Logan, Utah: A Guide to One of America's Friendliest Cities

I had the unlikely chance to travel to Utah a few years ago with my husband, during a last-minute business trip. I have always wanted to visit every state in the United States, but Utah wasn't high on my priority list. What I found there, however, has forever changed my mind.

The conference was in the town of Logan, Utah, which is a little over an hour north of Salt Lake City. It is also within thirty miles of Idaho. Logan is absolutely gorgeous, with scenic drives available through the mountains of Cache Valley, which have several trails and fishing spots to take advantage of along the way. We also drove 45 minutes to the Beaver Mountain Ski Resort (we were there in late June) and went horseback riding. Afterward, we drove to Bear Lake, which is about 90 minutes away from the Logan area and has one of the most beautiful bodies of water I've ever seen.

Obviously, Logan has several touristy spots available for the adventurer and nature lover, but what I found in the town of Logan itself was a rustic charm that I've not experienced anywhere else. I have always lived in West Virginia, and find that some of the friendliest people reside here. I also notice this in the southern states, especially South Caroline and Georgia. I did not expect, however, the kindness and warm reception we received when in Logan, Utah.

Everywhere we went, whether it was at a restaurant, hotel, local store, or historical site, people were warm and generous. When we placed our orders for meals we were always met with smiles, handshakes, and even directions and offers of places to see while there for our visit, so minimal planning on our part was needed in order to find hidden local attractions. My husband and I often commented on the fact that we had never been anywhere where everyone we came across was so nice and helpful, and it made the area of Logan even more attractive to come back to in the future.

The surrounding area is also filled with friendly people, as we took a mini-trip to Preston, Idaho, where Napoleon Dynamite was filmed. It is one of my favorite movies, and I was so excited to see all the landmarks where the movie was filmed, including the school, the diner, and the background of the mountains. We stopped to get snow cones at a roadside stand and spoke to a young lady who was an extra in the movie, and she told us all sorts of stories and commented that they had experienced more tourism in the recent months. Instead of being annoyed by those of us with cameras, they literally welcomed us with a smile.

I would highly recommend visiting Logan, Utah, and the surrounding areas. The atmosphere is friendly, the towns are kept clean and inviting, and we met more nice people there than we had traveling anywhere else. We were impressed by the hospitality of the people of the town , and hope to travel back to Utah sometime soon.