Things To Do

Museums at Union Station

In 1869, the transcontinental railroad was completed and, with land and resources donated by Brigham Young, Ogden built Union Station and became the junction for railroad travel in the Intermountain West. The building, as it stands now, was constructed after the original burned down in the early 1900s. It stands at the beginning of historic 25th street where today you can find many restaurants and boutique shops. Start your exploration of Ogden here... check out the museums at the station and then wander down 25th street to enjoy the views and stop in at a few small shops.

Ogden Art Scene

Check out the link here and see about the history of Ogden, its art, and architecture! After reading this article, you'll be excited to walk around town and see the wonderful buildings and murals that blend the old with the new in the city.

'Welcome to Ogden' sign

All you need is a few minutes to walk up to this sign from the downtown area and snap a few fun pictures headed out of town with the picturesque mountains in the background!

Star Noodle Dragon

Check out the associated link to learn the history of this fun sign that is a staple of 25th street in Ogden.

The Stump

Known as The Stump, an enterprising hamburger stand man placed an old stump here at a public spring cheekily commenting on the quality of the water... and why don't the drinkers also check out his hamburgers! This is just a replica, but pretty fun to take a sip and snap a photo of!

Eccles Dinosaur Park

Drive around Utah for even a little bit and you won't hear the end of it about the dinosaurs. It is exciting, millions of years ago, dinos did live right on this same land and plenty of fossils have been found across the state. Here you can check out the history and some replicas as you explore the park.

Hill Aerospace Museum

Shooting Star Saloon

Drive up through Ogden canyon and you'll reach Pineview Reservoir and the town of Huntsville where small inns, tiny galleries, and charming local spots are the name of the game. This area is ideal for a local staycation. Tom and Rachel have enjoyed kayaking in the reservoir in the summer, viewing the autumn colors in fall, and skiing in the winter. The Shooting Star Saloon is the oldest, continuously-running bar west of the Mississippi, and a center piece to Hunstville Square. It is an excellent place to grab a drink, shoot some pool, or partake in tasty small town bar fare.

Adam's Canyon Trailhead

Adam's Canyon is a beautiful and not too difficult trail north of Salt Lake City, it also happens to be where Tom proposed to Rachel on June 26, 2021. The trail takes about 2 hours, and is dog friendly. We recommend bringing spikes along if you want to check out this trail. You might not need them but with Utah weather, it's not a guarantee and its always better to over prepare for outdoor activities like these.

Snowbasin Resort

Snowbasin is one of several well known ski resorts in the area. In addition to prime skiing (may or may not still be possible in April depending on the weather and how much snow fall accumulated over the winter) Snowbasin is known for having wonderful food and spectacular views.

Winter Outdoor Activities

Rachel loves to ski and winter hike, while Tom is just learning to master the sloops, but there's even more than that when it comes to what is available for outdoor sports in winter. Many businesses are available to rent you sleds, snowmobiles, ice skates, or ice fishing supplies. Pick the activity that's right for you and #optoutside!

New World Distillery

Tom and Rachel love local and New World Distillery in Eden, not too far from Ogden, produces their new go-to gin. If you've decided to take a drive up the canyon, pop in a for a tour... and don't forget you'll likely be asked to flash that ID when visiting even if you aren't having a taste.

Antelope Island

This State Park is the perfect stop for anyone interested in beautiful views and some wildlife. For active folks, you can explore the island on foot, choosing short walks along the shores of the Great Salt Lake or a longer trek to Frary Peak, the highest point of the island. For those less active, or shy of the cold, you can still enjoy wonderful views of the lake and island from the main road and you might even run into the herd of Bison. Because you can choose to hike, or stay in the car, Antelope Island can be enjoyed in any weather.

29th Street Trailhead

Waterfall Canyon is another not too tough trail that will take you up to a gorgeous waterfall. Like with Adam's Canyon, we can't be sure what the weather will hold in April and recommend coming prepared with spikes to this hike, just in case.

Zest Kitchen & Bar

Zest is a tasty vegan hang in Salt Lake City. Tom and Rachel recommend the cocktails and the nachos!

Sugar House Coffee

If you ask Tom and Rachel, Sugar House Coffee is where you need to go for juice and smoothies. We love them all! If you want something with a bigger jolt of caffeine, they do also serve traditional and unique coffee and tea drinks available hot and iced.

Shades Brewing

When stocking up on beverages for a camping trip, you won't catch Tom and Rachel without a variety pack of Shades. They love the unique plum sour, and they love the basic lager (a rarity for their palettes). Tom and Rachel hope you love them like they do... and don't forget you'll be asked to flash that ID when visiting the brewery.

Kiitos Brewing

Kiitos means 'Thank You' in Finnish, what a coincidence, the owners of this brewery descend from Finnish immigrants! Tom and Rachel recommend trying the coconut stout, and don't forget your ID... this is Utah after all!

Ensign Peak

Score high quality city views without too much effort by hiking up Ensign Peak. You'll marvel at the beauty of the Avenues foothills (right where Rachel and Tom lived when they first moved to Utah) and end with a stunning overlook of downtown Salt Lake.

Westerner Club

Are you a line dance pro? Don't worry, Rachel and Tom aren't either. It's super easy to spend a whole night at the Westerner learning to line dance, an admiring how skilled literally everyone else there is. Not into dancing, enjoy a drink or two and some live country music while the rest of the crew gets out on the dance floor.

Millcreek Canyon

All year long, Millcreek is the starting point for some of the best, closest, hikes Salt Lake City has to offer. This canyon is chockfull of wonderful hike but Tom and Rachel especially recommend: Rattlesnake Gulch, Desolation Trail Overlook, Dog Lake, and Grandeur Peak. Millcreek is also a perfect spot too go for a run, bike ride, or picnic. Want to check it out but stick with something more formal? Why not make a reservation at Log Haven, Rachel and Tom haven't been able to try it out yet, but it comes highly recommended by friends and the internet!

