A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salt Lake City vs. Vernon for Attractions, Hiking, Food, and Families

Should you visit Salt Lake City or Vernon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Salt Lake City and Vernon can help you decide which place is right for you.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a notable, religious, and architectural city. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Salt Lake City travel costs.

Vernon

Vernon is a quiet, peaceful, and relaxing town. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Vernon travel costs.

Salt Lake City and Vernon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Salt Lake City or Vernon?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Salt Lake City. Although Salt Lake City and Vernon are popular destinations, Salt Lake City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Salt Lake City is very popular for its museums and attractions and scuba diving & snorkeling, while Vernon attracts visitors for its hiking. Salt Lake City is more touristy than Vernon and is popular for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. It is also well known for Temple Square. Vernon is famous for its surrounding valley with lakes and hiking trails.

How is Salt Lake City different from Vernon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Vernon and Salt Lake City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Salt Lake City or Vernon?

Salt Lake City is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Vernon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Salt Lake City can be an interesting and educational experience. Many of the fascinating sights around town are influenced by the city's Mormon culture. Temple Square is a highlight for most visitors. It spans 35 acres and is beautifully landscaped with several fountains. There are also four main churches - The Temple, the Tabernacle, the Temple Annex, and Assembly Hall. The city also has several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the historic Liberty Park.

Vernon is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are local galleries and museums that offer information on the region's history and culture. You can visit the Canadian Wildlife Museum, the Caetani Center, the Museum and Archives of Vernon, the Paddlewheel Park Stationhouse Museum, and the Vernon Public Art Gallery.

Is the Food Better in Salt Lake City or Vernon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Salt Lake City and Vernon both to be nice destinations.

Salt Lake City is becoming an appealing option for foodies. In recent years the food scene has really improved and you'll find a variety of restaurants that serve everything from upscale dishes to more casual fare.

Vernon offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The region is known for its vineyards and wineries and many of the local restaurants have been around for generations. The food is often locally produced and prepared with traditional recipes.

Is Salt Lake City or Vernon Better for Nightlife?

The reasonable nightlife scene is relatively similar in Salt Lake City and Vernon.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Salt Lake City. Known for its large Mormon population, nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Salt Lake City. While it will likely never be a party city, there are a growing number of entertainment options around town.

Vernon is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. The town gets very quiet in the evenings, so you won't find much of a nightlife scene.

Is Salt Lake City or Vernon Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Vernon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Salt Lake City has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. There are a number of good ski resorts nearby, making this a good base or starting point for a ski vacation.

Vernon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Salt Lake City or Vernon Better for Hiking?

Vernon is a very popular place for its hiking trails. Also, Salt Lake City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Vernon. The surrounding valley has more than 300 kilometers of hiking trails. They run along pristine lakes, pass by granite rock formations, and take you to impressive viewpoints.

Salt Lake City has hiking trails worth exploring. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Salt Lake City or Vernon?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Salt Lake City and Vernon.

Salt Lake City has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city has sprawling outlet malls as well as local stores and craft shops. City Creek Center is a favorite shopping destination, but there are also several large shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Vernon is a great destination for shopping. There are a number of boutique shops that are fun to explore in the downtown area.

Is Salt Lake City or Vernon Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Salt Lake City or Vernon.

Salt Lake City is a family-friendly city. There are museums that kids will enjoy like the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Leonardo Museum. There are also fun-filled activities like a visit to Lagoon Amusement Park. You can learn about history at This Is the Place Heritage Park or learn about the undersea world at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Vernon. There are biking and hiking trails as well as other outdoor activities. You can also visit the Allan Brooks Nature Center or the Rock Garden Climbing Center.

Is Salt Lake City or Vernon Better for Couples?

Both Salt Lake City and Vernon are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Salt Lake City is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with beautiful gardens like Red Butte Garden. There are also nice restaurants and romantic hotels that will make this a nice place for a couple's getaway.

Vernon is a nice destination for couples. It offers a peaceful getaway for couples. You can visit the Okanagan wineries or enjoy one of the many hiking trails. There are also nice restaurants to try.

Is Salt Lake City or Vernon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Salt Lake City is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Vernon is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

Salt Lake City has a few public transit options. There's a surprisingly good public transit system that includes light rail, buses, and commuter trains, but if you want to get out of town you'll need to have a car.

Public transit is mostly limited in Vernon. There is a bus system, but it's better not to rely on it.

Is Salt Lake City or Vernon a more walkable city?

Salt Lake City and Vernon are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Salt Lake City is generally not a very walkable city. While some neighborhoods are walkable, like Temple Square, most visitors prefer to have a car.

Vernon is generally not very walkable. You'll really want to have a car to make the most of your time here.

For even more information, also check out Is Salt Lake City Worth Visiting? and Is Vernon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Vernon or Salt Lake City?

How long in Salt Lake City or Vernon?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Salt Lake City and Vernon. In our opinion, Salt Lake City has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Salt Lake City than Vernon. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Salt Lake City, and 1-3 days is enough time in Vernon.

Families should spend more time in Salt Lake City than Vernon. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Salt Lake City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Salt Lake City than Vernon. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Salt Lake City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Salt Lake City than Vernon if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Salt Lake City.

One day in Salt Lake City or Vernon?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Salt Lake City. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Vernon, you'll find food and shopping. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Salt Lake City or Vernon?

Salt Lake City is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Vernon is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Salt Lake City or Vernon?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Salt Lake City. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Vernon. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Salt Lake City or Vernon?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the notable destination of Salt Lake City. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the town of Vernon. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada, and The Best Adventure Tours to Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salt Lake City and Vernon, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. And not only is Vernon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vernon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vernon and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Salt Lake City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salt Lake City than you might in Vernon.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salt Lake City Expensive? and Is Vernon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Salt Lake City or Vernon?

Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Vernon. When comparing the sizes of Salt Lake City and Vernon, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.