Historic 25th Street was once the hub of Ogden’s seedy underbelly, with urban legend claiming that Al Capone said the place was “too wild” for his tastes.
While this three-block street in the heart of Ogden’s downtown is no longer a center of sin and vice, its distinct vibe of independence and celebration of alternative lifestyles makes this place well worth the hour-long trip from Salt Lake City. About a 10 minute walk from the city’s Frontrunner station, the Historic 25th Street is chock-full of locally-owned and affordable restaurants, with independent retailers selling everything from eco-friendly gifts to authentic-looking retro wear.
With the Wasatch Mountains as a backdrop for the old and restored original buildings, this is a place where history and modernity collide to create a truly unique space dedicated to Utah business owners. There’s something for everyone in this area if one’s willing to wander around for a bit and visit spaces a little bit off of the beaten path, making it the perfect place for a quick day-long vacation for students who can’t quite make it out of the state for this year’s Spring Break.
Start at the Union Station at the top of the street. Once one of the main railroad stations in Utah, it is now home to multiple museums dedicated to classic cars, the railroad itself, firearms and cowboys and Western heritage. After looking at the impressive antiques and playing on the real trains outside the building, stop inside and eat at the Union Grill Restaurant which serves everything from Asian rice bowls to gumbo, with the typical meal costing around $10 dollars.
If the Union Grill doesn’t have something to please everyone in your group, the entire street is full of a variety of pubs, restaurants and coffee houses such as the Thai Curry Kitchen, Rovali’s Ristorante Italiano and Grounds for Coffee.
In between these places to eat are great spaces to hang out with friends or spruce up a wardrobe. Take a stop by Color Me Mine, a paint-your-own-ceramics shop, or step into the craft-lover’s heaven, Needlepoint Joint, or try your hand at gardening in the greenery Olive and Dahlia. Then there’s always the bohemian Ume Boutique or the wonderfully weird items in the Past Lives Collections.
Not feeling like a shopping spree at that moment? Not a problem. It’s a quick walk two blocks north to visit Ogden’s Junction, an entertainment complex that has, among other things, the indoor skydiving location iFly, a massive arcade and bowling area and a Megaplex movie theater. Right next door to this area is an old-fashioned mom and pop’s soda shop, Farr’s, the original home of Farr’s ice cream.
While the day may cost a dozen or two dozen dollars, getting there is completely free. Students’ UCards work as a pass for all of Utah’s transit systems, including the Frontrunner.
@Ehmannky