Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with utah

Southern Utah Trip Advice

saslett — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:22:10 -0800

Looking for advice about how to allocate time for a one week trip through Southern Utah's national parks and monuments. My girlfriend and I have one week off the third week of August. I've done some hiking and camping before and gotten hooked; she's never done either. I've convinced her to take a trip with me to Southern Utah to try hiking but I've been unsuccessful in convincing her of the merits of camping. Oh well, at least the hotels are reasonably priced.

Our rough itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Fly into Las Vegas, drive to Zion National Park, arrive very late afternoon/early evening.
Day 2: Hike in Zion.
Day 3: Hike in Zion.
Day 4: Drive to Cedar Breaks, spend a couple of hours there, drive to Bryce Canyon National Park.
Day 5: Hike in Bryce Canyon.
Day 6: Hike in Bryce Canyon (try to get a spot in the Moonlight Hike).
Day 7: Make the long drive back to Vegas to recuperate, eat at a nice restaurant, see a late show.
Day 8: Fly out of Vegas.

As for specific hikes, I'd like to do Angel's Landing (if my girlfriend is up for it) and the Narrows in Zion. We have no specific hikes planned out for Bryce. We're not really looking for advice about specific hikes in these two parks, but if you want to share any info, we're glad to have it.

Instead, my questions are:

1) Should we spend one or two days in Bryce Canyon?

I've heard horror stories about the crowds in late August and some people seem to think the park is worth only about a day's visit. That said, I've heard good things about the moonlight hike and we'd need to be there on the second day to do that.

2) If we should spend only one day in Bryce Canyon, what should we do with the extra day? Grand Staircase? Capitol Reef? Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon (neither of us have seen it)? Something else?

My only concern with fitting in something extra is whether the additional driving time would be worth it.

3) Are these national parks accessible at night if you're not camping?

This will be my (and her) first trip to a national park and I'd like to be able to gaze a bit at the night sky.

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That's it. Thanks in advance for your help.

What should we do in Logan?

Picklegnome — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 04:59:08 -0800

My family is headed to Logan, Utah this summer. We're planning on seeing "1776" at the Utah Festival Opera, but wondering what other things we should try to see. There's a preference for outdoors activities, but nothing too strenuous - a short hike, for example, as long as it's not too hilly. Attractions specific to Logan would be appreciated - unfortunately, many of the pages on the Logan City website don't appear to be functioning. Any suggestions of interesting things appreciated, though, regardless of theme.

Rental cars for unpaved roads, Las Vegas

thirteenkiller — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:12:36 -0800

We want to rent a car in Las Vegas, and drive it on dirt roads in Arizona and Utah. What is the cheapest company that allows this (or who will be unlikely to notice we've been doing it)? Bonus points if they provide reasonably-maintained cars. Also, should we get a "Standard SUV" rather than "Mid-Size"? Do they use GPS tracking, and if so does it just check that we stay in permitted states, or do they also check that we stick to paved roads?

Chiropractors in Salt Lake City, Utah

birdlips — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:39:37 -0800

Do you know of a good Chiropractor in Salt Lake City, Utah? I am trying to find a good Chiropractor in SLC and I am having a hard time. There are too many of them to make an uninformed choice and I don’t know anybody here with an opinion on the matter. I want to avoid the Chiropractors that use rocks and other more holistic techniques. I want the good old snap and pop types, however, in a modern environment and hopefully well versed in their industry.

Thanks!

RoadTrip TipS!

madmamasmith — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:26:27 -0800

I'm going to Yellowstone in May , traveling from Austin TX via New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming then back through Kansas and Oklhoma. I would really appreciate recomendations for any cool places to stop along the way. Cool museums, cheap flea markets, places to buy cool jewelry, cool parks, places to camp, vegetarian resteraunts etc. And also the best places to stay in Yellowstone as thAT's where we'll be spending most of our time.

Politics and environmental issues in the US Southwest: good sources for news and gossip?

salvia — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:55:14 -0800

Anyone follow environmental issues or general politics in the US Southwest (AZ, NM, UT, CO)? I'm trying to get a crash course about what's happening in the region and then stay up to speed. What are the best sources for political gossip? For environmental news about the region? All I've got so far are the major newspapers, High Country News, and a couple (rarely updated) blogs.

I'm most curious about the key environmental and regional planning issues in the southwest now. Who are the big players (nonprofits, state agencies, cities, others), and what are they working on?

I realize this is a broad question, but anything will be much appreciated. I work on these sorts of issues in the Bay Area, and since I love the US Southwest, I wish I had a better understanding of what is going on down there.

