Location

Salt Lake City is the Utah state capital and seat of Salt Lake County. Located in the north central part of the state, it is 15 miles east of its namesake, the Great Salt Lake. 

General information
Salt Lake City is the international headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church. It is the largest and most important city in a large region of the interior West and serves as the industrial, financial, religious and commercial center of Utah. Salt Lake City has been at the forefront of education in Utah since 1850, when the University of Deseret was founded; renamed the University of Utah, it now ranks as Utah's largest institution of higher education.

Geography
The city lies in a mountain valley with the Wasatch Mountains to the east and north; the Oquirrh (pronounced "oaker") Mountains border the western edge of the valley.The city is situated on land once covered by the prehistoric Lake Bonneville; this ancient lake existed within portions of Utah, Nevada and Idaho, with an elevation rising from 4,200 feet to 5,200 feet at some points. The eastern and northern portions of the city are located on a series of terraces, or former beaches, which are known locally as "the benches." Salt Lake's official elevation is 4,330 feet above sea level.

Weather and climate
Salt Lake City has a dry climate, getting only 16.2 inches of precipitation per year. However, the Wasatch Range is well watered, and the runoff is used to water the valley. Fall is the favorite season of many who visit and live in Utah. Vibrant colors splash across the mountains and canyons as the cooler temperatures turn the leaves all shades of gold, purple, red, green, and brown. The average high temperature in September is 78 and the average low is 57.

Salt Lake City is in the Mountain time zone and follows Daylight Savings Time from the first Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October. To clarify for international visitors, the city is two hours behind New York and one hour ahead of the West Coast.

What to wear
Dress according to the weather and your personal preferences; layered clothing is recommended as the temperatures begin to drop in the fall. Casual jeans or upscale apparel is acceptable in most area restaurants. More formal attire is appropriate, but not required, for cultural performances, fine restaurants and some nightclubs.

Tipping
If people do a good job for you in Salt Lake City, tip 'em; you’ll be surprised how helpful someone is after they receive a tip. For waiters, waitresses, bartenders and taxi drivers, usually 15 to 20 percent is sufficient — 30 percent for truly great service. Hotel bellmen, porters and airport skycaps should receive no less than $1 per bag.