Most Utahns can’t imagine ever leaving this beautiful state. It’s where family is. The place that feels like home. Sometimes, leaving Utah is unavoidable. Job transfers, school and family circumstances mean packing up and leaving Utah. Here’s what people miss about our amazing state when they leave.
- The People of Utah
Thomas Hawk/flickr Sure, people in other parts of the country are friendly and polite. But not like Utahns. We have a special brand of charm that’s hard to replicate.
- The High IQs of Utahns
University of Utah/Facebook Our state has a high percentage of college graduates. Which means that if you’re partial to folks who speak with correct grammar, are up-to-date on current events, and quick to pick up what you’re laying down, this is the perfect place. When you move, you find that the rest of the world has more average IQs.
- Utah’s Red Rock Country
Don Graham/flickr Move back East and you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything even closely resembling the beauty you’ll find in Utah’s Arches, Bryce or Zion National Parks. People come from all over the world to visit our national parks.
- Utah’s Mountains
Charles Sheidegger/flickr Try asking someone in the midwest to point you to the nearest mountains, and you’ll be astonished by what they show you. You call those hills MOUNTAINS? Here, our mountains are real — show me an 11,000-foot peak in the Wasatch Range. THAT’s a mountain!
- Easy Access to Outdoor Recreation
Tom Kelly/flickr Our mountains and red-rock country offer tons of recreational opportunities. Other states have plenty of hiking, skiing, biking, etc., but you often have to drive for hours from major cities to the Great Outdoors. Not the case in Utah. You can eat lunch in downtown Salt Lake and be on a ski slope 30 minutes after finishing your burger.
- Crown Burger
Crown Burger/Facebook Speaking of burgers…there are lots of really great burger joints throughout Utah, but one of the most popular is Crown Burger. Maybe it’s the pastrami; maybe it’s the fry sauce. One thing’s for sure…you won’t find anything like it in another state.
- Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake/Facebook Our MLS soccer team is pretty great. When you visit another city’s team, you won’t get to sing the “Believe” song every time a goal is scored.
- The Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz/flickr Some people might miss the Jazz more than others; for some fickle fans it kind of depends on what kind of season they’re having. Die-hard fans definitely miss seeing the Utah Jazz play at the Vivint Smart Home Arena (that’s the Delta Center if you’re old-school).
- Clean City Streets
Andrew Fresh/flickr The first time I visited San Francisco, I was very charmed by its quaint, pastel row houses and views of the Bay. But…the sidewalks were full of trash, and the city itself was overall much dirtier than Salt Lake. Even Utah’s largest cities are pristine compared to many other spots in the country.
- Kid-friendly Venues
Todd Petersen/flickr If you haven’t traveled much outside this state, you might not be aware that other places aren’t so kid-friendly. Try taking a toddler into a downtown restaurant during the lunch rush in the business district of a major city elsewhere and you’ll be stunned at the hostility you might face from the staff (and other patrons). Kid-centric activities abound in Utah, and are less plentiful in other places.
- Affordable Cultural Arts Entertainment
Utah Symphony/flickr In some cities, you’ll pay at least $100 for a ticket to the symphony. In Utah, you can catch a performance of the world-class Utah Symphony for as little as $15. Productions at Ballet West, Pioneer Theater Company and Utah Opera are also affordable.
- Amateur Arts
Jared eberhardt/flickr While our largest professional ballet, symphony, opera and acting companies are in Salt Lake, you’ll find high-quality amateur venues all over the state. Almost every Utah resident is within an hour of great entertainment. Why? Utahns are incredibly talented dancers, singers, musicians and actors! If you’re looking to partake of free or inexpensive arts productions, you can find them here in Utah…and the quality is superior.
- Utah’s Safe Environment
C. Holmes/flickr Utah’s crime rate is amongst the lowest in the nation. People here feel safe letting their kids play in the yard, go for a bike ride and walk home from school.
- Four Seasons
Tom Kelly/flickr Sometimes spring and fall are brief, but Utah does experience all four seasons. Many states don’t.
