Hotel at a Glance: Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites St. George

This welcoming hotel is more than just a place to rest your weary head after a day of exploring the surrounding sandstone bluffs in sites such as Pioneer Park and Snow Canyon State Park. After taking advantage of the hotel’s direct access to Hilton Drive Trail, which connects to more than 80 miles of local bike trails, you can cool off in the palm-lined outdoor pool, or use up any last remaining energy on the tennis court.

• Fuel up for the day with a hot breakfast buffet, which features the likes of eggs and waffles.
• Stay connected thanks to the hotel’s free WiFi.
• Take your camera to Middleham Falls and Ti Tou Gorge, which features a postcard-worthy waterfall located just two miles from the hotel.
• Learn some history about a mile away at the towering St. George Temple, the first church built by the Mormons in 1877 after leaving their original home of Nauvoo, Illinois.
• Hone your putting skills at four nearby St. George golf courses, including SunBrook Golf Club, which is less than 5 miles away. 

St. George, Utah: Red Sandstone Formations and Award-Winning Golf Near National Parks

In 1861, Brigham Young aimed to establish a cotton-growing industry in southwest Utah after the Civil War, when there was a low cotton supply. The area chosen, first called Utah’s Dixie and now St. George, yielded little cotton. However, the region became popular for its fiery-red sandstone bluffs. Scattered throughout the desert are a half-dozen golf courses, including the award-winning 27-hole Sunbrook Golf Course, as well as rivers and lakes open for swimming, fishing, and hiking. Within 150 miles you’ll also find Zion and Bryce National Parks, home to some of the country’s most stunning Wild-West landscapes, such as mind-blowing rock formations and intricate limestone sculptures called “hoodoos.”

Downtown St. George features unique relics from the city’s past as a pioneer town. In the summer, costumed performers entertain tourists at the former winter home of Brigham Young. Notorious Old West outlaws are said to have done time at the old town jail, just steps away at the center of Ancestor Square. Though historical buildings are abundant, the downtown area is home to plenty of contemporary cultural attractions, including art galleries and pottery studios along Main Street.

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