning our two-month remote work roadtrip, there were two cities on our route we were interested in visiting but had low expectations for: Salt Lake City, UT and Boise, ID. I won’t pretend and say I don’t have some sort of coastal elitism clouding my vision of some of these middle-of-the-country cities. I do, and I own that bias. 

I also own when I’m wrong — both Salt Lake and Boise had some pleasant surprises. Here’s why I’m not salty about our trip to the Salt Lake. 

An Outdoorsy City: What to Do and Where to Eat in SLC

As a digital nomad and vegan who has struggled to find good food on the road, Salt Lake City is a paradise for outdoorsy vegans like me! If you’re staying in SLC, you should prioritize getting outside and eating some good vegan food.

Zest Kitchen and Bar was by far my favorite vegan place — they had a great pasta and carrot cake, and everything on their menu is vegan. Salt Lake also has a number of good juice places with acai bowls and avocado toast, so if you’re a healthy traveler, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for in this city.

The highlight of our stay when it comes to outdoor adventures was our visit to the Red Butte Garden. With sweeping views of Salt Lake City and some beautiful creeks running through the garden, it’s a great place to take a stroll through during a late afternoon or at sunset. 

There are so many trails within walking distance to The Avenues (more on this in a sec) and around Salt Lake, so if you hike you’ll have plenty to choose from.

Depending on when you visit, you can also make the drive out to Antelope Island. Beware of the midges, though: these bugs swarm in large numbers and hang out by the shore of Salt Lake, and they were quite literally raining on our windshield when we tried to make the drive. These seasonal bug swarms aren’t very pleasant, but the drive is still cool. Midges don’t bite, they just don’t make for the best conditions to visit the lake in, and you’ll need a car wash right after :)  

Where to Stay in Salt Lake City for Digital Nomads

There are a ton of hip neighborhoods in Salt Lake, and we stayed near The Avenues/Capitol Hill. Publik Coffee House was down the street and had some great coffee, great food, and good seating areas for working remotely. The Avenues is one of the oldest districts in Salt Lake, and it was nice to stroll the streets and check out the old houses. It’s also packed with coffeeshops, cafes, and other cool amenities and places to get a bite to eat. 

Here’s a guide of where to stay in SLC with a good breakdown of the different neighborhoods.

Most neighborhoods (especially The Avenues and Downtown) are super walkable, which is a ~huge plus~ for digital nomads like myself who are tired of being in the car after long roadtrip days. Walkable cities in general steal my heart, and SLC definitely has pedestrian-friendly walkways and nice outdoor farmers’ markets and parks. 

There seemed to be an abundance of well-designed Airbnbs, so as with most cities, that’s my top recommendation when you’re looking for accommodations as a digital nomad. Our Airbnb was only $140/night and had a great workspace that got a ton of natural light in the mornings!

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My Top Tips for Digital Nomads Visiting Salt Lake City

Listen, I don’t want to ignore the elephant in the room: Salt Lake City is a city run by the Mormon Church. While I don’t agree with the way that church is run and their puritanical and controlling views on how women should dress and act, you can still enjoy your time in Salt Lake and get a nice cuppa joe while you’re working. 

Tip #1: There are a ton of cute coffeeshops to work in, so no need to fret finding a workspace. This one surprised me — I expected that in a town dominated by a religion that shuns coffee there wouldn’t be any good coffee. I was dead wrong. There are a lot of drive-in coffeeshops, but if you go in the morning, prepare for a line. 

Tip #2: Nightlife is still very alive here. There are plenty of bustling late-night bars that also serve good food. The city doesn’t shut down like others at night (*cough* Boise *cough*) and we didn’t have a problem finding late-night food and things to do.

Tip #3: Get out in nature. One of the biggest perks of working in Salt Lake is the abundance of nearby nature. Get on a trail, go to the gardens, and enjoy the scenic mountain range that surrounds the city. 

While Salt Lake City will never be a place I call home, it was an enjoyable visit and if you love mountains and the great outdoors, it’s not a bad place to spend a weekend. 

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