DIY Travel in Utah

Skiing in the winter months is a major activity in and around the Salt Lake/Park City area of Utah. We suggest checking out our Favorite Places for Skiing to learn more about skiing in Utah.

Utah’s National Parks

While we love the Park City area for skiing, the true Utah lies in the southern part of the state. There you find some of America’s most spectacular national parks. In 2020 Cos and Robin did a National Parks tour around the country and this state. Starting in Moab we visited the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Heading west, there are Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Parks. We then headed South and down through the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument. This led to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks. The scenic highways were as spectacular as the National Parks. Truly, this is a trip we strongly recommend for anyone who loves nature. For more information about the trip, visit our post on the Best Road Trips for Couples.

Many of these parks are in great demand and access is sometimes limited or only by reservation. Zion has reserved buses and the Arches was very difficult to get a reservation. Both parks are very crowded. But, they are gorgeous. In addition to finding Zion hard to access, getting dinner reservations was equally difficult. Cos and Robin ended up ordering room service as that was the only option. If you plan on visiting, get reservations in advance.

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Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City is the Capital of Utah, and the largest city in Utah. Roughly 50% of the population are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. (i.e., Mormons). This dates back to the city’s founding by Bringham Young in 1847. The Mormon Tabernacle, located on Tabernacle Square, is an impressive building. The Tabernacle has remarkable acoustics. This is where the Tabernacle Choir has performed for over 100 years.

The mountains that surround the city and the Great Salt Lake to the north impact the city’s weather. North of the Lake is the Promontory Summit. The First transcontinental railroad was completed here in 1869. Our Favorite Museums post has pictures of the event at the Sacramento Railroad Museum.