Utah travel question

kingfish — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:44:48 -0800

Where should we stay if we want to hit as many as possible national parks in Utah? travel gurus,

my wife and i are planning a trip to utah. it seems not quite easy to find a decent base location to satisfy the above AND provide some restaurant choices . will really appreciate any inputs.

also what is the best time of the year to do the national parks in Utah?

thanks

Brainy/cultural escapes in Utah?

shelbaroo — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:36:15 -0800

In the spirit of DIY-holiday gifts, we're trying to put together a handmade travel/survival guide for the 4-month sabbatical our folks/in-laws will be spending in Orem, Utah from January through April of this coming year. They are: 60's+ NPR-listening, nonreligious anthropologists, very keen on history, road trips, art, and good eating. Not into recreational sports or anything that might be described as extended or extreme forays into nature, but love interesting museums (of just about any sort) and discovering funkiness in small towns. They have never been to Utah before and won't know many people, so we're hoping this "survival guide" will help get them off to a good start.

We've read the existing posts on Salt Lake City and it looks like that's only a 45 minute drive from Orem. What other opportunities for adventure and amusement would you recommend for our compilation (either right in Orem or those that would make a good day trip on the weekends)?

Help me head for the hills.

punkfloyd — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:13:34 -0800

Need help finding traditional mountain/snow lodge-type getaway in the U.S. Think the lodge from The Shining (without all the REDRUM). The wife and I need to get away. We don't ski, but would like to spend a few days in the snow/mountains of Colorado, Utah or Wyoming in November. The destination I have in mind is a lodge with activities/attractions onsite or within walking distance. Emphasis on relaxation, not skiing.

Seeing the industrial and political landscape of the southwest

salvia — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 16:25:55 -0800

I'm taking a road trip through the southwest, and I'd like to see places with an interesting backstory or that show you "behind the scenes." I'm interested in places with political, economic, environmental, or industrial significance. Can you recommend some? Here's the route: Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Moab, Phoenix. I have 11 days. I've done most of this as a tourist before, so I'm interested in seeing some of the more hidden sights.

As I said, I'm interested in the politics, economics, history, environmental, and industrial factors behind the landscape. I'm still modifying the route so I can check out interesting places. Here are the kind of places I'm talking about:

- power infrastructure (Black Mesa, the Glen Canyon Dam)
- water infrastructure (aqueducts, river diversions?)
- the nuclear program (I'm missing the Trinity Test Site visitor day by a week! Should I still go to Alamogordo? Where to go near Los Alamos?)
- mining booms and busts, related pollution (Moab's uranium tailings pile; oil, gas, and coalbed methane development)
- industrial-scale production of anything from cattle to computer chips
- Native American history (the Cochise stronghold)
- prisons, military bases, and other nearly-blank spaces on the map (obviously, I can't enter, but I would like to know they're there)
- anything else related to political, economic, or cultural geographies (I really like Jake Kosek's stuff)
- wildlife protection or environmental restoration areas, current environmental disputes

I'm interested in current or upcoming issues, not just history, and I have just started trying to get up to speed about some of the work going on now. If you have anything interesting you'd like to share but would need kept fairly quiet, my email is in my profile. (I work for an environmental nonprofit, so I understand that certain information is sensitive and needs to stay fairly confidential to keep sites from being defaced or overrun with visitors, or to protect ongoing acquisitions, negotiations, or investigations.) Thank you!

Good places to live in the US southwest

salvia — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:26:56 -0800

What would be a good place to live, work, and start a family in the US Southwest? Smaller towns are particularly welcome. I've always wanted to live in the US southwest and am looking ahead to potentially moving there in a few years. I'd be moving there to settle down and start the next phase of life, which will hopefully include starting a family at some point in the future.

I'd consider everything east of the Sierras (Lone Pine, Big Pine, Joshua Tree), west of Amarillo, TX (couldn't do Austin), or from Denver heading south. I'm not that into mountains and snow, but I'm not ruling anything out (especially because I'm assuming everywhere will get a little warmer and dryer than it is now).

My favorite places are small towns where you can bike from one end to the other and potentially live without a car. I would consider larger places like Albuquerque and Tucson if I lived downtown.

I'm hoping for a diverse place. I'm fairly political and would like to be part of a progressive community, but I'd rather not live in a complete bubble of white, rich, well-educated liberals. I also have this pet peeve: rock climbing, yoga, mountain biking, snowboarding, detoxifying my body via lemon juice fasts -- I like these things and all, but conversations about gear and the backcountry put me to sleep in short order. It's also important that the town's economy extends at least slightly beyond just tourism. Even art sold to tourists would be a welcome relief from restaurants and souvenir shops. I'd consider it a bonus if there are environmental nonprofits where I could potentially work, but that's not my only option. To sum up, by looking for a place with a diverse socioeconomy and some civic engagement, I'm hoping I'll find a good place to work and some friends I relate to.

