If you live in Utah, you know that our state is the best in the nation in many ways, but our fellow citizens in other states don’t always fully appreciate all that Utah has to offer. Here are just a few reasons that we’re the most underrated state in the country.
- The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western hemisphere.
Pedrik/flickr It’s so big you can see it from outer space. And, thanks to the high salt content, you can easily float in it like a cork.
- We have FIVE national parks.
Heidi Alsup Sure, there are some nice-looking national parks in other states, but Utah’s are surely the most beautiful.
- Utah hosts the biggest, best film festival in the country.
Sundance Film Festival/Facebook The Sundance Film Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this year! Every January, the festival brings filmmakers, critics and actors from all over the world to Park City and Salt Lake.
- Our 45 state parks are diverse and beautiful.
Fred Moore/flickr Utah’s state parks include everything from ATV recreation at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park to the stunning view at Dead Horse Point State Park.
- We brought the world fry sauce.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr People from other states often fail to appreciate the deliciousness that is fry sauce.
- We have one of the largest LGBT communities in the country.
Jay Jacobsen/flickr Our diverse capital city has the 7th largest LGBT population in the country. Salt Lake City hosts an annual Pride Parade and festival and has an active, vibrant community of people from all walks of life..
- Our snow is the best in the world.
snowbirdphoto/flickr Utah’s snow is unique, and it’s not just because of the powder. The Great Salt Lake often creates a “lake effect” during winter storms, which puts down a layer of high density snow. Then, another storm comes along and places a layer of our famous powder over the top, making for the perfect mix for deep-powder skiing.
- Utah has the heaviest living organism in the world.
Bryant Olsen/flickr Pando, a large quaking aspen colony near Fish Lake, weighs somewhere around 6,600 tons. The organism is about 80,000 years old, which also makes it one of the oldest living organisms in the world.
- Utahns are the most generous people in the United States.
Bureau of Land Management/flickr A 2014 study showed that Utahns have the highest volunteerism rate in the country. We clear trails, read to kids, work with animals and more. We also give the highest percentage of our incomes to charitable causes.
- We have hoodoos.
Moyann Brenn/flickr They’re a fascinating example of what wind and erosion can create after thousands of years. Each hoodoo is unique, and when you have thousands in one place, they’re absolutely stunning.
- Our mountain peaks are stunning.
Casey Goodlett/flickr Utah has high mountain peaks in every single county. King’s Peak, at 13,528 feet, is the tallest peak in Utah.
- We brought the world some of the best Westerns ever.
Troy Snow/flickr Kanab’s nickname is “Little Hollywood” because of all the movies filmed there. The first was “Deadwood Coach,” in 1924. Since then, over a hundred Western films and television shows have been filmed in Kanab’s gorgeous red-rock country.
- Utah has award-winning beer.
Justin Fincher/flickr People outside of Utah often think they can’t get a drink here, but the fact is that some of our microbreweries win industry awards on a regular basis.
- Our dinosaur bones are a paleontologist’s dream.
InSapphoWeTrust/flickr Dinosaur National Monument, in Vernal, is the site for fossils from eleven different dinosaur species. At the Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry, you can see more than 1,500 partially-exposed dinosaur bones.
- Utah is the best state in the country to raise kids.
DarrelBirkett/flickr Utah loves kids! There’s so much here for kids to see and do, from Hogle Zoo to Thanksgiving Point to cool playgrounds in every city and town. We also have one of the lowest crime rates in the nation, so you know your little Utahns will be safe.
- In Utah, you can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon.
Erik Anestad/flickr Unlike most places where the weather is the same statewide, Utah has a diverse climate. You can ski at Park City in the morning, then drive down to St. George to catch a tee time in the afternoon.
Do you agree? What reasons do you think Utah is underrated?
Pedrik/flickr
It’s so big you can see it from outer space. And, thanks to the high salt content, you can easily float in it like a cork.
Heidi Alsup
Sure, there are some nice-looking national parks in other states, but Utah’s are surely the most beautiful.
Sundance Film Festival/Facebook
The Sundance Film Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this year! Every January, the festival brings filmmakers, critics and actors from all over the world to Park City and Salt Lake.
Fred Moore/flickr
Utah’s state parks include everything from ATV recreation at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park to the stunning view at Dead Horse Point State Park.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr
People from other states often fail to appreciate the deliciousness that is fry sauce.
Jay Jacobsen/flickr
Our diverse capital city has the 7th largest LGBT population in the country. Salt Lake City hosts an annual Pride Parade and festival and has an active, vibrant community of people from all walks of life..
snowbirdphoto/flickr
Utah’s snow is unique, and it’s not just because of the powder. The Great Salt Lake often creates a “lake effect” during winter storms, which puts down a layer of high density snow. Then, another storm comes along and places a layer of our famous powder over the top, making for the perfect mix for deep-powder skiing.
Bryant Olsen/flickr
Pando, a large quaking aspen colony near Fish Lake, weighs somewhere around 6,600 tons. The organism is about 80,000 years old, which also makes it one of the oldest living organisms in the world.
Bureau of Land Management/flickr
A 2014 study showed that Utahns have the highest volunteerism rate in the country. We clear trails, read to kids, work with animals and more. We also give the highest percentage of our incomes to charitable causes.
Moyann Brenn/flickr
They’re a fascinating example of what wind and erosion can create after thousands of years. Each hoodoo is unique, and when you have thousands in one place, they’re absolutely stunning.
Casey Goodlett/flickr
Utah has high mountain peaks in every single county. King’s Peak, at 13,528 feet, is the tallest peak in Utah.
Troy Snow/flickr
Kanab’s nickname is “Little Hollywood” because of all the movies filmed there. The first was “Deadwood Coach,” in 1924. Since then, over a hundred Western films and television shows have been filmed in Kanab’s gorgeous red-rock country.
Justin Fincher/flickr
People outside of Utah often think they can’t get a drink here, but the fact is that some of our microbreweries win industry awards on a regular basis.
InSapphoWeTrust/flickr
Dinosaur National Monument, in Vernal, is the site for fossils from eleven different dinosaur species. At the Carnegie Dinosaur Quarry, you can see more than 1,500 partially-exposed dinosaur bones.
DarrelBirkett/flickr
Utah loves kids! There’s so much here for kids to see and do, from Hogle Zoo to Thanksgiving Point to cool playgrounds in every city and town. We also have one of the lowest crime rates in the nation, so you know your little Utahns will be safe.
Erik Anestad/flickr
Unlike most places where the weather is the same statewide, Utah has a diverse climate. You can ski at Park City in the morning, then drive down to St. George to catch a tee time in the afternoon.
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