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First known to be explored by Spain in 1776 it was frontier pioneer Jim Bridger who first discovered the Great Salt Lake in 1824.

Two decades later, the Mormons who practiced polygamy and sought a haven from religious persecution in the Eastern and Midwest U.S., arrived to build Salt Lake City.

Seeking statehood for the Utah territory, polygamy continued to be an issue until the Mormon Church renounced the practice in 1890. Six years later, Utah joined the Union as the 45th state.

Today, Utah attracts millions of vacationers annually, drawn to top class Utah ski resorts, the world famous Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, as well as the state's scenic splendor and outdoor recreational facilities in state & national parks such as Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, and the geologic wonders of Rainbow Bridge and the Grand Staircase.

Utah also attracts important indie filmmakers from around the world each year at the annual Sundance Film Festival held in Park City in January.

Utah Adventure Travel - The official Utah tourism site offering a very cool Flash presentation explaining Utah's top tourist spots plus facts & information on skiing & snowboarding adventures, whitewater rafting, national parks & campgrounds throughout the state.

Go-Utah.com - One-stop browsing in a directory of links to more than a hundred Utah cities & towns with more on scenic drives, ski resorts, sports activities, lodging & dining, maps & photos.

Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau - The official guide and all you'd expect with cool video & photo tours, information on major & nearby attractions, online hotel reservations, restaurants & nightlife, transportation guide, maps.

Provo City - No-nonsense city guide with information on seasonal events, hotels & restaurants, lodging, entertainment, parks & recreation, plus a link to a spectacular Java-based interactive city tour.

Ski Utah - Major guide to resorts near Salt Lake City, Odgen & Provo with details on lodging, gear rental, entertainment, events, snow & weather reports, nearby attractions, maps & pictures.

Utah Red Rocks - From white mountain snow to the red rock country of southern Utah, with eye-catching photos from a professional photographer explaining scenic wonders throughout the region, with information & travel guides for Arches National Park, Pleasant Creek and more, related vacation tips, blog, links.

Max Bertola's Southern Utah - Another virtual personal guide to the south with photos and guides to the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase, Monument Valley and more, with vacation planner, route maps, related links.

Utah Summer Vacation Calendar:

also see -> Christmas in Utah | Zion National Park

Utah Lakes & Beaches | Utah Wineries

Moving to Utah