Leigh Wilson - Utah Day Trips by Theme

Safety Note Utah is home to a variety of potentially dangerous animals, including venomous snakes and scorpions, as well as natural hazards, such as temperature extremes, sudden flash floods, and cliffs and dropoffs. Always heed posted safety warnings, take common-sense safety precautions, and remain aware of your surroundings. Youre responsible for your own safety.

Editor: Brett Ortler

Cover and book design by Jonathan Norberg

Proofread by Jon Anderson

Front cover photo: Leigh Wilson

Back cover photo: Leigh Wilson

Photos by Leigh Wilson except as follows:

Deborah Crane:

Photos used under license from Shutterstock.com:

Asif Islam:

This image is licensed under the Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) license, which is available at

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Utah Day Trips by Theme

Copyright 2022 by Leigh Wilson

Published by Adventure Publications

An imprint of AdventureKEEN

310 Garfield Street South

Cambridge, Minnesota 55008

(800) 678-7006

www.adventurepublications.net

All rights reserved

Printed in China

ISBN 978-1-64755-161-2 (pbk.); ISBN 978-1-64755-162-9 (ebook)

Disclaimer Please note that travel information changes under the impact of many factors that influence the travel industry. We therefore suggest that you call ahead for confirmation when making your travel plans. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information throughout this book, and the contents of this publication are believed to be correct at the time of printing. Nevertheless, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, for changes in details given in this guide, or for the consequences of any reliance on the information provided by the same. Assessments of attractions and so forth are based upon the authors own experiences; therefore, descriptions given in this guide necessarily contain an element of subjective opinion, which may not reflect the publishers opinion or dictate a readers own experience on another occasion.

For the latest information about destinations in this book that have been affected by the coronavirus, please check the phone numbers and websites in the trip profiles. For news and updates about the coronavirus in Utah, see https://coronovirus.utah.gov.

Table of Contents

Dedication

To Emmit, Harper, and Jack: Never stop exploring!

Virgin River Narrows at Zion National Park

Acknowledgments

Thanks to my team at the St. Regis Deer Valley for your local knowledge and tips, as well as for giving me the time I needed to write this book! Also many thanks to Visit Salt Lake for providing me with a Connect Pass to access many of the local Salt Lake City attractions.

Notes:

• No site in this book requires four-wheel-drive access; there are many dirt/gravel roads that I traveled easily in a crossover all-wheel-drive SUV.
• Nearly 70 percent of the population in Utah affiliates with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which means a lot of restaurants and attractions are closed on Sundays. Always check ahead if you plan to travel on a Sunday.

Apple pie at Capitol Reef National Park

UTAH MAY NOT HAVE the same culinary cachet as a place such as New York City, but there are certainly some unique culinary experiences to be found here. Michelin stars may be limited to the big-city regions, but Utah certainly has its share of James Beard finalists. From mountaintop dining to food tours, these are a few recommendations and experiences for the foodies visiting Utah.

CULINARY EXPERIENCES

Garden City

Visit the birthplace of the raspberry shake and sample one of several offered at shake shacks along the shores of Bear Lake.

Logan

Explore locally grown and produced signature products on this self-guided tour through Northern Utahs Cache Valley.

Fruita

Theres more to Capitol Reef National Park than amazing scenery; there are also 54 acres of fruit trees open to public picking and tasty homemade fruit pies!

Salt Lake City and Park City

Join Utah local Maurice Egan on a guided food walking tour of Salt Lake City or Park City and learn some unique history along the way.

Park City

Enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride to a gourmet cowboy dinner with live entertainment on the slopes of Park City Mountain Resort.

Parowan

Sample delicious cinnamon rolls in the town vying for the title of Best Cinnamon Roll in the West.

Park City

Another magical dining experience on the slopes of Park City Mountain Resort; take a ride on a snowcat sleigh and enjoy a six-course Norwegian-inspired dinner.

Bear Lake Boulevard, Garden City, UT 84028

Tucked away in the northeast corner of Utah, Bear Lake splits the border of Idaho and Utah. This beautiful lake is known as the Caribbean of the Rockies, but it is also known as the birthplace of the raspberry shake. In the small town of Garden City on the western shore of the lake, several shake shops vie for the title of best raspberry shake. Sampling at least one is a must when you visit the area. LaBeaus, Zips, and Quick-and-Tasty are just a few of the contenders for the best raspberry shake in Bear Lake.

Bear Lakes famous raspberry shakes from La Beaus

Multiple locations near Logan, UT

explorelogan.com/food-tour.html

This self-guided tour takes you through Cache Valley, a lush oasis in the arid state of Utah. Thanks to abundant rivers and streams, plus innovative irrigation systems, Cache Valley is rich in agriculture. Many artisan foods are produced locally and showcased on this tour. Drive US Highway 89 between Willard and Perry, and youll see dozens of roadside fruit stands peddling local fruits and vegetables, giving this stretch of road the name of Fruit Way. Other highlights of the Foodie Trek include:

• Aggie Ice Cream and True Blue Cheese is part of Utah State Universitys College of Agriculture and produces some of the best ice cream and cheese in the West.
• The Beehive Pub & Grill on Logans Main Street brews root beer on-site and makes its own gelato.
• Bluebird Candy Company has been crafting hand-dipped chocolates in Logan since 1914.
• Cox Honeyland and Gifts features locally made honey products from Utah honeybees; they also have a hive that you can observe at the gift shop.

Capitol Reef National Park, Fruita, UT

nps.gov/care/learn/historyculture/orchards.htm

The Fruita Orchards in Capitol Reef National Park are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are the largest collection of historic orchards in the National Park System. Latter-day Saints pioneers planted thousands of fruit trees in the land along the Fremont River. The park maintains the orchards today, using heritage techniques. Flowering trees kick off the season in spring, with harvests beginning in the summer and stretching into fall. The orchards are open to the public for picking, with self-pay stations and scales at the entrance to each orchard. Dont miss out on the fresh-baked pie at the Gifford Homestead, a historic home located at the center of the orchards. They serve tasty pies made with whatever is in season.