Two hours northeast of Las Vegas, the city of St. George is a world-class destination for outdoor adventure seekers set in the sprawling desert canyons of southwestern Utah. People come from all over to take advantage of its incredible hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. It’s also a popular launching pad for exploring some of the country’s most epic public lands, including Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and Zion and Grand Canyon national parks.

Within the city itself, St. George is a diverse cultural hub with fascinating historic buildings, a dinosaur discovery site, a children’s museum, and a thriving music and arts scene. Although St. George experiences a desert climate, the landscape is more than just a series of screensaver views of sandstone cliffs. The town’s unique location between the Colorado Plateau and the Great Basin to the north means you’re likely to see vivid colors of red rock mixing with green foliage and bright, blue skies.

Whether you’re looking to escape the winter doldrums or indulge in unrivaled natural beauty, staying in St. George’s vacation home rentals is a good idea any time of the year. The warm winters and moderate shoulder seasons make outdoor recreation possible pretty much any time. St. George receives nearly 300 days of annual sun, and things can get pretty hot during the summer in the Mojave Desert, so be sure to pack a water bottle, sunscreen, and breathable clothing.

If you’re visiting during this time, it’s best to plan your outdoor activities early in the morning or close to dusk, when it’s cooler. The rest of the year in St. George offers moderate weather, even in the winter months. Although winters are mild, you may want to pack a jacket and some winter layers, as the mountains near St. George occasionally receive a dusting of snow. Spring and fall enjoy pleasant weather; this is when you’ll find most outdoor shows and festivals, like the St. George Art Festival in April.

Zion National Park

Utah is known for the “Mighty 5” national parks, but Zion National Park, 40 miles east, stands out due to its impeccable red rock views, narrow slot canyons, thundering waterfalls, and emerald pools that get their color from the bright green algae that grows there. Mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, ATVing, and horseback riding are just a few ways to experience this wild place. Be sure to visit the Zion Human History Museum to learn about the park’s first inhabitants.

Red Hills Desert Garden

This five-acre, interactive desert garden is Utah’s first conservation garden and is dedicated to preserving plant species that require reduced maintenance and water use. Home to 5,000 species of plants, a human-made stream stocked with native and endangered fish, and prehistoric dinosaur footprints that date back 200 million years, this is a great place to learn about desert landscapes and water-efficient irrigation techniques.

St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site

The floodplains of the Virgin River, which runs through St. George, was once a hotbed of Jurassic activity. Pristine in situ dinosaur tracks and a plethora of animal and plant fossils found in St. George led to the creation of the Dinosaur Discovery Site. This Utah museum is not only home to thousands of fossils but also life-size models of prehistoric creatures, including a dilophosaurus, a megapnosaurus, and a dimorphodon.