Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City needs 2 days: touring Temple Square, the 4-hectare religious complex that's the world headquarters of the Mormon church, on one, and skiing or hiking in the Wasatch Mountains, less than 45 minutes from downtown, on the other. May-September brings the best weather for outdoor activities (December-March is ski season, with what its own tourism slogans call the lightest, driest snow in the US). It's cheaper than other Western state capitals. It was founded in 1847 by Mormons fleeing religious persecution into what was then Mexican territory, and today it remains the world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as having hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics.