Excursions

Southern Utah Attractions

For those RBMS attendees who are thinking of coming early or staying after the conference to do some regional sightseeing, here are some beautiful local attractions in nearby southern Utah which can range from a two to three hour drive from Las Vegas.  These were compiled by local arrangements committee member, Amber D’Ambrosio, who is Special Collections Librarian & Archivist at Dixie State University in Saint George, Utah.

Snow Canyon State Park
The park was named after early Utah leaders Lorenzo and Erastus Snow. There are approximately 16 miles of hiking trails and other activities include technical rock climbing, biking and horseback riding. The campground is open year-round. Features towering sandstone cliffs colored red and white and black lava rock flows.
http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/park/snow-canyon-state-park
http://www.utah.com/stateparks/snow_canyon.htm

Zion National Park
Utah’s first national park, it is also one of the most popular in the United States. Due to heavy visitor traffic, the main canyon can be accessed only by means of a shuttle for most of the year. The park features hiking for all ability levels, horseback riding and opportunities for canyoneering and rock climbing with the appropriate permits. It is also possible to drive through part of the park on Utah Highway 9, though the entrance fee of $25 is still required.
http://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

Springdale
Located at the south or west (depending on your perspective) entrance to Zion National Park, Springdale is the quintessential tourist town with galleries and restaurants galore. It’s well worth a visit and a ramble during a trip to the national park.
http://www.springdaletown.com/

Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area
This is a relatively small recreation area in the Virgin River Gorge that offers camping as well as hiking trails and access to the Virgin River.
http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/recreation/camping/dev_camps/vrg.html

Red Cliffs Recreation Area
Located just north of Saint George, the recreation area offers camping, picnic sites, several hiking trails and the opportunity to view Anasazi ruins and dinosaur tracks. It is also in close proximity to the historic towns of Leeds, Silver Reef and Harrisburg, each of which have their own historic sites that might be of interest to visitors.
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/st__george/recreation/day_use_areas/red_cliffs_recreation.html

Pine Valley Recreation Area
North of Saint George on Highway 18, this mountain valley offers beautiful scenery and cooler temperatures than the red rock desert below. Hiking, fishing and camping are a few of the possible activities, and it’s also worth a stop by the historic Pine Valley Chapel on the way to the recreation area.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dixie/specialplaces/recarea/?recid=71836&actid=101

Brian Head
Better known as a ski resort, Brian Head nonetheless offers a wide variety of activities and beautiful mountain scenery in the summer months. Hiking, mountain biking, scenic lift rides, and geocaching are just a few of the activities available in June for anyone looking to escape the Las Vegas heat.
http://brianhead.com/summer/

Cedar Breaks National Monument
Located east of Cedar City and not far from Brian Head, this national monument resembles Bryce Canyon National Park and offers beautiful red rock nestled among pine forests.
http://www.nps.gov/cebr/index.htm
http://www.utah.com/nationalsites/cedar_breaks.htm

Utah Shakespeare Festival
The Utah Shakespeare Festival offers a wide variety of both Shakespeare and contemporary theatre, including musical theatre, on the campus of Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. This summer the season includes: Henry IV Part One, The Comedy of Errors, Measure for Measure, Twelfth Night, Sense and Sensibility and Into the Woods. The proximity to Brian Head and Cedar Breaks offers the opportunity to take in a show at the festival and still experience the beauty of Utah’s mountain scenery.
http://www.bard.org/

Tuacahn Amphitheatre
Located west of Saint George, Utah in a beautiful outdoor amphitheater nestled in a red rock canyon, every summer Tuacahn offers a variety of professional musical theatre options to locals and tourists. This summer the shows include The Wizard of Oz, The Little Mermaid, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, though only the first two will be on stage in June.
https://www.tuacahn.org/

Kayenta
West of Saint George, Kayenta is a master planned community that includes the Coyote Gulch Art Village, an enclave of art galleries, studios, theatre, an art festival, dining and a gift and coffee shop. Visitors can find fine art, gifts, photography, events, pottery, classes, yoga, gourmet food and coffee. It is open to the public and everyone is welcome.
http://www.kayentautah.com/

Red Mountain Resort
For anyone interested in a little pampering during their time in the Saint George area, this resort is situated near the red rock cliffs west of the city and in close proximity to the Tuacahn Amphitheatre, Kayenta and Snow Canyon State Park
http://www.redmountainresort.com/

Saint George Historic District
Small though it may be, the Saint George Historic District contains some beautiful buildings and homes that have been repurposed. It’s worth a stroll to explore the area. The best local restaurants in the city are all located in this downtown area with the largest concentration in Ancestor Square.
http://www.stgeorgechamber.com/visit-here/places-to-see/historic-downtown/
http://www.ancestorsquare.com/