USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHWEST” UTAH

UTAH: THE BEEHIVE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

Leisure travel is a wonderful experience that everyone should have in their lifetime. Even business travel can be made enjoyable. There are some aspects of travel that can detract from your enjoyment.  When planning to fly for a trip, don't forget any frequent flier miles you might have racked up. It does you no good to hang onto those once you've already gone on your big vacation. Even if you don't have enough miles to cover the whole trip, many airlines will allow you to discount your rate using your miles. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

 

SALT LAKE CITY, “CROSSROADS OF THE WEST”

 

Salt Lake City History

Until Brigham Young and his band of Mormon settlers arrived here in the summer of 1847, this vast and visually stunning region had lain empty apart from the roaming buffalo and the wandering tribes of Ute Indian, from which the state derives its name. 

Before them the Pueblo People, travelling north, built communities through the south of the state during the first 100 years AD, and until a treaty ceded it in 1848, this land was still part of Mexico. 

Many of the first Mormon pioneers here were European converts who brought their varying languages, skills and cultures to build a cosmopolitan community in this beautiful wilderness. Their peace was swiftly shattered as hordes of hopeful prospectors swept through early Salt Lake on their way to California during the 1850s gold rush. In fact, Salt Lake soon had its own share of silver, copper and lead mines, some of which remain open to this day. 

Salt Lake City continued to thrive and expand during the early 1900s, which saw most of its grand state buildings erected, permanently changing Salt Lake from a pioneer town to a modern, functioning city. The city has continued to expand and strengthen economically ever since, with the last surge of major development occurring in the 1980's and 90s with the arrival of many of the high-rise buildings that now sculpt its skyline. 

By the time Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002, it was the largest city ever to do so, and to date much of the city's tourist economy is thanks to its proximity to the spectacular Wasatch Mountains. 

Salt Lake City is also culturally rich. Robert Redford made this region his home and since the early 1980s, his Sundance Film Festival held here each January has become a fixture of the global film festival calendar. 

Did you know? 
- Salt Lake City occupies an area once covered by a prehistoric lake, with the original shoreline still visible in sections. 
- It took over 40 years for the city's iconic Salt Lake Temple to be built. 
- The Great Salt Lake is as much as five times saltier than the ocean.

 

Things to do in Salt Lake City

Activities

Winter sports

This is a winter paradise for skiers and boarders alike, with the four main resorts surrounding Salt Lake offering acres of entertainment for all abilities. The white stuff that falls here is light, dry and fluffy, and has been described as 'the greatest snow on earth'. Snowbird is one of Salt Lake's highest and most conveniently located ski resorts; great slopes, deluxe amenities, and the fastest lift in North America are only some of the perks. Slightly further out, the aptly named Solitude Mountain Resort is a beautiful haven of tranquility. Alta Ski Area, the local favorite, is a skier's mountain, full of challenging terrain set amongst granite peaks, while Brighton Resort boasts 1,875ft (571 meters) of vertical skiing that's entirely accessed by high-speed quad lifts.

Website: www.snowbird.com
Website: www.skisolitude.com
Website: www.alta.com
Website: www.brightonresort.com

White water rafting

Enjoy the beauty and excitement of rafting down the white waters of the Weber River through dramatic Weber Canyon, just a 45-minute drive from Salt Lake. Park City Rafting's experienced and friendly guides, also certified in first-aid and CPR, steer rafters through a tumultuous aquatic adventure on either a two-hour tour or a full-day's rafting with a stop for lunch. 

Tel: (435) 655 3800.
Website: www.parkcityrafting.net

Horseback riding

For that authentic pioneering experience, this stunning landscape should only be viewed from the saddle, which is exactly what you'll do when you take up the trail with Wind In Your Hair Riding. For experienced riders only, parties of up to four can mount-up on beautiful and smooth traveling Paso Fino horses, and enjoy the areas spectacular scenery and wildlife all year round, at a trot or a gallop. Lessons for beginners are also available here.

46 East Cherry Canyon Drive, Wanship
Tel. (435) 336 4795.
Website: www.windinyourhair.com

Mountain biking

Even when the snow melts, outdoor enthusiasts continue to traverse these mountainsides - this time on wheels. For mountain-hardy bikes, try Wild Rose Sports. Head up the mountainsides, or go for a more relaxed route around Salt Lake.

Wild Rose Sports
Tel.: (801) 533 8671
Website: www.wildrosesports.com

Golf

Utah is a haven for golfers of all standards, with no lass than 34 public golf courses in and around Salt Lake City. It's strong testament to Utah's amazing natural diversity that you can happily play 18 holes on beautiful courses in warm sunshine, with the mountains providing a stunning backdrop, while others are simultaneously hurtling down those power-capped peaks.

