Salt Lake City, the National Parks and Fossil Butte National Monument

1.5 HOURS/65 MILES

Logan, Utah is an amazing place to spend some time. Nestled at the foot of the nearly 10,000-foot high Bear River Range, Logan’s setting is beautiful in any season. From outdoor adventures to great downtown experiences, you can craft your perfect day in this charming place! We recommend starting the day with breakfast at Angie’s. This eatery offers a classic American breakfast menu with great food and great service, all in a downtown locale. From there, choose your adventure. Head up into White Pine Lake trail system or check out the unsurpassed Wind Cave and Crimson Trail in Logan Canyon. Or stay in town and visit the local history with a downtown tour. Stop in at the Cache Valley Visitor’s Bureau for more information about all the things to do both in-town and out. 

Best scenic drive:

LOGAN CANYON SCENIC DRIVE

Best place to grab a quick bite:

JACK’S WOOD FIRED OVEN

Best place to see a wolf:

ZOOTAH AT WILLOW PARK

Best place to get a little history:

DAUGHTERS OF THE UTAH PIONEERS

Best taco:

LA CHISPITA BAKERY

Best local brew and burger

THE BEEHIVE GRILL

2 HOURS 18 MINUTES/117 MILES

This is going to be a short driving day packed with activities along the way. If you’re the type that starts your day with coffee, head to Caffe Ibis. Afterward, hop in your car and get ready for some beautiful scenery. The route to Afton takes you up Hwy 89 to Bear Lake through Logan Canyon. Logan Canyon is a National Scenic Byway with plenty of great photo ops. About 40 miles into your drive, you’ll come upon Garden City and Bear Lake. Well worth a stop to stretch your legs, Bear Lake is known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies.” Its unique turquoise-blue color is due to the refraction of limestone deposits suspended in the lake. A great stopping place in the area is Bear Lake State Park. After Garden City, Hwy 89 cuts through a corner of Idaho before entering Wyoming. This area of Wyoming is home to Bridger-Teton National Forest, one of the most beautiful National Forests in the United States. Today’s scenic drive ends in Afton, Wyoming. We recommend spending the night in this quintessential western town. 

Best hike:

WORLD’S LARGEST INTERMITTENT STREAM

Best local shopping: 

MOUNTAIN VALLEY GALLERY

Best sugar fix:

STAR VALLEY CHOCOLATES

Best place to stay:

KODIAK MOUNTAIN RESORT

Best place for dinner:

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SEAFOOD

Best after-hours fun:

THE COWBOY BAR

1 HOUR 23 MINUTES/70 MILES

With so much to do in this bustling town, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to walk around, stop in the shops, and enjoy a meal or two. 

Best place to shop for gifts and souvenirs:

MADE

Best place to people watch:

JACKSON TOWN SQUARE

Best way to eat farm to table:

LOCAL

Best place for sushi:

KING SUSHI

Best place to have a drink while sitting on a bar stool shaped like a saddle:

THE MILLION DOLLAR COWBOY BAR

 We hope that you explored all you wanted to Jackson because it’s time leave the city behind and head north for a nature-focused experience in Grand Teton National Park. You really aren’t prepared for the beauty until you actually experience these mountains up close. Today, you’ll explore crystal clear lakes, flowing rivers, and great spots for photography all with the rugged Grand Tetons next to you. If you really want to enjoy Grand Teton National Park, avoid the crowds and bike on the many trails throughout the park.  After you’ve been blown away by the Tetons, it’s time to head toward Yellowstone. 

Best road for photo ops:

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN SUMMIT ROAD

Best hike:

COLTER BAY LAKESHORE

Best museum:

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WILDLIFE ART

Best place to hike:

COLTER BAY LAKESHORE

Bucket list experience:

CARRIAGE RIDE THROUGH THE NATIONAL ELK REFUGE

Best scenic drive:

JENNY LAKE SCENIC DRIVE

You can’t come all the way to Wyoming and not spend at least a couple days exploring the state’s two national parks. Trying to see both national parks in one day is depriving yourself of a truly grand experience. Once you reach the southern entrance of Yellowstone National Park, be sure to get a park map at the entrance station. In that map you will be able to see anything and everything that may spark your interest during your park journey. Remember, Yellowstone covers a huge area of land. If you want to get the best experience without a lot of driving, we suggest staying one night within Yellowstone National Park.

