What to do and see in Utah, United States: The Best Historic Sites

July 17, 2021 Terina Blouin

Welcome to “The Greatest Snow on Earth” – Utah’s paradise for all outdoor enthusiasts! As host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City knows how to entertain winter fun seekers. Snowboarders and skiers head for miles of spectacular slopes with deep fluffy powder and breathtaking mountain views. The Olympic Park provides family-friendly ski programs, rides and shows. Alta, Sundance, Snowbird and Brighton are other popular destinations for cross country and Alpine skiers. Those alluring snowy slopes turn to rolling wildflower fields in the summer. Golfing, fishing, horseback riding and water sports replace chilly outdoor sports adventures. Corral the family, pack a picnic and catch one of the ski lifts for an afternoon of hiking or mountain biking along scenic trails. Head to Salt Lake City, where Temple Square hosts millions of visitors a year. Bryce Canyon and Arches National Park are famous for surreal landscapes from horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters to unusual rock formations and hundreds of natural sandstone arches. Closer to home, wander along the quaint main streets of mountain villages to browse, shop and enjoy lunch at an outdoor café. At the end of the day, head home for an outdoor barbecue and an evening of games. Home rentals blend privacy, space and comfort with the cost-saving advantage of eating some meals at home.
Restaurants in Utah

1. Cove Fort

I-70 and I-15 How Much It Costs To Enter: Free, UT +1 435-438-5547 http://www.covefort.com/
Excellent
86%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 351 reviews

Cove Fort

Cove Fort was used as a Stagecoach Way Station and Pony Express station.

Reviewed By jacobcX238UA - Provo, United States

This is a wonderful place to bring your family and feel immersed in pioneer times. The tour guides are all volunteers and do an excellent job in the tour and answering any questions you may have. We loved visiting and anyone who's in the area should do the same.

2. Memorial Hill

373 River Rd, Midway, UT 84049-6901 http://memorialhillrestoration.com
Excellent
82%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 34 reviews

Memorial Hill

3. The Salt Lake Masonic Temple

650 E South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84102-1141 +1 801-363-2936 http://www.utahgrandlodge.org
Excellent
75%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4 reviews

The Salt Lake Masonic Temple

4. Horseshoe Canyon

Canyon, Hanksville, UT http://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/horseshoecanyon.htm
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4 reviews

Horseshoe Canyon

Reviewed By preeveparks50 - Grasse, France

The route is long, but the wall of pictograms is worth the detour. There is frequently a voluntary ranger present who will spend as much time with you as you like to explain the rock art and its orogin. Probably not a good idea to hike this in summer, as there is little shade in the canyon, and there is a four mile hike to get to the site. There is also a lot of soft sand to negotiate so be prepared.

5. Old Paria

Us 89, Kanab, UT
Excellent
63%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
4%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 104 reviews

Old Paria

Reviewed By Lisamb1 - Saint Paul, United States

I followed another reviewers directions and found this easily. Road was dirt/gravel, but easy to drive, just slow and bumpy. About a 20-30 min detour off the highway from Page to Kanab. Follow directions to old Paria site. I think it might be better in the afternoon to see the really colorful mountainside

6. Union Station

2501 Wall Ave, Ogden, UT 84401-1359 +1 801-629-8671 http://www.theunionstation.org/
Excellent
59%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 299 reviews

Union Station

For 50 years this stately and historic depot served as a major hub for transcontinental rail service. Today, it remains a monument to grand rail stations of the early 20th-century and includes four museums: the Utah State Railroad Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Browning Kimball Car Museum and the Browning Firearms Museum.

Reviewed By sallywB8235GI - Webster, United States

We had a rainy day to kill in Ogden and found this place very interesting and well done. They have done a great job preserving a very beautiful building. The history of the building of the Transcontinental Railway was well covered. Kids would love the model trains. The cars in automobile museum were beautiful. The cowboy museum was small but with a few minutes. We skipped the gun museum. The location is good, right at the end of the historic 25th street where you can grab food and shop.

