Visiting Utah for first time... need advice!

[lanlady]

I'm going on a business trip to SLC next month but have never been to Utah. Would LOVE to visit Bryce or other National Park while there. Am thinking of arriving on a Saturday morning (because it's business I need to arrive and leave from SLC), renting a car and driving to Bryce to spend all day Sunday and Monday morning, then leave Monday afternoon back to SLC so I can be at my conference on Tues. morning.

Is that a totally crazy idea? Is there a better way to spend 2 free days in Utah? All ideas and suggestions are most welcome!!

[joeybee12]

1. Go to Bryce instead of Zion...both are beautiful, but Zion is really over-run

with tourists...you won't feel like you're getting away from it all. SLC is no great shakes, so spend your free time down southern Utah!

[lanlady]

2. thanks!!

guess I was on the right track after all.

[joeybee12]

3. Not sure where you're coming from, but it will be hot there...not desert hot

because the altitude is a couple thousand feet up, but still hot. Also, Bryce has the clearest weather of any place in the lower 48...so prepare for sun!

[lanlady]

4. coming from DC

so I'm okay with summer heat.

[joeybee12]

5. You'll enjoy it...barely any humidity...n/t

[MiddleFingerMom]

6. Moab is a BEAUTIFUL little town -- very green in the middle of redrock country...

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...a lot of annoying, noisy 4-wheelers during that peak season, but...
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...YEARS ago, I went to a grassroots radio convention there, stayed in
an inexpensive NICE B&B (the hostess made the most delicious muffins),
and enjoyed meeting and associating with the eclectic, hippie-ish folks
who lived there.
.
I asked my friend on the way there, "Why would anyone hold a very VERY
leftist radio conference in UTAH, for goodness sake?"
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He told me (I believe rightfully so) that it's the most beer-friendly
city in Utah.
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If Eddie McStiff's (a little brew pub) is still there, try their
blueberry pilsener. Not a whiff of blueberry flavoring, but
perhaps the freshest, most delicious beer I've ever had the pleasure
of meeting.
.
They sold it in growlers to go, too -- and, when it was time to come
back home, I remember wishing my car had been bigger!!!
.
(edit) Saw one of the guys from Firesign Theatre there. He was OK --
he opened for Michele Shocked... who was absolutely fucking INCREDIBLE!!!
.
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Stopped in a tiny fundie Mormon village on the way home for gas.
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Nothing but that gas station and a Mom & Mom & Mom & Mom & Pop Shoppe.
.

[lanlady]

10. I'll look into Moab

thanks for the recommendation. Any chance I can get wine out there? (not a beer drinker myself but that blueberry stuff sounds interesting. Wonder what it would taste like if mixed with Merlot.)

[MiddleFingerMom]

13. Don't think they're known for wine -- they had several li'l microbreweries, though.

.
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They had a dark blueberry stout or something that I didn't
particularly care for, but the light blueberry (again, no
blueberry TASTE to it) was so refreshing that you might
like it even if you're not a beer drinker. Great pub food,
too.
.
Eddie McStiff's.
.
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COOL name for a bar.
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All sorts of interpretations.
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The reality is that it's how a good friend from outside
the U.S. pronounced the names of the 3 owners --
Eddie, Mick(???), and Steve. :rofl:
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Here's where we stayed (breakfasts were PHENOMENAL!!!)
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http://www.pioneerspring.com/
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Only two drawbacks: No pets or kids under 7.
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But how can you go wrong with folks who look like this?
(One of HIS passions at the time was hosting a jazz show
on the community radio station that hosted our conference.
We felt like instant family)
.

.

[denbot]

7. The State Park system has great camp grounds

I guess you won't have camping gear, but Utah offers wonder camping and hiking opportunities.

[lanlady]

11. No camping gear

--though I'm tempted to take my bike.

[Drunken Irishman]

8. We can go get drunk downtown if you want...

Then belligerently walk by the LDS Temple.

[lanlady]

9. what a wicked idea, DI

I LOVE it!

[Happyhippychick]

12. Utah is one of my favorite states, so much to see.

I prefer southern Utah to SLC (sorry DI!) and think Bryce, Zion and Moab are all spectacular. And very different. Bryce is a much more hikable canyon than Grand Canyon, Zion is like looking at Mars (which is a good thing) and Moab is just magical. Well, they're all magical. I love Utah, can you tell?

Bottom line: you can't go wrong with any of those places. Have fun, I'm in DC as well. As my husband would say "it's hot as balls here" but I don't have them so I'm not big on that analogy!