Utah’s natural splendor inspires a sense of adventure and personal fulfillment. With five national parks, 46 state parks, numerous national monuments, lakes, reservoirs and waterways, dirt roads and scenic byways, even the most ambitious adventure seeker would be hard-pressed to enjoy them all in a single lifetime.
But beyond those ubiquitous billboards and travel council posters lies another, lesser known, even secret trove of treasures. It’s what we here at Utah Stories call Hidden Utah.
This August, we’ll guide you to places you may never have heard of. Or maybe you just missed the exit. Or perhaps you’ve been meaning to go there but life got in the way.
This is your “no excuses” guide to breaking those civilized chains, setting your soul free and running amok in the pursuit of your personal happiness. You can even take your inner child along for company.
When you do, you’ll discover all the little places that offer big rewards. You can read more about it in Hidden Gems in Tiny Places, where writer Morgan Olsen reveals out-of-the-way fun in Utah’s smallest towns. Road-tripping Utah’s smallest burgs and hamlets offers a glimpse into a simpler way of life and a sometimes secret history.
Hungry? You’re in luck! Heather L. King will steer you to some rural drive-ins where the food is great and the people are real. Check out a few of them before you choke down another corporate burger.
Reward yourself with Utah’s best produce along North Highway 89 — Utah’s fruit route. Or grab the kids and head to one of Utah’s premier (unsalted) beaches. Just because we live in a desert doesn’t mean you can’t show off your sexy beach bod while you play in the water.
Tag along with Andrew Fisher as he takes us to Kanab for a behind-the-scenes look at this iconic town. Follow Danny Stewart to Moab in search of Butch Cassidy’s legend. Grab a brew in Ogden. We even offer suggestions where you can go when you leave this life (in the nicest possible way, of course).
Don’t have a lot of time? Head over to Raunch Records for some blast-from-the past nostalgic vinyl. For family fun on a budget, take the Kimball Junction exit and let the kids and the dog run free at Park City’s Run-A-Muk Dog Park and Trail. They’ll thank you later.
These are just a few suggestions. The best adventures are the ones where you escape to your own hidden place, or better yet, go in search of one. There is always something old or new to see and do in Utah.
Feature image created using AI.