7. Red Fleet State Park

8750 N Highway 191, Vernal, UT 84078-7802 +1 435-789-4432 [email protected] http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/red-fleet/
Excellent
58%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 73 reviews

Red Fleet State Park

Hike to 200-million-year-old dinosaur tracks, boat and fish on Red Fleet Reservoir, and camp or picnic in a campground overlooking a sandstone and desert landscape. In the heart of Dinosaurland, Red Fleet is a destination in itself and great location for discovery of the area.

Reviewed By ThisFamilyTravels - Oro Valley, United States

Our family LOVED our visit to Red Fleet State Park - Dinosaur Trackway. We were in a large motorhome and found plenty of parking at the trailhead. Hike was moderate - lots of boulders, with slot canyons. Really nice hike for our kids (aged 7-18). The BEST part was the dinosaur fossils at the end (follow the painted fossils on the hike to avoid getting lost). Never knew a place like this existed - where we could actually find fossils "in nature." Best part was our swim at the end of the hike - cliff jumping (60' per a boater) and sunning on the rocks. Bring life vests for small children. No restrooms, so go before you trek. Would absolutely recommend this - highlight of any hike we've been on. SO COOL.

8. McPolin Farm

3000 Hwy 224, Park City, UT 84060 http://www.parkcity.org/departments/mcpolin-farm
Excellent
71%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 7 reviews

McPolin Farm

9. Golden Spike National Historical Park

Promontory Rd., Corinne, UT 84302-0897 +1 435-471-2209 ext. 29 http://www.nps.gov/gosp/index.htm
Excellent
57%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 376 reviews

Golden Spike National Historical Park

Reviewed By edc338 - Arlington, United States

I visited the Golden Spike National Historical Park in late April. Unfortunately the park doesn't fully open until May. However there is still a lot to see and do even while the park is partially closed. The Visitor Center is open and includes an interesting short film on building the Transcontinental Railroad along with many museum artifacts on display. Out back is a recreation of the spot where the Golden Spike was driven. Actually there were four special spikes driven, and all four were subsequently removed. Two of them are in the Stanford University museum. The third is in the Museum of the City of New York. The fourth has been lost Fortunately the visitor center has replicas for sale :) My biggest disappointment was that neither of the recreated steam engines were out. Fortunately the engine house where they were being worked on was open to the public. We were allowed into a corner by the door while a guide explained their history to us. It turns out that both of them were last minute substitutes for the Golden Spike ceremony as the originally planned engines were unable to make it to Promontory Summit. Both the Central Pacific and Union Pacific build parallel road beds on either side of Promontory Summit. These have been converted into two one-way driving tours. While I was there the west driving tour was closed so I could only go on the east tour. It is a drive along the old Central Pacific road bed. A $2 booklet describes the points of interest on the trail, to include the "final cut" of the Union Pacific, and the "Chinese Arch" which was the site of a immigrant camp.. One advantage of it being off-season is there were no other cars on the road so I could stop where ever I wanted to take pictures. After finishing the east driving tour, I drove to the nearby "Big Fill/Big Trestle" parking lot from where one could take a 1 1/2 mile round trip walk along the roadbeds to the site of the Central Pacific "Big Fill" and the Union Pacific 'Big Trestle". Since the walk is along the original roadbed, the slope is quite gradual. The most difficult parts were getting from the parking lot to the road bed and transferring between the roadbeds during the walk. At the start of the walk is a sign which tells the story of the 1888 "Orange Special Wreck" where a "high speed" (30mph) train transporting California oranges to the east coast derailed. As a result the local ranchers and workers ate more oranges in the two weeks following the wreck than they would typically eat in an entire year. Golden Spike is a "must see" if you are anywhere in the area. If you have a choice go during the May-September summer season.

10. Jacob Hamlin Home

3325 Hamblin Dr, St. George, UT 84765-5345 +1 435-673-5181 http://history.lds.org/subsection/historic-sites/utah/st-george/jacob-hamblin-home?lang=eng
Excellent
64%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 164 reviews

Jacob Hamlin Home

Reviewed By riccie2014

After moseying through a pretty strred street we sprted out unto the open where the Hamblin house sat.Back off the road, adjacent to a row of pioneer homes and buildings on was the old road. Very interesting..worth the sweet drive out of St.George!

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