When I moved to Cedar City almost four years ago, I was
absolutely convinced that I would hate it here. I was sure that the people were
all hicks (sorry to my Cedar City friends! I was just being a snob!) I was
certain that there would be nothing to do and that I’d be bored out of my mind.
It turns out, the people here are wonderful and there is plenty to do. Sure, I
miss having lots of places to eat out and more options for shopping but, I’ve
fallen in love with this area. Let me share with you (in no particular order) a
few of my favorite things that I have discovered and learned to love right here
in little old Cedar City:
#1. Kolob Canyon:
Just fifteen short minutes south of Cedar City, Kolob Canyon is well worth the
trip! It is a small piece of Zion National Park and offers several different
hikes and views along a scenic drive without the amount of tourists that can be
found in most other areas of Zion. The
red rock is beautiful and I especially love going in the spring when everything
is green and lush or in the fall when the leaves are turning.
#2. Festivals and Events:
They call it “The Festival City” for a reason; art festivals, July
Jamboree, The Groovefest, The Renaissance Festival, Sheep festival, Pumpkin
Festival and the Christmas in July Festival. Look on the calendar at any given
month and you will find some sort of festival, fair, or community event. Sam and
I have attended some awesome car shows, parades, art walks, and events during
our time in Cedar. It’s so fun to walk through the Main Street Park and look at
booths with handcrafted goods or to go see the old, restored cars and talk to
their colorful owners. Attend a community Easter egg hunt in the spring, paint
a pumpkin in the fall, watch middle aged men make fools of themselves onstage
during the Groovefest, Watch the Sheep
Parade(literally a parade of sheep) once a year, and get your face painted on
the 4th of July. There is ALWAYS something going on in Cedar City.
#3. Cedar Canyon: I
can’t tell you how much I’ve grown to love this canyon. Taking a lazy Sunday
drive through the canyon is enough
on its own but, there are also endless places to hike, camp, fish, and picnic.
Grand views, waterfalls, rock formations, and wildlife everywhere you turn (Sam
and I have spotted deer, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes, birds of all kinds,
foxes, and more.). The Cedar Breaks Wild Flower Festival is a MUST see in
July. Colorful wildflowers paint the
mountainside in breathtaking purples, oranges, pinks, and yellows. In the
winter months, there are places to cross country ski and it’s the perfect place
to go pick out a Christmas tree to chop down and bring home.
#4. City Parks: Cedar City has some seriously great city parks. Park Discovery is one of the best. Huge play area, sand pit where dinosaur bones can be discovered, and a little rock amphitheater. It’s the perfect place to play hind and seek. There is also a large field and picnic area to be enjoyed. The Canyon Park is another favorite. It’s a beautiful place to walk and the trail through the park continues up the canyon for several miles. A small stream runs through the park-perfect for dipping your toes in on a hot summer day or for little ones to splash around in. There are also several BBQ areas and a nice volleyball court to be enjoyed.
#5. The Utah
Shakespearean Festival: Two seasons a year of exciting plays put on by a
professional theater company. People travel from all over the country and even
the world to little Cedar City just to see these plays. There is a rotation of
Shakespeare’s own as well as several other great plays and musicals to be
enjoyed each year. I have never been a huge fan of Shakespearean plays but I
have enjoyed a few of them as well as other great plays put on at the festival
like Les Miserables, To Kill a Mockingbird, Sense and Sensibility, and South
Pacific. Catch the green show before the play starts and meander through one of
the themed gift shops.
#6. Centro Pizza: You CAN find fine dining here in Cedar. Centro Pizza offers delicious, thin crusted pizza cooked in a wood fired oven. The pizzas are topped with unique toppings such as fig, pancetta, grapes, arugula, prosciutto, and goat cheese. All of the ingredients are of the best quality and fresh! Many of them are even grown locally. Start with an order of the rustic bread with balsamic and olive oil for dipping. Yum. Oh! And, two words: Nutella pizza. Nuff said.
#7. The Food Truck
Roundup: On Wednesday nights, somewhere in Cedar City gathers several
unique food trucks serving deliciously unhealthy foods and desserts. Sam and I
love the Rock N Eggroll for dinner (crispy eggrolls served with fried rice and
teriyaki chicken) and Waffle Love or Bites Donuts for dessert. Yum yum. I
suppose it’s a good thing it only comes around once a week! (Though, the trucks
can be found scattered throughout Cedar City during the week.)
#8 Farmer’s Markets: Twice
a week, once on Saturday morning and once on Wednesday evenings, there is a
farmer’s market here in Cedar City where local farmers sell organic fruits and
veggies, homemade jams, locally made honey, artisan breads and more. It’s a fun
environment and you can find some delicious, fresh foods every week grown by
the wonderful locals of Cedar City and it’s surrounding areas.
#9. SNOW!: I know
to some of you the snow doesn’t sound like a good thing. I admit, the first
year I was here, I hated it with a passion. However, with time I have grown to
appreciate it’s beauty. The fact that it’s cold and you have to scrape your car
off in the morning is greatly shadowed by the many wonderful things snow
brings. Snowmen, snow covered mountains, cross country skiing, tubing, and snow
ball fights. Brianhead is just a short distance away and while I don’t ski or
snowboard myself, it’s something that can be enjoyed by many in the winter here
thanks to the snow. After a snowfall, many people can be found sledding down
the big hill outside the local high school. Snowshoeing, watching the snow
quietly fall at night with a warm mug of hot chocolate, and waking up to a
blanket of snow on Christmas morning. It’s truly magical and one of the things
that makes Cedar City great.
#10. Historic
Downtown Main Street: While Cedar City is no Park City in terms of it’s
Main Street shopping, Downtown Cedar city is a nice place to walk and look
around. There are great deals to be found at Poser’s Place and The Main Street
Book Store, yummy treats at the old fashioned Bulloch Drug Store and The Grind,
a recently remodeled dollar theater, and several other gift shops and
restaurants. At night, the street is lit by a beautiful display of twinkle
lights and at Christmas time it’s almost blinding. The shop owners, while
quirky, are friendly and you can often find some great deals and unique items
as you wander. (P.S. Centro Pizza is right around the corner.)
.....
Well, there you have it. Just ten of the many things Cedar
City has to offer. I barely touched the amount of places there are to hike,
bike, fish, and camp in the area. Cedar City is surrounded by beautiful
mountains and with those mountains come so many fun outdoor activities. Sam and
I have been on so many different trails and still have so many that we’ve never
explored. A short drive to one of the several canyons in the surrounding area
will lead you to endless outdoor adventures. You’ll be amazed at the diversity
of it’s beauty. And the best part? All
of this outdoor recreation comes without the crowds of people you would find in
northern Utah.
Cedar City is beautiful and home to some of the kindest and
most interesting people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. We love it
here. Please come and visit any time!
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