Visit St George For Scenery, Recreation And Fitness Events

St George has long been known as an exceptional destination for outdoor recreation. A mild climate and stunning scenery make it an ideal place to golf, hike, bike, ride ATVs and engage in other sports.

In recent years, the area has also become a fitness center. Several annual events that combine fitness with recreation have become very successful and attract participants from around the US, and many other countries. These events include the Ford Ironman St George Festival, the St George Marathon and the Huntsman World Senior Games.

Spas and resorts in this area have capitalized on the concept and many offer activities that combine fitness with recreation. Red Mountain Resort & Spa is one of the most successful. It is famous for providing healthy, gourmet meals, a wide assortment of spa services, a top-of-the-line fitness center plus guided fitness/adventure activities.

Red Mountain is located near the mouth of Snow Canyon, which offers incredible hiking opportunities year-round. From the resort you can go it yourself, wandering around the nearby red rock, or join organized tours that explore the canyon, visit Zion National Park and venture into other scenic areas. Along the way you can participate in activities like hiking, biking, canyoneering and climbing.

The fitness environment around St George has attracted national attention, which helped persuade a popular TV show, The Biggest Loser, to affiliated with an area business now know as the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge. Some TV segments are filmed in the red rock around the resort.

Spring is the perfect time to visit St George. While other areas are still digging out from storms, St George offers sunny skies and wildflowers in bloom. It is an ideal destination for a relaxing vacation, a serious fitness retreat or a thrilling adventure quest.

Below we describe some of the major events taking place in the St George area during the coming weeks:

St George Arts Festival, April 22-23. This festival is a showcase for the many artists who call St. George their home, plus others from around the region. Over the years it has expanded to include more than 110 artists juried from hundreds of entries. Displaying thousands of original works, the festival is punctuated with pageantry, music and food. It takes place in the beautiful Town Square, the centerpiece of the town's historic district.

Ford Ironman St. George Festival, May 6-7. This is a two-day festival featuring Ironman competitive events. In addition, local and national businesses will showcase quality products and services to an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 athletes and spectators, including sporting goods, apparel, arts/crafts, souvenirs/gifts, jewelry, sport accessories, food booths and entertainment.

Friday events begin at 11 am and run through 7:30 pm Events will be centered on Main Street between St. George Blvd and Tabernacle Street.

Saturday events begin at 11 am and run through 11 pm. Events will be centered on St. George Blvd between Main Street and 100 West.

St George Marathon, October 1. This popular race has been described by Runner's World as one of the four "Marathons to Build a Vacation Around" in the world. It was also included on the Runner`s World lists of 10 Most Scenic and Fastest Marathons and Top 20 Marathons in the USA. The race begins in the majestic Pine Valley mountains and descends nearly 2600 feet through scenic southwest Utah, to beautiful Worthern Park. The St. George Marathon is a point-to-point race and is USA Track & Field certified and sanctioned. It is a fun race for participants and spectators.

Huntsman World Senior Games, Oct 3-15. The Huntsman World Senior Games, as it is known today, began in 1987 as the World Senior Games. Founded by Daisy and John H. Morgan, Jr., the Games grew from their vision of an international sports event for men and women ages 55 and better. Both agreed that the golden years are better when good health and physical fitness became a way of life, not an occasional hobby.

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