Utah, the name is derived from the Ute Indian language meaning “people of the mountains” The Capital and largest city is Salt Lake City, 80% of the population are centred around the city, vast expanses of the State are nearly uninhabited.
Utah is known for being one of the most religiously homogeneous states in the Union, Brigham Young and the first band of Mormon pioneers came to Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
Beginning in the early 1900s, with the establishment of such national parks as Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park, Utah became known for its natural beauty.
Another landmark is Monument Valley, in Navajo nation territory. Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada bound Utah. The Bonneville Salt Flats were once part of the ancient lake of the same name.
My first stop in Utah was in, or to be more precise, outside Brigham City, this I will remember is where I received a call to say I now had another "little monkey," Jen had given birth to Drew, so I had to trundle my bus in to the centre and find a florist, Jen's favourite yellow roses were duly organised.
Brigham City is all very clean and organised, all grey granite, a bit cold and uninviting I thought, two nights here will suffice.
The next obvious stop will be Salt Lake City, if it is on my route, I must see it. I get booked into a huge, very well run, KOA site, again seeing guided tours advertised, I booked one.
Next day it was off again, this time someone else was driving, quite a novelty, the tour was very interesting, obviously taking in the Mormon Temple and the Tabernacle and everything to do with it, nobody asked or tried to convert me, they were all extremely polite. Salt Lake City is very clean and tidy, the locals obviously take a pride in their city.
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