Not only is Utah home to more internationally accredited dark sky parks and places than anywhere else on the planet (24 and counting!), but it will offer some of the best locations to view the Great American Solar Eclipse on October 14, 2023. The solar eclipse will pass over several national parks and monuments creating distinctive viewing locations such as from the famed hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park or through an arch at National Bridges National Monument – the world’s first dark sky park. Dark sky preservation is just one of the ways Utah is working to keep the state, Forever Mighty.
Salt Lake Recognized by James Beard Foundation
Salt Lake City is building a reputation as a burgeoning culinary city and the James Beard Foundation is taking notice. Over the years, the renowned culinary institute has recognized and awarded over a dozen restaurants in the Beehive State, a trend which continues stronger than ever in 2023. This year, Salt Lake’s dining establishments have qualified in four categories – a leap from previous years: Outstanding Bar (Post Office Place), Outstanding Hospitality (Manoli’s), Outstanding Bakery (Normal Ice Cream) and Best Chef (SLC Eatery, Oquirrh, The Angry Korean and Mazza). The award winners will be announced June 5, 2023.
Goulding’s Lodge Turns 100 in Monument Valley
Few travellers to Utah’s Monument Valley visit the area without taking a tour or staying overnight with Goulding’s Lodge – celebrating its 100th year in 2023. In the early 1920s, Harry Goulding and his wife, Leone (nicknamed “Mike”), set up a trading post in Monument Valley, conducting business with the local Navajo people. When the Great Depression hit and Monument Valley and the Navajo Reservation suffered immensely, the Gouldings are credited with attracting Hollywood to film in the region, bringing much-needed revenue. Their legacy lives on at Goulding’s Lodge, as the property continues to host film crews and visitors from all over the world who, to this day, come to experience the power of the landscape and history through Navajo-led tours of Monument Valley.
Another Centennial in Utah’s Logan Canyon
Northern Utah offers visitors a wealth of undiscovered arts and adventure along the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway through the Cache Valley, for those willing to explore beyond Salt Lake City and Park City. Anchored by the city of Logan, each summer the city becomes Utah’s ‘Heart of the Arts’ with three historic theatres in one downtown block, including the 1923 Ellen Eccles Theatre celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. From mid-June to the end of July, over 200 professional productions are staged, including the Utah Festival Opera & Music Theatre which draws musicians and performers from prestigious stages like the Metropolitan Opera and Broadway.
