How to Support Local On Your Utah Road Trip
Many small businesses in Utah rely on tourism for survival. These expert tips help road trippers make a real difference in communities by supporting local.
TIPS FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL
-
Hit the sidewalk
-
Leave positive online reviews
-
Go on an adventure with a guide
-
Promote local businesses on social media
-
Get off the interstates & ask around
-
Shop away from home
-
Local staycations matter, too
Resources for Supporting Local Business in Utah
-
Arts, Science & Culture
Utah has many arts and cultural museums, as well as regular performing arts festivals.
-
Dining in Utah
Want the inside scoop on the best Utah restaurants? This dining guide covers the state’s top culinary scenes–check it out and get hungry!
-
Festival & Events
While on vacation, check out annual festivals and local events that celebrate Utah's artistry, cultural diversity and the human spirit. Utahns host great events and festivals throughout the year, all around the state.
-
Guides and Outfitters
Guides and outfitters allow you to deeply experience the outdoors, without any planning or wayfinding stressors.
-
Utah's Own
Find fresh, local goods made right here in Utah.
Pair Big Adventure with Local Character
A road trip through Utah is bound to include stops for recreating in some of our most well-known basecamps such as Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, St. George, Provo, Moab, and Springdale. If your adventure takes you to any of Utah's beautiful parks, there are always local communities nearby that are worth a visit for an even more rewarding, localized trip. But supporting these communities does more than provide memorable experiences - it also helps them survive economic ebbs and flows.
So go ahead, get off the interstate and add these smaller towns to your itinerary.
Northern Utah
-
Brigham City
Brigham City's Main Street archway proclaims "Gateway to the World's Greatest Wild Bird Refuge." Brigham City boasts a small-town feel with big-city amenities like comfortable and affordable hotel rooms, deluxe suites, and beautiful golf courses.
-
Garden City
Garden City’s location at the end of the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway and on the shores of Bear Lake State Park makes it one of Northern Utah's best gateway towns.
-
Heber Valley
Between the destination towns of Heber and Midway, Heber Valley astonishes with its alpine splendor and access to endless outdoor recreation.
-
Helper
Settled in 1881, Helper was named after the team of “helper” coal-powered steam engines that assisted freight trains up the neighboring canyon and over Soldier’s Summit; the city was created because of and for the coal industry. Though the tracks are still integral in the town’s DNA and even more-so, history, its identity has changed.
-
Sanpete Valley
Travelers in Sanpete Valley stop in Spring City, Ephraim and Manti for a mix of local cultures, heritage activities and scenic driving along Utah's Heritage Highway 89, which winds through what is known as the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area.
-
Vernal
Enjoy a family adventure in Vernal, UT, with a list of hotels and fun things to do with kids in the area.
Local Experiences in Northern Utah
-
A Restaurant That Welcomes Everybody With Its Middle Eastern Flavors
Building Salt Lake City’s Laziz Kitchen into a spot where good food has helped to create an inclusive community-gathering spot.
-
A Table for All: Feeding Utah's Culture
Utah — a naturally beautiful nook — is known for its glorious landscape. But it also supports a surprisingly vibrant food culture, beautifully infused by immigrants and recent transplants.
-
Day-tripping a Women-owned Business Enclave in Salt Lake City
While the lure of Salt Lake City’s shopping and dining experience attracts tourists to downtown, less than 10 blocks away is the trendy and unique 9th and 9th and Maven District neighborhoods. It’s brimming with 40-plus women-owned businesses that are helping to boost the local economy, as well as each other.
-
Hike + Dine: Provo
Here are a few of Provo, Utah's best hiking trails and eateries to check out during your next visit.
-
How Ogden’s Tona Sushi Creates Artistic Diversity With Every Dish
One Ogden’s sushi chef’s innovative plates hint at his design background — while serving dishes that aim to be “magical.”
-
Insider's Guide to Park City
Kaylin Richardson, Olympic athlete, and a friend share their favorite Park City experiences to encourage you to add the city's culture-enriched valley, scenery, food, art and access to all-season adventure to your bucket list.