Website: www.utah.com/golf

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I came back to Utah to get away from Hollywood. 

Mike Lookinland    

 
Live life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHWEST” UTAH

UTAH: THE BEEHIVE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

A vacation can soothe the soul and leave you renewed, refreshed, and invigorated. Whether you are just now starting to plan your next vacation, or are merely looking for travel ideas and suggestions, read all the articles about travel. So take away some of the stress of making travel plans, and get started thinking about the fun and relaxing times you will soon be having on your next trip! When you are ready to plan an exciting vacation contact me!

 

SALT LAKE CITY, “CROSSROADS OF THE WEST”

 

About Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah, boasts a spectacular setting. Cradled in a natural basin below the Wasatch Mountains and extending to the southern shore of the Great Salt Lake, its natural allure is evident.

This must certainly have been true in 1847 when Mormon Pioneer Brigham Young arrived here and established the famous home of The Church Of The Latter Day Saints. While Salt Lake City is intrinsically linked to the temple erected at the heart of Temple Square, the city still follows its own trajectory.

Today, less than half the population is Mormon and it's the student and immigrant communities that thrive. Add a flourishing dining scene, eye-catching museums and astonishing number of bars, and Salt Lake City really starts to surprise you.

In their struggle against discrimination, the Mormons have gained an unlikely ally in the LGBT community, and the three-day Pride Festival has become one of Salt Lake's biggest celebrations.

You can bag your share of culture at the excellent Utah Museum of Contemporary Art or at the Natural History Museum of Utah, based in a sleek 21st-century home conceived to be an extension of the local landscape.

The lure of the mountains is what brings many visitors to Salt Lake. Catch sight of a license plate and you might spy Utah's claim to have the ‘greatest snow on earth'. Over 12m (500-plus inches) of super-fluffy white stuff blankets the region annually, and you can ski a different mountain every day of the week. Four major resorts are so close you can take a local bus and be back in town for après at the opera or the symphony. In summer, hiking and camping takes over, along with road trips to Utah's iconic national parks.

And you can forget all you've heard about Utah being a dry state. For years, smart brewpubs and innovative microbreweries have succeeded in watering the thirsty with local ales in the face of restrictive Utah booze laws - let's drink to that.

Tours & Excursions

Tourist Information Centers

Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Address:

90 South West Temple
Salt Lake City
United States

Telephone:  (801) 534 4900.

Website:  http://www.visitsaltlake.com

Hours of Operation:

Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat and Sun 0900-1700.

Excursions

Dinosaur National Monument

Covering 842 sq km (325 sq miles) in Utah and Colorado, the Dinosaur National Monument contains the largest quarry of bones from the Jurassic Period ever found. The Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Centre is closed indefinitely, but a few fossils can be seen by hiking 0.8km (0.5 miles) from the temporary visitor center. The dinosaur fossils lie on the Utah side of the park, east of Vernal and north of Jensen, about 296km (185 miles) from Salt Lake City via Highway 40. The temporary visitor center is open daily 0830-1730 (summer) and Monday to Friday 0830-1630 (winter). Ancient petroglyphs are also visible in the park. The park is open from sunrise to sunset and there is an admission charge. The area is also popular for white-water rafting on the Green and Yampa rivers, while the Colorado side has miles of hiking trails and scenic canyons.

Telephone:  (970) 374 3000.

Website:  http://www.nps.gov/dino

Park City

Nestled in the western ranges of the Rockies, Utah's largest ski area and headquarters of the US ski team is 51km (32 miles) east of Salt Lake City. A former silver mining boom town, the historic buildings of the central downtown area make a charming contrast to the modern condos of the surrounding ski resorts. This is Salt Lake City's year-round playground. In summer, visitors hike and bike 563km (350 miles) of scenic trails, while in winter, Park City is the major ski and snowboard hub, surrounded by Utah's famed powder snow ski resorts. On top of all this, every January the town draws a further 40,000 visitors to the now world-famous Sundance Film Festival.

Telephone:  (435) 658 9616.

Website:  http://www.parkcityinfo.com

Thanksgiving Point Institute

Lying 44 km (28 miles) south of the city, the Thanksgiving Point Institute offers educational facilities, quality restaurants and an award-winning golf course, alongside the largest botanical garden in North America and the world's largest dinosaur museum, exhibiting hundreds of fossils (many discovered locally), all set within a huge 283 hectare (700 acre) site. There is also a discovery garden and farm country animal park for children and a regular calendar of events, from western themed evenings to sushi making classes.

