Utah State Parks

Utah T R AV E L G U I D E 225 miles to Boise 230 miles to Yellowstone Sawtooth National Forest 155 miles to Grand Teton GARDEN CIT Y 15 84 Bear Lake 89 LOGAN R ANDOLPH GOLDEN SPIKE NTL. HISTORIC PARK 30 15 39 BRIGHAM CIT Y Cache National Forest OGDEN Great Salt Lake 400 miles to Reno 84 EVANSTON FLAMING GORGE NTL. REC. AREA 150 80 SALT LAKE CITY 191 80 WENDOVER 215 K AMA S PARK CIT Y Uinta National Forest TOOELE Wasatch National Forest TIMPANOGOS CAVE NTL. MONUMENT Utah Lake 36 DINOSAUR NTL. MONUMENT VERNAL HEBER CIT Y 35 191 40 PROVO 40 300 miles to Denver ive r DUCHESNE Wasatch National Forest 89 Ashley National Forest Manti-La Sal National Forest Gr Uinta National Forest ee nR 191 6 PRICE 31 6 15 Fishlake National Forest 12 miles to Great Basin 50 JURASSIC NTL. MONUMENT MANTI 28 C A STLE DALE 6 10 257 FILLMORE 70 RICHFIELD GREEN RIVER 70 ARCHES NATIONAL PARK 24 Fishlake National Forest 24 30 miles to Grand Junction 191 128 MOAB 21 CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK 15 89 62 BEAVER Manti-La Sal National Forest 24 CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK TORREY 95 89 CEDAR CIT Y PANGUITCH 276 ESC AL ANTE 12 CEDAR BREAKS NTL. MONUMENT Dixie National Forest MONTICELLO 491 Manti-La Sal National Forest NATURAL BRIDGES NTL. MONUMENT BL ANDING GLEN CANYON NTL. REC. AREA BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK ZION NATIONAL PARK 9 95 K ANAB 180 miles to Grand Canyon To request a free Official Utah Highway Map, please contact the Utah Department of Transportation at 801-965-4000 or the Utah Office of Tourism at 801-538-1900 89 GRAND STAIRCASE– ESCALANTE NTL. MONUMENT Lake Powell 55 miles to Mesa Verde HOVENWEEP NTL. MONUMENT BEARS 261 EARS NTL. MONUMENT BLUFF SPRINGDALE ST. GEORGE 110 miles to Las Vegas ve r Ri Dixie National Forest Dixie National Forest PAROWAN 191 12 Co lo ra do 130 MONUMENT VALLEY National Forest MEXIC AN HAT 162 Four Corners Area FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT National Park State Park TRAVEL GUIDE CONTENTS FOREVER MIGHTY® PAGE 2 Forever Mighty means preparing for the outdoors and traveling mindfully. Use these resources to help you plan and prepare for your visit. THE BUCKET LIST PAGE 4 Ride with bison, raft the West’s best whitewater, rappel down slot canyons, then hook a trophy trout — and your vacation is just getting started. Fulfill — or create — your Utah Bucket List with these nine unforgettable adventures. GETTING HERE & AROUND PAGE 10 Getting to Utah is easy, and with a little know-how, getting around is also a breeze. Traveling in Utah means falling in love with Utah. SALT LAKE CITY & THE WASATCH FRONT PAGE 12 You think you know Salt Lake? Immerse yourself in the experiences that truly define this vibrant city and the greater Wasatch Front. DINING GUIDE 3 4 5 6 7 PAGE 16 Get to know the sophisticated culinary side of Utah with help from a renowned dining critic. This roundup is a mere stepping off point of can’t-miss eateries from Salt Lake City and around the state. THE GREATEST SNOW ON EARTH ® PAGE 24 Zip up your coat, then point your skis or board down your choice of nearly 1,000 runs at 14 ski resorts. Repeat. This is your guide to getting here, getting around and making the most of winter on your Utah ski vacation. TOP RATED UTAH PAGE 30 Travelers to Utah love their experiences so much they can’t resist sharing them with the world. Here are several top attractions trending on TripAdvisor that deserve a spot on your vacation itinerary. PARKS & OUTDOORS PAGE 36 Your adventure starts with The Mighty 5 national parks. It continues with multiple national monuments, recreation areas and state parks plus vast stretches of national forest and open lands filling the space between them. ® SCENIC BYWAYS PAGE 50 The lure of the open road is strong in Utah. No matter where you drive here, there’s a scenic way to get where you’re going. These seven scenic byways will fill your eyes with Utah’s iconic visual splendor. HERITAGE & ARTS PAGE 