Utah’s mountains, hot springs, lakes, and deserts have long been home to man. For 12,000 years, tribes have hunted big game in the rich land between the mountains, admiring landscapes that still draw visitors to Utah to this day. The most drawing of these attractions is Park City’s mountains. Lauded as “the greatest snow on earth,” Park City contains two resorts named in the top ten in the country by SKI Magazine with its 9,326 acres of ski runs, snowboarding paths, and snowmobiling trails. Guests not inclined to the wintery sports can warm up by a resort fireplace, take a fun jaunt on a horse-drawn sleigh, and peer over the mountains in a hot air balloon ride.
The state’s parks and natural formations also offer scenic backgrounds for warm weather excursions such as hikes, sailing, and sightseeing. As the sun sets in a vibrant array of red, orange, and lavender hues over the Great Salt Lake, guests can easily float on the buoyant 12-percent salinity water of the lake or lay on the white sand beaches of Antelope Island. The island features a multitude of wildlife, with hikers frequently catching glimpses of bison, bobcats, elk, and moose. Utah’s second-most famous lake is also the second-largest man-made lake in the US, featuring 2,000 miles of shoreline for guests to leisurely explore from the comfort of their houseboat or camping tent.
Utah’s hiking trails don’t just surround lakes however. Some of the most interesting geological formations in the US can be found by simply hiking Utah’s wildernesses. In Zion State Park, colorful sandstone cliffs surround 10,000-year-old archeological sites that show the daily life of our ancestors who lived next to these canyons and lakes. Meanwhile, the combination of frost and eroding rainwater has created the unique limestone spires, slot canyons, and shapes that exit throughout Bryce Canyon. Visitors can hike through the fir trees and see for up to 200 miles on the rim of the canyon, creating the perfect spot for stargazing or memorable hikes and mule rides.
Outside of Utah’s natural wonders, the cities offer a range of historical and entertaining options. For a glimpse into the Mormon culture that has shaped Utah, Temple Square features 20 attractions that document the history of Mormonism in Utah as well as how to track your genealogy. The centerpiece of the square is the Salt Lake Temple, which constructors built over 40 years from 1853 and 1893 in the neo-gothic style. For more recent history, guests can tour the site of the 2002 winter Olympics. The site offers tours of the facility, alongside adventurous activities such as guided bobsled rides and heart-pumping ziplines.