Telephone:  (801) 768 2300 or 1 888 672 6040.

Website:  http://www.thanksgivingpoint.com

Bonneville Salt Flats

So flat you can see the curvature of the earth, this desolate, alien and fascinating location has long been a firm favorite with film-makers, and of course land-speed record breakers, since Sir Malcolm Campbell was first lured here in the 1930s. One of the most extraordinary natural features in the world, this densely packed salt pan (the remnants of a prehistoric sea) stretches over 12,140 hectares (30,000 acres). Located along I-80 near the Utah-Nevada border, the Bonneville Salt Flats State Park lies roughly 150km (93 miles) west of Salt Lake City, but the unique, other-worldly majesty of this vast white plain is well worth the trip.

Telephone:  (801) 977 4300.

Great Salt Lake

No visit to the region is complete without a glimpse of the Great Salt Lake that gave this city its name. Several times saltier than the ocean, with a salinity as high as 27% at times, it is the largest lake west of the Mississippi River. In the late 19th century, it was lined with fashionable resorts. Today, only the shabby Salt Air Palace gives testimony to its former glory days. Floating in the lake and picnicking are popular activities. The Great Salt Lake is open to the public daily between 0800-dusk and admission is free. The lake is located 27km (17 miles) west of Salt Lake City and is reached from exit 104 on I-80.

Telephone:  (801) 250 1898.

Tours

Walking tours

A self-guided walk of the Downtown, starting at the Visitor Information Center, 90 South West Temple, runs past the Salt Palace Convention Center to Temple Square. Just east of the square are historic landmarks such as the Beehive House and Eagle Gate, as well as modern attractions such as the Clark Planetarium. Pick up Utah Heritage Foundation's Historic Downtown Salt Lake City Walking Tour Guide, which contains a map and five highlighted one-hour walking tours, including a special tour of Main Street for kids.

Telephone:  (801) 534 4900 or (800) 541 4955.

Bus tours

Take in the city's finest sights with Gray Line Tours, which tours the city daily between Monday and Saturday, covering nearly every point of interest in Salt Lake during a four hour tour with a break for lunch. Highlights include Salt Lake Temple, the Mormon Tabernacle, State Capitol Building, Governor's Mansion, Beehive House, Lion House and the Temple Gardens and Fountains, while professional guides recount the city's fascinating history, from its pioneer beginnings to the present day. Your pick-up location can be pre-arranged by phone.

Telephone:  (801) 534 1001.

Website:  http://www.saltlakecitytours.org

Horse drawn carriage tours

Carriage for Hire offers half-hour and one-hour city tours by horse-drawn carriage. Carriages are allowed anywhere in the city and drivers can pick up passengers and drop them off at nearby hotels and restaurants. The half-hour City Ride covers Downtown, taking in the Capitol Theatre, Gallivan Plaza, the County Courthouse and one of the oldest Main Streets in the West.

Telephone:  (801) 363 8687.

Website:  http://www.carriageforhire.net

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I've had opportunities. But I'm happy at Utah. I can do a lot of nice things and I love the kids. We work hard and we have fun.

Rick Majerus
  
 
Enjoy life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHWEST” UTAH

UTAH: THE BEEHIVE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

We lead such busy lives working, going to school, taking children to different activities that often we do not stop and talk to our children. We usually do not have time to sit around the dinner table and ask our children what they did today. Family vacations are so important, as it gives us a way to connect with each other in a stress free relaxed environment. Families that take vacations together build memories that will last a lifetime. Family vacations and travel can be the most rewarding experience. When you want to plan your vacation contact me!

PROVO, "HAPPY VALLEY"

About Provo

Currently estimated at 122,451 people, Provo is the third largest city in Utah and is located about 43 miles (69 km) south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south. Provo is also the principal city in the Provo-Orem metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 540,820 residents. It is the second largest metro area in the state behind Salt Lake City.

The city is home to Brigham Young University, one of the largest private higher education institutions in the United States, which is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Provo is also home to the largest Missionary Training Center for the church. The city is a key operational center for Novell and has been a focus area for technology development in Utah. The city is also home to the Peaks Ice Arena, which served as a venue for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002.
In 2009 Provo was listed in Where to Retire magazine as an "enticing city for new careers", Provo was also listed in National Geographic Adventure Magazine's "where to live and play" as a cultural hub.

