Without a doubt Salt Lake; having just moved here from Seattle, here’s my take on the place:
• The variety, accessibility, and quantity of rock climbing can’t be beat
• In LCC you can ice climb, rock climb, and ski all in the same day.
• The Wasatch are amazing. Although they don’t have the alpine climbing of the North Cascades, you can’t hit the North Cascades after work.
• Moab is 3 hours away (towers, MTB)
• Tetons, Devils tower within striking distance
• Wilderness is equal to that of WA
• Alcohol is not an issue, just get used to buying wine, liquor, and real beer at liquor stores.
• Mormon culture is no problem. I don’t see how people can complain about it unless they had kids in school outside the city where peer pressure may be a concern; or you enjoyed being involved in local government.
• More diversity than Boise, but obviously less than Seattle.
• Squid’s observation on the chicks is not off-base.