Even 2 weeks is not enough time to see all that Utah has to offer, but in 14 days you will be able to see a bit more of everything. This tour assumes you're flying in and out of Salt Lake City and renting a car. If, on the other hand, you don't need to return to the state capital, you'll have extra time to explore the national parks. The "Utah in 1 Week" itinerary provides the base for your trip.
Days 1 & 2: Salt Lake City
Among Salt Lake City's must-see attractions is Temple Square, the world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). In addition to the majestic church buildings, including the not-to-be-missed Tabernacle, the square houses lovely gardens and statuary, and visitor centers with exhibits on the church's history and beliefs. If possible, attend a performance of the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Then, before leaving the city, drop in at the Beehive House, built in 1854 as church leader Brigham Young's family home, and the Church History Museum.
Day 3: Park City
Drive to the Old West mining town of Park City, where in winter you can test your skills at one of three fine ski resorts. In summer, stop at the Utah Olympic Park, built for the 2002 Olympics. It's open year-round for tours and other activities. Next, go downtown to the Park City Museum -- home to the old territorial jail in its basement (it's worth a look) -- and pick up a copy of the Park City Main Street Historic Walking Tour brochure, which leads you to 45 buildings and historic sites that have managed to survive fires, hard times, and so-called progress through the decades.
Day 4: Heber Valley Historic Railroad
A short, pretty drive from Park City, the 100-year-old excursion train in Heber City is your ticket to Utah's past. Rides ranging from 1 1/2 to 3 hours are offered on both steam and vintage diesel trains.
Day 5: Price
Price has a different sort of history. The town began as a railroad and coal-mining center but is now best known for its dinosaurs. Stop at the CEU Prehistoric Museum, operated by the College of Eastern Utah, to see huge skeletons of an allosaurus, a Utah raptor, and an intriguing duck-billed dinosaur known as the prosaurolophus. If time permits, drive about 35 miles out of town to the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry to see excavations and the bones of more than 70 dinosaurs.
Days 6-8: Arches National Park & Moab
One of Utah's easiest-to-see national parks, Arches is prized for its mind-boggling sandstone rock formations, colored in shades of red, orange, and brown. Explore its scenic drive and several trails, and you'll delight in the otherworldly desertscape of natural stone arches, towers, and other fanciful sandstone formations. Make the adjacent town of Moab your headquarters, and take a break and cool off at the nearby Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve, a lush oasis along the river that attracts more than 200 species of birds, plus river otters, beavers, and muskrats.If you have time, spend a day in Canyonlands National Park's Island in the Sky District.
Days 9 & 10: Capitol Reef National Park
This well-kept secret offers brilliantly colored, unexpectedly shaped rock formations, along with a variety of historic sites and even an orchard. The Fremont River feeds a lush oasis in this otherwise barren land; in fact, 19th-century pioneers found the soil so fertile that they established the town of Fruita, named for the orchards they planted. Today you can explore the buildings and even pick fruit in season. Hikers should look for the rock wall where pioneers "signed in," and explore canyons that were a favorite hide-out of famed outlaw Butch Cassidy.
Days 11-13: Bryce Canyon National Park
It's an amazingly scenic drive down Utah 12 to Bryce Canyon, where you'll see thousands of intricately shaped hoodoos, those mysterious rock formations. Drive along the scenic route, stopping at the aptly named Inspiration Point. Then hit the colorful Queen's Garden Trail, named for a formation that resembles Britain's Queen Victoria, or take a leisurely stroll along the Rim Trail for some spectacular views.
Day 14: Back to Salt Lake City
Even though it's a long drive back to Salt Lake City, if time permits, plan a stop in Provo to explore some fine museums, especially the excellent Museum of Art on the campus of Brigham Young University.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