• 
  
  BYU Earth Science Museum
  Located on the BYU campus, this fascinating museum offers patrons several glances at the mystery and history of the natural world. From the Jurassic Period to the Ice Age, the museum's extensive collection spans thousands of years and includes the fossilized remains of dinosaurs, mammals, and ancient sea life.
• 
  
  BYU Museum of Peoples and Cultures
  Located in BYU's historic Allen Hall, a beautiful red brick building with parapet walls, this unique museum boasts cultural artifacts hailing from all corners of the earth. In particular, the museum's collection tells the stories of the prehistoric and Native American peoples via myriad informative displays, and exhibits that include pottery shards, complete vessels, and other pieces of socio-historical significance. Significant exhibition space is also given to ancient Israeli, Polynesian, and Syrian cultures as well.
• 
  
  John Hutchings Museum of Natural History
   life-long scholar and scientist, John Hutchings collected countless geological, historical, and anthropological odds and ends throughout his life. In fact, at its height, his collection included everything from Butch Cassidy's shotgun to dinosaur bones. In the 1950s, when the collection grew too large for his home, Hutchings donated a large portion of his collection to the town of Lehi.
• 
  
  Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum
  Located on the BYU campus near the Marriott Center, the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum is a facility dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the biological sciences. Housed within the museum are a variety of specimens and exhibits, including those focusing on insects, plants, fish, mammals, and birds from around the world. Best of all, the museum is a family-friendly environment that offers everything from live reptile shows to a hands-on playroom.
• 
  
  Museum of Art at BYU
  Brigham Young University's famous museum of art, one of the largest in the western United States, contains an impressive collection of paintings, pottery, and sculpture from around the world, including pieces by everyone from Rembrandt and Monet to Americans Maynard Dixon and Burton Silverman. The museum, which owes its contemporary design to Los Angeles architect James Langerheim, has four levels and includes 10 galleries, a library, an auditorium, classrooms, and a small theater. Stop by the gift shop before you leave and pick up a little something for the folks back home.
• 
  
  North American Museum of Ancient Life
  Lehi's Thanksgiving Institute, which is dedicated to bridging the gap between modernity and nature, is home to the fascinating North American Museum of Ancient Life. This museum contains a plethora of dinosaur fossils, paleontology exhibits, and sixty dinosaur skeletal exhibits. Aside from traditional still exhibits, the museum also boasts the aptly named Mammoth Screen Theater, whose 70-millimeter projection system and state-of-the-art sound system make you feel like you're in the movie, not watching it.

• 
  
  Orem Heritage Museum
  To learn more about the history of the Orem community, visit this cozy museum located in the city center. The Heritage Museum boasts a varied collection that includes artifacts both Native American and early American pioneer in origin. Included in their holdings is Utah's largest (and one of the United States' largest) collection of arrowheads. Be sure to visit the Orem diorama, which shows the town as it looked in the 1940s, complete with a working railroad.
• 
  
  Provo Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum
  The Daughters of Utah operate several historical museums throughout the state, each one dedicated to preserving the state's rich pioneer heritage. The pride of this museum is its collection of cabins that were originally in Fort Utah. Each cabin is outfitted with authentic primitive furniture and artifacts ranging from clothing to photographs to family histories. The museum also has several pieces of original Western artwork on display.
• 
  
  Springville Museum of Art
  Dubbed "Utah's Art City," quaint Springville boasts one of the region's top art museums. The museum, located in one of the town's most noteworthy buildings, is a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival-style building completed in 1937. Inside, you'll find four exhibition galleries that display local and regional art. Meanwhile, the permanent collection includes more than 1500 pieces of original Western, American, and Soviet art, thus earning the museum a fair amount of national attention.
• 
  
  Thanksgiving Point Institute
  This massive, 500-acre complex offers a wide range of family-friendly activities and events. The dream child of WordPerfect co-founder Alan Ashton, the complex brings together the natural and modern world in ingenious and dramatic ways. A golf course designed by Johnny Miller, the award-winning Garden Wall restaurant, and myriad shops and special display gardens — these are but a portion of what the complex has to offer. Of course, many visitors make the trip just to tour the famous North American Museum of Ancient Life, which contains a plethora of dinosaur fossils, paleontology exhibits, and dinosaur skeletal exhibits.

REFERENCE SITES

http://www.provo.org/

http://www.10best.com/

http://www.utahvalley.com/

Education is the largest and most important investment Utah makes. 

Gary Herbert 

Travel and create wonderful memories for your family!

 

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHWEST” UTAH

UTAH: THE BEEHIVE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

The preparation for a vacation is almost as exhilarating as the vacation itself. I love printing out the tickets and confirmations while thinking about how much fun I will have on vacation. I enjoy researching all the sights at the location I will see once I arrive at my destination. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

 

Utah Travel Guide

Utah history, language & culture

The first inhabitants of Utah can be traced back 12,000 years ago when the Palaeolithic people lived near the marshes of the Great Basin. Spanish explorers and fur trappers passed through in route to the California coast but until 1847 when the Mormon pioneers arrived, the area was home to Native American groups such as the Northern Shoshone and Navajo tribes.

