June 8th 2020 – Utah Office of Tourism – This Father’s Day, Utah Honours Father Time

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When Father’s Day falls during a time of global crisis and change, and we find ourselves sometimes wishing we could travel back in time, the Utah Office of Tourism felt that as we celebrate fathers and father figures – past, present and future – that it is only appropriate we honour Father Time, himself.

Time for Travel

When the Canada-U.S. border is closed to non-essential travel until (at least) June, 21, 2020 – Father’s Day – Canadian families looking to take that epic summer road trip to Utah’s Mighty 5® national parks, and what lies between, will have to wait a little longer. Psst! We’ll let you in on a little secret though. Winter is actually the best time to visit Southern Utah as there are fewer faces and bigger spaces. Dad can start planning now for future travel with our Road to Mighty itinerary suggestions here.  

Time for Nature

We can’t let Father Time have all the fun so for dads who love to spend time outdoors, Mother Nature has them covered in Utah. After so much time in isolation, families looking to re-connect with each other and with nature, can find mindful experiences that bridge adventure and healing. Until it is safe for Dad to visit in person, he can experience some of Utah’s parks in 360 with VR and enjoy stargazing virtually at one of Utah’s nearly 20 internationally accredited dark sky parks and communities (more than any destination in the world!).

Time for Sports

Has your dad finished binge watching Netflix’s latest hit, The Last Dance, which tells the story of the epic NBA seasons dominated by the Chicago Bulls? Did you know that Utah’s premier professional sports team, the Utah Jazz, met the Bulls in the NBA finals, not once, but twice during those years? Until the NBA resumes, basketball fans can purchase Utah Jazz swag here, including the Utah Jazz Quarantine Cookbook tee with all proceeds going to a local food bank. We hear it makes a great Father’s Day gift! 

Time for Legacy

Is your dad a fan of classic Westerns? Utah sits at the Crossroads of the American West and was the backdrop to countless films (Butch Cassidy was from Utah, after all). Utahns are working to keep their connection to the Wild West alive. Master Saddler Glen Thompson is passing his craft of making custom leather horse saddles, including one displayed at the Smithsonian, on to his sons and daughter. And visitors to Utah can experience life on a Dude Ranch. Book now for a future stay, once it is safe to do so.

Time to Indulge
For dads who have been #quarantinebaking or who simply have a sweet tooth, Utah was named the Craft Chocolate Capital of America by Saveur magazine. Utah is home to eight bean-to-bar chocolate makers, an active chocolate appreciation society and Caputo’s Market & Deli in Salt Lake City, which carries more than 300 different artisan chocolates – the largest selection of craft chocolate in the U.S. You can order online in time for Father’s Day here.
Time to Raise a Glass
While Utahns don’t drink much, they do drink well. Since High West Distillery opened in Park City in 2006 ending a four-decade dry spell in Utah, craft distilleries and breweries are thriving through Utah’s Culinary Corridor, from Ogden to Salt Lake City to Provo and beyond. Try one of these Utah cocktail recipes at home for Father’s Day. Insider’s tip: High West Whiskey is sold in Alberta and Ontario. Cheers Dad! 
Time for Reading
If your dad frequently has his nose buried in a book, order a tale of historic or modern adventure in Utah for him this Father’s Day. Everett Ruess: A Vagabond for Beauty is a collection of letters the early explorer wrote to family and friends, including famed photographers Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams, before venturing into Utah’s canyonlands never to be seen again. Aron Ralston’s Between a Rock and a Hard Place recounts the incident when a dislodged boulder trapped him in a remote Utah canyon and the extreme measures he took to survive; also made into the film, 127 Hours, starring James Franco. For more books that will allow Dad to escape to Utah from the comfort of home, check out this Red Rock Reading List.
Time for Memories
Father’s Day is the perfect time for the cliché saying, “A picture says a thousand words.” Is there any better way to capture family memories than through photographs? With blazing red rocks in almost unfathomable formations, the Utah desert is a photographer’s dream. It’s also a very fragile place so using a guide to practice mindful photography will allow photographers to get great shots while taking a few simple steps to care for the environment, just as Dad cares for you. Consider reserving a future tour with Moab Photo Tours who offer private photography tours for individuals, families or small groups, with no more than four people per guide.
 
 
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For more father-friendly Utah travel ideas for when the time is right, visit www.visitutah.com. 
Issued by the Utah Office of Tourism Canadian Press Office.      
For more information and/or high-resolution images please contact: Heather McGillivray at Canuckiwi on +1 250 888 5687 or email heather@canuckiwi.com
 
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