This is a really random find but it's neat! Just 3-4 mins down the road from thunderbird restaurant…read moreand the main junction going towards/away from Zion's east entrance is this little cave formation. There's tons of parking in the gravel lot outside of it. The actual cave part is short, you can walk through it in like 5 mins. The path continues for a while outside; it's mainly sand and seems fairly flat but I didn't go far before turning back. Not the inside of the cave part does get VERY dark for a short distance; I was trying to use only light from the entrance exit and I almost ate dirt a couple times in the middle so use your flashlight. Overall, this spot isn't far off the path if you're road tripping around to national parks (which I was), but I wouldn't go out of your way if it's far/way off whatever path you're taking.

It's a quick thrill right off hwy 89. Worth stopping and doing if you're going through the area…read more It's free. Served as a manmade drainage tunnel under hwy so not natural but fun. Entrance 50 steps away from parking but have to get down a short concrete wall to go in. Bring a flashlight or use your cellphone light as it's dark in the center and isn't a wide walking area. About 40 yards through to other side. White dust particles in the air in here so wear a mask if you're sensitive.

I was talking recently with some folks that work in the tourism industry-specifically Utah- and…read morethey mentioned that Kanab is likely the next up-and-coming destination. So many people come to Utah to visit Moab, but if you drive a bit further south (ok, a lot further south), you'll find a less crowded, equally beautiful outdoor mecca. This place is great! Kanab City itself is a fairly small town with some quaint eateries and local shops. There are several that boast "Native American" gifts, but I am always hesitant about the authenticity of such items, especially when it's white people running the shop. I'd love recommendations of places I could support that are actually run by and benefit indigenous people. Hit me with your favorites. One thing of note, Kanab is a small town that still has some small town ways. One specific example of this is that there are very few restaurants that are open on Sundays-and the ones that are open get crowded quickly. Prepare accordingly. I love the beautiful red rocks and darling main street area in Kanab and am excited to come back and continue my exploration.

Came here for the Balloon & Tunes Festival which I highly recommend. We live in Las Vegas and it…read morewas a 3.5 hour drive, and we were able to do it over work one night. Hotels aren't too expensive either which makes this worthwhile to go to. We also stayed for the Lantern Festival which I really enjoyed as well. Keep in mind that if you stay in the city of Kanab, you will still need to drive to the balloon site which is nearby. Or it's a one mile walk which you could do, but a car would be easier. I was fortunate I was able to go on a balloon ride but that was just sheer luck. Don't go expecting to ride in one. Although it is very easy to crew for a balloon if you need to. They are always happy to have the help. The Balloon part was awesome, but the festival during the day was just okay, which is why I'm taking off a star. There are some performers which was nice, but the food vendors were lacking. I was hoping to see more local businesses have stands and have it be a "taste of Kanab" type thing, but it was mostly just fair food. I wouldn't plan to spend too much time at the actual festival. The Lantern part is really cool, but that's not until the night time. I recommend killing a few hours and going to see nature-y stuff in the area. We did a hike, a scenic drive, and made a stop at the Best Friend's sanctuary to hang out with all the cats (and try not adopt one).

I think the nearby Best Friends Animal Society bought the land since the parking lot for this hike…read moreshares a food truck of theirs. Also, the way up to the cliffs crosses some bare sandstone and there are cute paw prints to help guide you up. Cute! I went later in the day so it was not crowded with maybe a handful of other groups there. The first part of the hike is fairly level on the sandy ground, but the second part is on a inclined sandstone cliff. There's multiple ways to go up. Once you make it to the caves, enjoy the view! These caves are man made, from when there was a sand mining industry in the area. Since the walls are soft, some people have unfortunately carved graffiti into the walls. Bring shoes with traction and a flashlight (phone flashlight is fine since the caves aren't deep). No washrooms are available, so plan accordingly.

