There is no state in the union that has more abundant, natural beauty than Utah. It is best known for its breathtaking red rock canyons, numerous state and national parks, the rich pioneer past of Mormon settlers and intense skiing and snowboarding opportunities.
Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah and the site of the 2002 Olympic Games. It is a safe and comfortable place with 180,000 city residents, and over a million in the metro area. Located in the Salt Lake Valley, the temperature is more moderate than in the nearby majestic mountains. The hot spot for sightseeing is Temple Square. It is three blocks long, and holds about 20 attractions significant to Mormon history, including the Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle, Church History Museum and Family History Library. It is there that you can enjoy the sweet voices of the world renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The Tracy Aviary, open since 1938 and home to 135 species, is located on eight acres of land in the heard of the city. People come from all over the world to enjoy the International Peace Gardens, representing the cultural diversity and flora of 26 nations. A few other museums worth visiting in this busy city are Fort Douglas Military Museum, Pioneer Memorial Museum, University of Utah's Museum of Fine Arts, and the Utah Museum of Natural History.
Taking I-15 north for a half an hour will bring you to the mid-sized city of Layton, set against the backdrop of snowcapped mountains. Those interested in the area's Native American and pioneer roots can explore the city's Heritage Museum. There's also the Hill Aerospace Museum, exhibiting over 80 military aircrafts, missiles and aerospace vehicles. If you want a bit of family fun in the sun, there's Surf 'n Swim, Utah's year-round ocean.
Just north is the small town of Providence, situated at the base of 9,000 foot, Big Baldy Mountain. In the area is Hyrum State Park, a great place to explore winding trails, whitewater rafting, waterskiing and a nice camp out. Educating visitors on the old west and on having a good time through vaudeville entertainment, great meals and live animals, is the American West Heritage Center, a 1917-era, living, historical farm. Get lost in the Little Bear Bottoms corn maze in nearby Wellsville, where you can find your way through a man-sized maze. You may want to take part in the Logan Peak Run in June for a challenging 28 mile run over beautiful northern Utah trails.
Located just minutes from Idaho, with over 40,000 residents, Logan is the largest town in the area. Logan is home to Utah State University, with all the perks of a college town and tons of outdoor activities. There is hunting, kayaking, nordic and alpine skiing, camping and more, all in close proximity to Logan. There's also music and entertainment for every taste at the Ellen Eccles Theater.
Located in Salt Lake County, Murray is roughly the same size as Logan, but is closer to the capital. Check out a pleasant dinner theater experience or a play for the kids at the Desert Star Theater. There are many great hotel options in Murray and you're less than an hour drive from some of the best skiing in America.
Also in the Salt Lake City area is Sandy, a bustling city with plenty to do. There are malls, ski resorts and a zoo within 15 minutes of the downtown. The Bingham Canyon Mine offers breathtaking overlooks of the copper ore mine and an impressive visitor's center. The kids can bask in the blue light of the sea at the Living Planet Aquarium.
East of Salt Lake City is Park City, best known for being home to Robert Redford's annual Sundance Film Festival and impressive ski slopes. Every winter, this town swarms with stars, all ready to watch themselves on the big screen. Park City has tons of busy bars, restaurants and hip shopping spots, all in a quaint mountain townscape. The Sundance Resort, founded by Robert Redford, is 5,000 acres at the base of Mount Timpanogos, a half hour from Park City. This is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy first class dining, original sculptures and art, a relaxing spa and a great gift shop. Back in Park City, get hands on with art at the Kimball Art Center and learn about the mining history of the town at the Park City Historical Society and Museum. A hot air balloon ride overhead will offer you a different perspective on the entire region. For fans of the Olympics, this is the place to visit the site of many international skiing competitions.
Situated in Uintah County, three hours east of Park City and minutes from Colorado, is Naples, a small community of about 1,500 residents. A short drive to Dinosaurland offers boaters the beauty of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The Dinosaur National Monument is the largest Jurassic era quarry in the world and the Natural History State Park Museum offers tons of exhibits for the whole family, with murals and life-sized dinosaur replicas.
Provo is a must visit town, located just 40 miles from Salt Lake City. It is one of the largest in this state and also home to the well known Brigham Young University (BYU). The Covey Center for the Arts offers theater, live music and opera and BYU has a wealth of performing and visual arts opportunities. There are many activities for children available too, including Seven Peaks Waterpark, the Earth Science Museum, the McCurdy Historical Doll House and the outrageously interesting Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum. Golfers will enjoy a peaceful tee off at the Cascade Golf Center. An jaunt outside will give you a glimpse of the cascading Bridal Veil Falls, fishing in the summer or skiing in the winter.
Twenty minutes south on I-15 is Payson, first settled in 1850 by 16 Mormon pioneers. Payson is the gateway to the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway, offering breathtaking views of the Wasatch Range, red rock formations, pines and salt flats. Every July, this town hosts the Payson Scottish Festival and Golden Onion Days, a Labor Day celebration. Most of the hit movie Footloose was filmed in this small city and it's also known as the birthplace of songstress, Jewel.
Heading toward southeastern Utah is Moab. This city provides some of the best of scenic Utah, tons of great bed and breakfasts, cabin rentals, lodges, ranches and campgrounds. At the Spanish Valley Vineyards and Winery, you can sample local wines. There's also golfing at the Moab Country Club, a great place to putt under the cliffs. Arches National Park offers beautiful, natural sandstone arches and a landscape of contrasting colors, forms and textures. Canyonlands National Park has countless canyons, Native American art rock panels and so much more. Late spring is the best time to take an overnight river trip on the Colorado and Green Rivers, through multicolored, multilayered canyons.
