Comments on: Driving from Austin to Salt Lake--NEED SUGGESTIONS!

Question: Driving from Austin to Salt Lake--NEED SUGGESTIONS!

jenlyn1123 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:05:30 -0800

I'm driving from Austin to Salt Lake City the last week of April and need suggestions on things to do, see, stay, eat and drink. All suggestions and ideas are appreciated as I've never been there before!

We can't go through New Mexico due to a pact he made to a friend several years ago (don't ask) and are planning on driving up through Oklahoma and across Colorado to the Four Corners before heading up to Salt Lake.

We leave Austin on Monday and our flight home from Salt Lake is Saturday.

Do you have any recommendations on places to stay? I'd rather camp; he'd rather stay in cheap-o motels. Any must see places to see, eat, drink? Neither of us have been to this part of the country before (we're from the Northeast) so we're really excited. I'm a photographer so the more scenic places the better.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

By: neilkod

neilkod — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:20:36 -0800

Do not miss the Red Iguana.

Since everyone from Austin has a road bike, bring yours along-the biking here is top-notch. A lot of lower-altitude (4000-6000') mountain bike trails should be dry as well.

For drinks, I like The Red Door on 3rd south downtown.

Another great downtown eatery is Settebello Pizzeria

By: jenlyn1123

jenlyn1123 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:28:30 -0800

Also, let me just add I've never been to Austin before either! I have a good friend who's looking forward to showing us his town but we'll be flying into Austin from the Boston-area to spend the weekend before heading out to SLC.

By: Nelsormensch

Nelsormensch — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:05:05 -0800

Do not miss the Red Iguana.

Heh, I came here to mention this. I'm sure Mexican food in Austin in quite good, but the Red Iguana is really quite superb.

By: SlyBevel

SlyBevel — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:46:32 -0800

Four Corners Monument is an absolute hole these days. It's on a Res, not well taken care of, and in a very flea market environment. I was SO disappointed when I went.

Hovenweep is down that way though, and I've heard good things about the ruins there.

As you get toward Central Utah, there's Nine Mile Canyon in the Price area. If you're into petroglyphs, that's a can't miss place.

Vernal has the DinosaurLand National Monument, and the Dinosaur Quarry there is really cool.

I like Gateway Mall once you get to Salt Lake. Good sushi there at Happy Sumo.

Park City is nice, but it's still ski season there, and if you're not going to ski, you'll find it crawling with rich kids on skiing trips.

By: SlyBevel

SlyBevel — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:47:14 -0800

OH! And if you'd like to drive me some Dublin Dr. Pepper up from Austin, I'd be more than happy to pay for it when you get here.

By: SlyBevel

SlyBevel — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:52:19 -0800

Here's my more fleshed-out version of the above recommendations, from another question.

By: SlyBevel

SlyBevel — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:53:57 -0800

And another, even more detailed answer.

By: jenlyn1123

jenlyn1123 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:32:44 -0800

Wow, thanks for all the Utah stuff, Sly!

By: SlyBevel

SlyBevel — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:38:23 -0800

It's my pleasure. I live in a nice place. :)

By: SlyBevel

SlyBevel — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:01:24 -0800

jenlyn1123, please check your Mefi Mail.

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:49:28 -0800

I'd recommend pulling over in Guthrie OK to take a look at the largest Masonic cathedral in the US and to eat some barbecue at the Boneyard Grill.

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:51:59 -0800

Also, if you go through Moab, Utah, or Arches National Park, I'd recommend taking a drive along Petroglyph Drive to see some primitive artwork.

By: jenlyn1123

jenlyn1123 — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:02:55 -0800

Thanks, that looks cool. Has anyone driven through any of the State Parks in Utah? Will we be ok in some dinky rental car or is 4wheel drive a must?

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:31:01 -0800

You won't need 4 wheel drive unless you are going offroad. The roads through Canyonlands and Arches are paved. It's a truly stunning place.

By: jenlyn1123

jenlyn1123 — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:24:52 -0800

Thanks!