Calling all outdoorsy adventurers!
Nevada has beautiful neighbors a short drive away, and Utah is definitely a stunner. The state is covered by acres of wilderness and is known for its national parks that are sprinkled throughout. It has some of the best destinations for outdoor activities, ranging from anything to water and snow sports, outdoor shopping, al fresco dining, and more.
And the best news is that Elysian Living just opened its first property in American Fork, Utah! For those who enjoy nature’s offerings and the finer things in life, let us introduce Ely at American Fork in Utah.
Our newest collection of luxury apartment homes are conveniently located near picturesque Salt Lake City, amid the best of Utah’s enchanting mountains, desert landscapes and majestic lakes. Love a good adventure? We got you. We are a short drive from some of the nation’s most gorgeous attractions like Timpanogos Cave, Bridal Veil Falls, Tibble Fork Reservoir and Thanksgiving Point, the perfect backdrops for your next photoshoot.
Conveniently located just outside of Salt Lake City with easy access to the I-15, several transit centers, walkable attractions and outdoor recreation like UTA Frontrunner, Silicon Slopes, Provo Canyon, American Fork Canyon and Traverse Mountain. None of that rings a bell?
Don’t worry, by the end of this piece, you should have a better understanding of the picturesque state, and an idea of whether or not Ely at American Fork is your dream home destination (Warning: you’re going to fall in love, we promise).
It’s like an Uber Pool on steroids.
“Riding UTA is easy. Whether you're a first time rider or a seasoned transit pro, find some Trip Tips on riding UTA's main services. FrontRunner is UTA’s commuter rail system currently providing service from Ogden to Provo along an 83-mile corridor serving 15 stations in Weber, Davis, Salt Lake and Utah Counties. FrontRunner trains use diesel-powered push/pull locomotives and can reach speeds of up to 79 miles per hour. These trains typically have one car designated for bike storage, are equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi for passenger convenience and restrooms.
FrontRunner currently operates Monday through Saturday, with 30-minute weekday service during peak travel times, and 60-minute service during non-peak travel hours and Saturdays. Station amenities include free parking and connections to other UTA services."
Provo offers the best of both worlds - a lively downtown scene AND convenient access to all of your nature needs!
“Provo Canyon provides access to Bridal Veil Falls, Sundance Mountain Resort, Alpine Loop Scenic Byway, Squaw Peak and the Provo River. This canyon shows the majestic beauty of the Wasatch Range and more specifically Mount Timpanogos. With rising elevations above 8,000 feet, Provo Canyon is fun in any season. Enjoy and imagine the possibilities outdoors within the majesty of Provo Canyon!”
There’s plenty of fish in the sea… river? You get what we mean!
“A Blue Ribbon stream, the Provo River offers more than 15 miles of angling access, prolific hatches, stunning views of Mount Timpanogos and rich populations of brown and rainbow trout. Both the Middle and Lower Provo maintain healthy stream-flow year round, enabling consistent dry fly, nymph and streamer fishing opportunities. Access to rolling riffles, deep pools and structured runs abound. Depending on the time of year, your location on the river and the day’s conditions, you can expect to see bountiful emergencies of green drakes, pale morning duns, blue wing olives, midges, caddis and various stonefly species. Don’t plan on fly-fishing in Utah without spending a few days scouting the Bunny Farm’s meadows for bank feeders, hunting football shaped rainbow’s in deep glides on the Lower or stripping streamers for trophy browns below River Road.”
Cute outfits, Apres Ski and Hot Toddys - the real reason people go skiing. Fulfill your winter wonderland dreams at Sundance Resort or hit the slopes, whichever option(s) float your boat!
“Sundance Mountain Resort is inspired by the Ute tribes that first inhabited this canyon and continuing through the early 20th century as the Stewarts, a family of Scottish immigrants homesteaded the area. Sundance is an arts community, a recreational community, a community of people who appreciate the beauty of nature and feel the responsibility to preserve it.” It’s also home to the infamous Sundance Film Festival for cinema enthusiasts!
#Anothaone!
“Utah Lake is a popular boating destination for afternoon and weekend outings! Utah Lake is unique in that it is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the West and yet it lies in an arid area that receives only about 15 inches of rainfall a year. The mouth of the Provo River, where it empties into Utah Lake, was undoubtedly a very popular camping place for the early inhabitants of Utah Valley.”
Canyon dig it?!
“American Fork Canyon is known for great rock climbing, camping, fishing, hiking, and biking. The Alpine Loop Scenic Backway, Cascade Springs, and Mount Timpanogos Cave National Monument are all gems within American Fork Canyon. This canyon connects to Provo Canyon via the Alpine Loop. To access this canyon, take the Hwy 92 exit in Highland.”
Plot twist: it’s not a beach!
