City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta here. My new year’s resolution is to visit all 511 parks in Salt Lake County, and I’m sharing stellar finds along the way.
Spend a whole afternoon exploring the 100-year-old Jordan Park on Salt Lake City’s Westside. Delightful bakeries, a busy skate park, and international gardens await you. Getting there is half the fun.
🍂 Bike Paths
Jordan Park sits at the crossroads of the Jordan River Trail (stretching from the Great Salt Lake to Utah Lake) and the 9 Line Trail (connecting the east and west sides of SLC along 900 S.), which means there is a safe bike/running path whether you’re coming from the north, south, or east.
Fun fact: Jordan Park’s bike polo court just hosted the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Association championships.
Forty Three Bakery has a daily brunch menu. (@fortythreebakery/Instagram)
🥐 Bakeries
At the corner of 900 S. and 900 W. is Salt Lake City’s best tres leches cake. Stop by for picnic materials like Mexican sandwich rolls or a sweet treat. Open every day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
If you’re taking the 9 Line, you’ll find Forty Three Bakery just two blocks east of Jordan Park. They serve brunch every day (!) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Filipino Festival of Utah at International Peace Gardens. (Ali Vallarta/City Cast Salt Lake)
🌹 Inside the Park
Our botanical garden with displays representing different countries is pretty, and free! But my favorite thing is how different heritage days utilize the space for cultural celebrations.
SLC Council recently approved $325,000 for updates to the gardens, so keep an eye out for improvements.
I was slightly devastated to learn a public pool and bathhouse were demolished to make way for this skatepark in 2001, but I love how busy and joyful it always is.
📰 In the news: The Jordan River Trail has been a recent site of contention in Salt Lake City. Learn more on the City Cast Salt Lake podcast.
