With a location two and a half hours north of Las Vegas and three and a half hours south of Salt Lake City, Cedar City Utah is a great side trip if you are planning to visit either or both of these areas. This unique small city is complete with a renowned theatre company, astonishing natural beauty, and an exciting variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. As home to Southern Utah University, Cedar City Utah serves as an important center for learning and public service. Throughout the year, the university plays host to a number of plays, lectures, operas and musicals and NCAA Division I athletic events. However, the university is just one of venues for cultural events in Cedar City. The Heritage Theatre has an interesting repertory of plays, concerts, dance recitals and art exhibits. Culturally-minded tourists who visit Utah will have no problem finding interesting artistic events.

The phrase “Festival City USA” is often used in reference to Cedar City Utah. Every year, thousands of people visit Utah to attend the Shakespearean Festival, the Canyon Country Western Arts Festival, the Thunderbird Film festival and the Neil Simon festival. All of these events take place in Cedar City.

The athletically minded will also enjoy Cedar City. The Brian Head Ski resort has great skiing in the winter and mountain biking in the summer. For those prefer a bit less adrenaline in their sports, the red sandstone hills at the Cedar Ridge Golf Course will surely please you. Fans of spectator sports that are planning to visit Utah should time their trip with the Utah Summer Games.

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There is so much to do in Cedar City that you will want to make sure that you put aside enough time to eat. That being said, if you are looking for a Cedar City restaurant that will not turn a meal into a two hour event, check out the award-winning Pastry Pub. This small and intimate Cedar City restaurant specializes in salads, sandwiches, wraps and a delightful selection of deserts such as tiramisu and a variety of tempting pastries. However, the sandwiches are quite huge at this Cedar City restaurant, so if you plan on surrendering to the seduction of the desert table, you might consider sharing a sandwich.

After you are fortified from your lunch, you might want to venture out and enjoy some of the fantastic Southern Utah attractions which are within driving distance from Cedar City. These include the Cedar breaks National Monument, the Kolab Canyons and Zion National Park.