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Show -T SALT LAKE I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of Utah — I don't like Jell-0, and I don't like praying — but the Great Salt Lake is a redemptive feature of the state. It is one of my favorite places to travel, and it's great for a quick, one-day road trip if you are staying around the valley for Spring Break. All you need to do is throw on some sunscreen, pump up the Beach Boys, and hop on the freeway. Once you get to the lake, you'll feel like you are in California (minus all of the mileage). Sandy beaches stretch out on all sides, and if you squint your eyes real tight, you can pretend there are not that many seagulls. There are also great locales around the area to visit. My personal favorite is the Great Saltair. It feels like an exotic palace from India and has an interesting history. Fun fact (particularly for the pyromaniacs out there): the Great Saltair has caught on fire three times. There is also Spiral Jetty, a unique piece of land art, and the Salt Flats. Antelope Island is a swell option as well. When I was a kid, I used to go to there with my family for nature sightings of, you know, antelope. And for those of you who, like me, can't swim, there is no need to stress. Because of the salt in the water, you'll float. In sum, there is something for every vacationer at the Great Salt Lake. And it must be a perfect destination — after all, it has the word "great" in it. —Courtney Tanner r FOUR CORNERS My fellow `satchers have given me a boatload of crap for choosing to profile Four Corners Monument as an adventuresome Spring Break destination. But despite their nagging, I have to shout from the rooftops (figuratively, of course, because rooftops are dangerous) that this is one of the greatest places to travel. And I also enjoy telling people they are wrong, so haters, step aside. I first ventured to Four Corners on a family vacation. After hours crammed in the backseat with my sister and a Sony CD player (so retro), the long drive was worth it. It looks like a monument in the middle of nowhere, and in all honesty, it is. But that's the magic of it.You travel through miles of desert to this big, circular hunk of metal. And when you stand on it, you are standing in four states — Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona — all at once. Boom! I told you there would be magic, and I didn't let you down.This is the sole place in the U.S. where this is possible. There are also native Navajo vendors surrounding the monument where you can purchase handmade treasures. All in all, this Spring Break destination is #winning. Instead of going to one place, you can go to four. —Courtney Tanner THE GRAND CANYON The Grand Canyon, one of the West's cornerstone adventure destinations. Many regard it as a place that attracts tour bus after tour bus of foreign visitors, but to the adventurous mind, the Grand Canyon has an endless supply of activities to get your blood pumping. You've got the typical walk around the plateau looking at the beautiful views, but for the adventure enthusiasts, there is much more. If you are down for one hell of an adventure that starts on the water and ends on foot, the Grand Canyon is the place to go. Start your trip right out of Flagstaff, Ariz. at a put-in around Glen Canyon Dam. Make your way down the river, stopping for hikes and side trips every day. You pass through all sizes of canyons, from the massively huge to others that are just barely wide enough to fit the raft. You will also get the true white water experience of the Grand Canyon. One of the coolest places you'll get to stop is Redwall Cavern. Get your spelunking gear ready and wander deep into the cavern. The only gear you'll actually need is a flashlight and a good pair of boots. After five to seven days of rafting and whatever side adventures fit your liking, a 10 mile hike up Bright Angel Trail will end your trip. Prepared to be tired and sporting sore arms but also to bring home some amazing memories and pictures — if you brought your waterproof gear, that is. —Brent Uberty eatste See wl i44 auit //tow 247 SOUTH 500 EAST IN DOWNTOWN SLC www.slcbike.com ) 4 801-746-8366 f facebook.com/SLCBicycleCo @SLCBicycleCo |