U t a h
The Beehive State
1-800-200-1160 or 1-801-538-1030
www.utah.com
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Total Area: 84,899 sq. mi., (Rank: 13th)
Highest Point: Kings Peak, (13,528 ft.)
Largest City: Salt Lake City
Capital: Salt Lake City
Statehood: January 4, 1896, (45th state)
State Motto: Industry
Rating: 5 Stars
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1. Antelope Island State Park - There is an island between Ogden and Salt Lake City in the middle of the Great Salt Lake, which is located 4,212 feet above sea level. On this biggest island in the Great Salt Lake, you can view wildlife including 600 bison, pronghorn, antelope, bighorn sheep and more. There are also 18 miles of hiking trails.
1-801-773-2941 or 1-801-625-1630, www.stateparks.utah.gov/default.php.
2. Salt Lake City - 1-801-5212822 or 1800-541-4955, www.visitsaltlake.com/.
a) Utah State Capitol Building - 1-801-538-3000, Down State St.
b) Mormon Temple Square - It took a long time to build this impressive temple; it was being built from 1853 to 1893. Visitors are not allowed inside, unless you are a Mormon. 1-801-240-4872 or 1-800-537-9703, 50 W. North Temple.
c) Utah Museum of Natural History - The Museum has a large collection of artifacts from ancient tribal cultures.
1-801-581-6927, 1390 E. Presidents Circle,
www.umnh.utah.edu.
d) Hogle Zoo - The Zoo has 1,100 animals representing 250 species from around the world.
1-801-582-1631, 2600 East Sunnyside, www.hoglezoo.org.
3. Bridal Veil Falls (northeast of Provo - 1-801-370-8393, 1-800-222-UTAH, www.utahvalley.org/cvb). - This beautiful 607 feet drop of water is located 4 miles up Provo Canyon (U.S. Highway 189).
4. Steinaker State Park (near Vernal) - Popular activities are swimming, boating, water skiing, fishing and sunbathing on a sandy beach. 1-435-789-4432, www.stateparks.utah.gov/default.php.
5. Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum (Vernal) - The Museum features a collection of prehistoric and Indian culture. There are also fifteen life-size replicas of dinosaurs. 1-435-789-3799, www.stateparks.utah.gov/default.php.
6. Dinosaur National Monument (east of Vernal) - This monument was covered under Colorado since 75% of it is in Colorado. Over 1,600 dinosaur bones have been exposed for viewing. www.nps.gov/dino.
7. Eastern Utah Prehistoric Museum (Price) - Interesting exhibits of dinosaur remains and Indian artifacts. 1-800-817-9949 or 1-435-613-5111, http://museum.ceu.edu/.
8. Freemont Indian State Park (south of Richfield) - Explore the heritage in the largest Freemont Indian Village. Visitor Center has a museum, which exhibits rock art and archaeology. Other activities include fishing, hiking, camping and picnicking. 1-435-527-4631, www.stateparks.utah.gov/default.php.
9. Capitol Reef National Park - Beautiful sandstone formations can be seen by hiking or taking a drive by the scenic road. 1-435-425-3791, www.nps.gov/care.
10. Arches National Park - There are about 2,000 natural arches in this national park, which you can explore by hiking or by taking a scenic drive, (48 miles). The most popular arch is the 32-foot high, “Delicate Arch,“ that was created by erosion. 1-435-719-2299, www.nps.gov/arch.
11. Canyonlands National Park - Landscape and canyons are breathtaking. Popular activities are scenic drives, hiking, boating on Colorado River (which divides this park in two) and rock climbing. 1-435-719-2313,
www.nps.gov/cany.
12. Hole in the Rock (south of Moab) - For 20 years Albert Christensen was chiseling 14 rooms, about 5,000 sq. feet, a home for his family in a solid sandstone ridge.
1-435-686-2250, http://moab-utah.com/holeintherock/.
13. Hovenweep National Monument (near Blanding) - You can view preserved ancient tower structures, of which some are several stories high. 1-970-562-4282, www.nps.gov/hove.
14. Edge of the Cedars Museum State Park (near Blanding) - Visit and see pre-Columbian pueblo structures of Anasazi people. 1-435-678-2238,
www.stateparks.utah.gov/default.php.
15. Natural Bridges National Monument (west of Blanding) - There are three beautiful sandstone natural bridges here created by wind, rain, snow, and extreme temperature. There is also ancient stone architecture in the area. 1-435-692-1234, www.nps.gov/nabr
16. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park (southeast corner of Utah)- If you want to explore the valley beyond the scenic drive you must be accompanied by a Navajo Guide. Navajo still live here among the red rock buttes.
1-435-727-5874, www.desertusa.com/monvalley.
17. Rainbow Bridge National Monument (near Arizona state line) - This is the largest natural bridge in the world, 290 feet tall and 270 feet across. You can reach it from Arizona on foot, horseback, or by boat, taken at the Lake Powell. 1-928-608-6404, www.nps.gov/rabr.
18. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (near Arizona state line, south central Utah) - If you like archaeology, paleontology, geology, this is the place for you. 1-435-644-4300, www.ut.blm.gov.
19. Bryce Canyon National Park - Exploration of this park is available by hiking or taking a scenic drive (37 miles). Through erosion, thousands of spires and pinnacles were created from limestone and sandstone. There are many stops by the scenic road for seeing the hoodoos.
1-435-834-5322, www.nps.gov/brca.
20. Cedar Brakes National Monument (east of Cedar City) - This monument is like mini Bryce Canyon. Many colorful limestone formations, deep canyons, spires, columns were created by natural elements. 1-435-586-9451, www.nps.gov/cebr.
21. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (near Kanab) - View rust-colored high sand dunes. Hiking, taking off road vehicle rides, taking photographs are very popular activities.
1-435-648-2800, www.stateparks.utah.gov/default.php.