Saint George Things to Do

Snow Canyon State Park is just outside of St. George. Its a great place to go hiking or rock climbing or to spend a few days at the Red Mountain Spa.

There are a variety of trails here, many of which are beginner level. But the small slickrock hills can be quite a workout. If visiting in the summer, its best to time your visit for an early morning or early evening hike, as the climate here is similar to the desert and temperatures reach easily into triple digits.

For more information, feel free to visit my Snow Canyon State Park page.

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If visiting Southern Utah-Zion National Park is a must. It is the most beautiful area with the most stuff available to do. Hike, horseback riding,camping,swimming,an outdoorsmen vacation dream. Beautiful Mountains, waterfalls. We went in July so the water was kind of low,but it was a great camping trip here.

I was staying in St George and stumbled upon this farmer's market. Nice setting. here's the website info:

Downtown Farmers Market

The Downtown Farmers Market at Ancestor Square is a volunteer community project to promote the downtown area as well as promoting organic gardening and homemade crafts and goods. The Market will be held every Saturday morning from 8 am to noon in the Courtyard at Ancestor Square. The Market will begin on Mothers Day weekend, May 10 and continue through November 1, 2008. The vendor booths will be located around the perimeter of the courtyard at Ancestor Square allowing the lawn and central area to be used by customers to enjoy the morning. Each booth will not be larger than 10 x 10 feet. Each vendor will be responsible to supply their own table and supplies. We will have live music on the center stage next to the old Jail House. This will be a small band or single musician. We do not want the music to overpower the event, but instead add to the ambiance.


Contact Information
Ancestor Square
2 West St. George Blvd.
St. George, Utah 84770

Phone: (435) 632-9515
Email: downtownfarmersmarket@yahoo.com

If you arrive in late afternoon with nothing to do at Saint George and to late to go to Zion try the utah state park for 5$ it is the perfect way to kill 1-4 hours depending on your interest in geology or hiking . Even just drive through which is also very nice can give you most of the experience and at sunset the rock's just glow with all redness of mars .

If you are in the area, a stop at Zion National park is a must. I would suggest seeing it when the shuttles are not running and you can drive the park. This is a narrow canyon and during peak months you have to ride shuttle and can not drive it. There is so much to see just from the car windows! The visitors center is HUGE! Take the drive up Hwy 9 out the northeast side of the park for an entirely different perspective to the park.

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This could be said to be the heart of town. Located in the historic district, it consists of one of the large city blocks with a solid stone building anchoring each corner and a park in the middle. The new park finished in 2007 has a fun interactive fountain. There is a small amphitheater and pavilion as well.

The northwest corner building was once a school and is now school administration. On the southwest corner stands the St George Library. The southeast corner building is dedicated to the arts. The Northeast corner is the old St George Tabernacle. Scattered around the square are sculptures, part of an art initiative.

During the hot summer days families can be found playing in the fountain. In the center is the Heritage Tower. 45ft high decorated with historic moments in St George's past.

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This simple pioneer built structure has been the focal point of the community since it was begun in 1863 only 18 months after the first group of settlers arrived. The people were struggling to plant crops and survive in the hot desert environment, but they felt the need for a gathering place. They began with the basement and once it was complete the community used it for 8 years as they slowly finished the rest of the building.

Several events were significant in building this Tabernacle. They ordered glass for the windows from New York. Not entirely sure how it would be paid for. When the glass arrived by ship to Los Angeles only $200 of the $800 had been raised. But a danish immigrant Peter Nielson had saved $600 to expand his home. Instead he felt a need to donate the cash for the windows bringing it to the wagon train just as they were heading to LA to pick up the order.

There is a u-shaped balcony that surrounds the inside. Two ornate and free standing staircases lead up to it. After it was built it was discovered that it was too high for people sitting there to see the speaker. The balcony had to be lowered 5 ft, but the staircases remain the same level. Thus after climbing the staircases to the balcony visitors must then descend 8 steps to reach it.

Another addition to the tabernacle was the bell tower and clock. Once they had a clock they were on time for meetings and school, water turns for irrigation, they could time births and deaths.

A couple of significant events are remembered for having occurred in the tabernacle. One was Catholic Mass held by Father Lawrence Scanlan. In the 1880's he had been sent to minister to the miners in Silver Reef about 25 miles north of St George. Though built by and used by Mormon settlers, the tabernacle truly was a community building. Father Scanlan wanted to conduct mass for miners and had been offered the use of the Tabernacle. As was the custom he wanted it performed in Latin. So the LDS congregation's choir learned the music and text of "Peter's Mass" in Latin so that the Catholic miners could hear their church service. There was said to have been a wonderful feeling of warmth and friendship among those in attendance.

During the 1890's the LDS church was deeply in debt. There was a drought as well and the farmers had been without water. LDS President Lorenzo Snow went to St George for a special conference. While there preaching in the St George Tabernacle he seemed to understand what was required and preached with strength and vision the principle of tithing- giving 10% of your increase to the church. Though this had been introduced early on in the church history it had not been followed with diligence. President Snow promised that if the people would pay their tithing then as it says in Malachi 3:10 the windows of heaven would open. (Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.). The people through out the settlements of Utah responded and the church was soon out of debt. The rains came as well and crops were saved.

The Tabernacle was reopened in 1993 after a period of restoration. It is used for church services, community events, concerts, lectures and more. Free tours are offered daily.

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This is a great new addition to the city. Built in an old sugar beet seed warehouse the museum has kept the large beams and open space of the original building.

We went for a special exhibit featuring paintings of Zion National Park to commemorate its 100th birthday. The paintings we saw both from the juried entries and the permanent exhibit were outstanding.

The museum is not large but it is an excellent place for small and specific exhibits. The museum has a 340 item permanent collection at the moment focused on art of and from the southwest. Many Utah artists are featured.

In addition they offer rotating exhibits of current interest to the area. There is also a nice sculpture and water feature in the plaza outside.