56 Utah has a variety of art and history destinations, as well as a vibrant art, theater, film, festival and music scene. Utah’s pioneer and indigenous heritage is the foundation, and our uniquely contemporary offerings include a thriving Olympic spirit, inspiring earth art and rural artist communities. BEFORE YOU GO & RESOURCES PAGE 64 Traveling to Utah is an adventure. It helps to come prepared, always with a little knowledge, sometimes with gear and supplies. Here are a few tips to help you start planning and packing for Utah. Join us in keeping Utah FOREVER MIGHTY ® Utah welcomes all adventurers who care for people and place. As you travel through Utah, we ask you to: BE PREPARED FOR THE OUTDOORS BE MINDFUL OF THE PLACES YOU VISIT Forever Mighty means knowing how to Leave No Trace in the outdoors, support local EXVLQHVVHVWUDYHOVDIHO\LQUHPRWHDUHDVQRWRYHUFURZGGHVWLQDWLRQVDQGLQŴXHQFH for good on social media. TRAVEL TIP #1: TRAVEL TIP #2: Vandalism hurts our parks and communities — and it’s illegal. If you see someone vandalizing rocks, trees or signs please speak up, take pictures and contact local authorities. Want to help protect the past? Take the pledge at bit.ly/UtahArchaeology Stay on the trail to avoid disturbing cryptobiotic soil crust. These little black lumps keep entire desert ecosystems intact, which keeps Utah’s parks welcoming for visitors and wildlife. Camp only in designated or existing campsites to avoid erosion and trampling vegetation. If you have questions, or need some help knowing how to prepare, explore our education hub to read more tips or chat with us: visitutah.com/prepare *UDIƓWLSKRWRFRXUWHV\RI=LRQ1DWLRQDO3DUN NIGHT SKY ASTRONOMY FESTIVAL BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK Embrace the dark side of Utah’s national parks by staying up at night. Bryce Canyon National Park will always be recognized for geologic wonders formed by erosion, but a growing number of visitors are sticking around the high-elevation park to play in the dark. The Dark Rangers of Bryce encourage such deviance. Bryce, it turns out, is one of the best places in the world to take in the night skies. Two other Utah National Park Service units, Capitol Reef National Park and Natural Bridges National Monument, are also among the top stargazing spots. Bryce celebrates its low level of light pollution with an annual astronomy festival and night sky programs throughout the year. sltrib.com/ubl/Bryce BRETT PRETTYMAN OUTDOOR WRITER, AUTHOR Native Utahn Brett Prettyman grew up exploring the natural wonders of the state and shared them with the public as an outdoor writer and columnist for the state’s largest newspaper, The Salt Lake Tribune, for 25 years. Brett Prettyman is the former outdoor editor at the Salt Lake Tribune and author of “Fishing Utah,” “Best Easy Day Hikes Capitol Reef National Park” and “Hiking Utah’s High Uintas” (revision). When not covering stories, and sometimes while doing it, he can be found discovering new Utah adventures with family and friends. He also has his own Utah Bucket List. @BrettPrettyman on Twitter ABOUT THE UTAH BUCKET LIST Utah’s ample and amazing opportunities for possible outdoor adventure can be intimidating. Where do you start? The Salt Lake Tribune, in partnership with KUED Channel 7, set out to create a multimedia cheat sheet to help motivate people to make and experience their own Utah Bucket List and then actually cross items off. Each item had to be a unique Utah experience, and the list had to include a variety of activities incorporating various ability levels. The list was designed especially for families and friends to make memories together. “Utah Bucket List” earned two Emmy Awards. Utah national and state parks made the list, of course, as did a famous winter commodity of the Beehive State. Wildlife excursions are on the Utah Bucket List and so is a trip to Utah Olympic Park for a G-force generating bobsled ride or ski jump into a pool. See these Utah Bucket List items and more