“You’ll be hard pressed to find an entertainment center in Provo with a more eclectic array of entertainment options than Provo Beach Resort. In addition to eight bowling lanes, the two-level center includes the following: a double FlowRider, large hot tub, multi-level ropes course (60 harnesses/26 elements), 38-wicket interactive croquet course, 14-horse carousel, four golf simulators, a laser tag course, 70 arcade games, softplay, multiple food/beverage services, birthday party rooms, professional concert stage with seating for 180, t-shirt shop, Toddler Town, pinewood derby racing and more.”
If you’re looking for a spot for all the fall feels, Thanksgiving Point is your spot! Not only is it a cute backdrop for your pics, but they’re holding a ton of fun events throughout October and November like the Scarecrow Festival, Witch’s Breakfast, Dia de los Muertos, and a Scarecrow 5k!
“Thanksgiving Point is a unique destination where recreation, education, and peace come together. It is located twenty minutes south of Salt Lake City, Utah, off Interstate 15. Thanksgiving Point acts as a refuge from everyday life - a unique location showcasing the beauty and majesty of nature in countless ways.” Check out their October events for those perfect #fallvibes.
“Hike your way past stunning vistas to explore a hidden underground world. Located high on the steep rocky slopes of American Fork Canyon in the shadow of Mt. Timpanogos in Utah's Wasatch Range are three limestone caves: Hansen Cave, Middle Cave and Timpanogos Cave. These exquisite caverns are decorated with an elaborate display of helictites, anthodites and other formations in a variety of colors. Timpanogos Cave National Monument preserves these caves and their fragile underground wonders for you and for future generations to enjoy. The Timpanogos Cave System is accessed by hiking a strenuous 1.5 mile paved trail with an elevation gain of 1,100 vertical feet. After completing the 90 minute hike, visitors will experience all three caves on an hour long ranger-led tour. The route through the cave is paved, lighted and has several flights of stairs.”
Did someone say “Golf?”
We did! ✋ Whether you’re training to be the next Tiger Woods, or just there for the vibes, Utah has it all.
Fox Hollow
Fox Hollow Golf Club is “the best kept secret in Utah Valley.” For all of you golf enthusiasts, check out their website for more detail!
And if you’re making this a weekend, you can change the scenery and head to Cedar Hills Golf Club!
“The Cedar Hills Golf Club is a 6,600 yard,18-hole, par 72 championship golf course nestled at the mouth of picturesque American Fork Canyon in North-Central Utah County. With the first tee shot dropping almost 200 feet from the tee to the fairway, an exciting round of golf is guaranteed right from the beginning. Far from the average hard-edged, manicured golf course, Cedar Hills lets nature do the talking. The unique lace-edged bunkers blend into the natural transition areas with native grasses creeping right into the bunkers. Our course layout encompasses varied topography and view vistas from the highest point on the 14th green, which is 5,253 feet above sea level, to the American Fork River 750 feet below.”
Bridal Veil Falls
Don’t go chasin’ waterfalls (except this one)!
“Bridal Veil Falls is a beautiful natural waterfall in scenic Provo Canyon. Located just off the highway in Provo Canyon is 607-foot Bridal Veil Falls, a double cascade waterfall. The short trail to the falls is open year round and is ADA accessible. Snow may make the trail a bit harder to navigate in the winter months, but avid climbers make the trek to the falls for ice climbing opportunities.” Head to the Outdoor Project to read more about the history behind the falls!
Silicon Slopes
For anyone considering a career change, this might be your sign.
“Silicon Slopes is the hub of Utah’s startup and tech community. Spanning from Logan to St. George, Silicon Slopes has chapters in every region of the state, as well as chapters focused on specific topics/sectors within the community.”
Cabela’s
For those of you who like to do all the outdoor things, Cabela’s is your one-stop shop for your outdoor Barbie goals.
“Cabela's Lehi, UT location serves hunting, fishing, shooting & camping enthusiasts as a premium outdoor gear and sporting goods store.”
But if you’re like Kim, then you can quickly pop over to The Outlets at Traverse Mountain for that overdue shopping spree!
If by outdoorsy you meant lunch on a patio and shopping, then we’ve got you covered!
When you need to take a break from all the hiking and sightseeing, you can #treatyoself at the Outlets at Traverse Mountain, the perfect getaway for our fellow shopaholics. Shops include Michael Kors, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Loft, and more!
Ever been to a reservoir? Neither have we! Check out this one!
“Deer Creek is a medium-sized reservoir located in Heber Valley, just a short drive from Provo, Park City and Salt Lake City. The reservoir is a popular recreation spot because it is close to the Wasatch Front, but also because it is scenic and offers excellent conditions for boating, fishing and other water sports. Campsites are available at the state park. Windsurf, boat, zip line, swim, and fish on the cool waters of Deer Creek Reservoir. After a day on the water, camp under the night sky at one of several campgrounds, all with spectacular views of nearby Mount Timpanogos.”
Got a hankering for more awesome Elysian content? Check out our Cost of Living in Utah (vs Your State) Ultimate Guide here.