The Beehive State
Capital: Salt Lake City
The 45th state admitted to the Union in 1896, after a standoff over polygamy. The state is also one of the 'Four Corners', the only place in the United States where four states have a confluent border.
Salt Lake City: Capital city. Named after the Great Salt Lake, the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere. The dead lake (no outlet so salt builds up) is a great opportunity for recreation, as is the rest of the state.
Utah State Capitol: This building does a good job of highlighting the values of Utah and its Mormon roots.
National Park Sites Visited
Arches National Park: Stone arches that are famous in their own right…but they were also featured in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. So iconic to the state, it’s on their license plates.
Bryce Canyon National Park: Probably my favorite National Park. Unique hoodoo formations and great hiking.
Canyonlands National Park: The Colorado River carved this site the same way it did the Grand Canyon.
Capitol Reef National Park: More cliff, canyons, and arches…but a lot less people.
Dinosaur National Monument: A wall of fossils, with some you can even touch.
Golden Spike National Historical Park: Where the transcontinental railroad was finished.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument: A cave where the tour starts at the top of a mountain, rather than the bottom.
Zion National Park: There are five National Parks in Utah…this was the first.