Posted in Utah
December 05, 2016
Here Are The 12 Best Places To Travel In Utah Every Month Of The Year
One of the best things about Utah is its geographic diversity. From alpine mountains to red-rock cliffs, Utah pretty much has it all. If you haven’t ever explored our entire state, here’s an itinerary to start with – you’ll visit many parts of Utah at the best possible time.
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Midway has a nice climate year-round, but consider visiting in the cold month of January. You can walk through the winter wonderland of the Ice Castles (and be guaranteed that the attraction won't be closed for the season yet). Book an overnight stay at The Homestead, where you can snorkel, swim and scuba dive in the crater in toasty 90-96 degree water. You can even get scuba certified for your next vacation!
Visit Hardware Ranch in February to see 250 elk up close. The elk winter here at the ranch, and you can take a sleigh ride to get up close and personal. Then, visit the little town of Logan, where you can stay in a quaint bed and breakfast, enjoy an old-fashioned soda at the original soda counter in The Bluebird and catch a basketball game at Utah State University.
Photo hounds, get your cameras ready! This might just be the most beautiful snow-covered spot in the entire Beehive State. The park is almost empty during winter months, which means that you get to enjoy this stunning scenery and some peaceful, quiet communing with nature at the same time.
If you haven't had a chance to make it up to the ski resorts yet, this is your last chance. Some resorts close mid-April; others (like Snowbird, pictured here), are open through mid-May. By April, many of the tourists are gone, which means shorter lift lines. The weather can also be balmy (for skiing, at least), and you can ski in a light jacket.
If you can get vacation time for the entire month of May - take it! You'll easily find things to keep you busy in this part of Utah for at least a month. Visit Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, the Colorado River and so, so much more. Whether you're looking for a quick, easy hike, or scary river rapids, you'll find it here, and May provides the perfect weather.
The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway offers up some of Utah's most stunning alpine scenery. Go up for a day trip, car camp, or plan a backpacking trip - there is so much vast beauty up here that you could spend the entire month and still not see it all.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is in full swing in July, and you can have front row seat to the Green Show for free! Check out the festival's website for the 2017 Season Schedule. Then, visit Cedar Breaks National Monument for the Wildflower Festival July 1-16.
If you didn't get a trip to the Caribbean this year, don't fret. Instead, head off to Bear Lake: The Caribbean of the Rockies. Enjoy swimming, water sports, boating, fishing, hiking and more. When you visit in August, you'll also enjoy the sweetest, most wonderful raspberries you've ever had at the raspberry festival (which also includes lot of festivities and games).
September is a great time to visit Utah County. You definitely don't want to miss the annual Timpanogos Storyteller Festival at the Scera Shell in Orem. It's held every year over Labor Day Weekend. The Alpine Loop is a must-do for your September bucket list - it's one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the whole state when the autumn foliage is in full color.
The island is really nice in October - the annoying bugs are pretty much gone, and the annual Bison Round Up is underway. It's a great time for a hike, picnic and photography trip.
Utah's most-visited National Park is much, much less crowded in November, but the weather is usually still pretty warm. Enjoy this gorgeous, scenic place without all the crowds, and see it in a whole new light.
Pretty much every city in Utah is wonderful during the holiday season, but Utah's largest city has the most to offer if you're just planning a weekend trip. Go ice skating at the Gallivan Center, see the lights at Temple Square, hear a Christmas concert at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, see a production of The Nutcracker at Capitol Theater, enjoy a pioneer Christmas at This Is The Place State Park, and see Zoo Lights at Hogle Zoo.
Here are 12 more places to add to your bucket list. They’re off the beaten path, but well worth the drive.
