Utah
Waite Vision is proud to call Utah home. We provide a life-changing vision correction experience to the people of Utah and surrounding states. We’ve assembled an incredibly talented vision correction team. When you enter the doors of our Utah office, you will be met by a kind, caring, compassionate, and experienced team. With so many things to see and do in Utah, you’ll want to be sure and visit some of the most popular destinations with your new and improved vision.
Utah History
Utah has been inhabited for a very long time. Paleo-Indians is the term used to describe the earliest settlers. By the year 500 AD, they had evolved into the Anasazi and the Fremont people. The Anasazi are also known as “Cliff Dwellers” due to the fact that they built huge settlements inside the cliff walls. These cities are still visible in certain places today. Around 1300, the Anasazi vanished from the region. Utah was inhabited by several Native American tribes when Europeans first arrived. The Utes, from whom Utah received its name, were one of the largest tribes. The Ute people hunted buffalo for food and lived in tepees, which were temporary dwellings. The Goshute in the west, the Shoshone in the north, the Paiute in the south, and the Navajo in the southeast were among the other Native American groups.
The Spanish explorer Juan Antonio de Rivera made his first trip to Utah in 1765, marking the beginning of European habitation in the state. He discovered the Colorado River and claimed the territory for Spain. Another expedition arrived in Utah from Mexico in 1776. It was led by Franciscan priests who were trying to get to California.
More people began to arrive in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The majority of them were fur trappers seeking out new hunting grounds. These men included Jedediah Smith, who discovered a way across the Rocky Mountains, and Jim Bridger, who found the Great Salt Lake. John C. Fremont, an American, was one of the most important explorers. Future inhabitants benefited greatly from Fremont’s thorough maps and notes of the area.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established by Joseph Smith in New York in 1830. But, wherever they traveled, the followers of this church faced persecution. The LDS Church decided they needed a new home after Joseph Smith was murdered in Illinois in 1844 by a vengeful mob. Because there were so few people living in the West, they decided on Utah. Brigham Young led a group of 148 pioneers to Utah in 1847. They made their home in the Salt Lake Valley, where they gave it the name Great Salt Lake City. The following year, 1,650 additional church members came. Soon, the region experienced fast growth as new communities like Ogden, Provo, and Farmington sprang up. By 1850, there were more than 11,000 members residing in the region, which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave the name of Deseret.
Utah was taken from Mexico by the United States in 1848 as a result of the Mexican-American War. The leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had hoped to have the territory of Utah admitted to the Union as the state of Deseret but the land became the Utah territory instead. Utah was accepted as the 45th state on January 4, 1896.
Utah made strides throughout the 1860s when it improved its ties to the rest of the nation. Utah’s capital served as the connecting point for the First Transcontinental Telegraph’s final link in 1861. The final spike of the First Transcontinental Railroad was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah, just eight years later, in 1869. Because of this, Utah was no longer isolated from the rest of the country.
Top Employers in Utah
- Teleperformance
- Intermountain Healthcare
- University of Utah Health
- Zions Bancorporation
- Vivint Smart Home
- Southern Utah University
- CHG Healthcare
- Utah Transit Authority
- Weber State University
- Icon Health & Fitness
Utah has something to do for everyone…
Utah is bordered to the north by the Wasatch Mountains and Salt Lake City, to the west by the Great Basin Desert, to the south by national parks and red rock country, and on all four sides by mountain ranges, rivers, forests, and state parks. Wherever you’re going, a local community or basecamp town will be able to give you essential amenities and local knowledge along the way. It’s difficult to see it all without a multi-week road trip, so pick a region to start with and plan to come back again and again.
In Utah, there are endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:
- Backpacking
- Camping
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- OHV and Off-road Adventures
- Rafting
- Rock Climbing
- Slot Canyons
- Stargazing
Many people are familiar with Utah’s famous outdoor activities, such as skiing and hiking, but did you know they also have a booming restaurant scene, mountain resorts, a wide selection of museums, cultural attractions, and luxury travel experiences?
If outdoor activities aren’t your thing, or you’re just looking for something different to do, consider these local cultural activities:
Arts & Museums
In addition to frequent performing arts events, Utah boasts a number of art and cultural museums.
Utah Film History
Plan your trip around famous film locations or include a little bit of movie history in your schedule while you’re in Utah. You’ll soon understand why they say “Utah. America’s Film Set®”
Culture & History
The history of Utah is rich with Native American heritage, cowboys, Mormon pioneers, and more. Discover everything there is to know about Utah’s past!
Food & Nightlife
In northern Utah, the cities of Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake City, Park City, and Provo are all metropolitan hubs with excellent food, entertaining cultural events, and live music. A lot of pleasant surprises in Utah’s eating scene occur farther from the cities, in more rural areas. With their culinary and cultural attractions, Moab, Kanab, Bluff, St. George, and Cedar City cater to adventure’s more affluent side. Aside from these well-known gourmet hubs, each town in Utah offers unique cuisines worth exploring, but be sure to verify the hours of operation as some places are closed on Sundays.
Planetariums & Astronomy
Astronomy is an awe-inspiring experience in Utah. Explore outer space at the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City, or arrive just in time for some stargazing in one of Utah’s internationally recognized dark sky parks.
Shopping
Visit upscale stores in Salt Lake City or browse small-scale local boutiques throughout Utah. Discover a new shopping destination and start organizing your shopping vacation.
Sporting Events
Teams from Utah’s colleges, minor leagues, and professional leagues offer year-round sports entertainment.
