Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah and its biggest city, is a testimony to the industriousness and vision of early settlers, who also founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Today, Mormons constitute less than half the population, but have played a major role in building the city.

It's still a great place for Latter-Day Saints, as well as skiers, hikers, mountain bikers and anyone who enjoys the robustness of outdoor pursuits. The spacious, pleasant, hassle-free city is uniquely sandwiched between an inland sea and a snowcapped range of 11,000ft (3300m) mountains.