The Only Place Where You Can Have A Tropical Vacation Without Ever Leaving Utah

How does a vacation to the Caribbean sound? Fabulous, right? But maybe you don't have the time or money to hop on a plane to the Bahamas. No worries...there's a lake right here in Utah that's been called the Caribbean of the Rockies, and you'll see why the moment you arrive.

Bear Lake is located on the Utah/Idaho border. This azure beauty covers 109 square miles, and it's deep, with an average depth of 94 feet.

It's called the Caribbean of the Rockies because the lake is full of limestone deposits that are suspended in the water, and when light hits them, the refraction creates the a vibrant blue color similar to that of the Caribbean Sea.

The Caribbean might be more than 2,000 miles away, but at Bear Lake it's easy to pretend that you're there, and you can do many of the same activities.

Go sailing...

...boating...

...spend a peaceful afternoon paddleboarding...

...or just relax. This is the Caribbean, after all.

You can even catch some huge fish in this lake. The mackinaw weight as much as 30 pounds! You'll also find Bonneville cisco, Bonneville whitefish, Bear Lake whitefish and Bear Lake Sculpin.

There's one treat you'd be hard pressed to find in the Caribbean: a frosty raspberry shake made with Bear Lake raspberries.

Those lavish glamping tents you always see in the glossy travel magazines? You don't have to travel to the real Caribbean to find them - you can stay in one right here in Garden City!

Conestoga Ranch Glamping Resort offers luxurious glamping tents and even that are the perfect place to lay your head at night. Visit the resort'swebsite for details.

Can you imagine a better place to spend some time than at the Caribbean of the Rockies?

While you're visiting Bear Lake, keep an eye out for the Bear Lake Monster, a legendary creature that's said to be similar to Scotland's Loch Ness Monster. Read all about him (or her?), as well as four other Utah lake monsters of urban legend here.