Follow him on Twitter, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. From Valley of Fire, get right back on the I-15 North and drive for about an hour and forty-five minutes until you reach the town of St. George, Utah, right by the Arizona/Utah border.. A notable stop in this town, particularly since our final destination is Salt Lake City, is the Brigham Young Winter Home, a historic residence and current museum. Discover this 24.2-mile point-to-point trail near St. George, Utah. Noted as the most photographed ghost town in the west, Grafton still attracts tourists with its eerie facades and rustic charm. We suggest for those looking for a good campsite or RV park to check out St George RV Park or the Snow Canyon Campground. Situated a little more than 1 hour from the Strip, Fire Wave Trail is one of the most beautiful spots for hiking in Las Vegas and its surrounding areas. A gorgeous, albeit somewhat white-knuckle drive for this apprehensive driver, the scenic Virgin River Gorge is something to behold. This is also one of the best places to take in a view over St George. The Downtown Insider. Hours of Driving:7+ hours of driving, including the commute to and from Las Vegas. In St Georges downtown, youll find so many museums, parks, and restaurants that itll make your head spin! The course of the Virgin River was re-channeled twelve different times during construction of the Gorge road. Skin lesions removed from Biden were basal cell carcinoma. Due to his work with local Native American tribes and the spreading of the Mormon religion, Hamblin has earned a place of respect amongst Mormons and indigenous people alike. Come along for the ride! Yet hikers don't need to solely rely on state parks to venture off the beaten path. Its just simply breathtaking located on the edges of Snow Canyon State Park just a few miles right from downtown St George. Some of the things you wont want to miss while visiting Pine Valley are the Pine Valley Chapel and the Pine Valley Reservoir. Read about the 35 best attractions and cities to stop in between the Monument Valley and Las Vegas, including places like Page, Horseshoe Bend, and Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge . Located roughly 50 miles up the road from Las Vegas, youll find Valley of Fire State Park. This short 1-mile long hike is extremely easy and is best done in the morning or mid-afternoon. Formerly a general store built in 1911, it now sells nostalgic candy and ice cream. Hikers can spot tracks in, , but if you want to see as much evidence as possible in one place, visit the. What happened this week? You might be tempted to book a hotel in Springdale, the small town just outside the main gates. You might be tempted to book a hotel in Springdale, the small town just outside the main gates. For anyone who loves the cultural arts, you need to take in a performance at theBroadwayin the DesertTuacahnoutdoor amphitheater in St George. Starting at the trailhead, its about a 1.5-mile hike that took about an hour. How this road was ever carved out of the massive rocks is beyond me. . Before you do anything in or around St. George, you'll need a place to stay. While exploring Utah, youll quickly realize that many of the deserts are full of large rocks and canyons. Many of the attractions in Pioneer Park are easily accessed with minimal walking, including Dixie Rock (aka Dixie Sugarloaf), St George Narrows (aka The Crack), and Pioneer Park Arches. Ghost towns are very common throughout California but Calico, between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, is more than a ghost town. No matter where you go, Utah-produced High West is almost always the whiskey of choice. Catch a performance at the legendary House of Blues Las Vegas. Its one of those places where you can sit alone and read a book or bring the family to play around. Copyright 2019 Las Vegas Review-Journal, Inc. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service, By ANDREW JAMES REVIEWJOURNAL.COM CONTRIBUTOR, Kolob Canyons Utah (Courtesy Frank Kovalchek/flickr), Parowan Gap Utah (Courtesy Glenn Merritt/flickr), Fillmore Territorial Statehouse Utah (Courtesy), Devils Kitchen Nebo Loop Utah (Courtesy Rick Willoughby/flickr), You can tell they love football: Raiders make big impression on young QB, Wahlbergs $14.5M bungalow leads 2022 new home luxury, Raiders, Aces stars to tie the knot in Las Vegas this weekend, Desert Monkey King artist comes forward, Strip land values push higher after plunging in recession, Hang on or stay inside! This is a popular trail for scenic driving, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Its possible to appreciate this from the ground, as most of us do, but its even more impressive from the sky on a balloon flight. Built all the way back in 1877, St George Temple is known as the first of its kind in Utah. What is that? Hollywood agrees as Snow Canyon has been the shooting site of multiple well-known films including the classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Electric Horseman, and Jeremiah Johnson. It is conveniently located between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Want more Thrillist? has shaded water features and views of Zion National Park from Canaan Mountain. Gunlock is another reservoir, but more remote and best known for waterfalls that pass between rock formations. and leave at 4:34 pm. 6. 