Things to see and do while visiting Utah.
Choosing what state to visit when traveling within the United States can prove to be quite a challenge. Each state has something different to offer. Utah is one of the most popular destinations in the western part of the country. The state has so much to offer tourists of all ages and backgrounds.
The city of Moab is known as Utah's adventure capital. Activities that are available in this area include mountain biking, hiking, white water rafting, and off roading. There are also two national parks located in this area. Arches National Park is the more well known of the two. This park features hiking and many beautiful, intricate natural stone arches that have formed over the years and change on a daily basis. Delicate Arch has become the icon for the state of Utah. The other national park is Canyonlands National Park. This is Utah's largest national park. Canyonlands offers canyons, stone arches, views of the Colorado and Green Rivers, and other rock formations.
Ogden, Utah is located in the northern part of the state. This town played a big role in the formation of the first Transcontinental Railroad. Ogden is home to Golden Spike National Monument which commemorates the meeting of the two railroads that built the Transcontinental Railroad. Every day, replicas of the two engines are brought face to face over the spot where the last golden spike was driven to complete the railroad. This spike is now safely in the museum for visitors to enjoy. The city of Ogden also is a favorite skiing location for visitors in the winter.
Salt Lake City is probably the most well known of the Utah cities. Salt Lake was home to the Winter Olympics in 2002. Tourists still come to visit the world-class facilities that were built for the Olympics. For those visitors wishing to do things in different areas of the state, Salt Lake serves as a great central location to make your base. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is also based in Salt Lake City and visitors can attend a concert by the well known Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
The Zion National Park area of Utah is also full of spectacular views. This national park is rated as one of the top national parks in the United States. Within the park, there are several trails for hiking. One such trail involves walking in the Virgin River which winds through Zion Canyon. There is also horseback riding and mountain biking available in the park.
One of the more interesting areas of Utah is the Grand Staircase/Escalades. This area is located in the southern part of the state. This national monument is known for its wide variety of topographical features. The monument is split into three different areas: Canyons at Escalante, The Grand Staircase, and the Kaiparowits Plateau. The Canyons of the Escalante is a maze of rugged cliffs and canyons that makes it one of the wildest sections of America still in existence. Visitors to the state park area can also go fishing on the lake.
Utah also has many quaint smaller towns that are attractive to visitors. One such town is Logan which is located in northern Utah. Bear Lake Recreational Area is also here. The lake boasts turquoise waters and white sand beaches for summer recreation. This is also a popular spot for snowmobiling in the winter.
Utah has so much to offer to its visitors. There are activities from hiking to off roading to listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Utah is one of the most wild and unsettled areas left in the United States. People come out every year to enjoy nature at its finest.
