What's New in Utah
- peri861
- Dec 6, 2025
- 2 min read
A New Visitor Experience for America’s 250th Anniversary
In 2026, the U.S. will celebrate its 250th anniversary, America250. In Utah, the milestone is being marked by the Walk250 challenge, encouraging every resident and visitor to harness the power of the state’s stunning red rock and mountain landscapes and move 250 miles. Walk, run, hike, cycle, ski – participants can choose any outdoor activity to complete the challenge by July 2026, and log their adventures on the Walk250 website or at any Utah State Park, where information can be found at visitor centres and entrance booths. Participants can further connect to history by tracing the steps of the Dominguez-Escalante expedition which was a five-month, nearly 1,700-mile journey through Utah which mapped large areas of the American West in 1776 (250 years ago).
Salt Lake City Named a 2026 Must-Visit
Salt Lake City has been named one of 50 Best Places to Travel in 2026(Destinations for Nature Lovers) by Travel + Leisure and called the Best Mountain City in the U.S. by Fodor's Travel. Time is the ultimate currency when travelling on business, and a 10-minute ride from the New SLC Airport to downtown hotels and the Salt Palace Convention Center is priceless – not to mention 40 minutes to the mountains and some of Utah’s 15 ski resorts for bleisure trips. Hotel average daily rates are around $160 USD/$225 CAD, much less than other major U.S. mountain cities, and hotel packages often encourage adventure, including gas gift cards, national park passes, the Salt Lake Ski Super Pass or Salt Lake Explorer Pass.
Screen-to-Experience Travel for 2026 Itineraries
Set-jetting – travel inspired by movies and TV shows – was first flagged as a global trend by Expedia in 2022 and it has not slowed down, once again making its list of travel trends for 2026. Set-jetting is projected to become an $8 billion USD industry in the U.S. alone, 53% of travellers say their desire to take a set-jetting trip has increased, and 81% of Gen Z and Millennial travellers now plan their getaways based on what they’ve seen on screen. In 2026, the Utah Film Trail will continue to roll-out markers of 100 years in film across the state and celebrate the final Sundance Film Festival hosted in Utah, contributing to Condé Nast Traveler naming Deer Valley Ski Resort as one of the Best Places to Go in 2026.
Comments