I just got back from a fantastic trip to Utah. The itinerary that the Office of Tourism put together for me and my teenage daughter Acadia was incredible. Since we saw so many terrific sites, I’ll share them over the course of a few posts. Arriving in Salt Lake City was a breeze. I couldn’t get over how close the airport is to downtown. Apparently, it’s about the closest downtown area to any major international airport in the country: a 15 minute drive at most. Utah’s culinary scene is hip. We started our trip with Sunday brunch at Pago. Just look at the gorgeous waffle I had:

Another fantastic foodie spot was Tin Angel. The artworks for sale throughout the restaurant made for a festive atmosphere, but the menu was diverse and the food delicious. From bikers to hipsters, everyone was welcome and felt at home at this spot. The raspberry caramel bread pudding was to die for! Here are a few shots of the artworks on display  — and the food, of course — when we ate there:

One of the many cool artworks for sale at Tin Angel

Beautiful pasta with fresh bread at Tin Angel

Cadi enjoying her drinks (including butterscotch soda) at the Tin Angel

Lest you think all we did was eat on the trip, we also had a fascinating look into our family history with librarian Sandra Joseph at the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City. Genealogy is very important in Mormon culture. The FHL is open to anyone and its friendly and knowledgeable staff will take the time to help you find out about your own family tree. It’s well worth a stop when in town.

My next post will be the start of the dinosaur-related sites we visited…Come back soon and check it out!