- Utah Powder
Tom Kelly/flickr If you ski or snowboard, you’ll really miss Utah’s powdery snow. You might be able to ski at some cool resorts, but it won’t quite be the same. Even if you don’t ski, Utah turns into a real winter wonderland when it snows. You can enjoy our snow from the warmth of your house, while sipping cocoa.
Utah is a great place to live. Don’t ever leave! But if you do, you’ll probably miss at least these 15 things (and likely even more). Have you ever left Utah? What did YOU miss? Tell us about it!
Thomas Hawk/flickr
Sure, people in other parts of the country are friendly and polite. But not like Utahns. We have a special brand of charm that’s hard to replicate.
University of Utah/Facebook
Our state has a high percentage of college graduates. Which means that if you’re partial to folks who speak with correct grammar, are up-to-date on current events, and quick to pick up what you’re laying down, this is the perfect place. When you move, you find that the rest of the world has more average IQs.
Don Graham/flickr
Move back East and you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything even closely resembling the beauty you’ll find in Utah’s Arches, Bryce or Zion National Parks. People come from all over the world to visit our national parks.
Charles Sheidegger/flickr
Try asking someone in the midwest to point you to the nearest mountains, and you’ll be astonished by what they show you. You call those hills MOUNTAINS? Here, our mountains are real — show me an 11,000-foot peak in the Wasatch Range. THAT’s a mountain!
Tom Kelly/flickr
Our mountains and red-rock country offer tons of recreational opportunities. Other states have plenty of hiking, skiing, biking, etc., but you often have to drive for hours from major cities to the Great Outdoors. Not the case in Utah. You can eat lunch in downtown Salt Lake and be on a ski slope 30 minutes after finishing your burger.
Crown Burger/Facebook
Speaking of burgers…there are lots of really great burger joints throughout Utah, but one of the most popular is Crown Burger. Maybe it’s the pastrami; maybe it’s the fry sauce. One thing’s for sure…you won’t find anything like it in another state.
Real Salt Lake/Facebook
Our MLS soccer team is pretty great. When you visit another city’s team, you won’t get to sing the “Believe” song every time a goal is scored.
Utah Jazz/flickr
Some people might miss the Jazz more than others; for some fickle fans it kind of depends on what kind of season they’re having. Die-hard fans definitely miss seeing the Utah Jazz play at the Vivint Smart Home Arena (that’s the Delta Center if you’re old-school).
Andrew Fresh/flickr
The first time I visited San Francisco, I was very charmed by its quaint, pastel row houses and views of the Bay. But…the sidewalks were full of trash, and the city itself was overall much dirtier than Salt Lake. Even Utah’s largest cities are pristine compared to many other spots in the country.
Todd Petersen/flickr
If you haven’t traveled much outside this state, you might not be aware that other places aren’t so kid-friendly. Try taking a toddler into a downtown restaurant during the lunch rush in the business district of a major city elsewhere and you’ll be stunned at the hostility you might face from the staff (and other patrons). Kid-centric activities abound in Utah, and are less plentiful in other places.
Utah Symphony/flickr
In some cities, you’ll pay at least $100 for a ticket to the symphony. In Utah, you can catch a performance of the world-class Utah Symphony for as little as $15. Productions at Ballet West, Pioneer Theater Company and Utah Opera are also affordable.
Jared eberhardt/flickr
While our largest professional ballet, symphony, opera and acting companies are in Salt Lake, you’ll find high-quality amateur venues all over the state. Almost every Utah resident is within an hour of great entertainment. Why? Utahns are incredibly talented dancers, singers, musicians and actors! If you’re looking to partake of free or inexpensive arts productions, you can find them here in Utah…and the quality is superior.
C. Holmes/flickr
Utah’s crime rate is amongst the lowest in the nation. People here feel safe letting their kids play in the yard, go for a bike ride and walk home from school.
Sometimes spring and fall are brief, but Utah does experience all four seasons. Many states don’t.
If you ski or snowboard, you’ll really miss Utah’s powdery snow. You might be able to ski at some cool resorts, but it won’t quite be the same. Even if you don’t ski, Utah turns into a real winter wonderland when it snows. You can enjoy our snow from the warmth of your house, while sipping cocoa.
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