A really cool and challenging hike. From the parking lot the trail is kind of defined and you…read morefollow the pathway. It forks out in a couple of places and then comes back together to take you to the mountain side. Getting up the mountain is the challenging part. There is no defined path to get up to the Sand Caves. The mountain is sandy and sloped in some parts about 30 degrees. Definitely wear some good grippy shoes or hiking boots. Once inside the caves it was very sandy. The openings look out over the freeway and they have amazing views. Going further into the cave it gets pitch black and I had to use my cell phone flashlight to explore. It also gets a lot colder the deeper you go in. Now getting down the mountain was another challenge in itself. Luckily i found a path were it looked like water had drained down the side of the mountain. I was able to pistol sit and slide myself all the way down the mountain side. The caves are a definite to see, challenging at parts and not to be missed.

If you're heading to Zion and want something that feels straight out of a Western movie, Grafton…read moreGhost Town is 100% worth the quick detour. We stopped here not expecting much, and it ended up being one of the most unique spots of the trip. This place dates back to the 1860s and was settled by pioneers trying to farm along the Virgin River. Between floods, isolation, and tough conditions, the town was eventually abandoned--but what's left behind is seriously cool. Unlike a lot of ghost towns, Grafton actually has several well-preserved buildings, including an old schoolhouse, homes, and even a cemetery. Walking through it feels quiet... almost too quiet. It's the kind of place where you can actually picture what life was like back then. And the setting? Unreal. You've got massive red rock cliffs from Zion in the background, which makes it feel way more cinematic than your average historical stop. It's no surprise this place has been used in movies. There's no entry fee, no crowds (usually), and no over-the-top tourist setup--just raw history and insane scenery. If you're already visiting Zion, skipping Grafton would honestly be a mistake. It's quick, eerie, beautiful, and totally unforgettable. Follow us for more hidden gems on our socials @reessroots

I remember going to Grafton with my family when I was a child, so when I had the opportunity to go…read moreback and visit as an adult, I was excited to see how it changed. It's much cleaner and well-maintained than I remembered. I think the LDS church owns the property now and is doing some renovations on the buildings. You can walk through most of the buildings as well as the grounds around them. It's a neat stop and worth taking the time to be in the space and energy of some of Utah's history.

Let me start with it's Thanksgiving and pretty sure they were the only place open besides fast…read morefood. The dinner was delicious and the service was fast but I had to ask for salt, pepper, sweetner, and butter which is why I rated it as 4 stars. Overall, it's a nice place and my friend and I were super happy that they were open.

A Dash Of Country French With Amazing Service…read more.... My wife and I were on the prowl again for a restaurant for dinner. Typical tourists. Reviews said "try Vermillon". We were glad we did. - Overall: 5 - Exterior: 3 - Ambiance: 4 - Menu: 4 - Food Quality: 5 - Food Portion: 5 - Service: 10 - Chef: 10 - Price and Value: 5 - Parking: 4 - Location: Convenient. In the "downtown" area across the street from the Wild Thyme Cafe. - Exterior: Nothing special. A boxy building with outside seating. - Ambiance: Country French...or as close as you can get in Utah. Actually, nice and comfortable. - Menu: Not big, but with interesting choices in each category. - Food: Excellent. We started the meal by sharing a Caprese Salad ($15). Large and tasty. My entree was one of the night's specials...Vegetable Curry ($22). Big bowl of fresh diced vegetables with a moderately spicy sauce. A fine dish. My wife chose the other special of the day...Chicken Marsala ($25) on a bed of mashed potatoes. It's one of her favorite's and she said "it was as good as any I've had". For dessert, we shared a Chocolate Mousse ($12). We could have had 3 more. For drinks, I had a Belgian Blond beer ($10) while my wife had a glass of French Chardonnay ($16). Both did the job. - Service: AMAZING describes our server, Wendy. She was the only person taking care of a roomful of customers. I counted 30 with more coming in. But Wendy helped us as if we were the only people in the restaurant. AMAZING. And one other question stumped us. How did the ONE chef handle 30+ orders and maintain a steady pace in the kitchen? Wow! - Price and Value: Not cheap, but worth it. The total before tax and tip was an even $100. - Parking: Fine, both behind and on the street. Vermillon might not be as "country French" as you'll find in France, but it was great and a lot closer to home.