2. If you have been to any museum of natural history, youre sure to have seen dinosaur bones and footprints on display. Noted as one of the most romantic spots around St George, you can bring a date or explore the park solo. While its still worth driving by to check out, be aware that the temple is in the middle of a major renovation project and closed until 2022. Another small town that youll want to be sure to check out is the historic Pine Valley. See what the desert landscape looks like at its best. The course of the Virgin River was re-channeled twelve different times during construction of the Gorge road. A quiet community of less than 90,000 people, St. George is best known for its proximity to the great outdoors, especially Zion National Park, but it's turning into a worthwhile destination in its own right. Although called Snow Canyon, Snow Canyon State Park is a place to explore all the beauty of the desert. Hundreds of years ago, Native Americans chiseled their stories into the rock faces, and seeing them is like stepping back in time. Some cities are still figuring themselves out, but St. George remains effortlessly grounded in a pocket of Utah that's neither cosmopolitan or remote, surrounded by the beauty of towering desert cliffs. Youll find plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, and many options for lodging in Springdale. I found this gem completely by accident during my last trip back to Salt Lake. If you take a side trip to the charming town of Santa Clara, grab lunch at Rylu's Bistro. The taxidermy is tastefully done offering an opportunity to see animals up close. Want to drive Ferraris, shoot machine guns or go ziplining? Yes, this is definitely one of the most tourist-y things to do in Las Vegas, but it's got to be done. Learn about Utah's extensive history of dinosaurs, About 200 million years before Utah was even Utah, the region was a hotbed for dinosaurs. Even if its not hot weather, you can become dehydrated quickly. So not only a good place to cool off, but also fantastic for photography. But why deal with the large crowds, heavy traffic and paid parking when you can zoom out on Google Maps and choose less chaotic accommodations in or around St. George instead? Pilot, aviation consultant say the busiest airline at Harry Reid International Airport ignored technological updates for too long and suffered the consequences. The donuts, tarts . is quickly becoming everyone's new favorite restaurant in town. The stunning natural beauty speaks for itself. Bird checklists are available at the visitor centers! St. George's Downtown district is an engaging mix of architecture, art, parks, and independent storefronts. The Palazzo - 5 Stars. Rangers always know the best parts of the park. The. It was founded as a Mormon settlement, but eventually developed its own identity. The largest town in Southwest Utah is slowly and comfortably embracing its growth at just the right pace. Either way, the amount in a shot is tightly controlled. If you still have more time, take this loop back to St. George. With spectacular mountain views and plenty of red rock vistas, we found St. George to be a truly beautiful city. The exhibit changes each spring with about two-dozen new pieces installed. About 20 minutes west of the strip lies the almost 200-acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The gougres (savory cheese-filled pasties) and salmon rillettes will keep you full while exploring historic sites like the. Just a few weeks ago, Zion was officially designated an International Dark Sky Park, recognizing the absence of light pollution in the area. St. George, Utah which is the closest city in proximity to Zion National Park also has a small airport, but flight options may be more limited . Basically, park the car, throw up a tent and crash. If you are . If you're going on a road trip from Page to Las Vegas, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Boulder City, Kanab, and St. George and top places to visit like Cottonwood Canyon Rd and Toadstool Hoodoos, or the ever-popular Historic Navajo Bridge. To enter Zion National Park, youll need to pay an entrance fee or show your pass. Ride in a specially-equipped buggy through the Nevada desert during this adrenaline-fueled activity departing from Las Vegas. Weve visited nearly 100 countries on all 7 continents. Summertime travelers might get the impression that the park got its name from its environment, rather than its rock formation. Show only these on map. See for yourself with a visit to. In spite of its accessibility, most Utahns are unaware of its existence unless they happen to notice the sign marking the turnoff while driving past it. Play along . During the summer, daytime highs usually top 100 degrees and can get as high as 120. Beaver Dam, Ariz . Or, stop by the Childrens Museum for some air conditioned exploration and discovery. St George is filled with many great things to do with kids and one of our favorites is riding the historical carousel in St George Town Square. Complete with tumbleweeds blowing across the main street, Grafton Ghost Town is the place to go to witness some of the last remnants of the wild west. Re: Vegas To St. George and back, things to see along the way. The last day is all about experiencing equal parts history and exploration in the Wild West first hand. In the evening, enjoy playing in St. George. Never touch or deface any petroglyphs and be respectful when visiting this historical sight. On the west side of Las Vegas, 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and 10 minutes from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, the JW Marriott Resort and Spa is another inviting property offering an escape from the typical Las Vegas scene. Sandstone domes and contrasting colors create scenic panoramas throughout the park. Located on the southernborderbetween Utah and Arizona is one of the best historical sights in the St George area. Despite the daunting terrain, federal authorities decided to create a direct path through the Virgin River Gorge.