Utah Lake State Park, Utah

If you’ve spent any amount of time in the West, you probably know that finding a good lake isn’t quite as easy as it is in other parts of the country. Utah Lake State Park is here to soothe your woes, though, because its boundaries are home to one of the largest freshwater lakes in the region (and the area only receives an average of 15 inches of rainfall per year—isn’t nature amazing?!). Early settlers were amazed by this place, too. In fall of 1776, one member of the Dominguez-Escalante party arrived here and exclaimed, "This place is the most pleasant, beautiful, and fertile in all New Spain." Preach on, Bernardo Y. Pacheco! So, come on out and see what all the fuss is about. Bring some friends, too, because you’ll want to share this special place with your outdoor-loving crew. Spend your days playing on the water, and your nights relaxing at one of the many camping areas. Life doesn’t get much better.