at sltrib.com/ubl/ Follow @UtahBucketList on Twitter or check out The Utah Bucket List on Facebook. Photos by Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune, unless noted otherwise. BIKING WHITE RIM TRAIL CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK The slickrock country around Moab gets the majority of mountain biking attention in Utah, but those looking for a different pedal power experience have discovered the unique opportunity of the 100-mile White Rim Trail. Some do it all sunrise to sunset, but they could miss what the landscape has to offer while in such a hurry to set bragging rights. A more popular way to ride the White Rim is with a sag wagon support vehicle chasing bikers on a more casual threeor four-day camping trip. The more leisurely ride allows visitors to soak up the stunning views and share them with family and friends. Like hiking, there is something special about powering yourself through nature — especially nature like Mother Nature gave Southern Utah. sltrib.com/ubl/WhiteRim RAFTING CATARACT CANYON CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK There is big white water and then there is the appropriately named Cataract Canyon stretch of the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park. Many visitors have a river trip on Cataract on their life lists, but it takes a special kind of adventurer to experience the raging Colorado at its peak flow. During high water years, people drop everything to float Cataract. “It’s the biggest white water you can find in the country,” said Steve Young, a river ranger at Canyonlands National Park. “It’s kind of a bucket list within a bucket list.” Don’t worry, floating the Colorado is a thrill even at its lowest flow. There are few places where you can truly escape everything about the outside world; Cataract Canyon is one of them. sltrib.com/ubl/Cataract CAMPING DEVILS GARDEN ARCHES NATIONAL PARK There are no lodges in Arches National Park, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Most daily visitors leave the gates near or shortly after sunset, because the only place for a head to hit a pillow is with a reservation at the 50-site Devils Garden Campground. After a day of hiking to some of the greatest natural wonders of the world — the park has more than 2,000 documented arches — hanging out with the family around the campfire keeps the magic moments coming. As the fire dies and the night sky lights up, tired campers find a way to stay awake just a little longer. Sunrise brings a new day of adventure and more exceptional hiking with options like Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, Marching Men, Dark Angel and the Fiery Furnace. sltrib.com/ubl/Arches 7 THE BUCKET LIST CANYONEERING GRAND STAIRCASE–ESCALANTE NTL MONUMENT From the famous Subway and Narrows routes in Zion National Park to the countless side canyons running into Lake Powell and the surrounding countryside, Utah is zigzagged with slot canyons galore. Naturally, the state would become a destination for canyoneers from around the world when interest in the activity escalated in recent years. Grand Staircase-Escalante is a perfect place to wander desert slot canyons. People new to the sport and even those with outdoor skills developed from other interests should make at least their first trip canyoneering with experienced friends or guides. sltrib.com/ubl/canyoneering Photo by Scott Markewitz UTAH POWDER DAY WASATCH FRONT Utah’s snow is the best on the planet for skiing and snowboarding. If you don’t believe it, just ask state officials who trademarked the phrase “The Greatest Snow on Earth” — seriously, legally trademarked it. Mother Nature has been known to dump up to 4 feet of the fluffy stuff in one storm on resorts within 40 minutes of downtown Salt Lake City. On days like these, “epic” is an understatement for skiers and riders. Whether you’re riding the lifts and cutting the slopes at one of the state’s 15 resorts, exploring the backcountry or venturing out