Real Guides: Utah, USA
Visit Mars without passing through the stratosphere.
If you’ve always dreamt of visiting another planet then look no further than Utah. My lore (long story) with this state runs deep and after a decade of saying I would visit, I finally made it to Mars Utah.
I would advise visiting Salt Lake City and Park City to start and then making your way to one of the many national parks, in particular Zion or Moab. Fun fact, Utah has one of the highest concentration of national parks in the country.
I did the SLC/PC + Zion combo so will be sharing everything I loved from those locations and everything I discovered on the road there. Whilst this guide is technically being written by me… I did meet a bunch of extremely friendly local strangers during my wandering. Their notes are here for all to enjoy.
Utah, USA
Salt Lake City
To eat & drink
Shock! You can drink in Utah. And you can drink well.
I hate beer but I love theirs. In particular the pineapple beer. Plus, they have a pizza oven in the parking lot that sits within a converted truck. If there’s a show on this is the perfect place to go before a gig at Kilby Court.
A surprisingly great cafe near Temple Square.
To see
The epicentre of Mormonism. It is an interesting site to behold. Fun fact: if you aren’t Mormon you cannot visit. In fact, if you are invited to a Mormon wedding for example, if you aren’t a part of the religion you would have to wait outside the church. Very mysterious. Very intriguing. Couldn’t resist a snoop around the perimeter of their ‘Vatican’. FYI: as of May 2025 it is currently under construction.
If the sun is shining I highly advise picking a fluffy patch of grass and lying around. Admire the incredible mountains in the backdrop.
To buy
This shop is in a lovely area that can be explored on foot (much of SLC feels like a driving town). They have a very cool, curated selection of brands. The owner is friendly. A fun place to discover creative pieces of clothing and jewellery. They also carry the brand I work for: Alex Mill.
Park City
To eat & drink
Park City has a bunch of perfect lunch/cafe spots: Five5eeds, Harvest & Hill's Kitchen are personal faves.
Not Park City, but nearby. Visit the Black Sheep Cafe in Provo. This is a Native American restaurant and the perfect place to try bison if you’ve never had it before.
To see
Take a walk down Main Street. It will give you a good sense of the town as a whole.
Hit the slopes! Even in the spring! Whilst this is said to be some of the best skiing in the country, its also nice to visit in spring and summer. There is a ton of hiking and the views are gorgeous. Plus, the mountains are packed with incredible hotels, in particular the Goldener Hirsch.
Hiking paths. They’re everywhere around the town (not just in the mountains like mentioned above). The city has planned all the paths so you could in theory take them from one end to the other. A perfect place for those you like to walk A LOT!
To buy
Check out the gardens, shop and cafe. A perfect place to pick up a gift.
Southern Utah
To see
This is one of the craziest places I have ever been. And earlier this year I visited Slab City (guide coming soon). The sheer scale of the Inspiration Point view is still blowing my mind. No number of photos could do it justice. Just go. The canyon looks like a gothic cathedral on Mars. It is hard to fathom, even when it is right in front of you.
Of all the hikes in Zion I particularly loved Emerald Pools. Hike to the top pool, have lunch there and make sure you arrive with a large stick because the squirrels will try to steal your food and they are NOT shy. The Narrows are also iconic. If you are very athletic enter the lottery to hike the peak of Zion, Angel’s Landing.
A gimmick with a bizarre petting zoo.
To eat & drink
Wild Thyme Cafe at Trees Ranch
A MUST visit for the Zion area. This place is a literal oasis in the desert. Every single thing town to the iced tea was divine. It’s a bit mysterious, when I asked who owned the place (as I was blown away from its beauty) a group that was friends with the owner told me they couldn’t share as they had signed an NDA. Maybe a joke… maybe not? Visit for lunch and sit in the shade of the trees on the lawn.
You say you’re looking for Greek food in the desert? No worries! This is the place! Jokes aside, the food is good and margaritas are even better. Ask to meet Tony, likely the only Greek man for a 30 mile radius.
Supposedly this place offers some of the best pie you’ll ever have. Utahans seem to love pie. You’ll see signs for it everywhere. Never got an explanation as to why, but I guess embrace the vast wealth of pie whilst you’re there. A great place to stop by if you’re visiting Bryce.
To stay
The perfect base if you plan to explore the area. Not far from the park. The shiny air streamers gleam below the mountains. It feels like you’re staying in a spaceship on Mars. Highly advise picking up wood and building a fire. Also check out the river area. You might even find some treasure…
To buy
Buffalo Trails Trading Company
A collection of Native American art worth checking out. The guy who runs the shop is super passionate. He also had a few intriguing things to say about alien life out in Zion. That’s all I’ll say on here.
Stops on the road to Zion: Orderville, an intriguing town from a bygone era. Mels Drive Inn for a break from driving. The Haven Coffee House & Roasting Co for caffeine on the road.
Finally, a stranger handed me a document articulating where you can find mystical crystals all over Utah after you spotted my crystal quartz necklace. Thank you, stranger.
