You've Made it to Utah! Here is what YOU Need to Know:

The Beehive State is known for a few things, including the large population of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, beehives, and incredible scenery.

However, there are some other notable signs that you are in Utah and tourists are probably confused by them.

As an Arizona native, these things truly took me for a loop when I moved here seven years ago but now, it’s totally normal...ish. Here are three things to let you know you’re in Utah!

The Beehive:

I definitely thought that Utah’s nickname the Beehive State meant there would be loads of bees and honey. It’s not untrue necessarily but according to Lawn Love’s rankings of best states to do beekeeping, Utah ranks the third worst. I think the local honey is great but it's certainly not what Utah is known for.

The beehive is a Utah state symbol for the local’s love of what it represents; perseverance, hard work, and industry. The LDS Book of Mormon's word for beehive is “Deseret” so that definitely explains the DI.

Skiing:

This one does seem kind of obvious, but the state boasts some of the best snow in the U.S. Since I live in Southern Utah, I really couldn’t say. I do know that there are ski fanatics everywhere though, even in Southern Utah, who wait patiently for the snow so they can drive north for some chilly rides and sick moves.

Sober Intentions:

The state has NO LOVE for a good cocktail and does its utmost to deter any sort of drinking, despite the fact that there are quite a few non-LDS populations. There is no drinking before 11:30 a.m. (seems fine to me), no wine in the grocery stores, and you are required to order food with your drink. Now, these are mostly decent ideas, however, if you’d like something stronger than 5% on a Sunday, you’d better grab it on Saturday.

These are laws, not just common preferences.

Anyway, now you know how to tell if you’re in the Beehive State...even if it isn’t really about a beehive.

Stunning Photos of the Milky Way Over Colorado and Utah National Parks + Monuments

Colorado is home to four national parks and eight national monuments. Our neighbors to the west, Utah, boasts five national parks and seven national monuments. Also within reach are the parks and monuments of New Mexico and Arizona.

If you're the road-trip type, they're all reachable in a day's drive from Colorado.

While the majority of tourists visiting these parks only witness the phenomenal views during the day, there's a sight to be seen under the stars.