Red Butte Garden

I have been to the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre many times for concerts but I have never actually seen the gardens before.  Sean and I decided to visit yesterday and we spent a wonderful morning wandering around.  There are lots of different themed gardens and both Sean and I decided that our favorite was the Fragrance Garden (it smelled really good).

Red Butte Garden has over 50 different plants that are particularly suited to the growing conditions in Utah and I especially enjoyed the purple coneflowers.

Some of the many structures throughout the gardens.  Each area had benches and even swings tucked into little nooks where you could sit and relax.  We sat on a few of these benches and it was so peaceful and relaxing, especially when there was a breeze.

The landscaping in the gardens has won many awards.  Sean really liked the pattern in this garden.

There are streams (Sean took my picture while I was standing on a bridge crossing a stream), ponds, waterfalls, and other water features throughout the garden.  I loved listening to the water!

In addition to the paved walking paths around the gardens, there are also five miles of hiking trails through natural areas in the foothills of the mountains.  Sean and I took a bit of a wrong turn and hiked a lot more than we had bargained for (hence the reason we sat for a little while on a bench) but it was so beautiful with meadows filled with wildflowers.

There are many whimsical sculptures placed throughout the gardens.  These are Sean's favorites!

To get to Red Butte Garden we drove east on 400 S. (which eventually becomes 500 S. and then Foothill Drive) and then we turned left on Wakara Way and followed it all the way to the parking lot in front of the Visitor's Center.  It took about 25 minutes to get there from my house in Bountiful.  The garden is open seven days a week from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.  Due to Covid-19, entrances into the garden are staggered every 30 minutes and you must reserve your entry time online (go here).  Tickets for adults are $14.00, seniors (age 65+) are $12.00, and children (3-17) are $7.00.  Both Sean and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit (I want to come back in the spring) and I highly recommend it!

Note:  As previously mentioned, I love seeing concerts at Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre!  I've seen Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Natalie Cole, Crosby, Stills & Nash,  Time for Three with the Utah Symphony, and Howard Jones (twice).  I miss outdoor concerts!

Antelope Island State Park

Antelope Island is the largest of the islands in the Great Salt Lake and can be easily accessed by driving on a causeway from the town of Syracuse.  It has been on my list of places to visit for awhile and I convinced Sean to come with me yesterday.  He has been there many times and I think he enjoyed showing me around.

There are great views everywhere you look (these are from Buffalo Point) and we went on several scenic drives to various points of interest.

The island is known for a herd of several hundred bison who roam freely.  I was really hoping that we would see one and I was so excited when we happened upon this one!

Then we drove a little further and found a whole herd of them!  I may or may not have squealed out loud!

Fielding Garr established the first permanent residence on the island in 1848 and you can tour the historic ranch.

There is a small museum filled with lots of original artifacts.  Sean took me around and explained everything which was just like having my own private docent.  I loved it!

There are various outbuildings that you can explore.  Sean told me that you can usually go inside but they were closed off yesterday due to Covid-19.  You could still see inside and I found it fascinating.

There is a restaurant on the island called the Buffalo Grill (the dining room was closed because of Covid-19 but you could still order at the take-out window).  We got some lunch and then ate it at one of the many campsites available.  Sean got the buffalo burger and then was really upset when he realized that it was buffalo meat.

There are lots of trails to hike all over the island with various degrees of difficulty.  We did an easy one to Ladyfinger Point.  There are also trails for horseback riding and mountain biking.  There is also access to the beach and the water and a Visitor's Center.

To get to Antelope Island State Park, take exit 332 on I-15 and follow Antelope Drive west to the park entrance (it took about 45 minutes to get there from my house in Bountiful).  You can then drive along the causeway to the island.  There is an entrance fee of $15 per car (up to 8 people) and $3 for motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians.  There are separate fees for camping at one of the campsites and reservations are recommended.  The park is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We spent most of the day on the island and I really enjoyed it.  I highly recommend a visit because there are so many things to do!  Go here for more information.

Note:  Dogs are welcome if they are on a leash.  We brought my sister's dog Ebony with us and she attracted lots of attention wherever we went because she is so adorable!