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MARATHON RETURNS YEAR AFTER YEAR
It starts in the cold, pre-dawn gloom in Central, Utah, — 5,228 feet above sea level. Buses bring runners up from St. George along state Route 18, the route they are about to run. Volunteers crowd the starting line, their helpfulness punctuated by yawns. The clock clicks on 6:40 and the wheelchair participants take off, followed 5 minutes later by masses of runners. The 30th St. George Marathon is under way.
“Runner’s World” has listed the St. George Marathon as the “Fastest Fall Marathon,” as one of four “Marathons to Build a Vacation Around” and one of the 10 “Most Scenic” marathons in the United States. The course follows SR 18 through 26 miles of breath-taking scenery — farm land near Central, cinder cones at Veyo, cedar forests at Dammeron Valley and red rock cliffs in Snow Canyon State Park.
All this is enjoyed by 6,700 runners from across the United States and from nine foreign countries. For more info on the marathon, visit www.stgeorgemarathon.com.
The St. George Marathon may be the biggest draw to Southern Utah in terms of sheer numbers, but it is by no means the only attraction. The following is only a sampling:
 The Huntsman World Senior Games — Oct. 9-21, 2006. Each October, athletes age 55 and older take part in 22 athletic events. For more information, visit www.hwsg.com.
Dixie Rotary Bowl — first Saturday in December. This is more than just a football game. Other events include a golf tournament, a banquet with a sports oriented speaker, marching band competitions and a parade. Call 435-652-7546 for information.
St. George Area Parade of Homes — mid-February. More than 23,000 people come to view the latest home designs, house plans, decorating and building ideas available. Call 435-674-1400.
St. George Arts Festival — Easter weekend. A variety of artists display their art from all over the United States. Call 435-634-5850 for information.
Utah Summer Games — June 8-24, 2007. This Olympic-style event features just about any competition imaginable, from archery to cowboy action shooting and water polo. For more information, visit www.utahsummergames.com
The Lions Club Dixie Roundup Rodeo — second week of September. This annual rodeo held in downtown St. George is approved by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association. For more information, call 435-652-1330.
SGM
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Southern Utah has become one of the premier golf destinations in the U.S., especially in the winter when temperatures tend to hover in the 60s during the day. And the place that started it all is the Dixie Red Hills Golf Course just off of Bluff Street and Sunset Boulevard.
Dixie Red Hills’ 9 holes were built in 1965, and the splashes of green among the stunning red hills have made it a favorite among golfers ever since. Because it has been around so long, it is covered with mature trees — including cottonwoods and pines — that provide plenty of shade, making this course a good choice for the hot summer months in Southern Utah. The Dixie Red Hills Golf Course is part of the Red Rock Golf Trail, 9 premium golf courses within a 15-mile radius.
The golf trail allows visitors to plan and book golf tours of any and all of the nine courses as well as lodging in one easy place. Visit http://www.redrockgolftrail.com or call 1-888-345-5551. The other courses on the trail are:
SunRiver — next to the Virgin River near Port of Entry. 18 holes, Par 71.
The Ledges of St. George — on state Route 18 near Winchester Hills.
Entrada at Snow Canyon — on Snow Canyon Parkway near Ivins. 18 holes, Par 72.
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Sunbrook — on Dixie Drive north of Valley View. Sunbrook has three 9-hole courses. The Pointe — 9 holes, par 36. Blackrock — 9 holes, Par 36. Woodbridge — 9 holes, Par 36.
Southgate Golf Club — on Tonaquint Drive south of the airport. 18 holes. Par 70.
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Coral Canyon — just off state Route 9 in Hurricane. 18 holes, Par 72.
St. George Golf Club — off River Road south of the Virgin River. 18 holes, Par 73.
Sky Mountain Golf Course — East of Quail Lake State Park in Hurricane. 18 holes, Par 72.
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RELAX FOR AN HOUR - OR A DAY
After taking in all the entertainment and recreation Southern Utah has to offer, sometimes a little relaxation is in order. Green Valley Spa is just the place.
Named the third best spa in the world by “Travel and Leisure Magazine” in 2005, Green Valley spa beckons to those seeking respite from the world as well as people wanting to maintain overall good health, offering a variety of hikes, tennis lessons, mountain biking and rock climbing, along with facials, massages, herbal wraps and aroma therapy. Located at 1871 W. Canyon View Drive in St. George, Green Valley Spa is one of several health and luxury spas dotting the Southern Utah area with each offering its own unique approach to pampering and recreation. Call 435-628-8060 for details or go online to www.greenvalleyspa.com
About Face Day Spa —For permanent cosmetics, hair and skincare, spa packages and more, About Face Salon and Day Spa on 1000 East in St. George is ready to serve you in a relaxing environment. For reservations or information call 435-628-5419 or go online to www.aboutfacedayspa.org
Deep Canyon Salon and Spa — Located at the mouth of Zion National Park in Springdale, Deep Canyon offers fine dining, lodging and outdoor activities, along with plenty of pampering amenities. Check out www.deepcanyonspa.com or call 435-772-3244.
