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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — When you think of spring break, you probably think of trips to Disneyland or the beach. Those trips are a lot of fun, but they're also crowded and expensive.
Utah is home to some of the world's most incredible scenery, and we see visitors from countless countries every year. Our national and state parks are among the best in the country, and it's easy to take these incredible places for granted.
If you want to have fun this spring break, but don't want to travel or spend a lot of money, there are tons of great activities here in central Utah. If you want recommendations for activities in northern Utah, read last week's article.
If you're into riding ATVs and dirt bikes, then Little Sahara is a must-visit this spring break. The free-moving sand dunes just south of Nephi in Juab County, make for some of the best desert riding in all of Utah.
If you've never ridden ATVs, Little Sahara is a great place to start. There are plenty of campgrounds, reasonable entrance rates and 60,000 acres to play on.
Wasatch Mountain State Park ===========================
Located just west of Midway in the Heber Valley, Wasatch Mountain State Park takes you on a gorgeous drive into some of the Wasatch Front's prettiest country.
The biggest attraction at the state park is Cascade Springs, though there's far more to this spot than the springs. ATV riding and hiking is also extremely popular throughout the park, as is golfing.
In fact, some of Utah's best golf courses lie in the foothills of this great state park.
Palisade State Park ===================
If you've never been to this little gem, just south of Manti in Sanpete County, you're missing out on a great experience. Palisade State Park isn't as sprawling as Wasatch Mountain, but it offers great camping, fishing, and golfing.
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It's about a two-hour drive from most of the Wasatch Front, making it an ideal getaway for something like spring break.
Palisade Reservoir is also known for its population of large tiger trout. Before the current state record tiger trout was caught in Scofield Reservoir, Palisade Reservoir owned that claim to fame. The record was set in 2007 with a 29-inch, 10-pound monster landed by David Moon.
If you still want to get a snowmobiling trip in this year, Daniels Summit Lodge near Strawberry Reservoir has plenty of snow to play in. They also have machine rentals if you don't own your own snowmobiles.
Daniels Summit is a great place to go if you want a bit of pampering since they also feature a spa, pool, and amazing restaurant — The Lodge Pole Grill.
For the college student who's just had enough of school and work and wants a week of relaxation, Daniels Summit may be your best bet.
Have you been to any of the places on this list? Let us know where you'd like to spend spring break in the comments.