for a Nordic ski adventure, Utah has the perfect winter vacation for hardcore skiers or families interested in strapping something on their feet to get down, or around, the mountain. sltrib.com/ubl/skiutah HORSEBACK BISON ROUNDUP ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK Many people believe the only place to see wild bison is at Yellowstone National Park. But visitors flying into Salt Lake City International Airport just have to look out the window while their plane makes its final descent. Bison from Yellowstone were delivered to Antelope Island, the largest island on the Great Salt Lake, in 1893. Today, the state manages the island. The bison and other wildlife, including pronghorn antelope, mule deer, coyote, fox and numerous species of shorebirds, raptors and songbirds, make Antelope Island a great destination for tourists, families and photographers. For a truly genuine Western experience, consider riding horseback during the annual Antelope Island Bison Roundup held late each fall. Riders of all experience levels help encourage the bison into pens for health checkups and an auction. sltrib.com/ubl/antelopeisland FLY-FISHING THE GREEN RIVER OLYMPIC PARK GREEN RIVER PARK CITY (WINTER AND SUMMER) There are plenty of reasons why the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam is on the bucket list of fly-fishers; 15,000, in fact, as in the average number of feisty trout per square mile on the river in northeastern Utah. Most tourists visiting the state come to experience its many natural wonders. The 2002 Winter Olympics are another reason to come to Utah. Utah Olympic Park remains as a legacy to the 2002 Winter Games — not only for athletes training for future Olympics, but also for people interested in a taste of the sports. But anglers who don’t take time to look up every once in a while are missing out on some of the best scenery in the country. Explorer John Wesley Powell documented this country in 1869 while floating down the Green and Colorado rivers. Aside from the reservoir, the scenery on a river trip below the dam looks a lot like it did more than 150 years later. Utah Olympic Park in Park City offers opportunities for people to ride down the same bobsled track used during the 2002 Games. Rides are available in the winter and the summer months. Fantasy bobsled and skeleton camps are also available in the winter. Another summer activity is taking a freestyle ski jumping lesson. Visitors can suit up and eventually jump into the 750,000-gallon pool used as a landing pad for skiers training for the Olympics. The emerald green waters and red rock canyon create visually pleasing contrasts. The excellent opportunities for fishing and wildlife viewing are just a bonus when floating the river. Photo by Jay Kinghorn sltrib.com/ubl/fishgreenriver sltrib.com/ubl/olympicpark With a little planning, the right equipment and occasionally a guide, you can truly have a Utah vacation for the ages. Here are a few ways to incorporate the Utah Bucket List into your next trip. Off Scenic Byway 12, you can easily explore some of the Grand Staircase–Escalante area’s [1] popular slot canyons, like PeekA-Boo and Spooky Gulch, but to uncover the most remote, technical and spectacular areas, book a guide and prepare yourself for a grand adventure. Astronomy tourism in Bryce Canyon [2] is immensely popular thanks to one of the oldest dark sky programs in the nation. While the rangerled versions are highly informative (and fill up fast), you can appreciate the Milky Way on your own terms — so long as the skies are clear. When heading to Moab, reserve a campsite in Arches [5] well in advance of your trip. The same goes for booking your trip down the rapids of the Colorado River [3] and making necessary arrangements for the White Rim Trail [4]. Almost any ski vacation in Utah has a high probability of delivering an epic Powder Day [8]. For an Olympic-caliber vacation, plan a visit to the Utah Olympic Park [6], only minutes from Park City-area resorts and a short drive from Salt Lake City. Fly-fishing on the Green River [7] is a destination unto itself, or a great addition to road trips hitting the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area or Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway and Dinosaur National Monument. Though the Bison Roundup is one weekend in October, Antelope Island [9] is a must-visit destination for hiking, biking and viewing wildlife throughout the year. It’s an essential stop when traveling through Northern Utah to Yellowstone or Grand Teton. 