St. George is among the fastest growing cities in the United States.  People relocate to Southern Utah for various reasons.  According to the St. George Chamber of Commerce, “the excellent quality of life, the many breathtaking scenic areas, the temperate climate, the healthy lifestyles, the variety of beautiful gold courses, our outstanding school system, the Dixie State College education opportunities for all ages, and the growing business opportunities” are just a few of the reasons. 

St. George is a great area to live, play and work.  St. George is located within the Mojave Desert.  The desert climate contributes to generally clear skies, relatively mild winters and hot summers.  Residents and visitors to St. George enjoy over 300 days of…

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There are millions of acres of beautiful national forests and grasslands all over the United States with many of them right here close to us in St. George, Utah.  Living in Southern Utah has many wonderful benefits, but as the heat and wind kicks up, St. George and the surrounding area is often on “fire watch.”  Fire weather watches are issued often during the summer months for southern Utah.  Our firefighters always prepare for an intense fire season down south. 

According to the U. S. Forest Service, Smokey the Bear website, millions of wildland acres will burn unintentionally this year.  In the United States, nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by people not being careful.  In 2015, over 2 million acres were burned due to human-caused…

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My husband works out by the St. George Regional Airport.  He invited me to join him for lunch at Tacos El Monchis, a wonderful, sort of “hole-in-the-wall,” authentic Mexican Food restaurant.  It is located in a Sinclair Gas Station, on River Road in St. George, Utah.  

Tacos El Monchis is located at about 3849 River Road.   The place is very plain, but I thought the food was excellent. (Try to avoid lunchtime if possible because they are packed).  I heard that they are known for their "on fire" green sauce, but I didn't have a chance to try it.  They have a simple menu, but it includes everything I would order.  They have tacos, quesadillas, burritos and combination plates.  Each day they have a special on tostadas for $2.99 and on a certain…

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Trail Tuesday took me up on the red cliffs above St. George, Utah, to the Temple Quarry Trail.  The views were wonderful!  I went early in the morning because the sun hits this trail directly, but I also read that you should hike this trail right before sunset because the views are even more beautiful.  Whichever you choose, it was a great hike!

 

 

 

 

 

According to the sign on the Temple Quarry Trailhead, “Pioneer workmen transported basalt stone blocks for construction of the Saint George LDS Temple foundation by wagon over the trail.”  The trail is flat except for a few steps at the beginning of the hike.  There are three or four benches along the trail for those who want to sit and enjoy the view.    Further along the…

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On the last Thursday of each month, Hurricane City is hosting a Summer Concerts series in Pioneer Park.  Pioneer Park is located at 200 North Main Street in Hurricane, Utah.  Hurricane is about 20 miles east of St. George.  Follow I-15 North and State Highway 9 East to State Street and North Main Street in Hurricane. 

Hurricane is a wonderful city in Washington County.   According to the United States Census Bureau, Hurricane has a population of approximately 16,159 people and has an area of approximately 32 square miles.  Make sure you pronounce the city as “Hur-a-kin” or you will probably hear about it from local residents.

The Summer Concert in the Park series started in April and goes through the end of August, but there are still three…

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I was driving to Gunlock Reservoir the other day in my swimsuit, ready to relax in the sun and to picnic by the reservoir when I saw a sign for Fire Lake Park, at Ivins Reservoir, on the side of the road near Kayenta.  I made a U-turn to investigate.  I found a wonderful surprise! 

I drove right up to a beautiful park with restrooms and a swimming area.  It was about 10:00 am and I was the only person there.  I walked around the swimming area to find a man-made spillway shooting water into the swimming area.  On the other side of the swimming area is beautiful Ivins Reservoir.

I found a place on the beach, put down my beach mat and enjoyed the park by myself for about a half an hour before several families came to enjoy the park with me.…

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If you are a fan of crepes, or if you want to try a crepe for the first time, The Crepery located at 1091 Bluff Street in St. George, Utah, is the perfect place to go.  The original Crepery restaurant is up in northern Utah, in Logan, near Utah State University.  The second one is right here in sunny St. George in the Sunset Plaza!

The restaurant it definitely a one-of-a kind boutique restaurant, as advertised.  It is locally owned, by Jacob Peterson, and boasts a unique menu with something for everyone at any age. 

The menu offers a huge variety of savory and sweet crepes, salads, specialty coffees and specialized drinks.  All of the menu items are 100% fresh and the recipes are straight from the creperies of France.  The names of the crepes…

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The Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, Utah begins on June 29, this year and it goes through October 21, 2017.  Cedar City is about 54 miles north of St. George on I-15.  The Utah Shakespeare Festival is a Tony Award-winning, professional theatre located on the Southern Utah University Campus that presents plays from Shakespeare and other playwrights every summer/fall in three theatres at the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts.

The website offers information for first-timers who want to attend.  It tells how to get tickets, how to plan your day, where you can park, what happens if it rains, what you should wear and other really good information for anyone who is new to the festival.  It also provides lodging information if you want…

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Trail Tuesday took me for a walk around beautiful Gunlock State Park, about 15 miles northwest of St. George, Utah.    According to  the Gunlock State Park website, Gunlock is named after William Haynes Hamblin, a Mormon pioneer who settled the Gunlock farming community one mile north of the reservoir.  “William Haynes Hamblin (nicknamed Will or Bill) was a good hunter and sharpshooter, and was skillful in repairing gunlock, which are the firing mechanisms for muzzle leaders.”  The park site talks about how the road next to the park is the “Old Spanish Trail used by horsemen and raiders from Sante Fe, New Mexico to Los Angeles from the 1820s until the gold fields became the destination after 1849 and a shorter route was taken.”  Gunlock was…

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St. George is once again becoming an outdoor theatre this summer.  St. George City and KCSG TV are sponsoring Sunset on the Square at the St. George Town Square Park, off of Main Street, again this year.  This has been a tradition in St. George for 10 years now.  The movies are projected on the big screen, under the stars, at dusk every 2nd and 4th Friday throughout the entire summer. 

You may have missed some of the movies this summer, but you are just in time to pack a blanket, bring some treats and enjoy a movie under the stars.

Movies on Fridays:

  •          June 23 – Storks (87 minutes)
  •          July 14 – Little Rascals (83 minutes)
  •          July 28 – Trolls (92 minutes)
  •          August 11 – Jungle Book (105 minutes)

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