Logan: Utah’s Heart of the Arts 

 

Logan, regarded as Utah's Heart of the Arts, is a city of 50,000 people in northeast Utah. An hour north of Salt Lake City, it's the perfect place to escape urban living. Logan, in the heart of Cache Valley, is home to a range of great activities, from fishing, biking, and hiking, to horseback riding and a Foodie Trek - but that's just the surface.

Exploring Logan's Outdoors

Without doubt, one of Logan’s greatest activities is the Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway. Forty-three miles of inspiring canyons, aspen groves and limestone cliffs caress your cinematic journey along US Hwy. 89. Logan Canyon is also one of Utah's best drives to see aspens turn in Fall, so it's worth timing your visit.

 

 

Want tips for family outings? Read some ideas for adventures here.

You’ll find abundant opportunities to hike, climb, fish, canoe - the list goes on. Top locations for hiking include the Wind Caves Trail and Tony Grove Lake - and the Second Dam and anywhere along the Logan River are great for fishing. Better still is the byway's proximity to downtown Logan. One minute, you can be catching brown trout in an alpine river and 10 minutes later, you're in a historic theatre enjoying a world-class performance.

With Logan, you get the often-considered impossible: the best of both worlds.

 

 

Utah's Heart of the Arts

To be, or not to be - that is not the question with Logan, when it comes to creativity. In Logan, there's no shortage of charisma and the nickname, Utah's heart of the arts, is far from whimsical. It refers to a truth about Logan: it's Utah’s pinnacle of creativity. There are dozens of professional performing arts groups and summer especially sizzles with hundreds of performances.

Caine Lyric Theatre

For exciting drama and sincere, thought-provoking acting, head to the Caine Lyric Theatre on Center street. Built in 1913, it’s open year-round and hosts a variety of shows in true repertory each summer, from mystery to comedy, musicals and drama. Good things last, and the Caine Lyric Theatre is a prime example.

 

 

Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre

Opening on July the 5th and running through to August the 4th, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre hosts some of the United States' top theatre performers under one roof. Coming straight from New York's Broadway and opera stages across the country, 300 or so actors take on famed works like the Barber of Seville, The Secret Garden, and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. This along with concerts, breakfast with performers and academy classes are yours to indulge.

Foodie Trek

Foodie treks are a great way to get familiar with a place, and Logan's isn't any different. Cache Valley exports fine foods across the globe and has gained a reputation for being a foodie-leader. You can see for yourself, embarking on their self-guided Foodie Trek. Some 20 different venues are open for you to visit, and there's no need to hold back on what you try. It features everything from ice cream and cheese to honey, coffee, and hand-dipped chocolates, and more.

 

 

The American West Heritage Center

A final attraction worth mentioning (and visiting) is the American West Heritage Center. Home to a mountain man camp, pioneer settlements and a working farm dating back to 1917 (yes, you can pet cute farm animals or learn to milk a cow), head here to get up to speed with frontier history. It’s great for kids and adults alike.

 

 

To Surmise

Logan is a captivating location. It's unique in Utah, in that it is so thoroughly creative, and utterly outdoorsy. Nothing can beat the short journey from the mountains to downtown. I can be on a perfect alpine trail and moments later, watching my favourite play, given by the world's top performers. It doesn't get any better. The area’s award-winning activities and amenities are very affordable, too - what more could you want?

 

This story has been created in partnership with Visit USA Parks