9 7 8 6 5 3 2 1 4 THE BUCKET LIST 9 INCORPORATING THE BUCKET LIST INTO YOUR TRIP 225 miles to Boise 230 miles to Yellowstone 155 miles to Grand Teton GARDEN CIT Y 15 84 Bear Lake 89 NORTHERN UTAH SOUTHEASTERN UTAH LOGAN 30 SOUTHWESTERN UTAH R ANDOLPH GOLDEN SPIKE NTL. HISTORIC PARK STATE PARK 15 39 BRIGHAM CIT Y OGDEN Great Salt Lake 400 miles to Reno 84 150 80 FLAMING GORGE NTL. REC. AREA SALT LAKE CITY WENDOVER 191 80 215 K AMAS PARK CIT Y TOOELE 35 TIMPANOGOS CAVE NTL. MONUMENT Utah Lake 36 DINOSAUR NTL. MONUMENT VERNAL HEBER CIT Y 191 40 PROVO 300 miles to Denver 40 ive r DUCHESNE ee nR 191 Gr 6 89 PRICE 31 15 JURASSIC NTL. MONUMENT 12 miles to Great Basin 50 6 MANTI 28 C ASTLE DALE 30 miles to Grand Junction 191 6 10 257 FILLMORE 70 GREEN RIVER 70 RICHFIELD ARCHES NATIONAL PARK 24 128 24 MOAB 21 CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK 15 89 BE AVER TORREY 89 95 191 ve r 12 PANGUITCH Co lo ra do PAROWAN CEDAR CIT Y CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK Ri 130 24 62 BOULDER MONTICELLO 276 12 CEDAR BREAKS NTL. MONUMENT ESCAL ANTE BL ANDING 95 HOVENWEEP NTL. MONUMENT BEARS EARS NTL. MONUMENT BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK BLUFF GRAND STAIRCASE– ESCALANTE NTL. MONUMENT 261 162 9 SPRINGDALE K ANAB ST. GEORGE 110 miles to Las Vegas 89 55 miles to Mesa Verde NATURAL BRIDGES NTL. MONUMENT GLEN CANYON NTL. REC. AREA ZION NATIONAL PARK 491 Lake Powell MONUMENT VALLEY MEXIC AN HAT FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT 180 miles to Grand Canyon IN STATE OUT OF STATE Salt Lake City to Moab (via I-15 and Hwy 6) — 4 hrs Salt Lake City to St. George (via I-15) — 4 hrs 15 min Springdale to Torrey (via Hwy 89 and Hwy 12) — 4 hrs Torrey to Moab (via Hwy 24 and I-70) — 2 hrs 30 min Denver to Moab (via I-70) — 5 hrs 30 min Las Vegas to St. George (via I-15) — 1 hrs 45 min Yellowstone to Salt Lake City (via Hwy 20 and I-15) — 5 hrs TRAVELING TO UTAH Utah is accessible to the world via the brand new Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Starting in Salt Lake City is the best place to begin your trip if you want to understand Utah’s culture, history and local flavors — and see the towering mountains overlooking the city. Travelers can also fly into Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport for slightly closer access to Southern Utah sites, including a 2.5-hour drive to Zion National Park, St. George and Kanab. Utah’s location at the crossroads of the western United States means travelers enjoy easy access to The Greatest Snow on Earth®, The Mighty Five® national parks and everything in between. Utah’s landscape is varied, ranging from high-desert plateaus to alpine meadows and snow-covered peaks to bird-filled wetlands. Across all the varied terrain you’ll find different national parks and monuments, state parks and cultural and historic activities, not to mention non-stop outdoor recreation. Without a several-week road trip, it’s hard to experience it all, so pick a region and itinerary to start with, then come back again and again. visitutah.com/travel-info and visitutah.com/prepare It takes time to travel between major locations. Take advantage of the many scenic byways to enjoy the local scenery, small towns and off-the-beaten track attractions. See page 50 for some of Utah’s best scenic routes. TRAVEL REGIONS NORTHERN UTAH SOUTHEASTERN UTAH SOUTHWESTERN UTAH Where mountains meet metros Where mighty rivers