15 Reasons Why My Heart Will Always Be In Utah

I was born and raised in Utah, and have called it home for more decades than I’ll admit here. While I love to travel and see other places in the world, Utah is always home. Here are 15 reasons that my heart will always be here.

1. The mountains in the spring…

2. In the summer…

3. In the fall...

4. and in the winter.

5. The Sundance Film Festival.

I love Sundance’s commitment to films that contain more than just car crashes and explosions.

6. The lights at Temple Square.

You don’t have to be Mormon to appreciate millions of twinkle lights.

7. Snow = Powder.

Do I really need to wax eloquent about our snow?

8. It’s where your family is.

Whether your family consists of blood relatives or a mixture of like-minded friends, Utah is family.

9. Where else do you get the day off on the 24th of July?

In reality, most of the pioneers arrived on the 22nd, two days ahead of Brigham Young. Shouldn’t we get the 22nd off, too?

10. It was good enough for T-Rex and Allosaurus.

60 million years ago, they roamed Utah.

11. Family reunions in the canyon.

BBQ always tastes better when consumed in the mountain air.

12. Fourth of July celebrations.

By July, the Utah tomatoes and corn are ripe and delicious. The hometown parades are patriotic, the crowd cheers for the Bees whether they win or lose, and lying on the grass, watching fireworks is magical.

13. Well-worn hiking boots.

Utah is so full of gorgeous hiking trails that a new pair of boots gets broken in quickly.

14. More geeks per capita than any other state.

Bring on the geeks, Comic Con!

15. Utah is home.

It doesn’t matter if you were born here, or you came from somewhere else. Utah is home, and that’s where your heart belongs.

How about you? Why is your heart in Utah?