Way down South in…Utah: Dixie has it all; mild weather, red rock hiking, historic lodging, golf—even a little cotton - Travel/Recreation - St. George, Utah

Sunset, Oct, 2002 by Matthew Jaffe

Golf. With 10 courses, Dixie has emerged as a golf mecca. City of St. George Golf Office: (435) 634-5850 or www.cityofstgeorge.com/golf.> Grafton. Worth a side trip on the way to Zion. Take State 9 at Rockville and turn right on Bridge Rd. Follow pavement for about 2 miles, bear right at the Y intersection, and continue about 3 miles down the dirt road. Grafton Heritage Partnership Project: (435) 635-2133 or www.graftonheritage.org.

Mormon History. The following sites have free guided tours:

Brigham Young Winter Home: 9-7. 200 North and 100 West Streets; (435) 673-2517.

Jacob Hamblin Home: 9-6. Four miles northwest of St. George via Sunset Blvd., which becomes Santa Clara Dr.; (435) 673-2161. St. George Tabernacle: 9-6. Main and Tabernacle Streets; (435) 628-4072.

St. George Temple Only the grounds and visitor center are open to the public. 9-9. 440 South 300 East St.; (435) 673-5181.

Silver Reef. Take 1-15 and exit at Leeds, then follow signs. Wells Fargo Building: 9-5 Mon-Sat. 2002 Wells Fargo Rd.; (435) 879-2254.

Snow Canyon State Park. Two top hikes of moderate length are the 3 1/2-mile round trip to Three Ponds and the 4-mile round-trip White Rocks Trail; signed traliheads are on the main park road. $5 per vehicle. Off Snow Canyon Pkwy, about 6 miles north of St. George; (435) 628-2255.

Tuachn Amphitheatre and Center for the Arts. UTAH!, the musical story of Mormon pioneer Jacob Hamblin, runs through October 12. Tickets from $24.50. 1100 Tuacahn Dr., Ivins; (800) 746-9882 or www.tuacahn.org.

Zion National Park. Zion Canyon is about 40 miles northeast of St. George off State 9. The Kolob Canyons section is 33 miles north of town off-is. (Kolob is still a discovery; try the 5-mile round-trip hike up Middle Fork of Taylor Creek.) $20 per vehicle; $10 for Kolob Canyons only (435) 772-3256 or www.nps.gov/zion.> Dining

Bear Paw Coffee Company. Great breakfast and lunch spot. 75 N. Main St.; (435) 634-0126.

Painted Pony. Contemporary Southwest cuisine in a stylish setting. Closed Sun. 2 W St. George Blvd.; (435) 634-1700.

Lodging

Holiday Inn Resort Hotel and Convention Center. A good bet among the many national chain motels. From $79. 850 S. Bluff St.; (800) 457-9800 or www.holidayinnstageorge.com.

Red Mountain, the Adventure Spa. Activities include hiking, biking, and workouts as part of a stay. Three-night minimum; packages from $269 per night per person. 1275 E. Red Circle, lvins; lvins; (800) 407-3002 or www. redmountainspa.com.

Seven Wives Inn Bed & Breakfast. Thirteen rooms in a pair of 19th-century houses. From $75 (which includes a full break-fast). 217 North 100 West St.; (800) 600-3737 or www.sevenwivesinn.com.