Lake Blanche Trail

Looking for a challenge? Or an excuse to explore the iconic Big Cottonwood Canyon? Lake Blanche is one of those must do in Salt Lake City, locals an visitors alike love it. The hike up is tough but can be done safely throughout the year. Rachel recommends bringing a camp chair, a hearty snack, and perhaps a Sauvignon Blanc to enjoy by the lake before you head back down.

Wheeler Historic Farm

Bring your dogs, bring your kiddos, bring yourself, Wheeler farm has fun for everyone. This is a currently operational farm that opens up its fences to visitors to explore their beautiful grounds and greet the animals. You'll meet cows, turkeys, and pigs among others, and, if you're Matthew, you'll find plenty of trash cans to boop along the way.

Park City

Park City is kind of a big category to throw on here. If you're headed up that way, don't hesitate to call for additional recommendations, but here are some initial ideas to get you started. Rent a bike and head to the Farm Trailhead where you can loop around the area or bike all the way to the historic downtown along peaceful bike paths off the main road. Window shop along the historic main street and stop in at outdoor supply stores, local galleries, and coffee shops (Rachel and Tom like Atticus). Visit the Olympic Cauldron Park for a tour and some exciting rides.

Jordanelle Reservoir

Rachel and Tom first visited Joranelle on their 2nd anniversary date to rent jet skis. Tom was very skeptical but ended up having a lot of fun. Jordanelle is a great spot to visit for the day: hang out at the beach, snag a group picnic spot, or take a walk around the reservoir. You can also camp there or rent a cabin to stay in.

PLUNJ

One of the most exciting things to happen since Tom and Rachel moved to Salt Lake City is the opening of a Finnish style sauna in Provo, just an hour south of Salt Lake. Since it's opening Rachel and Tom have gone once a month to relax, or spend a few hours of quality time with their friends. It is a wonderful feeling to be connected to each other, friends, and Finnish culture in this way again.

Good Move Cafe

Tom and Rachel are big board gamers. They love to play complex and simple games alone together and with their friends. Tom is currently has a huge lead on wins in their ongoing cribbage competition but seems like after a rousing Yahtzee triumph over Tom at this board game bar down in Provo, Rachel's luck might be turning. Rachel and Tom especially enjoy visiting this board game bar to try out new games and because it reminds them of good times together playing games at the Tempere board game bar after the big Finnish craft fair/holiday market.

Bridal Veil Falls

These stunning falls can be seen with just a breif, flat walk along the Provo river in Provo canyon. In winter, the falls freeze over and you can see how the beautiful icicles have formed over the still running falls. Provo canyon and the river is a premier recreation spot in the area, so if you do visit, consider looking up some of the other great activities you can do along the river.

Dinosaur National Monument

See Tom and Rachel acting like T-Rex at the top of this page during their visit to Dinosaur National Monument with Alexandra and Angus. The monument is known for its wall of fossils displayed in the monument building however there is also the Green River to enjoy along with classic Utah views of red rock and mesas. This is also an excellent spot for checking out ancient petroglyphs, icons draw into the stone by ancient tribes living on the land.

Meadow Hot Spring

This is a beautiful but popular hot spring spot found by following I-15 south. Morning is a great time to enjoy a soak and watch the sunrise without too much of a crowd... but be warned that there is likely to be a lot of trash at that time as well left by late night partiers of the evening before. Rachel, Tom, Lindsey, and, John enjoyed this hot spring together over Memorial Day weekend in 2021 while camping in Fish Lake National Forest.

Mystic Hot Springs

Mystic is another natural hot spring in southern Utah but with a bit more of a resort feeling built up around it. You can stay in converted school buses just below the springs or make a reservation for a couple of hours in the tubs if you are just passing through. Rachel and Tom recommend visiting around sunset and enjoying the spectacular views while enjoying a hot soak.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce is probably one of the more underrated national parks. Far more than any other park, the hoodoo rock formations wowed Rachel and Tom an their guests. For those who want to see as much as they can, it is possible to drive along the canyon stopping at different view points with each with unique and beautiful vistas. For those who want to dig a little deeper, there are several hikes down into the canyon ranging from easy or short to longer and tougher.

Arches National Park

Take a good look! Delicate arch is the iconic symbol of Utah as represented on the license plate. Arches park has some really amazing rock formations to see - all arches carved out over the ages by driving winds. Like Bryce, there are excellent experiences to view an hike no matter what level of effort you're looking for.

Goblin Valley State Park

Want to see some great hoodoos but skip the crowds at Bryce? Try Goblin Valley state park. This park offers a similar viewing experience to Bryce and is in close proximity to wonderful slot canyon hikes. Increase the glamour of your visit by staying in one of the State Park yurts, Tom and Rachel can tell you from experience, they are comfortable and so much fun!

Dead Horse Point State Park

The story here is quite sad. After driving a herd of wild horses onto the point and selecting the ones they'd keep an break, the frontiersmen left the horses barricaded on the point without water or a means of escape. Eventually the herd died of thirst or plunge to their deaths trying to access the water from the river just below them. As sad as the story is, the park does offer unique canyon and river views, all surrounded by gorgeous red rock. Another wonderful way to experience Utah's natural beauty without the expense and crowds of the larger national parks.

St. George

Looking for a beautiful and comfortable hub from which you can enjoy all that southern Utah has to offer? Check out St. George, with lovely resorts or basic outdoors accommodations, you'll have access to comfort, food, and adventure all from here.