Provo Travel Guide

The second-largest metropolitan area in Utah, Provo (elevation 4,500 feet) and its adjacent communities have a population of over 300,000. The main draw here is Brigham Young University, with its attendant museums, cultural events, and spectator sports. Provo also makes a good base for exploring the nearby mountains, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, and the quite spectacular gardens and other attractions at Thanksgiving Point in nearby Lehi. The Ute Indian tribe reigned here until Mormon leader Brigham Young sent 30 families south from Salt Lake City in March 1849 to colonize the area. Today, the city remains primarily Mormon; many restaurants, stores, and attractions are closed Sundays.South of Provo lies Springville, a town of about 14,000 that likes to refer to itself as "Utah's Art City." Although not primarily a tourist destination, it boasts one of the state's finest art museums. Orem, which abuts Provo on the northwest, is the home of various high-tech businesses. Utah Lake State Park, just west of downtown Provo, is great for boating, and the surrounding Wasatch Mountains abound with natural beauty and recreational opportunities.