outward bound
Southwest Utah
Cedar City, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, St. George and Mesquite The magnificent formations in Zion National Park inspired names like Great White Throne, and Bryce’s “hoodoos” look like science fiction. But civilized attractions abound in St. George—full of golf courses and restaurants—and the gambling mecca of Mesquite just over the border in Nevada. Snowbirds, sightseers, students and duffers make up the lion’s share of Southwest Utah’s growing visitor demographic. St. George (visitstgeorge.com), once just a pit stop between Salt Lake and Las Vegas, is now Southern Utah’s largest city, with one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. And after one visit, you’ll see why. Within about a 150-mile radius you can access two national parks and one national monument, a ski area, shopping, dining and galleries, nationally renowned golf courses and spas and—just over the state line in Nevada—gambling.
Cedar City’s Tony Award-winning Shakespearean Festival (right) and the brilliant colors of Zion National Park (above) are summer highlights in southwest Utah.
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VisitSaltLake.com
On foot is the best way to experience Bryce Canyon National Park (located 24 miles south of Panguitch). Fifty miles of trails bisect this relatively small national park, including the easy Rim Trail, the lesser traveled Swamp Canyon Trail and the eight-mile, get-your-heart-pumping Fairyland Loop. For a more sedate exposure to Bryce, take a guided horseback ride or helicopter ride.