Utah Vacation Ideas: Things to See, Do and Photograph

Determining the best time to visit Utah National Parks depends on what you want to see and do. As you’re looking at places to visit in Utah for an upcoming vacation, timing is one of the first things you need to decide.

If you’re looking for amazing destinations to add to your bucket list, check out our must-see list of Utah State Parks! Usually the National Parks are the most popular places to visit in Utah. But you’ll find unique and stunning landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities at these State Parks in Utah, without the crowds of the National Parks.

If you love the outdoors, a trip to Utah might be your dream getaway. This list of the best places to visit in Utah will show you exactly why!

Salt Lake City is a thriving metropolis with so many things to do and see, you’d need a few days here to do it all. Read on to discover cultural and historic sites, fun outdoor activities, and some day trips you’ll want to plan extra time for.

Park City, Utah is popular in the winter for its world-famous ski resorts and Sundance Festival, but Park City can be just as much fun…dare I say it…in the summer! There are so many fun things to do in Park City Utah.

From summer to winter there are countless fun things to do in Provo, Utah! With some of our favorite including, hiking in the Provo Canyon, attending the free concerts at Sundance or tubing down the Provo River.

Located on the Utah/Idaho border, Bear Lake is a perfect destination for your next family vacation. Bear Lake is known as the Caribbean of the Rockies because of the unique turquoise colored water. Combine this with sandy beaches and raspberry milkshakes – you just can’t go wrong.

This article is aimed at people living in Utah or nearby where a weekend getaway in Southern Utah is easily done. Of course, you can still use this to help plan a Utah road trip by combining or mixing and matching for slightly longer time periods, this is basically for a two day Utah road trip.

Visiting these slot canyons allows you to witness some of the most unique parts of nature that the southwest has to offer. Plus, you can easily visit them if you’re visiting the national parks in Utah, like Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, or even Canyonlands!

One advantage to being a local is knowing all about Arches National Park photography during every season and all types of weather and light conditions. Use our photo tips below and our Arches National Park travel guide to plan a vacation with lots of pictures to share!

Moab, Utah is a destination built for adventure! It’s a hiker’s paradise and a nature enthusiast’s playground. There’s no shortage of things to do in Moab, and this guide covers 30 activities you’ll absolutely love.

Without a doubt, off-roading should be at the top of any Moab itinerary. There are a number of options for off-roading in Moab. Several dozen outfitters offer Moab UTV tours or rentals, and a couple Moab tour companies offer “U-drive” excursions.

Goblin Valley State Park is easily one of the coolest places to visit in Utah. This is the ultimate list of Goblin Valley State Park hikes that you should consider doing on your trip to Utah.

Everything you need to know about visiting Bryce Canyon in one day: where to stay, where to watch sunset, and of course, where to hike, to make the absolute most of your 24 hours in the park 

This two-day itinerary covers the highlights of the park that are best for families visiting Bryce Canyon with kids. This is a place where kids’ imaginations can run wild exploring all the rock formations around them.

Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the largest concentration of hoodoos on Earth. Tall, skinny spires of rock, these hoodoos seem like totem poles, carved by nature, ranging in height from 5 to 150 ft, in all shapes and widths.

Escalante, Utah is an amazing destination for outdoor lovers and it’s perfect for long hiking trips and casual visits alike. Whether you want a short hike, a coffee, a scenic drive, a museum, or a backpacking adventure, Escalante has it.

16 of the best hikes in Grand Staircase Escalante: everything you need to know to plan the perfect Grand Staircase hiking trip. You'll find slot canyons, beautiful gulches, waterfalls, arches and unique rock formations await those who come to hike in Grand Staircase Escalante.

Lower Calf Creek Falls is located in the Staircase-Escalante National Monument off of the Utah Scenic Byway 12 between Escalante and Boulder.

Complete guide to Hole in the Rock Road in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, from details on dispersed camping and finding good campsites to the best hikes along the road and vehicle safety tips!

There are many great things to do for your Capitol Reef National Park 1 day itinerary! Here are some top things in the park to choose from.

Capitol Reef National Park is a spectacular and yet the least visited of all national parks in Utah. That alone should make you jump at the opportunity to visit this place, but if you are still wondering about it, keep on reading.

Located just east of Capitol Reef National Park, the Bentonite Hills are not part of the national park system. This area is BLM and state-run land, but it is a must-see if you are visiting Capitol Reef on a Utah road trip.

The Great Chamber at Cutler Point is one of the best things to do in Kanab, Utah. A short hike leads to the beautiful Culter Point cave carved by the wind. Here is everything you need to know about how to get to the Great Chamber near Kanab, Utah, and what to expect on your journey.

Tall ethereal spires topped with distinctive brown caps and eerie white sandstone mounds – all this and more greets the hiker who adventures along the Wahweap Hoodoos Trail near Big Water, Utah.

An often-overlooked alternative to The Wave, White Pocket, Arizona is a hidden gem in the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness area. Here's my comprehensive guide to White Pocket!

If you are like most and have never heard of Coyote Buttes South (also referred to as South Coyote Buttes), you definitely need to set your eyes on this hidden gem now before the word gets out and it’s just as hard to get a permit to hike here as The Wave.

Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch might be the most beautiful slot canyon you’ve ever laid eyes on. For an easy, yet gorgeous trip into the beautiful slot canyons of Utah, Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch should be at the top of your list.

If you’re wondering what to do in Zion National Park in one day, this guide is a good place to start. The park is extremely popular and some advanced planning is helpful to ensure you make the most out of your visit.

Seven of the Best Hikes in Zion National Park: Trail information, Difficulty and Ranking

Despite the cold water and the extra gear we needed, I would be as bold as to say that winter is the BEST time to hike the narrows!

Angels Landing is one of the most popular hiking trails in Zion National Park. The five-mile hike is difficult and technical, punctuated by grueling switchbacks, a 1,500-foot elevation gain, and vertigo-inducing views.

Located off the road to Zion National Park in the far south-west of Utah, Grafton sits along the Virgin River valley. The town has some restored homes, outbuildings, the hall / church, and graveyard. You can visit the buildings and all have signage to explain their heritage. 

Hovenweep is a Paiute and Ute word, meaning “deserted valley”, and as you look around in the area, you’ll feel that it is a fitting description. We love visiting it not only for the structures but also for its remoteness, of this feeling of being alone in a deserted landscape.

Monument Valley, which translates to “valley of the rocks”, is one of the most majestic and most photographed places in the world.