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Southern Utah - Top 3 Must See - Let’s be real…summer is the BEST…especially when you are a kid or have kids. This is a time when we can sleep in a bit and have a more chilled schedule. I can still remember the feelings of excitement, anticipation, and pure wonder of what would and could happen as I walked out of school on that last day. As I became a teen, the emotions flooding my body on the last day of school shifted a bit to include some bittersweetness…feeling a bit of a loss knowing that I would not be seeing my friends or my crush every day. My daughter is now a teen…yeah…right…and she has made it very clear that the first week of summer break is for sleeping in and hanging with friends, specifically mentioning this time is not for adventuring with mom. OK got it. Does that mean that the rest of summer break IS for adventuring with MOM? This comment inspired her best grumpy…UGH...you are kidding…right…lol. I must admit, the shift to teenage daughter vibe can be FUN, and planning some summer adventures that will check the boxes for both of us is TOP on my TO DO list. Circling back to the bittersweetness I felt as a teen as summer break approached, I find my current emotional state to be very similar. I love summer, BUT having to plan and coordinate all the nuances of life minus the school schedule is always bit overwhelming.

Leaving the Wasatch Front in the rearview and heading south on 1-15 feels like taking a step away from the fast-paced action of the epicenter of our state and stepping into the soothing sights, the quieter sounds, and the surreal landscapes of the central and southern part of our state. One of the many things I love about Utah is the diversity of our landscapes and the recreational opportunities that each provide throughout the seasons. Summer is the time to heed the call to the red rock country that is primed and ready for adventure.

Summer along the Wasatch back is nothing short of epic. It’s close enough for a quick weekend getaway yet far enough away to experience all the “feels” of a real Vaca’ The players along Wasatch Back may seem like an ordinary bunch...Park City, Kamas, Heber and Midway...but the recreational opportunities here are mighty, where you are bound to find something to please even the pickiest member of your crew.

If you are heading south for some two-wheeled adventuring, be sure to check out these family-friendly beginner/intermediate trails. Many of these locations offer a “staked-loop” system, which is great for families who may not all ride at the same level. These new and popular trail systems offer multiple shorter loops, each at a different level, so everyone can ride at their own ability and then meet up back at the trailhead.

When most people hear the phrase “mountain biking Southern Utah,” their mind’s eye probably envisions the incredible slickrock and desert mesa riding of Moab or the St. George/Hurricane area (or both). And rightly so; both areas are true mountain biking Meccas and have certainly earned that reputation. What many of those same folks probably don’t realize, however, is that world class singletrack in Southern Utah isn’t just limited to Moab & St. George – there’s a whole other Southern Utah that they’ve been driving right on by for years – and it has some of the most beautiful and diverse riding experiences in the state.

By Alyssa Erikson The smell of moist soil soaked in snowmelt and the white landscape slowly disappears as we drive south on I-15 towards St. George, Utah. I watch the outside temperature, broadcasting on my dashboard, slowly rise, and once the rock turns from grey to orange, I finally risk rolling down my window. My hand oscillates up and down, riding the vehicular thermals like a raptor riding the warmer air from down south.

7 EPIC Spring Destinations Spring has sprung…and with that comes the desire to migrate south to warmer destinations. If you are looking for some new places to explore this spring here is our to-do list

From the days when it served as “Junction City” and transcontinental railroad passengers filled the streets, to its days as a venue for the Olympic Winter Games, Ogden has always had a diversity and a vibe that led the New York Post to proclaim it, “The OTHER Utah.”

Find out where some of our favorite paved paths are in Utah. Grab your bike, sneakers, scooter or stroller and get the kids outside!