Provo: Recreation
Sightseeing
The Provo/Orem area is one of the most scenic in the country. Visitors can view the breathtaking Bridal Veil Falls
Built in 1972, Provo Latter Day Saints Temple is located on a hillside above the Brigham Young University campus. It is an architecturally striking building faced with white cast stone and topped with a segmented spire. The Provo Latter Day Saints Tabernacle is a historic structure built in 1898 that is still in active use, hosting many religious and cultural events.
The award-winning McCurdy Historical Doll Museum has more than 4,000 dolls, 47 miniature rooms, toys, and a toy shop. The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum on the Brigham Young University campus contains a large collection of trophy animals and displays of animal habitats. The Brigham Young University Earth Science Museum features animals large and small from dinosaurs to ancient forms of sea life.
The Sundance Resort, 15 miles northeast of Provo, provides fine dining, a spa, plays, art workshops, and nature experiences throughout the summer in addition to excellent skiing in winter.
The Trafalga Family Fun Center in Orem contains a 400-foot waterslide, indoor and outdoor miniature golf courses, and a game room. Thanksgiving Point in nearby Lehi is a 700-acre oasis featuring restaurants, a visitor center and giftshop, a professional golf course, academy driving range, clubhouse, tennis ranch, animal farm, equestrian center, shopping village, North American Museum of Ancient Life, and acres and acres of awe-inspiring gardens. Recent additions to Thanksgiving Point are a dinner theater seating more than 1,000 and Electric Park for parties, reunions, and fairs, both slated for a 2005 opening.
Arts and Culture
Hundreds of cultural events are sponsored annually in Provo, including concerts, symposiums, plays, lectures, classes, art exhibits, and museum displays. The Museum of Art at Brigham Young University (BYU) is one of the largest of its kind in the intermountain West and houses an impressive permanent collection of fine art. The B. F. Larson Gallery at BYU exhibits works by contemporary artists. Fine art is on display at the Brownstone Gallery. The Springville Museum of Art in nearby Springville houses an extensive collection of the works of Utah artists, highlighted by the month-long National Art Exhibit in April.
The Sundance Institute, an arts community near Provo, fosters creativity in film, and visual and performing arts, and presents arts events throughout the year, including its internationally-recognized Film Festival.
The historic Latter Day Saints Tabernacle hosts a roster of internationally known performers as well as the Utah Valley Symphony, a 90-member community orchestra. Brigham Young University is a major source of music, dance, and drama events at its Harris Fine Arts Center. Utah Regional Ballet is the resident ballet company at Utah Valley State College in Orem. The Center Street Musical Theater presents dinner theater in downtown Provo. The Provo Theatre Company stages five to six musical, comedy, and dramatic productions from September through July.
Festivals and Holidays
Provo kicks off the New Year with its First Night community celebration of the arts in an alcohol-free setting, followed by the annual Sundance Film Festival held near the end of January each year. Utah Pioneer Days in May features the Miss Orem Pageant. America's Freedom Festival in Provo on July 4 is the largest Independence Day celebration in the country. This grand three-week event begins with balloon festivals; gala balls; clogging competitions; 10K, 5K, and one mile runs; and explodes with an enormous parade. More than 700 folkdancers from many countries gather at the Springville World Folkfest in July for the largest event of its kind in the country. From May through September, many cities in Utah County hold individual city festivals. WinterFest in downtown Provo during the month of December celebrates the holiday season with concerts, a parade, living nativity, decorated storefronts and a "Lights On" celebration.
Sports for the Spectator
Brigham Young University's (BYU) basketball team plays its games throughout the winter at the 23,000-seat Marriott Center arena. The BYU Cougars hold home football games at their 65,000-seat stadium on campus. The Utah Valley State Wolverines play basketball at the McKay Center in Orem. Some of the other sports presented at BYU and Utah Valley State College are basketball, baseball, track, volleyball, gymnastics, rugby, wrestling, and swimming.
Sports for the Participant
The city of Provo has 28 parks, 2 ice rinks, 4 swimming pools, 10 golf courses, more than 35 tennis courts, 1 soccer field, and 7 baseball and softball diamonds. The city maintains a rifle and pistol shooting range year-round for public use. Within an hour's drive from Provo are 7 downhill ski resorts, including Park City and Snowbird. Robert Redford's Sundance Resort, which offers mountain biking trails as well as skiing, is 20 minutes from the city of Provo Canyon. In and surrounding Provo/Orem are 10 public golf courses and 2 private country clubs. Nearby Utah Lake State Park and Deer Creek Reservoir in Heber Valley provide water skiing, fishing, boating, camping, canoeing, and other water sports. Fly-fishing in the Provo River is popular, and hunting of elk, deer, moose, and bighorn sheep is also possible. Maps and trail guides to the area can be obtained at the U.S. Forest Service's main office in Provo. Climbers have access to both indoor and outdoor ropes courses at the CLAS Ropes Course facility.
Seven Peaks Resort, located at the foot of Maple Mountain in Provo, is a waterpark with a variety of water amusements including the world's tallest water slides, wave pool, and children's activity areas. The park's acres of lush lawns and pavilions make it a favorite site for picnics and parties. Thanksgiving Point in nearby Lehi is a 700-acre oasis featuring a variety of outdoor activities.
Shopping and Dining
Provo boasts two newer malls: the modern Provo Towne Center and The Shops at Riverwoods. Provo Town Center Mall is anchored by Dillard's, JCPenney, and Sears department stores. The Shops at Riverwoods features modern, upscale shops in a nostalgic Main Street USA setting. Provo Town Square is a specialty theme mall in the heart of the city. All the buildings are restored historic structures housing restaurants, shops, and entertainment facilities. Provo University Parkway has recently developed into a major shopping area with large department stores and small specialty shops. University Mall in the University Parkway corridor in Orem contains 185 stores and restaurants.
The city of Provo has more than 200 eating places. The Provo/Orem area hosts a variety of ethnic restaurants including American, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Italian, and Mexican. Vegetarian fare, bars/nightclubs, and fast foods of all kinds are also popular. Allie's American Grill at the Provo Marriott, Carvers, Los Hermanos, and Magelby's are local favorites for dining. At Sundance Resort, The Tree Room offers elegant dining by candlelight; the Foundry Grill Room features lighter, bistro-style dining; and the Owl Bar offers spirits, local brews, and a bistro-style menu for the benefit of private club members (temporary memberships are available); all rooms are known for their exceptional fare.
Visitor Information: The Utah County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 111 S. University Ave., Provo, UT 84601; telephone (801)851-2100