Then there is that wild card of "starting a family." I'm not on the verge of this by any means, but I am looking ahead at things like being able to afford a house and having it be a decent place for a kid to grow up. In my earlier freewheeling travels, I didn't think at all about things like schools or what it'd be like to be a kid in a place like that. Since I'm not prepared to examine those factors, I'd at least like it to be a place with a fair number of families (not just ski bums and retirees), and a fair number of people my age (almost 30) kinda headed in the same direction.

I'm most eying Paonia, Flagstaff, Tucson (I hear such good things but have been unimpressed in my visits... I must be missing the good side), Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Moab (any economy beyond the mountain bike scene yet?), Manitou Springs (? never been there, just saw the Colorado Springs thread), Bishop, and Joshua Tree. I suspect there are a bunch of possibilities in Colorado I don't know yet, but for some reason I have not been that excited by most places I've been in the state (including Denver, Boulder, Durango, Crested Butte, and Telluride). Thanks for your thoughts.

Wedding help for Sundance, UT this October

gottabefunky — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:42:46 -0800

I'm looking for a DJ, photographer, florist and...marimba player for a wedding in Sundance, UT this October. It's a low-key, non-Mormon - actually, nondenominational - event. High quality, low price are our two top criteria, plus simple, simple, simple. They can be based in Salt Lake or Provo. Ipod DJs OK. The marimba player would be for the short outdoor ceremony itself - other unusual instruments would work, too.

Mid-May Park City Pleasures

foxy_hedgehog — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:51:53 -0800

ParkCityFilter: I'm headed to a junket in Park City the third week in May and would love some insider tips on what to do and bring and eat and wear. The only two things I know about the place are Sundance and skiing, and neither of those will be happening in May. So I'm looking for any and all recommendations on bars, eateries, hiking, live music, mountain biking, and any and all other flavorful things. According to the hotel website, I'll be lodging at a place in something called Deer Valley, which I think means taking a shuttle to downtown PC, but I'm keen on seeing and doing as much as possible over the weekend.

Many thanks for any and all ideas.

Help us in Salt Lake City

fijiwriter — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 06:52:22 -0800

What are we forgetting to do in our trips to Salt Lake City? This weekend marks the third time my wife and I will be in SLC to visit her relocated family. We're starting to run out of touristy-guide book things to do. So, for the SLC locals, any ideas or recommendations for us to pursue that we can better see the city? Meaning, what can two Mississippi residents do that we won't forget?

Some criteria: the missus is pregnant, so walking long distances is out (and other adventure activities), but we will have a car at our disposal and are able to navigate any train/bus system. She's into shopping, especially for our upcoming little daughter, so any boutique baby stores for unique clothing and gifts would be double-plus good. We will be near the University of Utah, so any college-type restuarants (I know there's a pizza joint close by) would be acceptable. We'd really like to find things to do downtown, as we rarely ventured there for the last two visits. We haven't done any Mormon-related tours, and wouldn't be against it, especially if anyone here recommends the genealogy research. I'm into road cycling, so a cool local bike shop would be appreciated. Food-wise, we're quite flexible, and a previous AskMe had some good ideas.

In other words, dear SLC residents, if you had family or friends visiting, where would you take them to show the real city?

Is Urban Meyer a Mormon?

anjamu — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 00:29:11 -0800

Is Urban Meyer a Mormon? Please help settle a perpetual debate in my Utah-expat, football-obsessed family. Google has thus far failed me.

I can't believe I'm asking this.

Songs about Western and Midwestern States?

sarahnade — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:28:38 -0800

Mixtape filter: I need songs that reference any of the states of California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah. The boyfriend and I are taking a roadtrip to all of these places. I want to include some songs on this mix about the states we will be visiting. Even a one line mention is okay, or even songs that allude to geographical areas or special traits about the state. Bonus points if it's folk or metal.

Things I'm thinking of already:
-"North Dakota" by Lyle Lovett
-"Number 6 Driver" by Eddie From Ohio (lyrics: "and there's a cold wind blowin' in Wyoming...")
-"Nebraska" by Bruce Springsteen

Thank You Mefite Music Addicts!

Where to sleep & what to see while driving from LA to Denver in 2 days?