bisect ancient history Where alpine forests overlook red rock canyons Recommended regional trip length: 3 days to fully experience the two national parks. Add an additional day for each of the following stops: Moab river rafting, San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley State Park and Hovenweep National Monument. Add 2-3 days to experience Bears Ears National Monument, Natural Bridges National Monument and Monument Valley. Recommended regional trip length: 6 days to fully experience the three national parks. Add an additional 1-2 days for each of the following stops: Cedar Breaks National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Lake Powell and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Recommended regional trip length: 2 days for Salt Lake City. Add an additional day for each of the following stops: Park City, Antelope Island State Park, Golden Spike National Historic Park, Bear Lake, Evermore Park and Provo Canyon. To extend your visit to Vernal and the Dinosaur National Monument area, add another 2 days. Top base camps: Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, Heber Valley, Utah Valley, Logan visitutah.com/northern Top base camps: Moab, Monticello, Bluff visitutah.com/southeastern Top base camps: St. George, Springdale, Kanab, Cedar City, Escalante, Boulder, Torrey visitutah.com/southwestern GETTING HERE & AROUND Salt Lake City Skyline | Jay Dash The best way to explore the state is to rent a car, though there are private shuttle and group tour options as well. In the Wasatch Front urban corridor of Northern Utah there is great public transportation, including TRAX light rail, FrontRunner commuter rail and the UTA bus system. 11 TRAVELING AROUND UTAH & THE WASATCH FRONT Salt Lake City is the urban heart of Northern Utah’s vibrant Wasatch Front. A city known equally for its thriving downtown and its backyard mountain range, Salt Lake City offers cosmopolitan amenities in an easy-to-navigate urban setting. The city is just a stone’s throw from hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, running and exploring and a dozen ski resorts, including four within 40 minutes. This unparalleled proximity has earned Salt Lake the distinction of being the only “Ski City.” Even Park City, the first IMBA Certified Gold-Level mountain biking city in the country and home to Deer Valley and Park City mountain resorts, is less than 45 minutes up the canyon. Utah’s five national parks are an average of four hours away by car. In short, by marrying the best of urban attractions and outdoor adventures, Salt Lake City is both a travel destination itself and the jumping-off point for many Utah vacations. Learn how to travel safely and responsibly throughout Utah’s Wasatch Front at visitutah.com/prepare and check ahead for availability. EXPLORE BACKYARD TRAILS AND ADVENTURES YOU CAN ONLY FIND IN SALT LAKE CITY visitutah.com/slc-backyard Downtown Salt Lake City | Jim Urquhart Whiskey Street in SLC | Austen Diamond Eva Restaurant | Austen Diamond Locals frequently abbreviate street names, so you’ll hear 1300 South, 500 East spoken as “13th south, fifth east.” Popular neighborhoods just outside downtown include the Avenues, University, Liberty Wells, 9th and 9th, 15th and 15th and Sugar House. Each district has a unique character and features local shops, theaters, restaurants and bars worth seeking out. (See the city map in Dining, page 16.) URBAN & MODERN Great vacations go hand in hand with great food. Salt Lake has become a foodie destination and there’s never been a more important time to support local. Salt Lake has award-winning microbreweries like Squatters, Uinta and Red Rock, distilleries Evenings bring out the best cultural attractions at performing arts and music venues, including Broadway at the Eccles Theater. Award-winning productions by Ballet West, the Utah Symphony & Opera and Pioneer Theater Company provide an international flair. Catch national and local acts headlining downtown venues