-
Many-Sizes-Fit-All within Salt Lake City’s Growing Subcultures
Explore Salt Lake City, Utah's celebrated subcultural music and art scene through concerts, festivals or even club nights. To catch these events, sights and sounds all you have to do is venture downtown.
-
Meet the Women Leading Utah's Food and Beverage Renaissance
When it comes to food and beverage in Utah, there are key influencers who have been the proponents of change, growth, and the role of women in Utah’s food scene.
-
Salt Lake's Tattoo Scene: Inclusivity is the New Frontier
Traveling for tattoos is second nature for those seeking the perfect piece. Keep Salt Lake, the Crossroads of the West, in mind when planning your next piece.
-
The Art of Supporting Utah Artists
Here’s a look at six local artists whose work draws upon Utah’s diverse environments as inspiration.
Southern Utah
-
Bluff
Rich in human and natural history, Bluff is a central point along the Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway. It is a gateway to Monument Valley, Bears Ears National Monument, Valley of the Gods and Hovenweep National Monument.
-
Boulder
Boulder, Utah, is a remote, charming town full of scenic beauty. This gateway to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park offers relaxation and outdoor adventure.
-
Cedar City
Cedar City, Utah offers plenty of great experiences thanks to nearby ski resorts, a national forest, great national parks and a superb arts scene.
-
Escalante
Between Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon national parks and perched on the edge of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, the town of Escalante offers access to some of the most beautiful parts of Southern Utah.
-
Kanab
Kanab, Utah is classic American West, surrounded by towering Navajo sandstone cliffs and vistas of sagebrush. Kanab's self-proclaimed title, "Little Hollywood," is fitting for its many abandoned film sets.
-
Torrey
Torrey's proximity to Capitol Reef National Park, the mountains of Fishlake and Dixie National Forests, Scenic Byway 12: Utah's All-American Road, sublime desert landscapes to trout-filled alpine lakes, make Torrey an outdoor lover's perfect hub for some of the most spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities in the state.
Local Experiences in Southern Utah
-
5 Road Trip-Worthy Restaurants in Kanab, Utah
Hungry for a culinary renaissance? Or a small-town staple? Whatever you’re craving, fuel your outdoor adventures at these favorite Kanab restaurants.
-
A Walking Tour of Helper, Utah
Guarded by the 18-foot fiberglass coal miner "Big John" and hugged by railroad tracks, Helper, Utah, is a historic town with blue-collar roots that has grown into a walkable epicenter of art and culture with easy access to trails and river recreation.
-
How to Experience the Thriving Arts & Culture of St. George
St. George, Utah has transformed from gateway town to booming art hub. And whether you visit for theater amidst the red rocks or the galleries of Kayenta, you’ll find a big-city scene coupled with small-town charm.
-
How to Visit Utah's National Parks
Get the most out of a visit to Utah’s parks and monuments, while also ensuring they stay Forever Mighty, by following these tips.
-
Make Your Next Trip A Volunteer Vacation
At the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, you can enjoy a getaway to stunning southern Utah while also making a difference in the lives of rescued animals.
-
Slot Canyons: A Guided Hike Through Nature's Masterworks
It's said that southwestern Utah offers the highest concentration of slot canyons in the world. Well-prepared visitors can hike right into some of them, but the best experience is with a guide.
-
The Art of Supporting Utah Artists
Here’s a look at six local artists whose work draws upon Utah’s diverse environments as inspiration.
-
The Creature Comforts of Kanab
Visit Kanab, a welcoming town with classic Western roots and modern-day amenities sitting smack in the middle of Southern Utah’s greatest outdoors.
-
Utah’s Unexpected Pit Stops
You’re doing it wrong if you think road trip pit stops are boring layovers on your way to more exciting destinations. How many of these hidden gems have you been to? Here are 11 mini-adventures to check off your list next time you’re road-tripping through Utah.