Things to do and places to see in Utah with your clearer vision…
Zion National Park
A spectacular landscape surrounds the 1,000-foot-deep red rock canyon that is Zion National Park. A paradise of dancing waterfalls, rose-colored cliffs, and angelic landings, it is like a promised land. Zion National Park is always prepared to satisfy your thirst for natural wonder, whether you are trying to catch your breath as you ascend the trek to Observation Point or observing how the shadows constantly alter the mood of the Court of the Patriarchs. Take your time crossing the river, gazing into the ponds, and looking at the edges of canyons.
Arches National Park
Northwest of Moab, with its 73,234 acres of eroded sandstone fins, towers, ribs, gargoyles, hoodoos, balancing rocks, and of course, arches, it should come as no surprise that Arches National Park is one of the best national parks in the United States. The park preserves a breathtaking environment with the largest proliferation of arches on earth. In Arches National Park, more than 2,000 arches have been recorded. At sunrise, light rays pierce over majestic horizons signaling that a new day has begun. Let’s go for a hike.
Lake Powell
Boating, waterskiing, fishing, camping, hiking, as well as touring the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are some of the many fun things that can be done at Lake Powell. Lake Powell and the neighboring Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offer a variety of recreational opportunities and span northern Arizona and southern Utah.
Temple Square
Temple Square, the headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is one of Salt Lake City’s most popular attractions. It serves as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (popularly known as Mormons) global headquarters. More than 15 attractions relating to Mormon heritage and beliefs are located in the 35-acre area. In the heart of downtown, it combines a rich history with stunning gardens, architecture, and art and culture.
Bryce Canyon National Park
The red rock hoodoos outnumber the trees in this enchanted alpine forest. Mule deer graze on the forested plateau alongside the road into Bryce Canyon during sunrise and sunset. Many species of mammals and birds can be found in the alpine environment, and they are all aware of one remarkable fact: this is not your typical forest. In addition to the park’s array of natural amphitheaters, water, and wind have carved out infinite fields of hoodoos, or characteristic red rock pillars, into the plateau through millions of years of freezes and thaws. Also, because of its elevation of 8,000 to 9,000 feet, Bryce Canyon National Park offers the chance to engage in winter sports like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Be on the lookout for special events and programs throughout the year to commemorate Bryce Canyon National Park’s 100th anniversary in 2023.
Monument Valley
The perfect location for your next excursion in the warm, high desert climate of southeastern Utah is Monument Valley, a well-known representation of the American West and the sacred heart of the Navajo Nation. Guests can take a private vehicle on the 17-mile scenic drive or arrange a jeep excursion with a local guide to explore the backroads and sacred sites of the region.
The valley is home to massive sandstone rock formations that rise 400–1,000 feet above the valley floor and have been sculpted over time. It truly is one of the seven natural wonders of the world when viewed in conjunction with the surrounding mesas, buttes, and desert landscape. Spend the night and go outside after dark to marvel at the Milky Way’s ageless beauty. If you take the time to let it, pausing to soak in the rhythms of this old, sacred country can change your perspective.
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument brings to life the prehistoric past of northeastern Utah by showcasing the fossils unearthed by geological and climatic forces that shifted, bent, and eroded the earth’s crust.
Dinosaur National Monument, located on Utah’s border with Colorado, has activities and attractions suitable for all ages. Visitors can choose from a variety of activities, including a tour of the dinosaur quarry (kids love seeing the cool bones and fossils), driving tours of the park, hiking the nature trails, backpacking, white-water river running, photography, bird-watching, fishing, and general sightseeing on bicycles.
Canyonlands National Park
Picture a vast area of 527 square miles filled with steep canyons, towering mesas, pinnacles, cliffs, and spires. Canyonlands National Park was carved out by the Colorado and Green rivers and their tributaries in Utah. One can find breathtaking seclusion in the park’s outlying areas, easy climbs in the Needles district, and the chance to make their own version of Mesa Arch, one of the West’s most photographed features. The park is meant to be enjoyed at your own pace, so please don’t rush through it. Instead, slow down and let the beauty of the Canyonlands seep into your soul. You will most certainly develop deep feelings for the area, compelling you to keep coming back for more.
Park City
Park City, Utah, has all the attributes to call itself the “perfect mountain town.” Park City combines its background as a silver mining town with an aesthetic atmosphere and a profound passion for the outdoors while also demonstrating a deep appreciation for sports, the arts, and the community. You can unwind with a craft whiskey or vodka at the High West Distillery and Saloon after a long day, and you’ll work up an appetite for the variety of superb eateries that line Park City’s Historic Main Street and beyond. And there is a huge variety of outdoor activities to choose from and numerous ski resorts. Formerly used for Olympic skiing, these mountains and the surrounding state parks and reservoirs are now a summertime haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park, located in south central Utah, is hard to rival for its vastness, its broad, sweeping panoramas, its tortured, twisted, seemingly infinite landscape, or its limitless sky and desert rock. Capitol Reef, despite receiving a fraction of the visitors of Bryce and Zion, is essentially a world unto itself, with its own unique ecosystem, geology, and landscape. You can almost imagine what it was like on Earth before life evolved here when there was nothing but rock and sky.
Wasatch Front
The Wasatch Mountains are a breathtaking sight from any city along the Wasatch Front. The long, narrow mountain range soars to heights of over 11,000 feet from the valley floor, making for a stunning sight. As rivers flowed down from the high Wasatch, the area was attractive to the first settlers of central Utah. Even though the Wasatch Front is already heavily populated, there is still plenty of room for exploration.