Utah Day Trips by Theme

by Leigh Wilson

Overview

Explore Utah with this all-in-one guidebook, packed with hundreds of Utah’s best destinations organized by theme.

Discover hundreds of unique attractions around the Beehive State. This comprehensive guide by Leigh Wilson is jam-packed with Utah’s top spots for fun and entertainment. Take a simple day trip, or string together a longer vacation of activities that appeal to you. Useful for singles, couples, and families—visitors and residents alike—this guide encompasses a wide range of interests.

Features You’ll Appreciate

• Sections divided by theme for easy reference—decide what to do, then figure out where to do it
• Destinations based on themes such as Festivals, Outdoor Adventures, and Trains & Planes
• Tips for other things to do in the area
• Handy size that’s perfect for traveling

You’ll Find

• Monuments, museums, and mines
• Breathtaking views along scenic drives
• Wineries, breweries, and culinary experiences

Find an adventure that feels handpicked for you. With Utah Day Trips by Theme at your fingertips, you’ll always have something to do!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647551612
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	07/26/2022
Series:	Day Trip Series
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	657,355
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Leigh Wilson is a travel blogger and freelance writer from Moline, Illinois. Travel has been her passion for as long as she can remember. Her parents loved traveling and had an RV when she was small. Her dad was a door-to-door Kirby vacuum salesman, so she often traveled with him during school breaks and summers.

In 2017, after a 20-year marketing career, Leigh set out on a 4-month road trip with her Airedale Terrier, in search of a new town to call home. For a time, she planted in Tucson, Arizona, but upon arrival in Park City, Utah, she felt like she was home. When she’s not writing or traveling, you’ll find Leigh out hiking.

Writing this book has been an excellent opportunity for her to explore the deepest corners of her new home state. Every time she leaves home, the diversity of Utah landscapes and attractions continues to amaze her.

Read an Excerpt

Ski Resorts

Utah claims to have the “Greatest Snow on Earth.” It’s been trademarked and it’s on the license plates, so take it as a fact. Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyons average over 550 inches of snow annually, making them two of the snowiest places in the world. That’s why you’ll find 14 ski resorts in Utah, 10 of them within an hour’s drive from the capital city and international airport. From gentle green runs to black diamond terrain and backcountry bowls, these Utah ski resorts have something for every type of skier and snowboarder. If you want to sample them all as I did, you can buy a Yeti Pass, which gives you one ski day at each of Utah’s 14 ski resorts! Come summer, these resorts make great hiking and biking destinations.

Alta Ski Area
10010 Little Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Alta, UT 84092; 801-359-1078

Alta is one of just three resorts in the United States that does not allow snowboards, which makes it a local favorite for old-school skiers. With 55% of the terrain designated as advanced, skiing at Alta is definitely made for black-run skiers. Services are split between Albion base and the Wildcat base, with a transfer tow and Nordic track between the two. Expert skiers can utilize a series of traverses to access additional terrain beyond the lifts, as well as a few black diamond runs connecting Alta with Snowbird. Alta features five on-site lodges, and there are many private chalet and condo rentals nearby. 

• Average Annual Snowfall: 547”
• Skiable Acres: 2,614
• Number of Lifts: 6
• Number of Runs: 116
• Base Elevation: 8,530’
• Peak Elevation: 11,068’
• Terrain:
• Beginner: 15%
• Intermediate: 30%
• Advanced: 55%
• Terrain Parks: No
• Night Skiing: No
• Pass Program: Ikon Pass (Alterra)
• Summer Operations: Sunnyside lift is open for hiking and mountain biking, camping at Albion basin, and weekend brunch at Alta Lodge in August.

Beaver Mountain Ski Area
40000 East, US-89, Garden City, UT 84028; [phone]

Located in beautiful Logan Canyon, Beaver Mountain Ski Area has been family-owned and operated since 1939, making it the oldest continuously-owned family ski resort in the United States. For skiers used to the glitz and glamour of big corporate resorts, Beaver Mountain is a refreshingly laid-back and affordable resort with everything you need for an exciting day on the slopes. You’re likely to meet one or more members of the Seeholzer family during your visit, as the owners are very involved in the day-to-day operations. There is no manmade snow at Beaver Mountain; it’s all Mother Nature, so the season open and close are weather-dependent, but the location in the Bear River Range is not lacking for snow. The parking lot is practically famous for tailgating, but the food at the Beaver Mountain Grill is too tasty (and affordable!) to pass up. Lodging is available nearby at Bear Lake and Garden City, or in Logan.

• Average Annual Snowfall: 400+”
• Skiable Acres: 828
• Number of Lifts: 6
• Number of Runs: 48
• Base Elevation: 7,200’
• Peak Elevation: 8,860’
• Terrain:
• Beginner: 35%
• Intermediate: 40%
• Advanced: 25%
• Terrain Parks: Two
• Night Skiing: Available for private events, open to the public on select evenings
• Pass Program: Indy Pass
• Summer Operations: RV Park, tent camping and yurt rentals available. Lifts closed in summer.

Table of Contents

Culinary Experiences

Festivals

Gardens, Flowers & Arboretums

Ghost Towns

Historic Monuments & Buildings

Hot Springs

LDS History & Landmarks

Museums & Zoos

Native American History & Culture

National Monuments & State Parks

National Parks

Outdoor Adventures

Performing & Visual Arts

Roadside Attractions

Rocks, Minerals & Mines

Scenic Drives

Ski Resorts

Sports

Trains & Planes

Utah Dark Sky Parks

Utah Spirits: Breweries, Distilleries, and Wineries

Waterfalls

Index

About the Author