You and your partner love to travel, preferably while remaining out and proud (and safe and welcome and not bored out of your minds). You’ve done the research. You know all about the East Coast and West Coast hot spots, where to party, where to relax, and what kind of museums you plan to visit. But did you even consider Salt Lake City?

Depending on which list you’re looking at, Salt Lake City ranks fairly high among the top ten LGBT-friendly cities. No matter what kind of family you come from, Great Salt Lake has plenty to offer, and a city that’s pretty packed with cultural fun.

Check out some legit reasons to add SLC to your list of must-see destinations.

You and Mother Nature are Besties: Great Salt Lake

You like kayaking, swimming, or bird-watching with your family, but you also like the idea of setting sail on a dinner cruise to watch the sunset (you hopeless romantic, you).

As the largest—and saltiest!—lake west of the Mississippi River, Great Salt Lake has plenty of outdoorsy activities to keep you busy, with stunning mountain views to boot. Along the lake, and especially at the park’s official entrance in Antelope Island, you’ll see all sorts of wildlife, including bison.

Randy Judkins/Shutterstock

Fun Fact: the lake water has no natural exits (think streams or rivers) so evaporation leaves it very salty and dense. That just means you’ll be super float-y (which is fun for the whole family!).

You’ve got a thing for Curated Beauty

Chris Curtis/Shutterstock

There’s plenty of nature to love within the urban setting. Batches of culture are surrounded by mountains and greenery, which provides the perfect backdrop for all the glorious religious architecture in Temple Square. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts is perfect for a rainy (or sunny) day.

The gardens and recreation in Liberty Park are not to be missed. Check out the aviary and greenhouse in the morning, and if you’re looking for a low-key afternoon, grab a picnic basket for some lunch down by the pond.

Learn About Your Lineage

Karin Hildebrand Lau/Shutterstock

The Family History Library is the largest genealogy library in the world. Its original purpose stems from one of the Church of Latter Day Saints’ fundamental tenets to provide a resource for family members to find and baptize their ancestors by proxy. Its collection has grown since then, and individuals throughout the world are using the collection to research and chart their genealogy.

You’re a Fan of Man-made Wonders

Rekindle Photo and Video/Shutterstock

Speaking of the past: look at that picture, with all those tiny cars and that itty, bitty body of water in the center.

By now you’ve realized that Kennecott Copper Mine is huge. It’s one of the few man-made creations visible from space, and has been around for over a hundred years. Copper is one of the most valued natural resources still in use today, as evidenced by all those old houses in your hometown, plumbed with their copper pipes. Thieves have actually been known to loot old Victorian homes in search of copper plumbing, to melt it down for resale. Plus, now you have a new trivia factoid to drop at your next social gathering. You’re welcome.

Unless you suffer from trypophobia, Kennecott is worth seeing up close and in-person, so be sure to add it to your list of tours.

Now that you’ve learned a bit about what Utah has to offer, tell us what you like about Salt Lake City and its surrounding areas. Did we miss anything? Leave us a comment below!