Provo Utah

There are many things to see and do in Provo, Utah. Provo is a relatively large city (by Utah standards) with a population of around 105,166 people as indicated by the 2000 Census. Provo is the third largest city in Utah; only Salt Lake City and West Valley City are larger. During the summer there are many large bodies of water to enjoy by way of water sports and during the winter there is plenty of snow. Sundance Ski Resort is very close (about 20 minutes from downtown Provo). There are many historic landmarks in Provo as it was one of the first areas settled by Mormon pioneers.

Geography

Provo is nestled on the edge of the Wasatch Mountain range. From Provo you can reach two large Canyons. Provo Canyon is the larger of the two and leads to places like Bridal Veil Falls, Deer Creek Reservoir, and the Sundance Resort which is owned by Robert Redford. Rock Canyon is the smaller of the two and offers hiking, camping, mountain biking, and rock climbing. According to the 2000 Census, Provo is located at 40°14'40" North, 111°39'39" West (40.244421, -111.660804) in the Utah Valley at 4,549 feet elevation. Other notable geographical features that are in Provo or can be seen from Provo include Squaw Peak, Mount Timpanogos, Cascade Mountain, Provo River, and Utah Lake.

Mount Timpanogos as seen from Provo, Utah

Community

Provo City is comprised of mostly White and Hispanic races but there are also many Asian and Polynesian people. The population is predominantly LDS (Latter-Day Saint a.k.a. Mormon). Some sources say that 88% of Provo is LDS. Provoans have very conservative political views.

Technology & Business

Provo is home to a few large companies. Those that stand out are Nu Skin and Novell. Internships in both companies are offered to local college students and graduates. Provo city also runs the largest municipal Fiber to the home project in the United States called iProvo. Through iProvo, residents are offered phone service, cable TV, and Internet Access in a very competitive package. Notably, many battles have been fought regarding the iProvo network with Comcast who provides high speed internet access and cable TV service to Provo. Because iProvo offers those services at a discounted rate, Comcast did not want to lose business in the area. After many hearings the matter was resolved and iProvo has been underway.

Schools & Education

Brigham Young University, the largest private university in Utah is located in Provo. BYU is consistently rated the most "stone-cold sober" university in the United States. BYU is owned and operated by the LDS Church which discourages the use of alcohol and other drugs. On one of the nearby mountains there is a big "Y" made out of whitewashed concrete which stands for BYU. The original plan was to include all three letters. It's a fun and quick hike to get up to the "Y" and many of the local residents have hiked to the "Y" a couple of times. BYU has more than 28,000 students.

Food & Dining

There are a few restaurants in Provo that are worth mentioning. Magleby's Grill & Oyster Bar is one of the local favorites which was started by David "Doc" Parkinson, a retired dentist of the area. He still greets customers of the restaurant personally on many nights. Another Provo favorite is the Bombay House which serves authentic Indian food. The Bombay house provides a unique atmosphere and a unique cuisine which is different from all the other restaurants in the area. Both restaurants have been given numerous awards and titles.

Recreation

Provo has a few points of interest for those seeking recreation. There is a water park, Seven Peaks Resort, with water slides, a wave pool, hot tubs, and a year round ice-skating rink called Peaks Arena. Other types of recreation include fishing, hiking, and camping. The Provo River Trail is a trail that roughly follows the path of Provo River. Many use the trail as a means of exercise by running, walking, or cycling along it's winding path. The trail goes from Utah Lake to Vivian Park about 13 miles or more. Boating can be done on Utah Lake or if you drive up Provo Canyon you can get to Deer Creek Reservoir.

A winter view of Rock Canyon, Cascade Mountain, and Squaw Peak as seen from Provo, Utah.

You can learn more about Provo on Provo's Website.