Amizu — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 05:31:47 -0800

Roadtrip advice. LA-Denver in 49 hours. Where to sleep, what to see along the way? My sister and I are driving from LA to Denver next weekend, starting around 9:00 AM on Friday, and must arrive in Denver by about 10:00 AM on Sunday so I can catch a plane.

Any advice as to routes to take, and in particular places to spend the night would be appreciated. Driving a Jetta. Neither one of us has ever done this part of the country, besides LA, Vegas and Denver themselves. We would love to spend Friday night in Vegas and Saturday night in SLC, but that seems kind of crazy given the geography.

Where to stay between Cortez and Escalante?

Jase — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 10:45:28 -0800

Where to stay the night that's roughly halfway between Cortez, Colorado and Escalante, UT? I'm heading out on a two week road-trip/photo expedition later this month (Vegas, Flagstaff, Santa Fe, Cortez, ?, Escalante, Bryce, Zion, Vegas) and this is one of the holes in my plan. I'm trying to break the drive from Cortez to Escalante into two days so I have plenty of time for diversions along the way, but I'm having trouble coming up with a good midpoint for this part of the trip.

Does the hive mind have any suggestions? I'm not camping this time around, staying in hotels/motels along the way.

As an aside to anyone familiar with the area, if I weren't stopping every few miles to take a photo of something, how long would the drive take in one fell swoop. I'm following the route that google maps provides, if you need specifics. Google says 317 miles will take 7 hours, but that seems like a longish estimate.

Where can I find poutine in Salt Lake City?

neilkod — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 08:47:37 -0800

Where can I find Poutine in Salt Lake City? A Canadian friend longs for this back-home delight. I'm thinking that at least one of the resorts may have this Northern Delicacy(?).

Salt Lake City: Hotels, nightlife?

nyterrant — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 11:19:37 -0800

Salt Lake City: Hotels? Nightlife? Can anyone suggest a decent hotel that is less expensive than, but nonetheless convenient to, the Marriott in downtown Salt Lake? Also, any tips about interesting things to do at night (restaurants, bars (?), etc.). I'd like not to have to rent a car, if possible.

Lodging for ski trip to Utah?

skwm — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 09:34:34 -0800

Utah ski vacation - where to go? What's the best value? I'm looking for recomendations for on-mountain lodging at a Salt Lake City area ski resort. I've stayed at the Snowpine lodge at Alta in the past, but it's a bit expensive. the current rates at the Snowpine for a small room w/queen sized bed and private bathroom, breakfast and dinner included, is $193 per person, per night.

Are there better deals to be had at Alta or Snowbird than the Snowpine? Where else can I stay that is: a) accessible from the SLC airport; b) relatively inexpensive; c) ski-in, ski-out.

Urban Planning Issues

craniac — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 09:41:28 -0800

I live in a small town of 8,000. It is really a development plopped in the middle of some fields. Like many developments it was sold as a planned community. Currently, however, the city government is selling the town to the highest-bidding developer, rewriting the city code to encourage stupid levels of density, cramming the city center with unvariated low-income housing, and in general being the toady boy of developers. Oh, and the mayor is a "consultant" to developers. Makes $8k a year. Is building a big mansion on the golf course. The city just removed the $500 cap on campaign donations, and the last election was purchased by a single developer. Other than shrugging my shoulders and saying, "It's Chinatown" (reference to movie, not ethnicity) or uprooting my family, how can I best fight this pestilent, corrupt fascism and still have time for my hobbies? (mostly reading Metafilter). Oh, the town is Eagle Mountain Utah.

road trip advice going through San Francisco and Seattle

bakiwop — Sat, 07 Aug 2004 15:29:25 -0800

On a whim, I'm driving from Milwaukee to San Francisco to Seattle and back to Milwaukee again. I'll be going through WI, IL, IA, NE, CO, UT, NV, CA, OR, WA, ID, MT, WY, SD, and MN and am looking for some tips on sights I shouldn't miss. Any suggestions?

Question number 6994

i_cola — Tue, 04 May 2004 10:20:15 -0800

Bike rental & trails around Moab, UT
I'll be looping into UT thru Zion, Bryce to stay in the Moab area for a couple of days & want to rent a couple of mountain bikes to do some trails. Anyone care to recommend a good local bike shop & some 'must do' trails? And I'll be in Yellowstone/Tetons in a couple of weeks...any rental/trail recommendations around there? [bit more within]

Tips about travel to Moab, Utah?

nyoki — Tue, 23 Mar 2004 13:30:11 -0800

Planning on visiting Moab, UT at the end of the week . . . any suggestions on short hikes or good places to stay in the area (preferably motel/hotel or camping)?