~ Top 10 Tourist Destinations in Utah, USA ~

[MysteRy]

Top 10 Tourist Destinations in Utah, USA

Unless you live there or know it intimately, Utah is going to surprise you. In fact, it may well knock your socks off. Few landscapes on earth compare with it. This relatively small state sits between Nevada and Colorado in America's south, with Arizona just below it and Idaho and Wyoming to the north. If you're thinking of just driving through on your way to the 'biggies' like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or Death Valley ... plan on at least a few extra days in Utah, because it is so worth it.


1. Bryce Canyon National Park   



Bryce is a remarkable hidden gem. Being quite remote, it isn't packed with tourists. And yet it's every bit as stunning, unique and out of this world as sites that are swamped with visitors. In this writer's opinion, it is right up there with the Grand Canyon and you can enjoy it in solitude and peace. The eighteen-mile drive through Bryce is amazing enough. But to stop for several days here, high up on the Colorado Plateau, enables you to explore the mind-boggling scenery more. The 'canyon' itself is the highlight, though actually its an ampitheatre. Hoodoos line up for miles on end, below your vantage point - pink columns of Cenezoic sedimentary rock that stand up to 200 feet high. It's a vast cathedral, on a grand scale. You can drive through natural arches, take in ancient petroglyphs, gaze at Thor's Hammer and explore the forests. Horse ride or hike through this incredible place that includes more than 35,000 acres. Find it south east of Panguitch off Route 89.

[MysteRy]

2. Arches National Park   



There aren't 'just a couple' of amazing, natural sandstone arches in this parkland - there are 2,000. Just outside Moab in this high desert, on top of a bed of salt, rise towers, arches, fins and balanced rocks in various hues from yellow to deep reds. This is an almost unearthly, eeriely beautiful landscape under every-changing skies. At night, the stars are like dust as there is no light pollution out here in the wild. Incredibly, people have lived here for over 10,000 years. Petroglyphs - rock drawings - confirm that. One of the most famous natural arches in the world is here: Delicate Arch. But some are just as impressive, for example Landscape Arch. It's a daunting, barren land ... hence the names given to various areas: the Fiery Furnace, Tower of Babel and Devil's Garden. You cannot walk away without being amazed by Arches National Park. The park is open every single day of the year, though the visitor's centre staff get a day off for Christmas!

[MysteRy]

3. Goblin Valley State Park   



South of Provo in a true wilderness land is Goblin Valley State Park. Come here to hike amongst thousands of hoodoos and dunes, in Utah's quintessential red sandstone landscape. There are over 3,600 acres to explore here and the park gets its names from the "goblins”: squat rocks that rise abruptly from the valley floor. Some people call them mushrooms, but they definitely do resemble the goblins of fairy tales. There are three major trails here, off road vehicles are pemitted and you can also camp in style, taking one of the yurts.

[MysteRy]

4. Salt Lake City



There is no city like SLC on earth. This is where Brigham Young set up the Mormons, the home of the church of Latter Day Saints and one of the only cities in the world on the shores of a huge, natural salt lake. The architecture of this 190,000 strong city is also unique. Temple Square, the Capitol, the County Building and even the railway station are worth visiting. And this city is not just about history. It's become a major recreation destination with masses of man-made entertainment but also the delights of outdoor pursuits: particularly in winter. Salt Lake City has been home to the Olympics, it has a zoo, numerous performing arts venues, amusement parks and museums. Since the 2002 Winter Olympics, the draw for winter sports enthusiasts has increased enormously.  There are no less than eight major ski resorts less than fifty miles the downtown, in the Wasatch Mountains.

[MysteRy]

5. Zion National Park   



Two hours south west of Bryce is the equally stunning Zion National Park on the edge of the Mojave Desert. This is much closer to Interstate 15, and so gets far more visitors, but there is enough space to go around. 229 square miles of space, to be exact. Plus, there are a lot more facilities, campgrounds and a museum. Again it's the rocks that form the star attraction: 150 million years of strata are exposed here, creating an unequalled geological history and also some highly dramatic landscapes ... of canyons and mesas, bluffs and creeks. To preserve the area, the scenic drive is not accessible to private vehicles in the summer months. Instead, shuttle buses take you along the nine miles that trace the valley floor. The park is open 24/7/365. Find the entrance on route 9, near Springdale.

[MysteRy]

6. Rainbow Bridge National Monument   



This is reputed to be the highest natural bridge in the world. OK, there's always going to be some disagreement but most of the competitors are also within Utah! Whatever the exact dimension quibbles, this is definitely the easiest natural bridge to access. Here in the remote canyons around Navajo Mountain at Page, the Rainbow Bridge can be reached easily from Northern Arizona (it's almost right on the border) or through a beautiful, two hour boat ride across Lake Powell. This red rock, natural creation is 88 metres high and 84 metres in span and was formed back in the days of the dinosaurs - the Triassic and Jurassic. The sandstone was packed so tightly, that it has endured for millennia, defying the forces of erosion. The park is open year round.

[MysteRy]

7. Provo
 


All the great cities of Utah are within easy reach of each other, making it very easy to take in the appeal of each. Under the Wasatchs and within 43 miles of Salt Lake City, Provo is home to Brigham Young University. With just under 100,000 people living here, it's the third largest of the cities. It has its own lake, south of the Great one: Utah Lake and its state park. This is a freshwater oasis compared to the high saline content of its northern neighbour. It therefore offers great fishing and birdwatching opportunities. In your catch, you should have catfish, walleye, bass and panfish. In winter, this high lake becomes a great place for ice fishing, hockey and skating, whilst in summer you can enjoy boating, kayaking camping and water-skiing.

[MysteRy]

8. Great Salt Lake   



In the western hemisphere, this is the biggest saltwater lake in the world, and in the top five for largest lakes ... full stop. About 1,700 square miles of shallow waters collect here, with 10,000 miles of shores ... and nothing ever goes out, or in, except for the H20 that evaporates and that which falls from the sky. It's America's answer to the Dead Sea and yes, you'd float on it. Yet, there is loads of life here in the high salinity conditions. There are brine shrimp and lots of birds here. It's also an incredibly beautiful, wild place, dotted with islands, where each sunset paints a picture. The mountains surround this high like, the yachts skim over it, the clouds scud overhead and you watch in peace as nature lays on the whole spectacle for you.  You can't fail to miss this enormous natural wonder: just head north east from Salt Lake City.

[MysteRy]

9. Ogden



Ogden is Utah's big second city, also on the Great Salt Lake. It's the perfect base from which to take advantage of the opportunities for recreation in the Wasatch Mountains, which formed a very picturesque backdrop to the town, especially when topped with snow. And, of course, for getting out to the lake, which is just to the west. But Ogden isn't just a place to rest your head. It is a charming city with historical sites galore. Head for 25th Street to take in the old fashioned stores. Visit Peery's Egyptian Theatre. Even the railroad station is great. Plus, there are farmers' markets, top restaurants and antique shops to browse. There are museums and galleries to peruse when you've returned from the ski slopes or from hiking all day.

[MysteRy]

10. St. George   



Also known as Utah's Dixie, St. George is one of the fastest growing cities in the USA. It's in a sublime location, within sight of Zion National Park, the Mojave Desert and the Pine Mountains and is a little over 100 miles from Las Vegas. It also has a great climate, with very hot, dry summers and snow-free, warm winters. This was cotton country, and is the lowest spot in the state so ... if altitude doesn't suit you ... make sure you base yourself here and enjoy easy access to the great outdoors. Also come here if you enjoy a round a golf; there are ten of the very best golf clubs in Utah here.