Must-see attractions in Utah

  • Gilgal Sculpture Garden

    Salt Lake City

    Talk about obscure: Gilgal Garden is a quirky little green space hidden in a residential neighborhood. Most notably, this tiny sculpture garden contains a…

  • Discovery Gateway

    Salt Lake City

    This enthusiastic, hands-on children's museum is possibly the best city attraction for families. The 'Saving Lives' exhibit features a real helicopter,…

  • Court of the Patriarchs

    Zion National Park

    These sandstone cliffs named for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (from the Bible) are a notable viewpoint on Zion Canyon Scenic Drive.

  • Frontier Homestead State Park Museum

    Southwestern Utah

    Kids love the cabins and the brightly painted 19th-century buggies, as well as the outdoor hands-on activities and garden full of old farm equipment to…

  • Thor's Hammer

    Bryce Canyon National Park

    This tower looks like the hammer of the mighty Thor. It's best viewed from the upper switchbacks on the Navajo Loop Trail.

  • Utah Museum of Fine Arts

    Salt Lake City

    Soaring galleries showcase permanent collections of ancient Mesoamerican and Mediterranean art, American and regional works, Chinese ceramics and more.

  • Covey Center for the Arts

    Wasatch Mountains

    A modern performance center with an auditorium, experimental theater space, art galleries and dance studios. Check the website for events.

  • Albion Basin

    Wasatch Mountains

    From July to August, Albion Basin is abloom with wildflowers. July, when an annual wildflower festival is held, is usually peak season.

  • Big Springs

    Zion National Park

    This fern-fringed spring is a 5-mile hike from the Temple of Sinawava area via the Narrows.

  • Moab Museum

    Moab

    Regional exhibits feature everything from paleontology and archaeology to local crafts and Native American art.

  • Golden Throne

    Southwestern Utah

    Stands out for its gold dome of Navajo Sandstone.

  • Salt Lake City, Utah - Aug 2016: Colorful Bird, at the Tracy Aviary

by Fsendek/Shutterstock

    Tracy Aviary

    Salt Lake City

    Located in the southwest corner of Liberty Park, this aviary delights bird-lovers with winged creatures from all over the world. Kids can feed pelicans…

  • Mountain Meadows Massacre Monument

    Southwestern Utah

    About 12 miles north of Veyo on Hwy 18 stands a remote monument to one of the darkest incidents in the Mormon settlement of Utah. In 1857, for reasons…

  • Human History Museum

    Zion National Park

    A half-mile from the park's southern entrance station, the Human History Museum presents a modest exhibit of the geological and human history of Zion. A…

  • Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

    Southwestern Utah

    Restless winds shift giant Sahara-like sand dunes across half of this 3700-acre state park. For lovers of the strange, it's worth the 24-mile, 90-minute…

  • Golden Spike National Historic Site

    Utah

    On May 10, 1869, the westward Union Pacific Railroad and eastward Central Pacific Railroad met at Promontory Summit. With the completion of the…

  • Bryce Wildlife Adventure

    Bryce Canyon National Park

    This roadside attraction displays dioramas of more than 800 animals from around the world, as well as Native American artifacts and butterfly and giant…

  • The Toadstools

    Southwestern Utah

    This wander gives passersby a taste of the harsh Utah desert and cool rocks. The thin sand trail meanders through the scrub-brush, desert boulders and…

  • Beehive House

    Salt Lake City

    Brigham Young lived with one of his wives and families in the Beehive House during much of his tenure as governor and church president in Utah. The…

  • Western Mining & Railroad Museum

    Utah

    The Wild Bunch’s only heist in Utah took place in April 1897, when the gang (which included Butch Cassidy) stole more than $8000 from Pleasant Valley Coal…

  • Silver Reef

    Southwestern Utah

    A few of the original buildings remain intact, while others are crumbling at this 19th-century silver-mining ghost town. The restored Wells Fargo building…

  • Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

    Southwestern Utah

    Two miles west of town, the centerpiece of this state park is a 130-acre lake. Hike uphill about a mile on an interpretive route to see pieces of colorful…

  • Fremont Petroglyphs

    Southwestern Utah

    Just east of the visitor center on Hwy 24, look for the parking lot for freely accessible petroglyphs; these are the rock-art carvings that convinced…

  • Joseph Smith Memorial Building

    Salt Lake City

    East of the Brigham Young Monument, this building was the elegant Hotel Utah from 1911 until 1987. Inside, there's a large-screen theater with daily…

  • Duck Creek Village

    Southwestern Utah

    The ever-expanding log-cabin town Duck Creek Village has services, including a couple of restaurants, realty offices, cabin rental outfits, a laundromat…

  • Moab Museum of Film & Western Heritage

    Moab

    Head out to the Moab Museum of Film & Western Heritage, based at Red Cliffs Lodge, 15 miles north of town, to see Hollywood memorabilia from films shot…

  • Black Birch Canyon Overlook

    Bryce Canyon National Park

    Just north of Mile 16, at 8750ft, the small Black Birch Canyon overlook demonstrates just how precipitously the cliffs drop from the road. It also offers…

  • McPolin Farm

    Park City

    This 1886 white-barn farm was purchased by the citizens of Park City in 1990 to protect and enhance the entry corridor and maintain open space. There's…

  • Hogle Zoo

    Salt Lake City

    Asian Highlands, combining big cat habitats with architecture of the East, is one of several popular exhibits at Hogle Zoo. Kids enjoy Rocky Shores, where…

  • American West Heritage Center

    Utah

    A 19th-century frontier community comes to life with hands-on activities at the American West Heritage Center, south of Logan. The center hosts group…

  • Brigham Young University

    Wasatch Mountains

    The BYU campus is enormous and known for its squeaky-clean student dress codes. Get your bearings at the Hinckley Alumni & Visitor Center on North 450…

  • Zion Nature Center

    Zion National Park

    During the summer, many children's programs are held at the Zion Nature Center, just past the South Campground. There is a variety of interactive exhibits…

  • Strike Valley Overlook

    Southwestern Utah

    The Upper Muley Twist Canyon trail, just north of Burr Trail Rd, leads past arches and lofty walls to a seldom-visited overlook with expansive views of…

  • Union Station

    Wasatch Mountains

    This old train station houses four small museums dedicated to classic autos, Western history, firearms and Utah railroads.

  • Spanish Valley Winery

    Moab

    For some no-frills wine tasting, visit the surprisingly good Spanish Valley Winery, 6 miles south of Moab on Hwy 191.

  • Pioneer Register

    Southwestern Utah

    Pioneers left carved names and dates on canyon walls while passing through Capitol Gorge.