After seeing no permanent Indian settlements in Salt Lake Valley, the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, popularly known as Mormons, set up their community. At that time, the land was owned by Mexico, but after losing the Mexican-American war, Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo which ceded this land to the US. Conflict with the Shoshone Indians over recompense for the lands taken, arose but their claims were rejected.

Previous petitions for statehood having been rejected, in 1850 the Utah Territory was created with the Compromise of 1850. But tension grew between the federal government and the Mormons when in 1854 the polygamous practices of the Mormons became public. Many saw this as rebellious and un-American, and this became another obstacle to obtaining statehood, with federal laws against polyamory issued during the 1870s and 1880s.

Due to its geographic position, Utah was not heavily involved in the Civil War. However tensions arose between the Indians and the few soldiers stationed in the area, as the US tried to gain more land and in 1863 the Bear River Massacre saw the US army kill between 200 and 400 Shoshone Indians. Two years later, the seven-year Black Hawk War began, which consisted of 150 battles between the local and federal militia and several Indian tribes.

Utah was one of the first states to grant women suffrage in 1870, second to Wyoming. The vote came to Utah women effortlessly as it was solely promoted by men who were ex-members of the Mormon Church and anti-polygamous advocates for women's suffrage in the east. However their suffrage was repealed by the Edmunds-Tucker Act, a national effort to rid the territory of polygamy by fining anyone who practiced it and imprisoning them up to five years. The right to vote was finally restored in 1895, five years after the 1890 Manifesto in which the Mormons agreed to drop its approval of polygamy. A year later, the federal government finally granted the territory statehood as long as they included a ban on polygamy in their state constitution.

During the late 20^th century, Utah's economy boomed as the area became recognized for its natural beauty and national parks were established. As the location of many hit films, like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Forrest Gump, Utah has seen a large boost in tourism, particularly for winter sports and its profile was raised even more with the hosting of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Things to see and do in Utah

Moab

Moab is a great base for exploring Utah's southeast. The town boasts the Hole 'n the Rock, a 14-room house carved out of a sandstone cliff; the Dan O'Laurie Museum; and Pale Creek Ranch, which offers trail rides into the La Sal Mountains.

Museum of Church History and Art

Tour the Museum of Church History and Art in Salt Lake City, and find Mormon historical memorabilia, fine art sculptures and paintings.

Ride the Snowbird Tram

Ride the year-round Snowbird Tram (www.snowbird.com) that rises 870m (2,854ft) to the top of the 3,300m (10,827ft) Hidden Peak with its 360-degree view of Utah's mountain ranges and valleys.

Salt Lake City

Explore Salt Lake City (www.visitsaltlake.com). The city is a thriving modern city whose proximity to the mountains and lakes makes it a popular base for outdoor enthusiasts. The city is also the spiritual center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and home to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Salt Lake Temple

See Salt Lake Temple (www.ldschurchtemples.com). The temple occupies a full city block in Salt Lake City. It houses the Mormon Tabernacle, Assembly Hall, various statues, monuments and two visitor centers.

Skiing

Utah has a good selection of ski resorts, seven of which are less than an hour's drive from Salt Lake City. These include Alta Ski Resort (www.alta.com), Beaver Mountain (www.skithebeav.com), Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort (www.snowbird.com), Park City Mountain Resort (www.parkcitymountain.com), The Canyons (www.thecanyons.com), and Deer Valley Resort (www.deervalley.com). Seven snowmobile complexes are located across the state, linking hundreds of miles of trail systems.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Explore the Timpanogos Cave National Monument on the north slope of Mount Timpanogos. The monument's cave systems consist of three spectacularly decorated caves.

Visit Utah's parks

Experience the natural scenic wonders of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest , the East Canyon State Park the Willard Bay State Park, the Lost Creek State Park and the Antelope Island State Park. Take the family through Bryce Canyon National Park; the park shows thousands of delicately carved spires rising in brilliant colors from amphitheaters. Explore the Canyonland National Park, which is divided, into three sections by the Green and Colorado rivers.

Zion National Park

Visit one of the nation's oldest national parks. The park has over 593 sq km (229 sq miles) of canyons and soaring cliffs.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

Snowboarding! I love it! Some of the best places to snowboard are Telluride and Park Cities, Utah.

 Bridget Hall
 
 

Travel to create marvelous memories for you and your family or friends!