Utah

Sundays look different in Utah, since many businesses, including some restaurants and stores, close for the day, a rhythm shaped by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which settled the state in the 1800s and still makes up a large share of the population. The state’s nickname honors the beehive, a symbol of working together that still reflects strong community traditions here.

Funeral potatoes, a cheesy dish served at gatherings, and fry sauce, a mix of ketchup and mayonnaise, reflect that same community spirit through food. Skiing and hiking are part of daily life for many residents, not just special trips, thanks to some of the driest, lightest snow in the world and canyon trails within a short drive of most cities.

Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and remains a genuine hub for skiing and snowboarding today. Utah’s “Mighty 5” national parks reveal a striking desert landscape, from Zion‘s slot canyons to Bryce Canyon‘s orange rock towers.