A night on the town: business entertaining with a twist.

• Author: Koritz, Alex
• Position: Executive Living

So you have some clients coming into town, and your mind is racing about the best way to entertain them while also keeping the precious time you have together productive. Since the state is an outdoorsman's paradise, the obvious entertainment choice might involve skiing the famous snowy slopes, practicing swings on a golf course or enjoying a Jazz game--all great choices, but also predictable.

From one end of the state to the other, there are a variety of experiences that you may not realize are in your own backyard.

Something New

"Salt Lake City has an arts and entertainment district that rivals the country's major cities," says Danica Farley, public relations manager for the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce. "The city has numerous award-winning venues, including a world-class ballet, a nationally acclaimed farmers market that recently won third place in the national contest, and cutting-edge art galleries, to name a few."

Salt Lake City's vast array of artistic offerings is sure to surprise and delight your out-of-town guests. The city's cultural district got its start in 1861, when city leaders built the Salt Lake Theatre on the northwest corner of State Street and First South. Though the theatre only lasted until 1928, it established downtown Salt Lake City as a center for arts and culture. Decades later, in 1899, the Utah Legislature created the first state arts agency in the country. And during the last 110 years, numerous top-notch cultural venues have emerged: Capitol Theatre, Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake Arts Center, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Discovery Gateway, Clark Planetarium, LDS Conference Center and the Museum of Utah Art and History. Each of these venues, which are within walking distance of each other, offer a variety of exhibits and events sure to impress. Salt Lake's combination of arts venues, fine hotels, restaurants, museums and easy public transportation makes downtown a perfect place to entertain business associates.

"A lot of businesses are moving downtown because of everything it has to offer," says Farley. "Salt Lake has earned its place as the cultural and economic center of the Intermountain West."

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Take a Stroll

The Salt Lake City Gallery Stroll is another great way to entertain your business clients. While walking throughout the city, participants are privy to not only the local art scene and galleries, but also to the city's distinctive ambiance. The Gallery Stroll, which is a...