Major attractions in Yellowstone include:

• GRAND PRISMATIC SPRING

• MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS

• YELLOWSTONE LAKE

• ARTIST PAINTPOTS

• OLD FAITHFUL

• GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE

Best place for wildlife:

THE LAMAR VALLEY

Best hike:

STORM POINT NATURE TRAIL

Best place to ride a horse:

LODGES OF EAST YELLOWSTONE

Best point of interest:

LAKE YELLOWSTONE HOTEL

Best iconic American landmark:

OLD FAITHFUL

Can’t miss:

GRAND CANYON OF THE YELLOWSTONE AND EMERALD POOL

4.5 HOURS/241 MILES

With Yellowstone in your rearview mirror, It’s time to take a trip into Wyoming’s pre-history. Kemmerer, Wyoming exists today on what is essentially the bed of an ancient tropical sea. Right outside of town is the phenomenal Fossil Butte National Monument. Some of the world’s best preserved fossils are found in the flat-topped ridges of southwestern Wyoming’s cold sagebrush desert. Fossilized fishes, insects, plants, reptiles, birds, and mammals are exceptional for their abundance, variety, and detail of preservation. After your trip through the ancient world, head back into Kemmerer and enjoy the slow-paced little town.   

Best place to grab coffee and a quick breakfast:

CARIBOU CAFE

Best place to see a fossilized crocodile:

FOSSIL BUTTE VISITOR’S CENTER

Best place for dinner:

EL JALICIENSE

Best place for a drink

GRUMPIES

Best place for a hike through pre-Cambrian history:

HISTORIC QUARRY TRAIL-FOSSIL BUTTE

2 HOURS/112 MILES

From Kemmerer, you’ll cross back into Utah below Evanston, Wyoming and keep heading south to Park City, Utah. There’s so much to do in this little town, but the best thing about Park City is its dedication to the outdoor world. This was the place of the 2002 Winter Olympics after all, and the outdoor activities are extensive. But Park City has a great city-centric activity level too. In Park City it’s realistic to be browsing through one of the numerous art or history museums in the morning and be lacing up your boots to hike one of the numerous trails just outside the town in the afternoon. The best place to start any visit to Park City is the visitor information center. 

Best way to get up the mountain:

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT

Best way to get down the mountain:

PARK CITY ALPINE RIDE

Best place to burn some calories:

UTAH OLYMPIC PARK

Best way to see the town and get fed:

PARK CITY FOOD TOUR

Best shopping: 

OUTLETS PARK CITY

Best place to people watch:

PARK CITY HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

TEMPLE SQUARE

IN 1847, WHEN MORMON PIONEERS ARRIVED IN THE SALT LAKE VALLEY, LDS CHURCH PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG SELECTED A PLOT OF THE DESERT GROUND AND PROCLAIMED, “HERE WE WILL BUILD A TEMPLE TO OUR GOD.” ATTRACTING 3 MILLION TO 5 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR, TEMPLE SQUARE IS THE MOST POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION IN UTAH, BRINGING IN MORE VISITORS THAN THE GRAND CANYON OR YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. CONTAINED WITHIN TEMPLE SQUARE ARE THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE, SALT LAKE TABERNACLE, SALT LAKE ASSEMBLY HALL, THE SEAGULL MONUMENT, AND TWO VISITORS’ CENTERS. THE SQUARE WAS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT IN 1964. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY, TEMPLE SQUARE HAS A RICH HISTORY, GORGEOUS GARDENS AND ARCHITECTURE, VIVID ART AND CULTURE THAT PULLS YOU IN, YOU’LL BE SURE TO HAVE AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.

1 HOUR/40 MILES

Get ready for some city life. But first, you need to get there. There are two ways to get to SLC from Park City, but we recommend the route taking Hwy 224 to Hwy 190 over Guardsman Pass. Total drive time (one way) is about one hour, but you’ll probably want to figure in a little extra time so you can stop for photos and perhaps a picnic along the route. On top of the mountains the country opens up and you’ll have majestic views in all directions. At the summit of the pass, the elevation is about 9,700 feet above sea level. If you’re traveling during the winter, you’ll have to take the Hwy 224 to Interstate 80 route since Guardsman Pass is closed in the winter.

After arriving in Salt Lake City and getting settled in your hotel, head out and explore this vibrant city! 

Best place to shop:

CITY CREEK CENTER

Best way to see the city:

TROLLEY TOURS OF SALT LAKE

Best downtown nightlife:

BROADWAY DISTRICT

Best cultural experience for families:

FOOTHILL CULTURAL DISTRICT

Best place to shop local:

THE DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY FARMER’S MARKET

Can’t miss restaurant:

VALTER’S OSTERIA

Best Mexican food in Utah:

THE RED IGUANA

Can’t miss outdoor experience:

GREAT SALT LAKE STATE PARK OR BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON