Utah travel is fun to plan: read on for great trip ideas and destinations to help you plan your Utah getaway.

Salt Lake City in Northern Utah has certain must-see’s like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Temple Square, opera, ballet, symphony, theatre, planetarium and pro sports. At the same time, this metropolitan hub is surrounded by natural beauty and wonders as diverse as alpine forest, the Great Salt Lake, ski resorts, fossil beds and salt flats.

Central Utah is mile upon mile of wide open country: high desert, plateaux and mountains. Nine Mile Canyon has breathtaking pre-historic rock art, and the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry contains a higher concentration of Jurassic-era dinosaur bones than any other known fossil deposit. Fishlake National Forest has great fishing and camping, while the San Raphael Swell has canyons and wide open skies. Capitol Reef National Park is a beautiful red and gold landscape of gurgling brooks and sandstone crevices. Cove Fort, dating back to 1867, is built from volcanic rock and limestone, and open daily to visitors.

In Southern Utah, the landscape of Paria Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness Area looks like layers of reddish gold taffy poured one on top of the other. Dead Horse State Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park are just some of the many places to enjoy sandstone geological features, canyons, buttes, mesas biking, river rafting, backcountry hiking and 4-wheeling.

Utah’s climate is as diverse as its terrain. The southern canyons can top over 100°F in the summer, while northern mountain ranges can receive over 500 inches of snow in one winter. Each season is distinct, so layers are in order for sudden cold snaps in spring and fall, and also for high altitudes. Pack cool fabrics like cotton for summer, and be sure to include sunscreen and carry water. A good coat or parka is necessary in winter, plus layers of clothing that you can peel off or add on as necessary. Be sure to bring your gloves as well.