Utah has so much to offer year-round, that we constantly find ourselves hosting friends and relatives when they come to visit. That’s ok – we love to see them, and we also love to show off the Beehive State. However, we do have to explain a few things…
- No one swims in the Great Salt Lake (except this one guy pictured…and just this one time).
Jorge Láscar We don’t want to take you to the Great Salt Lake so you can see that you can float in it. The lake is bug-ridden, often stinky and the water level is really, really low, so you’re gonna have to hike for a long way before you even get to the water.
- Nope, you can’t go inside the temple.
Manish Prabhune/flickr Unless you happen to be visiting when one of the temples is hosting an open house (because it’s new or has just been renovated), you can’t go in. The Visitor Center at the Salt Lake Temple grounds does a pretty good job of explaining this, and the grounds are still really beautiful.
- Our national parks are really as gorgeous as you thought they’d be…
Jeff Krause/flickr Come and explore all five of our national parks and leave plenty of time to see each!
- …but you seriously need to spend some time at our state parks, too.
Clint Losee/flickr Don’t miss some of Utah’s most stunning scenery.
- Utah is a great place for kids.
Behan/flickr We really don’t have to explain this much to our out-of-towner friends - they quickly find out on their own! There are so many things for families to do here that you could stay for a month and not do it all. Kids are welcome pretty much anywhere in Utah, even places where you normally wouldn’t see them in other states.
- Yes, we know…there are kids everywhere.
sam deng/flickr When you visit Utah, you’d better be prepared to enjoy children, because we have a lot of ’em, and they really are everywhere! If you’re from another state, you might think that patio dining for brunch at an expensive restaurant would mean no children…but you’d be wrong.
- You can’t actually get a steak at some of Utah’s “stake houses.”
Dmm1169/Wikipedia They’re Mormon churches. If your family invites you to the stake house and you don’t want to spend three hours on Sunday at church, politely decline.
- We weren’t kidding about that “Greatest Snow on Earth” thing.
Lietmotiv/flickr Ski Utah’s powder and you’ll never look at another lame ski resort in Massachusetts the same again. If you don’t know how to ski or board, that’s ok - we’ll teach you!
- Utah is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous.
Andreina Schoeberlein/flickr You shouldn’t just go jetting off to the nearest slot canyon all by yourself with a backpack and a bottle of water. Remember that guy who had to saw off half his arm to get out of a slot canyon alive? Don’t be that guy.
- Our fast food is a little bit different.
Bill Walsh/flickr Yes, that is pastrami on your burger. And the sauce is even better than ketchup. Shut up and try them already!
- Yes, you can get a drink here!
Justin Fincher/flickr Sure, we have some weird liquor laws, but we also have some amazing microbreweries and plenty of spots to grab a drink.
- But…you’d better buy that bottle of wine beforethe holiday.
Patrick Berry/flickr The liquor store is closed. Sorry.
- No, we can’t, “take you to see the polygamists.”
Keoni Cabral/flickr Really, they’re few and far between. And most live waaay down by the Arizona state line, and no way are we taking you to Hilldale.
- Speed up, or get over to the right.
Garrett/flickr Utahns don’t drive the speed limit on the freeway - we travel 10 miles over it.
- We have a pleasant surprise for you! Utah scones.
Wally Gobetz/flickr If you’re from across the pond, you think scones are those dry, tasteless little cookies. Oh no…not in Utah. You may never want to leave after you’ve tasted a pillowy, deep-fried Utah scone drenched in honey butter.
What’s your favorite place to take out-of-towners? If you’re looking for somewhere unique, try one of these 10 Utah State Parks that are seriously underrated.
Jorge Láscar
We don’t want to take you to the Great Salt Lake so you can see that you can float in it. The lake is bug-ridden, often stinky and the water level is really, really low, so you’re gonna have to hike for a long way before you even get to the water.
Manish Prabhune/flickr
Unless you happen to be visiting when one of the temples is hosting an open house (because it’s new or has just been renovated), you can’t go in. The Visitor Center at the Salt Lake Temple grounds does a pretty good job of explaining this, and the grounds are still really beautiful.
Jeff Krause/flickr
Come and explore all five of our national parks and leave plenty of time to see each!
Clint Losee/flickr
Don’t miss some of Utah’s most stunning scenery.
Behan/flickr
We really don’t have to explain this much to our out-of-towner friends - they quickly find out on their own! There are so many things for families to do here that you could stay for a month and not do it all. Kids are welcome pretty much anywhere in Utah, even places where you normally wouldn’t see them in other states.
sam deng/flickr
When you visit Utah, you’d better be prepared to enjoy children, because we have a lot of ’em, and they really are everywhere! If you’re from another state, you might think that patio dining for brunch at an expensive restaurant would mean no children…but you’d be wrong.
Dmm1169/Wikipedia
They’re Mormon churches. If your family invites you to the stake house and you don’t want to spend three hours on Sunday at church, politely decline.
Lietmotiv/flickr
Ski Utah’s powder and you’ll never look at another lame ski resort in Massachusetts the same again. If you don’t know how to ski or board, that’s ok - we’ll teach you!
Andreina Schoeberlein/flickr
You shouldn’t just go jetting off to the nearest slot canyon all by yourself with a backpack and a bottle of water. Remember that guy who had to saw off half his arm to get out of a slot canyon alive? Don’t be that guy.
Bill Walsh/flickr
Yes, that is pastrami on your burger. And the sauce is even better than ketchup. Shut up and try them already!
Justin Fincher/flickr
Sure, we have some weird liquor laws, but we also have some amazing microbreweries and plenty of spots to grab a drink.
Patrick Berry/flickr
The liquor store is closed. Sorry.
Keoni Cabral/flickr
Really, they’re few and far between. And most live waaay down by the Arizona state line, and no way are we taking you to Hilldale.
Garrett/flickr
Utahns don’t drive the speed limit on the freeway - we travel 10 miles over it.
Wally Gobetz/flickr
If you’re from across the pond, you think scones are those dry, tasteless little cookies. Oh no…not in Utah. You may never want to leave after you’ve tasted a pillowy, deep-fried Utah scone drenched in honey butter.
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