This is a beautiful town for hikes and rural adventures. It has a brewer , bar, restaurants,…read moregrocery store, several hotels, Bed & breakfasts, guided tours etc. It's know as the south Zion area and is growing rapidly.

Even though I was born here, I have to work in St. George to make a living here and to also…read moresurvive. I don't recommend it for businesses just yet It hasn't grown big enough just yet but when this town improves I'll rate this better.

The drive on this highway is one of the relaxing drives I have with astonishing views.read more

This is well worth a quick stop for a photo shot if you're driving to or from Page, AZ along US89…read more It's just north of the split with US89A, and the vista is on the west side of the highway. Our family arrived here in early April 2023 on a drive from the South Rim of Grand Canyon NP to Page, AZ. At this location, you can easily see the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument in the distance and there's something majestic about the wide open space here. Be careful to park on the side of the road and exercise caution if you open your car door as traffic going downhill can be moving at breakneck speeds!

Very peaceful, secluded find. Previous review really says it all. Space is very well taken care of…read moreproving the residents love providing this space in their beautiful red cliffs niche just outside of St. George. Worth the drive and time to reflect.

I just love thissss!! Beautiful desert rose labyrinth built by local residents in Kayenta. Shout…read moreout to my nephew for discovering this work of art in Southern Utah! Just 7 miles west of St. George. After an excellent lunch at Xetava Gardens Cafe, we walked across the street to explore the desert arboretum, which included this fabulous labyrinth. Open to the public 7 days a week. To me, it was a therapeutic visit! A pretty awesome space to sit and meditate. There were benches that were placed along the path as well as some interesting art sculptures to admire. Take your time to stroll inside the labyrinth to find its center. Great time to gather your most important thoughts and prayers. May peace be with you!

Quaint little town in the middle of nowhere, lovely town to visit but very cold in the winter!! lolread more

I am giving this town a four star rating based upon location, and geographic idealism. It sits in…read morean eponymous mountain valley on the backside of a snowy massif in southern Utah. Towering peaks all around, limestone canyon just west of town, cradling the Santa Clara river as it meanders toward the volcanic cones just below in Veyo and beyond. A small alpine lake is a few miles eastward out of the "town" just beyond the boundary of Pine Valley Recreation Area. The only reason I have taken a star away is purely for the fact there are NO FACILITIES within 15 miles of the town. Other than that, it is idyllic, quaint, evocative and quizzical in its very being.

Many smaller connecting areas that comprise this area. Lots of outlooks, trails, airfield,…read moremotel/mini-cabins and 4 wheeling. Don't expect a Walmart or lot of late night bars around here! That is what makes the area special. It's modern enough and popular enough to do a simple appeal to visitors, but whomps you with the nature, friendly residents and beauty. Lots of fun stops. Interesting local beers. Good hikes.

Again, I'm going to state since this is a four star review, I'm typically not going less than four…read morestars on a city review .... everyone goes to a city with an intention of doing something and it is typically catered to your specific likes. So, why the deduct of one star for Bryce Canyon City? Well, let's be honest Bryce Canyon is why someone is coming here .... seriously the only reason. Bryce Canyon would get a rating higher than 5 stars if possible. The city, however, isn't quite what we expected. Small is an understatement! There is very little here, again, that's find .... the reason you are here is to go to the canyon. But, that being said, there is a huge lack of places to eat and should you be camping in the area and want groceries, not really great options either. There are a few places, they all close early so plan accordingly. Now, the people, were all really nice ... why wouldn't you be, living as close to a national park as they do. All in all, highly recommend, but it's for the Canyon not for the city.