Provo Utah

We arrived on April 13 into Utah Lake State Park.  Since we could not make reservations and there are only 4 spots in the park that we can fit everything into, the Park Manger was willing to help us out and he blocked our preferred with with cones, which worked out great.  of course this trip, the park was not busy and many times we were the only camper int eh entire A loop, but it still gave us peace of mind knowing that we had a spot.  

The state Park is such a beautiful spot (but very windy) and we definitely enjoyed the kayaking and biking around the park.  The marina is so close that we can roll our kayaks from our site to the boat dock.  On one of our kayaking trips we saw fish spawning in the grass on the edge of the lake.  Don't know what they were, but they were big fish!

The last time in the area we just kayaked and did not go out to see any of the sights.  So we took a day and drove to the Great Salt Lake State Park and marina.  They have a fantastic video about the lake in the Visitor Center and we learned so much about the history of the lake and all of the various islands and life within the lake.  There is definitely more to see around the lake on future trips.  

Across from the State Park was the Kennecott Utah Copper mine started in 1887.  Today it is the second largest copper producer in the US, providing 18-25% of the US's copper needs and is Utah's largest private employer.  Kennecott's Bingham Canyon Mine is one of the largest man-made excavations in the world.   

Easter Sunday was the highlight of our trip.  We booked a deluxe day tour trip to include hearing a live performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir that included the orchestra and bells (the bells were started in 2005 with 35 ringers and they do not always perform with the choir).  The pipe organ is one of the largest in the world with 11,632 pipes, and the organist playing on Sunday had been playing it for 38 years.  

The choir includes about 400 volunteer members with at least 360 singing at any one time.  The performance was actually broadcasted live and is the longest broadcast performance in the US, over 88 years.  The women in the choir have 8 dresses and 5 sets of jewelry and the men have 5 suits and 12 ties so they can be coordinated in their 75 plus performances each year.  The performance was held in the Mormon Tabernacle which was built in 1867 and seats about 2600.  In busier months, they move the performance to the Convention Center which seats about 21,000.  

We walked around the gardens of Temple square which were beautiful.  They have about 500,00 plants of 700 different varieties brought in from 100 countries around the world.  

Salt Lake Temple: the most iconic building in Utah and the largest Mormon temple in the world.  Pictures below are of Craig and I in front of the Reflection Pool and the Temple.   

Family History Library:  largest genealogy library in the world.   

Assembly Hall:

Our next stop was to Capitol Hill:  the marble rotunda with it's 6,000 lb. chandelier was spectacular.  

We also visited the Pioneer Heritage State Park:   

The old Sugar Mill

"This is the Place" monument - Mormon pioneers
and explorers of the American West

Mormon Battalion

Pony Express momument

Entrance to Deseret Village - a living
history pioneer village with a replicated
eagle arch.  

Brigham Young's Estate:  throughout our tour we saw the beehive symbol, which reflects community, not individuality.  It signifies the industry, harmony, order and frugality of the Mormon people and of the sweet results of their toil, union and intelligent cooperation.  

Eagle Gate arch:  Prominent 76-foot span arch with a
2 ton American eagle statue atop,
marks the entrance to Brigham Young's estate.  

            Lion House, a polygamous mansion for 20

wives and 50 children

      Beehive house, home of Brigham Young, known as

             the "American Moses" 

Other attractions that we got pictures of included:  

Historic Union Pacific Depot

The 2002 Olympic Torch

The architecture in the area was beautiful and we drove through the Brigham street mansions district.  Here are just a couple of the mansions we got pictures of as we were driving through the area.  

We went into Trolley square to have lunch but due to Easter, the specific restaurant was closed.  We still were able to walk through the square.  This was a state of the art volley car system in 1908.

City Hall:

Catholic Cathedral of the Madeleine:

Methodist church:  

We also drove through the University of Utah, founded in 1850 as the oldest state university west of the Missouri River, various other churches and temples and drove through Fort Douglas.  

We took a drive up through Provo Canyon, past the two State Parks along the way, and then to Park City.  What a great town and definitely a place we'll come back to.  It could take an entire afternoon to stroll Main street.  We went from there to the Olympic Park and took a tour.  Craig wanted to do the bobsled ride at $175.00 per person and I was so glad it was in between the winter and summer timeframe, as I'm not sure I'm that adventurous.  

Bridal Veil Falls

Provo Canyon

Deer Creek Lake

Summer Bobsled

Luge Take-Off

Luge Track

Bobsled and Skeleton Take-off
Only 4 Bobsled Tracks in North America

Winter Bobsled

Take Off for Ski Jumping - Top of K120 Track

Training Pool - 16 feet deep

Alf Engen Ski Museum

Uniforms of Park City athletes:  left to high
Steven Holcomb, bobsled; Sage Kotsenburg, snowboarding,
Joss Christensen, skiing; Danelle Umstead, Paralympics
Ted Ligety is most known for the area but not pictured. 

2002 Utah Winter Olympic Medals

Next time in the area:  Antelope Island, Bear Lake, Salt Flats and possible dog sledding around Heber.