It’s that point in the semester where the workload is starting to get heavier and we are taking our first of many midterms. In between class and studying all day, we fantasize of all the other incredible places we could be besides here in the pollution that is otherwise known as Salt Lake City. You may dream of going somewhere warm and sunny such as California or even somewhere as far away as the Bahamas. However, as great as that sounds, it is not the most realistic idea. Let’s face it: we are all broke college students with limited time and resources, and escaping to somewhere far away over the weekend is probably not going to happen. I understand that we all need to take a break and get away sometimes. So why not get away to Utah? Yes, Utah is where we do everything, but it is definitely a place that offers a lot of activities, sights, and explorations that we take for granted! The next time you feel the urge to travel, try taking a road trip in your own state and see all that it has to offer.
One of the main things that we as Utahans don’t take advantage of are all of the National Parks that we have in close range to us. Utah has five National Parks: Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Zion. All of these parks are just a few hours away from the University of Utah. The cost of getting into one of these parks is $30 per car but it allows you to enter and exit the park as many times as you want for seven days. Any of these five parks are a great place to visit on a weekend road trip with friends. Each park has notable hiking and biking trails, scenic drives, and places to camp for the night. Each of the five National Parks are unique in their own sense and significantly different from the next. For example, this weekend I took a road trip to Zion National Park and hiked Angels Landing. Angels Landing is a worldwide known hike known for its high drop offs along a narrow ridge where the only thing preventing you from falling to your death is a small chain. The peak of Angels Landing is 5785 feet high which is where the name “Angels Landing” derived from because it was rumored that it was so high up that only angels could land on it.
Road trips are truly good for the soul and a great stress reliever. The next time you are feeling yourself becoming overwhelmed with your busy schedule, get a couple of your friends, some snacks, and a great road trip playlist and take a trip around Utah for a couple of days. With all that Utah has to offer, I promise it will be an adventure that will be one of your favorite collegiette memories!