The Vibe: Utah Is The Landscape Of Heaven
One of the first things most people usually think of when
Utah is mentioned is religion. And although not everyone who lives in Utah is religious and many of those people fight to break the stereotype, there is something about Utah that feels spectacularly holy. One step into the breathtaking Utah landscape and no matter how non-religious you are, you’ll have a hard time denying that this could be heaven.
The Beehive State is a wall-to-wall outdoor, rocky adventure. Wall-to-wall Canyonlands and arches, ski slopes with the perfect snow, gorgeous waterfalls at Zion National Park, unbeatable mountain biking at Moab, and so much more. And don’t forget to look up at night time for some star gazing. You’ll quickly wonder why Utah has never been named as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Local Flavor: Salt Lake City Breaks Stereotypes
Utah isn’t like most other states in the fact that wherever you go, it all feels very much the same. The traditions, the food, the lifestyles and practices along with the people all manage to blend together fairly well and there are no civil wars that separate one part of the state from the other. There is one notable exception, however, and that is Salt Lake City.
In an overwhelmingly conservatively red sea, Salt Lake City, Utah is a blue island that doubles as a liberal’s paradise. It’s a surprisingly progressive city that has long-since been a haven for everyone from LGBT supporters to art lovers. Rainbow flags have been flying in SLC well before it was considered the norm and was even named the Gayest City in the U.S.A. by NBC News in 2012. Art lovers take their craft seriously here, too, at events like Living Traditions Festival and the Utah Arts Festival. And don’t miss out on watching all of the locals strip down to storm the Capitol in nothing but their skivvies for the annual Undie Run, for a completely crazy and highly unexpected twist on an otherwise extremely traditional state.
Cuisine: Order Some Fries With That Fry Sauce
If you’re around Salt Lake City,
Ogden, or
Provo, you’ll find you’re amidst a great dining scene that only grows bigger every day. But when you go to order and discover a new condiment called fry sauce, don’t pass it up. Get the fry sauce.
Maybe you’re thinking to yourself right now, “Fry sauce? Doesn’t she mean ketchup?” I’m no foodie or anything, but if I meant ketchup, I think I would have been able to accurately name it. In Utah, they use fry sauce to dunk their fries in and top their burgers with. It is essentially just ketchup and mayonnaise. Some might call that Thousand Island dressing, but there’s something different about it here and you can even buy it in the store already made and fast food restaurants give you single-serving packets of the stuff instead of ketchup.
Green Jello is another local delicacy. It’s definitely a weird quirk but it’s so popular, you can even gai. You’ll even find that most have shredded carrots in it. And yes, to answer your next question, they love it.
Nightlife: Salt Lake City Keeps Utah’s Lights On
The quality of nightlife you find in Utah will be largely dependent here you land and what you make of it. No, this isn’t
Los Angeles or even
Las Vegas. But Utah doesn’t come with the early bedtime you might think it does. Well, not all of it anyway. The bigger cities like Provo, Ogden,
Park City and, of course, Salt Lake City make for the best nights you’ll be able to find in the bigger and brighter scene there with everything from dive bars to burlesque shows, providing a little something for everyone.
The live music scene is one of the best ways to enjoy yourself after the sun goes down in Utah. Places like The Saltair in SLC are popular to catch your favorite national acts and bars that boast a little live music might even help you uncover a new band before they top the charts as bands like Imagine Dragons and Neon Trees got started right here in Utah. And don’t miss out on the Rooftop Concert Series in Provo for a night you won’t soon forget.
Weather: Utah Wins The Gold Medal For Winter
Utah weather is incredibly bipolar. Summers are hot and humid, with July temperatures that generally average anywhere from the high 80s to the low 90s depending on where you are in the state. And just when you’ve begun to enjoy some relief from the madness in fall, winter comes in like a bullet with freezing temperatures and an avalanche of snow. Where you live will determine how much you have to shovel, though. Cities like Ogden only average about 18 inches of snow annually while Salt Lake City and Provo have to dig out from under almost 60.
But, if nothing else, Utah is the place to be for snow. In fact, it’s often called the greatest snow on Earth. With world-renowned skiing and snowboarding slopes and lodges, Utah is also where the U.S. Ski Team practices. Maybe you remember SLC being the home to the Winter Olympics not so long ago. That’s because Utah knows if you’re going to do something, do it right.
Safety & Crime: Breathe Easy In Utah
If you’re looking for a safe place to live, Utah is your huckleberry. When LawStreet.com compiled FBI crime data to create a list of safest metro areas in the U.S., Utah walked away with four out of the top 10 spots.
The
Logan metro took the number one slot with a crime index of 33 compared to the national index of 41.4. The Provo metro came in second.
As if that wasn’t safe enough, when you break away from the cities, the stats get even safer. Utah’s overall violent crime rate is already a low index of 33, but the town of
Hurricane boasts a crime rate that is another 57 percent safer than the Utah average and
Holladay comes in more than 60 percent safer.
Commute: How To Get Around The Beehive State
Utah is a state where going green without a car isn’t really the best option yet. Salt Lake City remains the best city across the state for alternative commuting, especially if you’re using two wheels. Bike-friendly SLC boasts a Walk Score of 55, Transit Score of 43, and Bike Score of 69 overall. Those numbers jump even higher when you check out Central City SLC where the Walk Score is 85, Transit Score is 58, and Bike Score is an awesome 91. The city is built on a grid system centered around the Salt Lake Temple and with a massive increase in bike lanes and a good bike share program, this is where you want to be if a bike is your preferred mode of transportation.
Outside of SLC, though, the numbers get low and cars are mostly mandatory for efficiency reasons. But the good news is that commute times are just as laid back as Utah is, with an average daily commute of 22 minutes each way, three minutes shorter than the national average.
Cost Of Living: Where You Spend And Where You Save
At first glance, Utah comes across as surprisingly expensive. The cost of living index is 106 against the national median of 100. But breaking down the numbers reveals that almost everything in Utah is actually cheaper than most other states; it’s the housing that will cost you.
Groceries are more affordable in Utah with an index of under 97 and healthcare is, too, with an index of 91. The Institute of Energy Research reports that Utah boasts some of the lowest energy prices in the entire country. The state boasts a ridiculously low utility index score of 87.
But housing is definitely the pricey part. The average home price in Utah is $217,200, nearly $50,000 more than the national average. However, the market here is much stronger and more reliable, doubling the home appreciation rate over the last month and nearly tripling the appreciation rate over the last 10 years. Property taxes are also cheaper here. The national average property tax rate is $12.02 but Utah only costs $7.17, so you save there, too.
Long Live The Pioneers
For most states, the pioneers are just something that you read about in textbooks. But the pioneers are still very much in the forefront of Utah culture.
Twenty days after the rest of the country barbeques and waves their star-spangled pride around on the Fourth of July, the people of Utah celebrate their statewide Pioneer Days holiday. The day largely commemorates the arrival of Brigham Young and his group of Mormon pioneers into Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1987 which became the settlement ground for the Latter-day Saints. Native Americans and Native American culture from the area are also celebrated during this time.
Residents from all over the state celebrate their day off of school and work with parades, rodeos, lots of delicious food, and the locals second major fireworks event of July, creating a completely unique Utah event celebrated by everyone.
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