Further southeast of Moab is the small town of Monticello, gateway to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. A scenic drive on Needles District Road will also reveal exciting biking, hiking and ATV trails. The spectacular views of meandering canyons and the pictographs and petroglyphs will keep your eyes and brains occupied for hours or days. Great attractions include Canyon Rims Recreation Area, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Needles and Anticline overlooks, Lowry Ruin and the Anasazi Heritage Center. This is a great place to dine, shop and just chill out.
A few minutes northwest of Moab is Green River, with a quaint 1,000 residents. The John Wesley Powell River History Museum presents visitors with the history and treasures of the local Green and Colorado Rivers. Golfers will love the Green River Golf Course while adrenaline junkies will get wild on the ATV and off-road trails. Adventurers will enjoy the San Rafael Swell, an arid, scenic desert formation.
An hour and a half west on I-70 is Salina, another great launching point for the area's natural wonders. Bring your fishing pole and check out southern Utah's fertile waters. There are plenty of opportunities for off-roading, hunting and hiking through this beautiful terrain.
Richfield, just moments from Salina, leads you to the lush Fishlake National Forest, known for its aspen trees, hunting, bird watching, fishing and biking. This is a great place to enjoy the Paiute ATV trail, through 250 miles of scenic forests. If you want to sleep under the stars, there are four campgrounds which will place you right amongst the mountains, plateaus and forests. Fremont Indian Park, in nearby Sevier, has 697 rock art panels, a museum with an excavation artifact collection. You can get some fresh air and exercise on one of the fantastic 14 walking trails.
Back on I-15 is Beaver, known as home to outlaw Butch Cassidy and the the creator of the television. Some of the most breathtaking scenery in the west can be found near this tranquil agricultural community and outdoor wonderland. The high alpine vistas of the Tushar Mountains, which includes Delano Peak, are to the east. Color Country, encompassing Bryce Canyon, Zion and the other national parks lies just a few miles to the south. To the west, are the Mineral Mountains, a favorite of rock-hunters. Every July, the town hosts the annual Butch Cassidy Festival, with a pie eating contest, live music, crafts and more.
Milford is just west of Beaver, a town with a population of almost 1,500 residents. This is a great place to kick back and relax. In nearby Minersville Reservoir, there's year round fishing, boating and camping. The 29 campsites are well equipped modern enhancements, so you can have a comfortable night in the wilderness.
Cedar City is located further south on I-15 and is also the home of Southern Utah University. This town, known as Festival City, has an annual event for each family member. The Shakespearean Festival, one of the best in the nation, offers Tony awarded theater. There's also the rowdy Great American Stampede Rodeo and the fragrant Wildflower Festival. Cedar Breaks National Monument, with its brilliant colors, resembles a miniature Bryce Canyon, another of Utah's prizes. Surrounding the Canyon Breaks is the Dixie National Forrest, there are serene ponds and trails easy enough for even the least experienced hiker. Utah's highest elevation resort is located in the area, Brian Head, with skiing, snowboarding and tubing, for the whole family. There are some great specialty shops and outlet stores in the area, where you can stock up on great deals.
Located just south of the majestic Zion National Park is Hurricane. Hurricane is the place to stay when visiting Bryce Canyon and Zion, both which showcase some of the most beautiful and unique natural formations you will find anywhere. Bryce is unique and known for its red and orange rock spires. Hike your way down the canyon, or experience it on a horse or mule, for a guided tour. Zion is Utah's oldest national park and offers a wealth of topographic and natural diversity. Every spring, people flock to enjoy the bloom of wildflowers and a regularly running shuttle bus will take you on the scenic ride of your life over this extraordinarily impressive landscape.
There is something for everyone in the largest city in southern Utah, St. George, located just six miles from the Arizona border. Maybe you can rest up at the Green Valley or Red Mountain spas after a long day of golfing at one of the towns many courses; Dixie Red Hills, Entrada, Southgate or the St George Golf Club. Art lovers can check out the St. George Art Museum and airplane enthusiasts will love the Southern Utah Air Museum. This area isn't known as Color Country for nothing; there are countless impressive vistas and so many ways to enjoy the land. You can even take a backcountry motorcycle tour with High Desert Adventures.
East of St. George is Kanab, located right near the northern rim of the Grand Canyon. The North Rim is more rugged than the south, and therefore brings less visitors, so your experience of this wonder of the world's most spectacular views will be less obscured by the buzz of tourism. Besides visiting the canyon, there are wildflowers, spruce and wild animals to entertain you on your mule rides or hikes. For a short but moderately difficult hike on a bright orange sandstone wave formation, visit the Wave of Coyote Buttes. For a taste of the past, Moqui Cave and Frontier Movie Town both demonstrate how the first indigenous and anglo settlers of this area lived. The Escalante National Monument, a geological formation of multicolored cliffs, plateaus and canyons, is also only a short drive away.
Utah is blessed with all the natural beauty a state could hold. It is one of the best places to hit the slopes and to hike through scenic forests and plunging, multicolored canyons. There are plenty of arts and cultural activities to busy your hands and minds, and you won't regret visiting the unique Mormon landmarks. Utah is a state you'll never forget visiting, and to which you will always wish to return.
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