Utah is truly a state created for outdoor and adventure enthusiasts. Known for its beautiful views, plentiful skiing and riding, great hiking, biking, and climbing, and the perfect place to go camping, people flock to its mountains and plains to experience the thrill. Every region, Northern, Central, and Southern Utah, offers distinct activities and adventures that keep visitors traveling to Utah all year long.
Northern Utah offers great variety in geography, cities, and activities to enjoy while visiting the state. From salt flats to populous cosmopolitans to first class ski and summer resorts, this region offers so much to those looking for an exciting vacation. Salt Lake City, the capital and main metro area for the state, has so much to do in the city as well as in the surrounding areas. In the city, check out the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the site of the XIX Olympic Winter Games, and the University of Utah campus. While in Ogden, the area’s first settlement, check out Historic Union Station near Historic 25th Street with its great Farmers Market. Take some time to lie out on the beaches of the Great Salt Lake while in town. Provo, yet another sister city of Salt Lake, is home to Brigham Young University, Sundance Resort, and Provo Canyon. Here, ice climbers will find the famed Bridal Veil Falls. Next, be sure to head to Park City, home of the world-class ski resorts: Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort, and The Canyons. Visitors will love the city’s Historic Main Street featuring restaurants, clubs, bars, and boutiques. Heber is a nearby town with Old World living with a western twist. Fishermen and water skiers will love the Deer Creek Reservoir while those needing rest and relaxation will enjoy a day at the Homestead Resort in the town of Midway. Located on a warm springs crater, the spa can help relieve the bumps and bruises from days of horseback riding, golf, cross country skiing, and sleigh rides. Golfers will want to check out the Wolf Creek Resort Golf Course in Eden. Visitors love this 18-hole golf course in a spectacular mountain setting that plays like two different courses. Skiers and snowboarders will also love heading to Alta Ski Resort, Brighton Ski Resort, Snowbird Ski Resort, and Solitude Ski Resort that are all located within minutes of the Salt Lake Area. Bear Lake, often called the Caribbean of the Rockies, is the area’s best place for boating, water skiing, swimming, and other water sports. Its intense turquoise colored water is due to the reflection of the limestone deposits suspended in the lake.
Central Utah is an expanse of mountains, plateaus, and deserts. Rich in natural resources, it is the ideal destination for travelers in search of beautiful solitude. Cruise Heritage Highway 89 through small towns like Fairview, Mt. Pleasant, and Spring City to check out local festivals and recreation spots. These quaint towns offer insight into true central Utah living and paint a quaint picture of this western life. Near the town of Price is Nine Mile Canyon, a great collection of pre-historic rock art. Head south to the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry where visitors can see the densest concentration of Jurassic-era dinosaur bones on the planet. One of the most beautiful sights is the Capitol Reef National Park. Here you will find trails that crawl through sandstone crevices and canyon brooks. The earthy red and gold colors will awe and amaze. This mystical stretch of land will amaze those who come to visit. Come find your favorite spot in this beautiful display of nature at its best.
Snowy topped mountains, bridges, canyons, and arches of weather-cut sandstone, and beautiful blue skies are what await the adventurous in southern Utah. Bluff, located near the huge Navajo Reservation, is still dotted with adobe brick homes left by members of the “Hole in the Rock Expedition.” River guides love this town for its close proximity to the San Juan River, one of the fastest-flowing rivers in the country. Moab, one of the most popular locations in southern Utah, is a favorite for mountain bikers and dune-buggy riders. The Slick Rock Trail, Canyonlands and Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and views of the LaSal, Abajo, and Henry mountains make this an adventurer’s dream vacation destination. St. George has become quite the resort town with dozens of golf courses, health and fitness spas, and plenty of cultural attractions. Visitors will want to check out the Green Valley Resort & Spa, as well as, the Red Mountain Resort & Spa. In town, cultural attractions include the Brigham Young Winter Home, the St. George Mormon Temple and Tabernacle, and the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum. Skiers will be excited to know that the southern areas of the state have great skiing too! Brian Head Ski Resort offers all abilities of skiers or riders a rustic, laid-back, inexpensive, and uncrowded mountain experience. Spectacular scenery, including views of Cedar Breaks National Monument and the Great Basin can be seen by visitors every day. Southern Utah offers a diverse experience for every kind of vacationer. Visit any time of the year for an adventure from ice climbing, to rafting, to mountain biking and skiing. Come see what Utah is all about!
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