As part of our Utah Travel Series, “50 Reasons to Visit Utah in the Summertime,” here are some of our favorite things to do, see and eat in St. George, Utah!
FOOD
- The Pastry Pub
If you are coming from Northern Utah, stopping at the Pastry Pub in Cedar City is a great idea. I went to college in Cedar City and it was by far my favorite restaurant. The atmosphere, the theme, the food…everything about it is fantastic. Just look it up and read the reviews 🙂
- Mongolian BBQ
I have heard great things about the Mongolian BBQ at the Zion Outlets, and it's on our list of places we need to eat for our next visit. “Go hungry” is what I have been told.
- Bear Paw Cafe
located in St. George, this is another one on our list of “Must-Eat.” Friends say it's worth the wait and no on regrets going.
- Benjas
For those that like Thai and Sushi, this one is for you!
- The Black Bear Diner
Yummy food, but more pricey
- Oscars
If you are going to Zion and you like Mexican food, this is the place!
Activities & Lodging
- Shop at the outlets
- The adventure Hub is great for Group activities, recreation rentals, guided tours and other activities!
- If finances are tight, There is an awesome hike in Leads that looks like Zion without the pricey entrance fee
- Free Parks and splash pads for the kids
- Kanarraville Falls is a fun family hike
- Snow Canyon State Park. Let the kids play in the sand or Explore the trails and dunes of beautiful Snow Canyon on foot, bike, and horseback. Camp in the peaceful campground surrounded by ancient lava flows and red Navajo sandstone. Discover the secrets of the desert landscape through seasonal nature programs.
- Swim or fish at Sand Hollow.
- See a show at the Tuacahn (more on that below)
Coral Springs Resort
We had our family reunion at Coral Springs Resort a few months ago and it was incredible, especially for large groups because you can rent out a whole level of suites and share a balcony together. There's laundry and refrigerator in the suites, and it's close to everything! For more info on our experience, see here: Coral Springs Resort Family Reunion
If you enjoy the outdoors, Zion Ponderosa is the place to be! There are very few places that I love visiting more than southern Utah. Those red rocks hold a special place in my heart and the possibilities for outdoor excitement are endless. Zion National Park is always at the top of my list of places to visit. I recently discovered Zion Ponderosa Ranch, and it's the perfect place to stay if you are going to Zion!
They have fun little cabin suites for small families, but they have lots of other options too. The amazing thing about Zion Ponderosa is there are accommodations for every budget and family size. They have everything from campsites to beautiful vacation homes that sleep up to 35 people!
There are so many different activities to do at Zion Ponderosa that it would be perfect for a family reunion. There's ziplining, horseback riding, and even spa treatments that would be amazing after a long day of hiking or exploring the property. The Juniper Spa has all the perfect options for relaxing or being pampered, and The beautiful infinity edge pool and big hot tubs are a favorite! You could easily spend most of the day swimming and playing on the water slides, or taking ATV tour of the 4,000 acre property. There are numerous trails on the property, many of which lead to breathtaking views of Zion canyon that would take hours of strenuous hiking to see from inside the park.
Upon mentioning Zion Ponderosa, I have come in contact with some other friends that love to go there and everyone agrees that the food AND the staff are wonderful! The resort is about 45 minutes from the south entrance of Zion Canyon where you can catch the free shuttles. Don’t let the time discourage you because you get to drive in through the east entrance and see the most amazing views. It is a beautiful, scenic drive and something everyone should experience.
We spent an amazing day in Zion National Park while we were there. Zion has some great family friendly hikes. The River Walk is absolutely perfect if you have kids. It is a paved trail with gorgeous scenery leading to the entrance of the famous Narrows hike. We took our stroller and walked there and back in about an hour. I could have done it three more times because it was so beautiful and great to be able to push the kids instead of carry them. We also hiked the Emerald Pools which is more of a moderate hike, but I carried my baby the whole way without any problems. My three-year-old walked about half the trail and was carried in a backpack the other half. The nice thing about this hike is that there are three separate pools to see, making the length of the hike flexible. We didn't make it to the last pool, but still saw some great views. The Canyon Overlook trail is also easily accessible from Zion Ponderosa and one of my favorites.
Tuacahn Amphitheatre If you are in Southern Utah, you absolutely have to experience the Tuacahn Ampitheatre! The theatre is set among the red rocks in the canyon and it is beautiful! They have Professional Broadway experienced actors that they cast from New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Utah. Their line-up for 2015 is Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Disney’s When You Wish and Sister Act. Buy your tickets early though, because they sell out fast. There's not a bad seat in the whole theatre, so don't be worried about “bad seats” if you can't afford the pricier ones. I was introduced to the Tuacahn in college, but my husband and I went to a show together for the first time this last summer. We saw the Little Mermaid and it was spectacular! The sets and props were fabulous and it was so fun how they were able to get water flowing off the stage. My favorite part was when King Triton came swimming over our heads on the zip line. Very cool. We want to make it a tradition to go every year!