If it’s your first time visiting Salt Lake City, spend some time exploring downtown. Instead of heading into the mountains, visitors can imbibe and dine at local eateries and breweries and check out some of the city’s many murals and street art. Spend some time wandering around The Gateway, which is an open-air dining, shopping, and entertainment area built around the city’s historic Union Pacific Depot.

Don’t sleep on this state park. While Utah is filled with some of the most popular national parks in the U.S., Antelope Island offers an incredible experience of its own. For a different way to see the park, you can take an e-bike tour through Antelope Ebikes. A tour guide will take you around the park to check out roaming bison, antelope, and see incredible views of the Great Salt Lake.

Located less than 20 miles from Zion’s eastern entrance, Orderville is smaller and quieter than Springdale, Utah (located outside of Zion’s main entrance). The resort also has yurts, glamping tents, tiny homes, and a lodge for larger groups. Enjoy watching the sunset from the pool area and your own personal fire pit— the resort is the perfect glamping location for those looking to break away from the crowds and traffic near busier areas of the park.

Plan your visit accordingly so you can trek one of the coolest hikes in the park—if you’re lucky. The trail can be closed when it rains due to dangerous flash flood risks. The best part about the Narrows is that it can be as easy or adventurous as you want. However, if you choose to through-hike all 16 miles of the trail, you’ll need a permit and transportation arrangements for the end of your journey.

After your Narrows excursion, kick back with a visit to the Zion Canyon Brew Pub, Southern Utah’s first microbrewery. Whether you want a bite to eat or a pint to celebrate an eventful day of exploring, this stop is the perfect place to unwind and reminisce on the day’s adventures. The restaurant even offers misting showers outside, a patio and beer garden, live music, and incredible views of the Watchman peak sitting just behind the pub.

Before making your way to Las Vegas, make one more park pit stop in Utah. While the state is filled with parks and outdoor recreation opportunities, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park offers the unique experience of sandboarding. You won’t regret booking an excursion with Coral Pink ATV Tours.

After working up an appetite shredding through sand dunes, continue toward Nevada, making a stop in St. George, Utah, for lunch. This is a great city for outdoor enthusiasts with numerous parks nearby, including Sand Hollow and Snow Canyon state parks and the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. Primarily known as a gateway town to Zion, St. George is becoming a destination of its own, offering dining options, cocktail bars, museums, art galleries, and more.

When it’s time for another adventure (or if you need to escape the heat), book an indoor expedition to Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart in AREA15. While venturing through the weird, mind-boggling world of Meow Wolf is an unforgettable (and at times unsettling) experience, you can spend an entire day exploring the many immersive entertainment options inside AREA15. From cocktail bars and restaurants to virtual reality experiences, art installations, arcades, and more, this venue is worth the trip.