Utah is known for being a conservative, religious state. However, there is so much more to know about this unique part of the country that makes it a great place to live. If you are considering moving to Utah, there are 25 fun things you should know first.
1. It’s the next Silicon Valley. In 2014, Forbes rated Utah at the top of the list for best states for business. Not only is the rate of start-ups huge here, but it also has a lot of prosperous businesses. Expansions are very common for big companies, including EBay, Oracle, Microsoft, Twitter, and Adobe, just to name a few. Another big benefit to influential businessmen is having a large number of former Mormon missionaries who speak so many different languages at their disposal.
2. Development expanding quickly. Since businesses thrive in this state, people are moving to the state at a higher rate. The unemployment rate has been low, attracting a lot of growth. Development in the most populated areas continues to grow at a steady pace with many homes for sale, but not staying on the market for too long.
3. You can have all 4 seasons. Utah is a desert and so people are often surprised that most of the state experiences all four seasons. Since the air is fairly dry, it makes for mostly pleasant seasons too. The winters are cold and snowy in the majority of the states, but usually not so unbearable that it can’t be enjoyed.
4. Diverse landscapes. Southern Utah is covered in red rock, sand dunes, and great canyons like Zion and Bryce National Parks. The state also boasts the highest average peak height and salt flats. There are so many different landscapes to see and experience within the borders of Utah.
5. Sports all year long. Due to the various landscapes, there are areas for sports during any kind of weather. Hiking, camping, water skiing, and biking are some of the most popular fair weather sports (have you seen Moab?). During the winter, people come from all over the country to hit the slopes with skis and snowboard.
6. City to mountain access. Salt Lake City and the other major cities are all in close proximity to the mountains. If you are ever in the city and looking to escape for a day, it doesn’t take long.
7. World’s greatest powder. The snow powder that fills the Utah ski resorts is different than any other powder in the world. At first it may seem like nothing more than just a sales line, but it’s true. Most storms that come to the state are form the Pacific and dry out as they come. Once they hit the Great Salt Lake, they gain momentum again, resulting in powder that is light, fluffy, and perfect for skiing.
8. Diminishing homelessness. While homelessness is a problem in all major cities, not everyone approaches the problem like Salt Lake City. Policymakers decided it was less expensive to provide social workers and homes to people than to keep supplying funds for emergency room visits and jail stays.
9. Number of National Parks (and Monuments too!) There are five National Parks in Utah; Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Captiol Reef, and Zion. As if this accomplishment wasn’t enough to boast about, there are also 7 National Monuments- Cedar Breaks, Timpanogos Cave, Hovenweep, Natural Bridges, Dinosaur, Rainbow Bridge, and Grand Staircase-Escalante. This is all in addition to the 6 National Forests and 43 state parks. In other words, there are a lot of really beautiful, natural wonders to see in this state.
10. It is family friendly. Due to the religious affiliation of many Utahns, the average family size is quite large. With so many kids around, the state is very family friendly. Parks are everywhere, communities planned with kids in mind, and businesses that cater more to family time. Another bonus is that the community is generally cleaner with less smoking and foul language.
11. Sundance Film Festival. As one of the largest film festivals in the country, this is a huge advantage for the state economy. Many celebrities descend on the area to watch the latest indie films and come hit the slopes. Even if you aren’t on the Hollywood A-list, you can still find tickets to come and watch the shows yourself, or just hang around the area and make your Instagram followers jealous.
12. Famous people who live here. Utah has been the birth place for several famous people including Philo T. Farnsworth (inventor of the television) and Butch Cassidy. Regional music talent has included The Used, Neon Trees, and Imagine Dragons. Derek and Julianne Hough were raised here and Katherine Heigl and Robert Redford have chosen this as their home because of the good community values.
13. Good restaurants, bars, and breweries. When you are looking for a diverse selection of food, this area can’t be beat. There are so many different cultures in Utah and it is seen in the food. The food goes beyond just great restaurants though; there are several breweries here that do just fine. Park City even has the only ski-in/ski-out distillery in the world, where people can take a quick break while enjoying the slopes.
14. The people are the most generous. Utah consistently ranks at the top of the list for the most generous state. The people here are very generous with their money and their time. People are willing to help a stranger and believe in being civically engaged in their communities.
15. Evidence of history is everywhere. Several different tribes called the Utah region their home and left traces all over. Plenty of historic art is still on display on many rock faces around the state. Pictographs and ancient artifacts are found all over the state. Original settlements from pioneers are still intact in many places too. This state’s rich history hasn’t been entirely lost.
16. Dinosaur fossils. Long before Native Americans, trappers, or Pioneers ever settled this land, dinosaurs loved the area. The Utah Raptor is the largest Raptor found and entire sites have been covered with their bones here. In fact, when it comes to dinosaurs, this was a very popular location. More than 12,000 bones have been excavated and the count is still climbing.
17. The Great Salt Lake. Even though the average depth of the Great Salt Lake is only 13 feet deep, there still isn’t a risk for drowning because of all the salt in the lake. With 3 to 5 times more salt than the ocean, it forces you to float. The smell may not be pleasant, but this unique lake is a scientific marvel.
18. Fry sauce and Jell-o. The favorite local foods are definitely not fancy. Most of the residents prefer fry sauce to ketchup for their fried potatoes. What is fry sauce? Everyone has their own secret variation, but they all have a mayonnaise and ketchup base. Another good-to-know food fact is that Utahans eat more Jell-o each year than anywhere else in the world.
19. Craters and scuba diving. Midway is located close to Park City and has the only warm water scuba spot in the continental United States. Inside a crater, you can find crystal clear, very deep mineral water that is perfect for scuba diving. The best part is that it is 90-96 degrees year round.
20. Railroad was finished here. Utah was known as being one of the largest and only places to stop for those traveling to California from the Eastern parts of the United States in the early days. As a good middle point, it was not too surprising when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads met at Promontory in 1869. Gold Spike National Historic Site is where they had the wedding of the rails and display the accomplishments that it took to complete the rail line.
21. Olympic venues to experience. Salt Lake hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002. The city and all the surrounding areas were not only spruced up for the event, but there were plenty of exciting venues built to accommodate all the different sports. Now that the Olympics are done, these venues are open to the public to come and experience. Since many athletes come here to train, you may even meet a few Olympians.
22. Great place for the arts. Southern Utah University in Cedar City hosts the famous Shakespeare Festival every year. If the Tony Award winning theater doesn’t convince you that this place is awesome, maybe you should try some of the backstage tours or literary seminars they do as part of the festival. If you want to head another hour or so south, you can also visit the Tuacahn Theater. Large Broadway style shows take place in this incredible outdoor theater. The special effects are something you have to see to believe.
23. Plenty of resources. Kennecott Copper Mine is the deepest open mine in the world. This mine is still in production and is nearly a mile deep. The large trucks can be seen driving up the twisty roads with their loads and an interesting visitors center is in place to see all the places copper is used.
24. Highest level of well-being. Provo has consistently been placed on the list for the highest well-being. A focus on health isn’t hard when the culture rejects smoking, drinking, drugs, and other harmful behaviors. People focus on health and try hard to eat right and exercise.
25. Parades and city celebrations. People take a lot of pride in their cities in Utah and almost all of them have city celebrations. Each one picks something unique to their town or from their history and uses that as their name. Payson has Onion Days, Pleasant Grove has Strawberry Days, and around Bear Lake they celebrate Raspberry Days. These events usually last a few days to a week and are a big deal to the residents. Most of them include a parade too for local businesses, high school marching bands, and royalty from all the surrounding areas to come out.
