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Learn about St. George, Utah by reading
Enjoy Utah’s Truly
Unique Experience! - St. George, Utah by Sandy Zimmerman, Travel
Writer. It features a mini, but thorough tour of the destination,
plus all you'll need to know to plan your trip including getting
there, objective information on places to stay and eat, and things
to do. At the end of the article, we've provided a summary of the
contact information for your easy reference. Enjoy!
Enjoy Utah’s Truly Unique
Experience!
St. George, Utah
by Sandy Zimmerman, Travel Writer
Brigham
Young's winter residence.
Photo courtesy of Sandy Zimmerman.
Walk around St.
George’s historical district to experience 50 restored buildings, monuments to
the pioneers. You can see Brigham Young’s winter home and more. The historic
district is similar to an outdoor museum of the past preserving their traditions
and heritage. St. George is a small town (under 100,000 population) with so much
to see and do! There are 11 golf courses, Tuacahn Theatre’s classic musical
productions, museums, and more. Sand Hollow State Park offers sand dunes and
40,000 acres of trails for hikers and ATV’S.
Australian Pinzgauer Jeep
used in the ATV & Jeep Wilderness Tours.
Photo
courtesy of Sandy Zimmerman
Go where
Hummers and Jeeps fear to tread! I have taken many safari-style tours, but the
ATV & Jeep Wilderness Tours around the back country of St. George, Utah, are a
real adventure! They are a bit scary at times; although owner Jim Clay assures
me that his Australia Pinzgauer 4-wheel drive vehicle can’t turn over. We travel
where there are no roads, as Jim makes his own path over sand, rock, and
sandstone. When people said the tour would be action packed, they really meant
it! We actually climb up steep mountains. It seems as though we are driving
straight up, the jeep is pointing to the sky! Each jagged rock is another step
toward the top of the mountain. Sometimes Jim must maneuver over rocks that
stick out 2-6 feet. The mountain’s red sandstone colors are striking and the
eerie rock formations make us feel as though we are in another world. We have
time to walk around and explore. Driving straight down was even a bigger thrill
than climbing up. The Pinzgauer was like a mountain goat. Their design gives a
Pinzgauer sixteen inches of clearance. The axles swing independently. Jim’s
tours are mild to wild. Jim also takes people on night tours under star lit
skies, tours during lightening storms, and extreme tours climbing steeper
mountains and dropping into canyons.
A major
dinosaur track discovery was recently found at the Johnson farm in St. George,
Utah. While Dr. Sheldon Johnson was digging 35’ below the ground, he found some
interesting shaped rocks and wanted to sell them as decorative landscaping. One
rock was accidentally flipped over and exposed a cast of a dinosaur’s foot. You
can see imprints of dinosaur’s toes, feet, skin, teeth, and jawbone, along with
fish fossils. Dinosaurs roamed around here 200 million years ago when this area
was a shallow lake a 100 miles long. The sun dried the mud hardening the
footprints and mud tracks. Over 1,000 tracks have been found within a 10-acre
area. These displays show some of the oldest and best-preserved tracks in the
world. One exhibit, the three-toed track, was made by the Dilophosaurus (6-7’
high, 15-20’ long, 700-1,000 pounds). Researchers identified skin prints and
impressions made by dinosaurs dragging their tails and swimming movements. The
most exciting find is the rare squatting impressions of the dinosaur’s ankle,
foot, and tail bone. There is only one other in the world, in China.
Historic old jail- in Ancestor
Square.
Photo courtesy of Sandy Zimmerman.
Within historic
downtown St. George, Ancestor Square Shopping Center is the perfect place to see
how St. George looked in the 1800’s. The shops, restaurants, art galleries, and
offices are either in historic buildings or in those constructed with the “look
of the past.” Take a walk around the park, see the old jail, or sit on one of
the benches.
The Green Gate
Village B&B Inn is a collection of 9 restored pioneer homes of the 1800’s. This
historic village is located in the center of St. George’s historic district!
Relax around the Village’s green landscaped lawn or stroll through the
courtyard. Stop by their unique gazebo, 1925 Ford, old-time gas pumps, and
buggy. Guests sit in the Bentley House (1876) dining room. The Orson Pratt House
(1862) was the first home in St. George. The green gates (1879) on the east side
of the Orson Pratt House are original. Mormon leader Brigham Young ordered white
gates for the Mormon Church, but when green gates he gave them to the settlers.
Thomas Judd’s Store (1911) is a famous St. George landmark of an early way of
life.
The Olde Penny
Farthing B&B Inn’s beautiful Victorian rose and burgundy cherry colors stand out
from St. George’s other historic buildings. Built in the 1880’s, the workers
mixed river mud and clay, and then sun baked the bricks. The walls are 18-inches
thick with a lava rock foundation. Two large Mulberry Trees decorate the Inn’s
entrance while providing shade from the sun. Thousands of antiques and
collections of memorabilia cover every corner, windowsill, wall, shelf, and even
along the stairs. Some of the bathrooms have old-fashioned claw foot bathtubs
and a pull chain toilet. The Olde Penny Farthing Inn is located in the historic
district, one block from Brigham Young’s home and St. George’s original
downtown. Walk along the quiet tree lined streets to see some of the most
beautiful examples of buildings of the 1800’s.
The St. George
Holiday Inn Resort Hotel & Convention Center is not your ordinary Holiday Inn!
With high wood beamed ceilings, a free flowing lobby, and unique design, you
realize this is truly a resort! There is room to walk and several areas to
relax. The central focus of the Holidome lobby is an indoor/outdoor heated
swimming pool. The two pools are joined- swim under the flap and change pools in
a minute! Take the catwalk over the pool and watch the activity. There is a
great display of historic photos.
St George Details
Getting There
St.
George is located in southern Utah, just 2 hours from Las Vegas, 45
minutes from Zion Canyon National Park, and 3 hours from Bryce
Canyon National Park.
Attractions
Where To Eat
- Painted Pony Restaurant - 435-634-1700, Ancestor Square, Tower
Building, 2 W. St. George Blvd.,
http://www.painted-pony.com/.
- Samurai 21 Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar - 435-656-8628, 245 N.
Red Cliff Drive, #11, St. George.
Where To Stay
B&B Inns
- The Olde Penny Farthing Inn - Inside the historical district.
435-673-7755, 278 N. 100 W., St. George.
Hotel
- St. George Holiday Inn Resort Hotel - Families like Holiday Inns
because kids (12 and under) stay and eat free when accompanied by an
adult! They even offer a special kid’s menu. For golf, theater, and
other packages, call the Holiday Inn Resort Hotel and Convention
Center, 800-457-9800, 850 S. Bluff Street, St. George.
Other Hotel Options
- Best Western Travel Inn -
435-673-3541,
316 East St. George Blvd., St. George, www.stgeorgebestwestern.com.
- La Quinta Inns & Suites -
435-674-2664,
91 East 2680 South, St. George, www.lq.com.
- Courtyard by Marriott -
435-986-0555, 185 South 1470 East, St. George, www.marriott.com.
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Tourist Information
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