Day-to-Night Adventures in Utah’s Mountain Towns

From Visit Utah

Outdoor Thrills Meet Downtown Delights 

Easy access between Northern Utah’s mountains and towns presents visitors and locals with the best of both worlds: outdoor adventure by day and city culture at night. In fact, flying into Salt Lake City International Airport, it’s hard not to notice just how close you are to the forested peaks. Spend the day playing outside, then transition to an evening experience in these mountain-to-metro destinations.

Whether you prefer hiking, mountain biking, climbing, lounging on sandy beaches, paddle boarding or fishing, these nearby cities and towns offer plenty of ways to unwind after a big day in the sun. Eat a delicious meal, grab a drink or two from a local brewery or distillery, and spend the evening hours watching live music, comedy shows, musicals and plays, cheering for a local baseball team, or going out with the family for a night of bowling—or even an indoor skydiving experience. No matter how you prefer to spend your days and nights, you’ll find these mountain-to-metro escapes have a bit of something for everyone.

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Spend all day hiking and biking on the plethora of trails in the Wasatch Range before heading to Ogden for the evening. In the Ogden area, the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest boasts around 500 trails. One popular hiking option is the Waterfall Canyon Trail, which is around 2.4 miles, with a scenic 200-foot-waterfall at the end of the fairly strenuous hike. For an even more ambitious hike, Ben Lomond Peak is one to consider, though be prepared because it covers around 16 miles with 3,500 feet of elevation gain, and snow is often present up top. The area is also packed with plenty of mountain biking options. If you’d like to stay and play longer, numerous campgrounds are available.

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A Sensory-Friendly Guide to Urban Utah

Helpful tips for families of disabled and neurodiverse kiddos to help maximize enjoyment.

Utah is home to some epic outdoor recreation, including some off-the-beaten-path hidden gems, such as Ogden’s Causey Reservoir. Because motorboats are prohibited, it’s a popular spot for kayaking, paddle-boarding, and otherwise leisurely spending a day on the emerald green water. I had recently purchased a four-person inflatable boat and thought it would be a fun family activity to take my then-pregnant daughter, teenage son and youngest son on a summer adventure.

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A Guide to Utah's Top Food Festivals

Follow this guide through ten of the state’s best food festivals. Hint: The first one is in May.

Good food and drink is worth celebrating, and Utah is filled with festivals that highlight the state’s agricultural products, local brewers, winemakers and other creators of delicious dishes. Festivals offer a chance to come together and enjoy the work of notable chefs and taste homegrown produce, often spiced with live music and other entertainment. You’ll find festivals and events featuring all kinds of agricultural products all over Utah, but here are 10 to give you a sample of what the state has to offer.

Presented by the Salt Lake City Arts Council, the Living Traditions Festival has played host to the variety of cultures represented in Utah for more than three decades. Nonprofit groups and member clubs representing many cultures, nationalities and ethnicities sell delicious fare at the Food Market; there are more than 20 vendors each year. Snack on Bosnian cevapi, East African stew, Polish sausages, jor Tibetan momos, to name just a few of the delightful items for sale.

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3-Day Itinerary: Base Camp Green River

A small town that combines rich heritage and relaxing moments with rugged landscapes and adventures.

So you want to get into the Utah desert, but you're looking for a new perspective? Maybe you’ve done The Mighty Five but find yourself longing for the red rock and rivers of the Colorado Plateau. It’s a familiar call and we won’t question you.

Let’s continue down this path of thought. Maybe you’re looking for a hub-and-spokes couples or family vacation that offers adventurous days but nights in comfortable accommodations — a base camp in Southern Utah, but somewhere different.

Look no further than Green River, a quaint little town with a dynamite location central to some of southeastern Utah’s greatest outdoor attractions and undiscovered gems. Think you’ve seen everything Utah has to offer? Think again.

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