Things to Do in Cedar City
Get your group of city slickers out of the concrete jungle and into a van bound for Cedar City, Utah
This pretty little town, surrounded by the magnificent scenery of the high desert plateau, is north of Vegas and south of Salt Lake City so you can easily continue your trip from the outdoors of Utah to the desert state of Nevada. Mountain biking, hiking, skiing and snowboarding will cure your urban pallor. Celebrated film, art, theater and Shakespeare festivals will give you a dose of high culture to go along with all that fresh air. Get a taste of local Cedar City fare before or after trekking through the natural surroundings of this scenic city.
Look Up
It's free, and it's magical. On a hilltop just outside the ambient light of Cedar City, a dark-sky observatory opens its doors to the public every Monday night. Southern Utah University's Ashcroft Observatory takes advantage of the low light pollution to allow viewers to stargaze, explore distant galaxies, track the phases of the moon and photograph solar eclipses. Peer through a 14-inch telescope at a meteor shower or a constellation and listen to staff members explain the sky patterns. Interest, not age, is the only criteria. Arrive at sunset any Monday, but call ahead to check about weather conditions that could affect the night's viewing.
As You Like It
Summer and fall bring Shakespeare to Cedar City. The Tony-Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival hosts the bard in an open-air Elizabethan stage on campus and at a nearby contemporary theater. Come early to see the free greenshow—costumed jugglers, Punch and Judy antics, Elizabethan musicians and comedy skits. Picnic on the lawn or buy tasty Shakespearean morsels from strolling vendors. Matinee and evening festival performances sell out, so book your tickets as soon as you know the dates.
Zion National Park
Stunning Zion National Park is just an hour’s drive from Cedar City, a day trip you won't want to miss. The 150-million-year-old rock formations create a landscape from another enticing you to think you’ve entered a more ancient world. You’ll see deep canyons, pyramids of eroded sandstone, crevices weeping with natural spring water, stone arches, cliffs and columns stained red from iron oxide. Sign up in advance for a morning or evening ranger shuttle tour, a 2-hour guided bus tour of park highlights with several walk-around stops chosen by the ranger. Or ride a regular shuttle anytime toward easy trails like Weeping Rock or Emerald Pool. Eat in the park restaurant or pack a picnic and refill your canteen from a spring.
Casual Dining
Market Grill (2290 W. Highway 56, Cedar City) started as a burger stand for livestock ranchers at the weekly cattle auction. Enjoy classic Western fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner and kid pricing for all menu items. Centro Woodfired Pizzeria (50 W. Center St., Cedar City) has good service, prices and pizza, along with vegan options, charming decor and a stuffed Nutella pizza for dessert. Check to see what day the weekly Food Truck Roundup hits Cedar City, and swing on by the movable feast to score barbecue, corn dogs, tamales, stuffed burgers, nachos, chicken tenders and more waffles than you could dream of. It’s a fun and frugal event.
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