like the Urban Lounge, The Depot and The State Room and at multiple outdoor summer concert series. (See Dining, page 16 and Heritage & Arts, page 56.) ARTS & FESTIVALS Discover the anchors of Salt Lake City’s art scene in Chapter 7 of this guide, then browse the several independent galleries sprinkled about downtown, including the arts, crafts and boutiques of West Pierpont Dusk, Salt Lake City | Jay Dash Photography Avenue and Broadway (300 South). Spring through fall in normal years, there are downtown festivals and events including Living Traditions, Downtown Farmers Market, Utah Pride Festival, Utah Arts Festival and the International Jazz Festival. SLUG Magazine, also known as Salt Lake UnderGround, annually hosts Craft Lake City, which celebrates the city’s strong doit-yourself and entrepreneurial character. Other major events include FanX® Salt Lake Comic Convention™ and the Sundance Film Festival. HERITAGE & RELIGION Settled in 1847, Salt Lake is a relatively young city, and its heritage remains strong. In fact, Salt Lake City’s most popular attraction is the 35-acre Temple Square. This beautiful downtown site is the spiritual center for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and offers free walking tours in forty languages, extensive genealogy, great dining and frequent performances of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. (Some sites are closed for construction until 2024.) This Is the Place Heritage Park brings to life Utah’s Mormon and native history and marks the end of the 1,300-mile Mormon trail. Powder Mountain Ski Resort | Adam Clark 13 Historic Temple Square, located at Main Street and South Temple Street, is the point of origin for the four quadrants of the Salt Lake City street grid system. From Temple Square, major streets count up in increments of 100. State Street (100 East) is a primary artery running the full length of the valley beginning on Capitol Hill. like Sugar House and Beehive and skilled mixologists at hip downtown spaces like Eva, The Rest, Whiskey Street or actor Ty Burrell’s Bar-X and Beer Bar to pair with your dinner. Tony Caputo’s Market and Liberty Heights Fresh offer the best in local artisan food like Creminelli Fine Meats and Amano Artisan Chocolates. SALT LAKE CITY & THE WASATCH FRONT FIND YOUR WAY THE WASATCH FRONT The jagged wall of the Wasatch Front is the backdrop to Utah’s 100-mile-long metropolitan corridor in Northern Utah. A global audience first became familiar with Utah’s dramatic Rocky Mountain setting during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Now, the Wasatch Front’s reputation precedes it: the range is home to 11 distinct ski resorts in the winter and limitless mountain adventure all year long. 48 miles to Logan OGDEN 203 167 Dynamic cities populate the valley to the west of the Wasatch Range. More than 2 million people call the Wasatch Front home thanks to a diverse economy and highly regarded quality of life. Interstate 15 travels through the corridor and FrontRunner commuter rail connects Provo to Salt Lake to Pleasant View, between Ogden and Brigham City. Historic Ogden has a surging downtown and nightlife on 25th Street and the Junction. Great brews and food from Roosters Brewing Co. or farm-to-table fare at Hearth on 25th can fuel your adventure, whether you stay in town for iFLY indoor skydiving or head up scenic S.R. 39 toward Snowbasin and extensive national forest. Round out your Northern Utah experience on a hike among the wildlife of Antelope Island State Park or among the thrill-seekers on the roller coasters of Lagoon Amusement Park, both in Davis County. Though Salt Lake and its international airport have the largest profile, the other cities of Salt Lake County all feature unique identities, local food and attractions. As you travel south from Salt Lake City, visit the grain-to-glass production of Sugar House Distillery in South Salt Lake, try the local food of Provisions in Millcreek or Copper Kitchen in Holladay, catch Real