If you are planning a visit to the Beehive State, you will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of sights and activities this picturesque state has to offer. There truly are activities and sights that will suit everyone's taste and sense of adventure. For those seeking lodging in Utah, there also is something to suit every taste and budget.

Exquisite Salt Lake City, Utah Lodging

Salt Lake City offers all the standard accommodations you would expect to find in any city, including the Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton, and Best Western. If you want a fresh and unique Utah lodging experience, consider the Hotel Monaco, located just two blocks from the famous Temple Square.

This boutique hotel is a newly refurbished historic landmark with French-inspired architecture and décor reminiscent of the glamorous 1940's Hollywood. Suitable for everyone from business suits to blue jeans, this Salt Lake City lodging choice boasts high customer satisfaction at a very reasonable price.

While staying at The Monaco, you will be within walking distance of the home of the world renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_Tabernacle_Choir), who broadcast their program "Music and the Spoken Word" from this location. Tours include a pin-dropping demonstration of the amazing acoustics inside the sanctuary, and you can experience an up-close look at the 12th largest organ in the world, with over 11,000 pipes. The best part is that admission is free.

If you have come to Utah to ski, consider the Cliff Lodge and Spa, just 25 miles from downtown Salt Lake in the ski village of Snow Bird. Famous for its champagne powder, this upscale lodge gives you ski-in, ski-out convenience. The Cliff Lodge is connected to the town of Snow Bird by ski lifts, and offers a complimentary shuttle to the Alta ski area.

Try Camp Snowbird for the kids, which offers movies, arts and crafts, and skiing lessons at nearby Chickadee Run. There is also a nursery for infants six weeks and older.

Diverse Park City, Utah Lodging

Home to the world-famous Sundance Film Festival, Park City is also a focal point for winter sports in Utah. Lodging in Park City includes a variety of accommodations, from modest hotels to condominiums, all within a short distance of the slopes and historic Main Street.

The Yarrow Hotel and Conference Center is located just one mile from the town's center, and three miles from the Deer Valley ski resort. This moderately-priced hotel offers a heated outdoor pool and spa, on-site restaurant, and free wi-fi access.

A short distance away, and just one-half mile from the Utah Olympic Park, is Fox Point at Redstone. Accommodations include fireplaces and full kitchens, complimentary access to the Silver Mountain Sports Club next door, and a ski shuttle.

If you are seeking an upscale Park City experience, consider the Canyons Grand Summit Hotel. This ski-in, ski-out resort and spa is a 100% smoke-free hotel, and is just four miles from the White Pine Nordic Center and Park City Mountain Resort. During ski season, a free shuttle provides service to Park City and Deer Valley.

For unprecedented views of the Park City area and the majestic Wasatch Mountains, try the nearby Flight of the Canyons high-speed gondola. Tours are available Thursday through Sunday.

Breathtaking Lodging in Utah's Zion National Park

The only in-park lodging in Zion, this ecologically friendly hotel in Utah offers both standard rooms and private cabins. Zion National Park (http://www.nps.gov/zion/) Hotel includes full bath and private balconies or porches from which to take in the peace, serenity, and beauty of this red-rock rimmed canyon. Cabins also include gas fireplaces. Special winter rates are available from December to March.

Zion is appropriately named, meaning, "a place of peace and refuge." This 146,000 acre park includes a variety of animal life among its cliffs, canyons, and the frigid Virgin River. Take the three mile hike up the Virgin River Gorge, called "Gateway to the Narrows." Be forewarned that you may have to wade, or even swim, part of the way. It is well worth the effort when you reach the point in the trail where the canyon walls are only three feet apart, but extend over 3,000 feet overhead.

Just outside the park is the town of St. George. Known as the Gateway to the Canyonlands, there is a variety of Utah lodging in St. George to suit every budget.

For any traveler, Utah lodging has something to offer to families, adventurers, and nature-lovers alike.

About the Author

LodghingHunt.com is a hotel reservation service providing travelers with affordable Utah lodging options. For more information on Salt Lake City lodging or Park City lodging, please visit Lodginghunt.com

 

Every four years, February 29 appears on the calendar and is traditionally the day when women can propose marriage. This custom dates from fifth-century Ireland, when the rules of courtship were stricter. Since many women were waiting too long for proposals, St. Patrick is said to have granted this dispensation to them to speed up the process. And this quaint custom comes into effect again in 2008, as it is a leap year.

If you are planning on "tying the knot" in Leap year here are ten top places in the USA where you can pop the question.

Arizona’s star natural attraction, The Grand Canyon, offers plenty of proposal options, from a magnificent lookout, to a hot-air balloon or helicopter ride.

What about the Big Apple? For a proposal with an incredible view, either take the elevator or climb the 1,860 steps to the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building in New York City. Try to make it on a clear day, when you can see for almost 80 miles, or on a clear night, when the city lights will provide a romantic backdrop for your proposal.

New York City is arguably at its most romantic, when viewed from a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park. Featured in countless movies, the carriages start at Central Park South, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, at 59th Street.

The magnificent Bridal Veil Falls at Niagara Falls, in New York State, is a dramatic location to tell him how much you love him. Then pop the question as you marvel at the sheer power and beauty of the water as it rushes downward.

Treat him to a trip in a hot air balloon over Lake Tahoe, California, and propose as you float gently above the beautiful lake and take in the incredible views.

For a year round warm weather proposal destination head for the Florida Keys. Key West, Florida, is the perfect place to be at the end of the day. A proposal here, as the sun sets over the sea, will be a memorable start to the rest of your lives together.

The picturesque 80-foot-tall Wailua Falls, on Kauai, in the Hawaii Islands, are a dream come true, when it comes to marriage proposals. You can propose at the scenic overlook or take the path down to pool below, to swim in the cool mountain water together.

Inspiration Point, at the Grand Teton National Park, in Wyoming, with its awesome view, would be a breathtaking spot for your proposal. The Point is reached crossing Jenny Lake boat and then hiking up the Cascade Canyon Trail.

At St. John, on the US Virgin Islands, Honeymoon Beach hosts proposals galore. The question can be written in the sand on the beach or on a diver's board during an underwater adventure.

And finally, don’t wait to get lucky on the Las Vegas Strip, Nevada, just claim your prize with a marriage proposal on a gondola ride at The Venetian, or during dinner at the Eiffel Tower at Paris, Las Vegas.

About the Author

Rod Ritchie, a travel writer and editor, writes for many publishers including AA Publishing and Fodors. Go America offer a wide range of deals on USA hotels and car hire plus cheap flights to America.