Traveling Utah

I just returned from a trip across the country and met some people from Florida. They said to me Utah is the most beautiful state.  From the high mountains to the desert and onto the red rocks, it is spectacular. If you’re looking for nature, Utah has everything. I’ve prepared a travel guide with ideas from Salt Lake City, Utah, that are three hours away, half a day trips, and extended trips. It will also give you statewide tourism partners who can lead you to the awesome things in their area. Here are just a few pictures to whet your appetite to explore Utah.

Resources

• Airbnb: This is a great place to find places to stay and have fun and adventure. Go to www.airbnb.com
• Utah Travel Council: They are supported by the Governor’s office to promote tourism.  https://travel.utah.gov
• Go to page four for Statewide Tourism Partners. Visit Utah Things-to-do: https://www.visitutah.com/things-to-do/events
• Utah has 43 State Parks.    Buy a State Park Pass and travel to these fantastic locations. https://utah.com/state-parks
• Watch YouTube video on places you want to travel to.

3 hours and under from Salt Lake City, Utah

1. Pick up lunch at Millcreek Senior Center, drive up Millcreek Canyon, stop at the first picnic area, find a table by the stream, and have lunch.
2. Visit the Farmers Market in downtown Salt Lake or Murray Park. Be sure to take time to talk to the vendors. Try the ethnic food.
3. Drive-up Parley’s Canyon and take the East Canyon turn off. Go North and go over the mountain and down Emigration Canyon.
4. Go to a outdoor movie at Utah Drive in Movies
5. Go to the library downtown. Check the website for an event calendar.
6. Go to a theater in Salt Lake to a program.
7. Go to the Spokane
8. Summer Concerts in Brigham Young Park
9. Christmas time go to Grand American Hotel to see Gingerbread House
10. Christmas time visit Festival of Trees.
11. Visit Hogle Zoo and at Christmas time go and see the lights.
12. Go to Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeline.
13. Go to the Utah Symphony downtown or in the Mountains during the Summer
14. Watch for special events at the Leonardo Museum.
15. Drive up to East Canyon and then go over Emigration canyon and down into this is This is the Place monument.
16. Go to Tea Time at Grand America. Great to do with grandchildren.
17. Go out to the Olympic Oval and walk around the track.
18. Drive out to the Saltier Pavilions and see the Great Salt Lake.
19. Go to German Christmas Market at This is the Place Heritage Park.
20. Visit the biggest Costco in the world.
21. Go to the New Granite Library and see what they have in the Creative Space section of the library.

Half-Day Trips

1. Late July or early August: Drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon and see the wild flowers.
2. Go to Brighton and take a picnic and walk around Silver Lake.
3. Take the Heber Creeper to Vivian Park and back to Heber.
4. There are several rodeos in a nearby town, such as Morgan. Go to a rodeo and enjoy an evening of fun.
5. April: Go to the Capitol and walk around to see the cherry blossoms. The trees were a gift to Utah from Japan. They are the same kind of cherry tree the circle the US Capital.
6. October: I like a drive-up Millcreek Canyon, where I think the leaves are the best in Utah. I love the variety and the way that you are so close to the stream and leaves.
7. Go downtown and visit the Genealogy Library.
8. Just north of the Genealogy Library is the Pioneer Museum. Stop in for a visit.
9. Drive to Park City and have lunch at one of the fancy resorts. See a list of lunch places in Park City.
10. It can be fun to walk up and down the main street when you are in Park City.
11. Experience Sundance Under the Stars at the full moon.
12. Do a scenic lift rides – Sundance Mountain Resort
13. Heber Valley Railroad has several theme rides
14. Go to October Fest at Snow Bird and enjoy the according music and tram rides.

Day Trips

1. Drive to Golden Spike Monument and then see the Spiral Jetty
2. Drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon and take the Snow Bird Tram to the top and have lunch or take your lunch.
3. Drive to Heber or Park City and have lunch and then drive over Guardsman Pass into Brighton and then down to Salt Lake City. From Park City, it is a paved road. From Heber, it is a gravel road but in good condition.
4. Drive to the Salt Flats and watch speed trials. https://www.visitutah.com/articles/bonneville-salt-flats-planning-guide
5. Drive to Delta to see the migration of Snow Geese in February.
6. Drive to Logan and up to Logan Canyon. At the top of the pass, as you go into Bear Lake, look for a gas station on the right and stop and have a heavenly raspberry milkshake.
7. Take a lunch and go to This Is the Place Heritage Park. A train will take you around the park. Stop at each destination and speak to the representatives.
8. Go to the San Rafael Swell and see the Little Grand Canyon. I also like going down into Buckhorn Canyon. Call Owen Olsen 435-749-0239 to find if you can stop and see 8 restored cabins that he has moved to Cleveland, Utah, and assembled.
9. Go to the West Desert to see wild horses and a Pony Express station. For more detail, check with Tooele Travel Council.
10. Go to Antelope Island and look for buffalo.
11. Go to see the sunset on the Great Salt Lake.
12. Drive to Brigham City and go west to the Bird Refuge.
13. Drive to Cascade Springs and enjoy a lovely walk around the springs.
14. Drive to Kamas and take the Mirror Lake highway to Mirror Lake. Stop and enjoy. Then drive to Evanston and come home on the freeway through Coalville.
15. Winter Trip: Go to the Hardware Ranch and watch the feeding of the Elk. They have sleds you can ride to see the beautiful animals even more closely.
16. When the fall fruit is ripe, drive to Brigham City and then drive along Fruit Way where all the stands are.
17. Drive to Logan and stop at Heritage Park. Check out Cox Honey, Gossner Cheese, and Utah State Dairy, where you can get an excellent Aggie ice cream cone.
18. Go sailing
19. Go on a hot air balloon by going to the web: Hot air ballooning in Utah
20. Look for Wonderstone Quarry out near Tooele and go out and collect rocks.
21. Visit Timpanogos Cave
22. Visit Fantasy Canyon Utah out by Vernal.
23. Spring go the Thanksgiving Point and see the Tulip Festival.