Six Reasons to Visit Utah This Winter
Utah is home to some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the United States, and there's a reason outdoor enthusiasts are so invested in the otherworldly terrain. Simply put: it's stunning. Biblical billion-plus year-old rock formations line the highways. Hoodoos rise out of the desert canyons like ancient abstract sculptures. And mountains loom over the horizon like holograms throughout the state. Plus, there's world-class skiing, great food and one of the coolest animal rescue centers in the entire country.
And the secret's out: In 2016, tourists spent $8.4 billion dollars in the Beehive State, creating 85,000 direct travel and tourism jobs. All those guests are great for business, but they can certainly infringe on the whole communing with nature experience. Whether you're looking for deals or just want to avoid the masses, here are six reasons to visit Utah during the wintertime.
1. The Mighty Five Are (Relatively) Empty
The Mighty Five national parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef) saw a 20% increase in visitors from 2015, topping 10-million nature fans. Nearly 6 million guests visited Utah's national monuments such as the Natural Bridges and Grand Staircase-Escalante, up 18% from 2015. Skip the hoards by going now. Zion, for example, received nearly half the amount of visitors in March as it did in July last year. In Arches, there were 65,000 fewer visitors in March than July.
2. The Powder is Top-Notch
Utah claims to have the "greatest snow on earth." It's light and fluffy, like tiny cotton balls, thanks to the frequent snowstorms that churn over the Wasatch Mountains. Like the rest of the west, the state's ski season got off to a rough start this year with some of the thinnest snow in more than 30 years, but ski resorts have filled in nicely as winter has taken hold. While the skiing and snowboarding is definitely top notch, what really makes Utah's resorts more attractive than ski destinations in other states is their proximity to the Salt Lake City airport. Within 45 minutes of stepping out of the terminal, powder hounds can be waist-deep in Park City, Solitude, Alta and a bunch of other resorts.
3. You Can Speed Down a Bobsled Run...
There are only two bobsleigh, luge and skeleton tracks in the entire United States. One is in Lake Placid, New York. The other: Park City's Utah Olympic Park built for the 2002 winter games. From late December through early April, riders over the age of 16 who weigh more than 100 pounds can jump on the Comet Bobsled with the pros. Pseudo Olympians fly down a tube of ice at 80-plus miles-per-hour with four to five times the force of gravity. Obviously, you'll want to rewatch Cool Runnings before you go.
4. ...Or Cross-Country Ski at a National Park
Cross-country skiing is hard work. It pretty much uses every muscle in the body. For those just starting out, it's easier (or at least more enjoyable) if there's something cool to look at. Bryce Canyon National Park is the perfect place to begin. For just $10 a day, visitors can rent a whole cross-country ski kit from Ruby's Inn right outside the entrance. The area offers more than 30-miles of groomed trails that wind through Ponderosa Pine forests, and pass by jaw-dropping overlooks of the red canyon walls.
5. The Hot Chocolate Game is on Point
One likely wouldn't think it, but Utah is home to some of the best bean-to-bar chocolate makers in the country. Local Mormons have taken a huge interest in adopting a discerning culinary experience through chocolate. In Salt Lake City, Hatch Family Chocolates, which took a turn in the national spotlight on TLC's Little Chocolatiers, offers a fully-customizable drink, with choice of milk or dark chocolate and a dairy or vegan base. Ritual Chocolate in Park City serves several hot and cold chocolate-based drinks, including a simple hot chocolate and sipping chocolates from single-origin beans from Ecuador, Belize, Madagascar and Peru.
6. Skip the Lines at the Best Animal Sanctuary
Dogs? Check. Cats? Yep. Bunnies? You bet. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary houses 1,600 rescue animals ranging from puppies and kittens to horses, pigs and goats on the sprawling 3,700-acre facility. To get on one of the peak season (May through September) Grand Sanctuary tours, the Best Friends teams suggests booking six months in advance. Those two-hour excursions bring guests inside one cat and one dog building, then pass by the other rescue facilities that are dotted throughout Angel Canyon. In the winter and shoulder-season, it's easier to rock up the same day for one of the four scheduled tours. Plus, the nearby Kanab hotels are significantly cheaper October through March.
Featured photo of Sandstone Peaks In Winter, Zion National Park, Utah by DougLemke/Getty Images
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| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.