Salt Lake professional soccer at their home at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, then discover the diverse ecosystems and 650 species at the Living Planet Aquarium in Draper. In Lehi, the gardens, museums and Johnny Miller Signature Golf Club of Thanksgiving Point and Outlets Mall at Traverse Mountain mark the transition to Utah County, to the south of Salt Lake. Other landmarks include the Adobe campus, part of Utah’s dynamic “Silicon Slopes” technology scene, and the Lehi Roller Mills, equally known for locally milled grains and their role in “Footloose.” This welcoming valley beautifully blends high tech with heritage. Provo and Orem have a growing local dining scene, including Communal and Black Sheep Cafe, and easily access Mount Timpanogos and the fly-fishing, hiking, ice climbing and skiing of Provo Canyon. Provo Canyon (U.S. 189) and I-80 head east up the canyon toward Utah’s premier mountain town, Park City. Explore hundreds of trails across thousands of acres in winter — prime mountain biking terrain when the snow melts. Between adventures, fuel up at 100+ restaurants and bars, like the authentic, Western-inspired fare at Grub Steak and the eclectic American cuisine of Riverhorse on Main, or the farm-to-table scene of The Farm and Montage’s highly regarded Burgers & Bourbon. 89 L AY TON 84 MORGAN FARMINGTON 66 15 65 BOUNTIFUL 65 Salt Lake City Int’l Airport 215 SALT LAKE CITY 80 80 201 224 WEST VALLEY CIT Y MURR AY PARK CIT Y an d C yon woo tton Big C o 215 WEST JORDAN L it tl SANDY 190 yon e Cot t onwood C an RIVERTON 15 DR APER ALPINE LEHI 73 68 Fr on tR 92 Closed in Winter HIGHL AND un ne rc om m ut er ra 189 il OREM PROVO Closed in Winter 15 SALT LAKE CITY & THE WASATCH FRONT Clockwise from top Bustling Main Street, Park City | Mike Schirf Dining at Laziz Kitchen | Nicole Morgenthau Brighton Ski Resort | Jay Dash Collecting brine shrimp, Great Salt Lake | Nicole Morgenthau Historic 25th Street, Ogden | Jay Dash TED SCHEFFLER FOOD AND DRINK COLUMNIST, UTAH STORIES We’ve come a long way, baby! Utah’s dining scene, that is. Sure, we’ve long been known for our state’s beauty and natural wonders, the incredible skiing, biking, hiking and other activities, but it’s only been recently that eating and eating well have become an important Utah draw. Diversity is the keynote here, with award-winning chefs and restaurants bringing us cuisines from places like Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere; if it’s flavorful, you can probably find it here. The dining guide that follows is a mere stepping-off point, a roundup of can’t-miss eateries from Salt Lake City and around the state that only scratches the surface of the culinary wonders Utah offers. So, enjoy visiting these marvelous restaurants, as well as others too numerous to include here. As the marvelous Julia Child used to say, bon appétit! Ted Scheffler is a Utah-based freelance writer and the author of thousands of food, wine, music and travel articles. He is also the former editor of Devour Utah magazine and was Salt Lake City Weekly’s restaurant critic and drink columnist. When not maintaining his ever-expanding guitar collection, he enjoys skiing, reading, tennis and, of course, eating. Andinita’s Restaurant SALT LAKE CITY DINING PAIR SALT LAKE DINING WITH HERITAGE & ARTS OFFERINGS, PAGE 56 10th Ave. visitutah.com/slc-arts 1 700 S 1600 E 1300 E C ENTRAL CITY 16 Sunnyside Ave 900 S YAL ECR EST 1300 S E A ST BE N C H 1900 E 1500 E EAST LIB ERTY 1100 E Main St 700 W LIBERTY PARK SMITH’S BALLPARK W ak ar aW ay Foothill Blvd EAST CENTRAL 13 H ARV EY MI L K BLV D. 14 15 12 AL BA L L PARK UNIVERSIT Y OF UTAH 1100 E 200 E 300 W 900 W 80 500 S 500 E 15 9 300 S 400 S State St N TOWN D OW NTOWN 200 S 6 West Temple PIONEER PARK 100 S 8 900 E 7 S ST. 5 4 South Temple 2 11 10 80 3 TEMPLE SQUARE N ST. VIVINT SMART HOME ARENA GREATER AVENUES 3rd Ave. I ST. North Temple Virginia St. CA PI TO L H I L L 15 7th Ave. E ST. A ST. UTAH STATE C APITOL 300 N 1300 S 18 15