Mormon Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Our last stop in Salt Lake City was a visit to the Mormon Temple Square, a 10 acre complex located in the center of the city, and owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Attracting 3 to 5 million visitors a year, Temple Square is the most popular tourist attraction in Utah, bringing in more visitors than the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone National Park. Although the Salt Lake Temple is the centerpiece of the Square, it is considered sacred, open only to members, and no public tours are allowed. We were, however, able to visit the Tabernacle, home of the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and given a demonstration of the more than amazing acoustics in this structure. We also stopped in the Visitor's Center, and were treated to a bird's eye view of the city from several stories up. The grounds, swarming with volunteers handing out pamphlets, and talking to visitors, feature a number of gardens, and often host concerts and other events. During the Christmas holiday season, hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights sparkle from  trees and shrubs around Temple Square, but only until 9pm. The lighting of Temple Square time is a popular event, attended by tens of thousands.