Utah Travel Guide
A land of extremes, Utah holds a special appeal for outdoor
enthusiasts, encompassing a wide variety of landscapes and
fascinating geological formations that offer unlimited
opportunities for outdoor recreation. Most of the state is situated
on a plateau above 4,000ft (1,219m), but the elevations rise and
fall spectacularly across snow-covered mountains and deep river
canyons. The most significant sights and attractions have been
formed by the dramatic forces of nature, creating ruggedly
beautiful, multicoloured canyons, eroded rock sculptures, red
desert plains, forested mountains and snow-capped peaks. Southern
Utah has five breathtaking national parks, including Zion and Bryce
Canyon, which draw the most visitors, but the lesser-known parks
are just as spectacular.The Anglo settlement of Utah began with the arrival of the
Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake area in 1847, led by Brigham
Young. Today more than 70 percent of the population belong to the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, congregants of which
are known as the Mormons. The Mormon heritage defines the state's
modern culture and many perceive Utah as a region stuck in a time
warp due to the strong church influence, emphasis on family values,
and a notoriously strict attitude regarding the drinking of
alcohol. But the people are friendly and unpretentious, the crime
rate is low and there are many beautiful places of interest to
visit.Salt Lake City is a modern metropolis regarded as one of the top
business environments in the country, as well as being the
spiritual hub of the Mormon religion, home to the sacred Temple and
the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Its proximity to the Wasatch
Mountains makes it a popular base for winter and summer outdoor
recreation, and nearby resorts like Park City, Sundance and
Snowbird offer superb powder snow and Olympic-class skiing.
Utah Travel Guide
Money:
Time:
GMT -7 (GMT -6 from March to November).
Electricity:
Language:
Health:
Tipping:
Safety:
Customs:
Business:
Duty Free:
Utah Travel Guide
|
|
Description:
The four-hectare (10-acre) Temple Square complex includes the
Mormon Temple, the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall. It is at the
heart of Salt Lake City, in location and spiritual importance, and
the symbolic epicentre of the Mormon religion or Church of Jesus
Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. Temple Square is the city's
biggest attraction, particularly the majestic six-spired Temple,
topped by a golden statue of the Angel Moroni, which forms a
striking silhouette on the city's skyline. The Temple was completed
in 1893 after 40 years of heavy labour and the expenditure of
millions of dollars. It is a holy place closed to the non-Mormon
public. Confirmed believers may enter the Temple, but only for the
most sacred of religious ceremonies, and non-Mormons can learn
about temple activities at the visitor centres. The oval shape of
the Tabernacle, topped by an impressive domed roof, is home to the
world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir whose weekly rehearsals and
organ recitals are open to all free of charge, and illustrate the
outstanding acoustic properties of the Tabernacle building. The
Gothic-style Assembly Hall, constructed from granite left over from
the Temple, is the venue for concerts and lectures. The two visitor
centres, North and South, contain religious murals and paintings,
exhibits and presentations about the Mormon faith, a film depicting
the arrival of the first Mormon pioneers in Salt Lake City, and
photographs of the Temple interior.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(801) 240 4872 or (801) 240 2640
Email:
Website:
www.visittemplesquare.com
|
|
|
Description:
Modelled after the national Capitol building in Washington DC,
the Utah State Capitol sits on a hill above the city, a prominent
sight surrounded by acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. Memory
Grove, to the east of the building, contains statues honouring Utah
veterans, and the grounds are a favourite destination for joggers
and walkers. The impressive granite structure of the Capitol
building is crowned by a copper dome and fronted by columns,
representing one of the greatest examples of the Renaissance
Revival style in the nation. A colossal chandelier illuminates the
interior walls that are covered with murals illustrating Utah's
history. Several busts proclaim the state's prominent figures,
including Brigham Young, leader of the Mormon pioneers who founded
Salt Lake City. Marble staircases lead to the third floor where the
Senate, House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court of Utah are
based. The state legislature meets in January and February and
visitors are welcome to sit in the galleries overlooking their
chamber. Visitors can choose to wander through the building alone
or join a guided tour.
Address:
Capitol Hill, North State Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(801) 538 3074
Email:
Website:
www.utahstatecapitol.utah.gov
|
|
|
Description:
Devoted to objects connected with historical events, the Pioneer
Memorial Museum is crammed with photographs, furniture, textiles,
toys and a doll collection from the daily lives of the pioneers
that have been painstakingly collected by the Daughters of the Utah
Pioneers. All four storeys are full of relics of Utah's history,
including personal effects of Mormon leader Brigham Young. A short
film is shown every half hour.
Address:
300 North Main Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(801) 532 6479
Email:
Website:
www.dupinternational.org
|
|
|
Description:
The huge shallow lake is the second saltiest body of water in
the world after the Dead Sea and is several times saltier than the
ocean and rich in minerals. Floating weightlessly in the water of
the Salt Lake is one of the main attractions, and although this
natural wonder is worth seeing, the facilities are somewhat
limited. The Great Salt Lake State Marina has a beach at one end
and boat launching ramps, but there are no boat rentals available.
