IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Salt Lake City air/hotel, from $295

A three-night getaway to Utah's capital—set between the mountains and Great Salt Lake—where you can pursue outdoorsy activities in nearby Olympic Cauldron Park and beyond.
Image: Salt Lake Skyline
The includes round-trip airfare on JetBlue, and three nights' accommodations at the , about 10 minutes from the airport.Brian Bahr / Getty Images file
/ Source: ARTHUR FROMMER'S BUDGET TRAVEL

The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare and three nights' accommodations, from $295 per person—plus an estimated $20 in taxes.

When: Ongoing; daily departures.

Gateways: Long Beach. Add $170 for New York City, $220 for D.C., and $280 for Boston.

The fine print: Hotel taxes are included. Does not include airport taxes and fees of $20. Based on single or double occupancy. The best prices will be for midweek departures. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book by: No deadline; based on availability.

Contact: JetBlue, 800/538-2583, jetblue.com.

Why it's a deal: In a recent Kayak search, there was a $184 round-trip fare available on Delta between Long Beach and Salt Lake City. A courtside guest room at the Little America Hotel will cost you about $153 per person for a three-night stay. So, booked independently, this trip would cost about $337 per person, excluding hotel taxes and fees. By booking through JetBlue, you're saving a little more than $40, plus you get the convenience of one-stop shopping.

Trip details: The Salt Lake City Getaway includes round-trip airfare on JetBlue. After arrival, head to the Little America Hotel, about 10 minutes from the airport and your base for three nights (transfers are not included, but taxis are readily available at the airport).

You'll be staying in a courtside guest room with 300 square feet of space. The 850-room downtown hotel has two restaurants, a fitness center, and Salt Lake City's largest indoor/outdoor pool.

Salt Lake City is a well-known skiing destination but also makes a great jumping-off point for summertime adventure seekers. For instance, you can swim, fish, hike, picnic, or drive or bike the scenic byways at nearby 1.3-million-acre Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Or you can explore the natural world from indoors: The Utah Museum of Natural History houses exhibits that span more than 200 million years of history, including dinosaur casts and fossils.

Don't forget that Salt Lake City is an Olympic city. The Olympic Cauldron Park, built for the 2002 games, is still intact. Located on the campus of University of Utah, the park includes Hoberman Arch, where the winning athletes received their medals.

Temple Square, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' world headquarters, is a big draw for some visitors, who may also want to catch a performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

If you're interested in renting a car, JetBlue offers an economy rental (2- or 4-door automatic, Chevrolet Aveo or similar, with unlimited miles) starting at $36 per day.

Be warned that July is the hottest month in Salt Lake City. Average temperatures are in the low 90s, but it does get cooler at night. Thunderstorms are likely to pop up in the afternoons.

For more ideas, visit Salt Lake's Convention & Visitor's Bureau.