Showcasing a distinctive history and culture, plus natural lures not found in any other state, Utah tempts meeting groups with venues and attractions sure to instill standout memories. Whether planners are on the lookout for urban adventures or rural retreats, the Beehive State delivers in quantity and quality.
Following is a tour of offbeat options around the state, from a fascinating new art and science enclave to some rock formations like nothing you’ve ever seen.
Salt Lake City
Among Salt Lake City’s most singular attractions, according to Laura Barnes, tourism communications manager for Visit Salt Lake, is the Family History Library, the largest of its kind on the planet. This free attraction draws about 1,500 visitors a day and includes among its archives more than 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed genealogical records.
The library requests that visiting groups check in well in advance when possible in order to optimize the experience, and free tours and orientations are available. To really make the most of the experience, ask group members to bring along any family tree information they can; discovering more about family roots can be an eye-opening and unforgettable experience, and groups can have an amazing time sharing some of the genealogical gems they discover.
If this seems a bit too academic for your group, a brand-new museum opened last October that is all about interactively combining science, technology and art. The Leonardo is a cutting-edge bastion of cool artwork, mind-blowing tech and hands-on science activity, and while it’s aimed at adults, it will truly bring out a childlike sense of wonder in your attendees. The venue boasts seemingly infinite event settings as well.
“Groups gathering here will have a new and spectacular experience that is sure to wow every attendee,” says Karmay Gorley, group and event sales coordinator for the Leonardo. “Every setting here is so unique and different.”
As for one-of-a-kind dining outings, it’s hard to top the recipe for fun served up by Log Haven, about a 20-minute drive from downtown SLC. Set inside the Wasatch National Forest on 40 acres of gorgeous grounds, the restaurant is surrounded by nonstop scenery and boasts event spaces ranging from a hillside amphitheater to a rustic foyer.
Park City
In pretty Park City, Amy Kersey, communications manager for the Park City CVB, proposes a pair of promising possibilities for out-of-the ordinary group outings.
While the Utah Olympic Park might not sound that unusual at first mention, where else in the U.S. can groups access five Olympic sports in one locale? Answer: Nowhere! Perhaps most exhilarating of all is The Comet bobsled ride, careening down the track at up to 80 mph. And if groups are more into sensational spectator sports, the Flying Ace All-Stars showcase a spectacular aerial show each Saturday during the summer, with freestyle skiers and snowboarders getting acrobatic before plunging into a 750,000-gallon splash pool.
Meanwhile, unique group dining and nightlife can both be savored at the High West Distillery & Saloon in Park City’s charming Old Town section. This is the world’s only “ski-in” gastro-distillery, and has a number of fascinating facets tied to local history, making it even more appealing. The bar, for example, is built from the Great Salt Trestle Bridge of 1904. More importantly, though, it’s a wonderful place for a group event, with spaces for groups ranging from 10 to 175. Customized a la carte menus are available, and group tours allow attendees to see and taste how the heralded whiskeys and specialty spirits are crafted.PageBreak
Utah Valley
Surrounded by the picturesque Wasatch Mountains, the Utah Valley region just south of Salt Lake City offers a dramatic setting for group gatherings—plus attractions and festivals that truly break away from the ordinary. Undoubtedly, one of them is Thanksgiving Point, a wildly diverse entertainment and nature compound.
“Thanksgiving Point provides a variety of unforgettable meeting venues with breathtaking window or balcony views of the gardens, golf course or dinosaur museum displays,” says Joel Racker, president and CEO of the Utah Valley CVB. “Outdoor venues provide a unique and relaxed atmosphere that guests are sure to enjoy. The Waterfall Amphitheater, which boasts the second-largest man-made waterfall in the Western Hemisphere, is one of the most popular choices for large group activities and performances.”
The venue’s Museum of Ancient Life is billed as the largest dinosaur museum in the world, and its sprawling gardens are a patchwork of diversity, broken into 15 themed areas that include a Rose Garden, Secret Garden and Fragrance Garden. Also on hand at the eclectic entertainment enclave are an actual working farm with geese, cows, pigs and other animals; a high-caliber championship golf course; several varied dining options; and a movie multiplex and art institute. Endless event spaces await as well, and the attraction is vey effective as a “one-stop-shopping” solution that meets a variety of tastes and interests.
Other offbeat offerings in the Utah Valley include the whimsical Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, which draws about 30,000 attendees each summer; Timpanogos Harley-Davidson (in Lindon), offering tours that spotlight antique bikes and hosting frequent private events; and Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort, taking Western-style lodging to new levels of elegance and also showcasing unexpected activities such as glass-blowing presentations and author events.
Northern Utah
In Utah’s northern realms, off-the-beaten-path outdoorsy options in the Cache Valley are worth serious consideration, including a number of hot springs where attendees can soak away the stress of the day’s meetings.
But for something really different, head to the multifaceted American West Heritage Center, where customized campouts can be arranged for groups of up to 200. The center will do whatever it takes to make your group gathering an unforgettable one, including unique entertainment options ranging from top local bands to performance gunfighters and even old-fashioned dances with a lively dance caller to help you find your feet. Other options include presentations where attendees can learn everything from weaving and Dutch-oven cooking to mountain-man skills.
Groups seeking offbeat Ogden escapes should make a beeline for Peery’s Egyptian Theater, a historic movie hall that was among a few dozen of its kind once dotting the U.S. Today only a handful remain around the nation. Peery’s boasts restored atmospheric lighting that morphs the interior scene from a desert sunset to a shimmering night sky. Groups can check out one of the many films or live shows on the busy agenda or take over the facility for an unforgettable event of up to 800.
While the rural Davis area boasts many mainstream diversions that include 10 golf courses, 10 ski resorts and several quality theme parks, its greatest lure is probably an out-of-the-way nature outing with some serious animal magnetism.
“Unique experiences await delegates at Antelope Island, the best place to experience the Great Salt Lake,” says Kathi Dysert, director of sales and marketing for the Davis Area CVB. “Attendees can enjoy the beach, float in salt water, or take a customized horseback ride with the island’s outfitter. Bring binoculars for the best views of antelope, mule deer, big horn sheep, coyotes and a herd of more than 500 free-roaming bison.”PageBreak
Southern Utah
The largest city in Utah’s southern realms, St. George—known as “Utah’s Dixie” due to its temperate clime—boasts a unique setting amid prominent rocky red hills. Known as a gateway to nearby Zion National Park, the community is also home to some intriguing lures of its own, including the winter home of Brigham Young, a Dinosaur Discovery Site and the Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum.
In the Cedar City-Brian Head area, groups can view the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs or take in the Utah Shakespearean Festival.
In Moab, unusual natural rock formations—such as the iconic spans at Arches National Park—add to a rural beauty that has resulted in the community’s status as a great outdoor adventure haven. There are several unique ways groups can explore the stupendous surroundings.
“A Rock Art tour is region-specific for Moab and completely accessible in very little time,” says Michelle Hill of the Moab Area Travel Council. “Our office produces a number of pamphlets to enable visitors to tackle self-guided experiences of Moab.”
Rock Art tours take groups to American Indian etching sites in and around Moab’s parks, and provide some great insights on the region’s distant past. Another tremendous outing allows participants to discover the dinosaur history of the region. Self-guided tours are available at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail and the Copper Ridge Sauropod Tracksite, where attendees can literally follow in the footsteps of these colossal creatures.
For unique evening excitement, there is a 144-seat barge that goes out nightly to shine flood lights on the canyon walls for a sound and light show. The event has been entertaining visitors since the 1960s.