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St. George Day Spa — Located on Bluff Street in St. George this day spa combines health and beauty in a state of the art facility. Patrons can receive massages, facials, manicure and pedicure treatments and even permanent makeup. For more information check out www.stgeorgedayspa.com or call 435-986-3841.
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Red Mountain Spa — No stranger to national recognition, Red Mountain Spa was voted No. 1 Fitness Resort by “Fitness Magazine.” Nestled near the red rocks and lava flows of St. George, Red Mountain Spa offers a variety of indoor and outdoor treatments to get your body and mind in shape, relaxed or both. Contact Red Mountain Spa online at www.redmountainspa.com or call 435-673-4905.
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FIND CULTURE IN COLOR COUNTRY
In the last 75 years, actors, technicians, costume designers and directors have brought to life plays like “Hamlet,” “Taming of the Shrew,” “Othello” and numerous others at the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City. The brainchild of Fred C. Adams in 1961, the Utah Shakespearean Festival has grown from a small group of students and townspeople performing on an outdoor platform to include nine annual productions — both by Shakespeare and other playwrights — lectures, backstage tours, a gift shop, seminars, the green show and a host of other Elizabethan-themed festivities. For tickets and information check out www.bard.org on the Internet.
This fall the Tony Award winning Festival will present “The Merchant of Venice,” “Peg o’ My Heart” and “Johnny Guitar” continuing through Oct. 28, but USF is not the only place to satiate your cultural appetite. In Southern Utah, theater opportunities abound, ranging from polished professionals in large amphitheaters to the intimate experience of community theater in the round. Here are just a few:
Tuacahn — Situated beneath the towering red rock canyons of Ivins, Tuacahn Center for the Arts features 2-3 plays each year, most often Broadway classics, along with other concerts and events. *This year’s fall performance will be “Cats,” continuing through Oct. 21. For more information check out www.tuacahn.org
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| Neil Simon Festival — Features the work of American playwright, Neil Simon, during July and August at the Heritage Center Theater in Cedar City. For information go online to www.simonfest.org |
St. George Musical Theater — Comprised of local actors, directors and crew, this community theater is performed in the round in downtown St. George, highlighting everything from musicals to mysteries. See www.sgmt.org for details.
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RUSTLE UP SOME TASTY CUISINE
Visitors come to Southern Utah for the scenery. They might just stay for the food.
In 2001, The Painted Pony brought a touch of class to Utah’s Dixie. The restaurant, located in Ancestor Square in St. George, offers fine cuisine and a sophistication that had been largely missing from our piece of the West — and it has been winning awards ever since.
The Pony has ranked No. 1 for Best Dining Experience and Best Ambiance by our readers. It also took first place two years in a row for best dessert for its vanilla crème brulee and its raspberry
cheesecake. Additional awards have been garnered from Salt Lake Magazine and Golf Odyssey.
So if you get a hankering for sage smoked quail, phyllo bake brie or butternut squash ravioli, make a trip to the Pony. You’ll be glad you did.
Go ahead, visit for the scenery, but don’t miss the food. Here are a few other favorites:
Bear Paw Coffee Company — 75 N. Main Street, St. George, 435-634-0126. Our readers have chosen Bear Paw for best ambiance, best coffee and hot chocolate, friendliest service and, best of all, the most scrumptious breakfast. You can order up a Viennese mocha with whipped cream, hot vanilla or any of a choice of hot teas to go along with waffles, omelets or eggs benedict. The perfect start to your morning.
Jazzy Java — 285 N. Bluff Street, St. George, 435-674-1678. Jazzy Java has ranked with our readers for its friendly service and best cup of coffee. It also has wonderful smoothies — you can choose from such fruity delights as “Chuck Berry Blast,” “Deep Purple” or “Yellow Submarine” — and it has absolutely the best sandwiches in color country.
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The Gun Barrel Steak & Game House — 1091 N. Bluff Street, Suite 1400, St. George, 435-652-0550. The Gun Barrel has been chosen by our staff as the best place for a steak, whether it’s your basic sirloin, buffalo or elk. Each piece of meat is prepared right and then grilled to perfection.
Benja’s Thai and Sushi — 2 W. St. George Blvd., in Ancestor Square in St. George, 435-628-9538.
Benja’s is a fairly new addition to the area, but it has been well worth the wait. Our staff has named it our best exotic import, and after tasting the pad Thai, caterpillar roll sushi and green tea ice cream, we’re sure you will agree.
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La Soiree — 20 N. Main, Suite 103, in the Mainstreet Plaza in St. George, 435-674-9994. La Soiree is a unique dining experience in St. George. It offers French crepes with a variety of fresh fillings for lunch, and for dinner you get fondue with a choice of cheeses. Dessert, of course, is chocolate. There is also a decent wine list, making this our choice for best place to enjoy a drink.
Bit and Spur Restaurant & Saloon — 1212 Zion Park Blvd, Springdale, 435-772-3498. The Bit, as it is called by locals, has ranked in our Readers’ Choice awards for best desserts and was judged by our staff as the best place to ditch your diet. It offers such delicacies as sweet potato tamales and lava chocolate cake with peppermint ice cream. Yum.
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