Your Utah Experience Begins in St. George

Wake up and hit the road. The first stretch of the journey travels northeast on Interstate 15 toward Mesquite. Be patient and you'll have plenty of time to stop for breakfast before crossing the state line.

The name of Peggy Sue's '50s Style Diner says it all. The restaurant is a throwback to a simpler time with checkered floors, red booths and guitars decorating the walls. The menu offers few surprises, but has a breakfast selection that's more interesting than what you'll find at most of the casino lobby restaurants that dominate the area. Try a loaded breakfast burrito or an open-faced biscuit sandwich with fried chicken and gravy. In a fun twist, the kitchen can prepare different recipes (like "Bananas Foster" or "Strawberry Fluff") in your choice of pancakes, French Toast or waffles.

Your first stop in St. George is the Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum, an independently operated attraction at the St. George Regional Airport. The facility preserves, repairs and exhibits vintage fighter jets from around the world while offering guided tours and education on military aviation history. Sit inside a MiG-15 cockpit and have your photo taken. You may even see some of the aircraft in flight overhead. It's a small museum that can be enjoyed with a relatively short visit.
The museum is closed Sunday-Tuesday. Donations are requested. Be aware of the one-hour difference in time zones between Nevada and Utah when traveling across state lines.

Head to downtown St. George for a meal at George's Corner, a top destination for lunch on the edge of Ancestor Square. The restaurant celebrates its legacy, dating back to when the space was home to the Big Hand Cafe on the corner of the city's first traffic light in the 1930s.
The menu covers a lot of ground, from home-made soups and chili to sandwiches, pasta, barbecue and Mexican food. Vegetarians will love the black bean burger. Drinks include cocktails, wine, local beer and even a lineup of signature shots.

George's Corner is part of Ancestor Square, a downtown block of restaurants, shops, art galleries and other businesses. At the center is a half-dozen brick structures that date back to the 1860s. Stroll the grounds and take an up-close look at the old sheriff's office and home, a jail and the Gardeners Club, one of the oldest buildings still standing in St. George. The square has a courtyard feel, making it easy to explore and soak in the history.

Check in to the Red Mountain Resort, a unique hotel that seems to blend into the natural red rock scenery and cliffs south of Snow Canyon State Park. It's almost like booking a room on Mars. The property is quiet with 82 rooms and 24 villa suites on a sprawling 55 acres. Guests appreciate the views and immediate access to outdoor attractions. The hotel places a premium on wellness with a spa, fitness programs and an "adventure concierge" on site.
Spend at least an hour enjoying the surroundings, which include black lava gardens and waves of mesquite, before heading out to dinner.
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Cliffside Restaurant has one of the most spectacular dining rooms in St. George. As the name suggests, it sits on a cliff-side perch overlooking the entire St. George valley. Guests enjoy stellar views through large floor-to-ceiling windows, specially designed to maximize the scenery.
The landscape is best enjoyed at night over a dinner of steaks, seafood and pasta. The menu mixes traditional favorites with a few inventive recipes. The smoked ribeye is one of the most popular dishes. If you don't mind a light breeze, ask for a table on the outside patio.
Cliffside Restaurant is closed on Sundays. Book a reservation by calling 435-319-6005.

Drive back to the Red Mountain Resort and turn in for the night. You'll need plenty of rest to explore Zion National Park the next day.
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