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SALT LAKE CITY — What is Utah known for that every resident must experience while living here? I posed that question to several of my family and friends and got a variety of answers that included: skiing, fry sauce, big hair, Mormonism, and my favorite response, “casual conversations where people assume you will share their political opinions.”
While there are a number of experiences Utahns could come up with that make our state unique, here is my list of what people need to try while living in the Beehive state.
Temple Square
As the number one tourist attraction in Utah, according to the travel site Utah.com, Temple Square is the first place I would suggest someone should go.
“Part of its appeal,” Utah.com states, “lies in its accessibility: three city blocks in downtown Salt Lake City contain nearly 20 attractions related to Mormon pioneer history and genealogy, including the Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle, and the Family History Library.”
My personal favorites on Temple Square include seeing the Salt Lake Temple up close, visiting the Christus statue located in the North Visitors Center, and the scale model replica of the Salt Lake Temple in the South Visitors Center. And another plus, it’s all free.
National Parks
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I have spent many a spring break or summer vacation at one of our five National Parks. They include Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion, and Arches National Park. Arches National Park is home to one of Utah’s popular symbols, the Delicate Arch. Pick any one of them to visit for your next family vacation and you won’t be disappointed.
Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake
Growing up in Layton, just a hop, skip and a jump away from Antelope Drive, of course I would include a visit to Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake on my list. Activities include biking, hiking and seeing a variety of wildlife.
“Antelope Island is home to free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope and many other desert animals,” the Antelope Island State Park website states. “Millions of birds congregate along the shores surrounding the island, offering unparalleled opportunities for birding.”
A visit to the park wouldn’t be complete without swimming and floating in the salty lake water of the famous Great Salt Lake.
Experiencing the great outdoors
One of the things I love most about Utah is no matter where you live you are minutes away from mountains and unique outdoor experiences. In the winter, you can find spots for sledding, snowboarding and skiing. In the fall you have your pick of drives to take and look at the changing leaves and beautiful autumn landscape. In the summer you can find hiking trails or reservoirs to go boating and take a swim. Many of those experiences are family friendly and inexpensive.
Not sure where to start? Ask the people in your Utah town where the local outdoor recreational favorites are and you will soon have a list of places to explore and try out.
The Greatest Snow on Earth
My last suggested experience is actually on my own bucket list. I have lived in Utah my entire life, but I have yet to experience skiing on the greatest snow on Earth.
“While Utah has been marketing The Greatest Snow on Earth slogan since 1962,” the website skiutah.com states, “it wasn’t until the statement was stamped on Utah license plates in 1985 that it became a household saying…In fact, Utah is so well-known for its snow that in 2010 the state took seven of the top 10 spots in Ski Magazine’s snow rankings (including a clean sweep of the top 5).”
You can visit skiutah.com to see the many resorts in Utah and plan your next visit.
I hope to plan my own ski trip in the very near future, and maybe I’ve given you some ideas of things to experience in the state I call home. What top five Utah experiences would be on your list?
Melissa Draper lives in Payson, Utah, with her husband and their three children. Her passions include being a wife and mother, writing, running and music.