Great Salt Lake has been declared a World Heritage Bird Sanctuary
due to the numbers of migrating birds that are attracted to the
brine flies and brine shrimp that survive in the saline waters.
Antelope Island is the largest of the lake's ten islands and can be
reached either by boat or by a causeway, offering excellent
picnicking, hiking and camping opportunities. The island also
boasts a herd of about 600 American Bison, introduced in 1893, and
other interesting animals such as coyotes, bobcats, deer and a
small herd of elk. Early mornings along the shore of this vast
expanse of water can be extremely beautiful.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
|
|
|
Description:
The Dinosaur National Monument straddles the border between Utah
and Colorado. The reserve was created to preserve the layers of
rock in which Jurassic Era dinosaur skeletons and bones were found
embedded at a site in the Utah section of the Monument area. In
1909 an exposed sediment riverbed was discovered to contain layers
of prehistoric plant and animal fossils. A quarry went into
operation on the site, where full dinosaur skeletons as well as
fossilised remains of sea creatures up to three times older than
dinosaurs were excavated. A visitor centre has been built over the
quarry to protect the fossils, and forming one of the walls is the
exposed rock layer containing over 2,000 dinosaur bones that has
been enclosed as a permanent exhibit. (This is currently closed,
but visitors can see fossils by hiking half a mile (1km) from the
temporary visitor's centre). Although the quarry is often the main
reason for visiting the Dinosaur National Monument, the area also
contains acres of some of the most beautifully rugged mountain
scenery in the north, with colourful sandstone cliffs, deep river
canyons and forests, along with a number of scenic hiking trails,
unique wildlife and thrilling whitewater rafting on two of the
Colorado River's fast-flowing tributaries.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Temporary Visitor Center: (435) 781 7700
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/dino
|
|
|
Description:
The smallest of Utah's national parks, Bryce Canyon is really a
series of amphitheatres carved from the surrounding cliffs by
erosion. From the plateau at 8,000ft (2,438m) above sea level,
layers of multicoloured rock have been worn away exposing the Pink
Cliffs and leaving fairytale sandstone formations in striking
colours of red, white, yellow and rich orange. Its best-known
features are the groups of top-heavy pinnacles of rock that have
been left standing after millions of years of erosion, known as
'hoodoos'. A Paiute legend explains the silent columns of sandstone
in terms of a legendary tribe who lived there in antiquity and were
turned to stone by the powerful Coyote for their evil ways. Today
views from the rim take in landscapes such as the 'Silent City' and
'Rainbow Point' where thousands of fiery-coloured hoodoos stand
watch over arches, mazes and oddly shaped spires. Bryce Canyon is
also one of the most accessible parks with many trails leading down
among the sandstone pinnacles, as well as an easy Rim Trail with
many viewpoints.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(435) 834 5322
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/brca
|
|
|
Description:
In 1863 a Mormon settler named Isaac Behunin built his cabin in
the canyon and called his abode Zion, feeling that he had at last
reached the Promised Land. Zion is an ancient Hebrew word meaning a
sacred place of refuge. Today his sanctuary is recognised as a
national park, protecting a spectacular landscape of carved canyons
and towering rock walls, with cliff-hanging fern gardens and a
great variety of animals, including the tiny Zion Snail. Sculpted
by the Virgin River, Zion Canyon is the park's verdant centrepiece,
a dramatic gorge between towering cliffs with the sounds of running
water echoing off the walls. It can become very clogged in summer,
but it is fairly easy to escape the crowds on many of the trails
off the main route. The park encourages discovery, and visitors
keen to explore will find a natural wealth of forests, waterfalls,
huge stone sculptures and monuments, as well as numerous hiking
trails, the most famous of which is through The Narrows where a
hiker will wade, swim and hike between soaring pastel-coloured rock
walls barely 20ft (6m) across in places. One of the highlights is
travelling the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive with viewpoints of many of
the park's most famous rock formations, particularly the 'Great
White Throne', a massive block of sandstone considered to be the
symbol of Zion National Park. The charming hamlet of Springdale at
the southern entrance is the gateway to the park.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(435) 772 3256
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/zion
|
|
|
Description:
Situated on eight acres on land in Liberty Park, the Tracy
Aviary is the oldest bird sanctuary in the United States, and a
wonderful 'urban oasis' among the hustle and bustle of downtown
Salt Lake City. Home to over 400 well cared-for birds, from 135
species - including bald eagles, flamingos and hawks - the aviary
is popular with visitors of all ages, bird-lovers or not. With
daily shows - including flight demonstrations given by professional
handlers, pelican feeding, and a special showcase featuring the
most beautiful, iridescent little birds of the Amazon basin - it is
not hard to see why the Tracy Aviary is consistently voted one of
Salt Lake City's premier tourist attractions.
Address:
589 East 1300 South, Liberty Park, Salt Lake
City
Postcode:
Telephone:
(801) 596-8500
Email:
Website:
www.tracyaviary.org
|