Scenic Drive: The Great Salt Lake Shoreline

Your first stop is at the Great Saltair. This historic landmark was intended to be the "Coney Island" of the west, but has experienced several fires and floods since it opened in 1893. Today it is used as an event venue. This is a great place to park and walk out to the shoreline beyond the venue for your first glimpse of the Great Salt Lake.
This is the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere, stretching as long as 75 miles. The salinity of the water is 12% on average, which is saltier than the ocean. The lake is so buoyant that you can easily float if you choose to take a dip in the salty water.

The first land art you'll see on this route is the Tree of Life. This 87-foot-tall sculpture was created in the 1980s by Swedish artist Karl Momen. The sculpture weighs an impressive 875 tons with six spheres. The largest sphere is 13.5 feet in diameter and weighs 60 tons.

As you continue west on the I-80, you will enjoy the scenic views of the lake as the road parallels alongside the shoreline. Soon it will turn into a dry basin extending into 30,000 acres of the Bonneville Salt Flats. This site is famous for its dazzling natural beauty and being home to multiple world records that were set on the speedway.
Do not miss the exit for this rest stop as the next turnaround point is several miles away. You may park at the rest stop and walk out onto the salt flats. You may see others driving onto the salt flats, but be aware of wet soil, which can cause your vehicle to get stuck. Eat your packed picnic lunch here before heading back on the road.

The Historic Wendover Airfield is a preserved World War II Army Air Force base that is open to the public as a museum. Visitors can walk through the museum, climb to the top of the control tower, view an atomic bomb loading pit, and more. The museum also features a squadron maintenance hangar, a restored fire station, a Norden Bombsight building, and B-29 hangar.

It's time to experience the desert casino life at the Rainbow Casino in Wendover, Nevada! Here you can explore the casino, which features over 600 slot machines and a high-tech Sports Book with 74 sports screens. There are also 76 tables featuring the classic games of Blackjack, craps, roulette, and 3 card poker.

After your time in the casino, walk to Wendover's Steak House for dinner. This elegant restaurant is located within the Rainbow Casino and offers the finest steaks, prime rib, seafood, pasta entrees, and more. It also boasts a large wine assortment to complement any meal. Be sure to make a reservation ahead of time.

You could choose to stay at the Rainbow Casino hotel for the convenience. For a budget-friendly option, there are several regular hotel choices you could stay at in town. One of the options is to check-in to your hotel room at the Best Western Plus – Wendover Inn after your action-packed evening at the casino.