Ideas for a quick local mini-vacation?

My work is closed on July 4th. I knew it would be, but I hadn't actually looked at a July calendar until this afternoon... and that's when I saw the 4th is on a Monday this year. That means I have two sequential days off work--Sunday and Monday. I feel I should take advantage of this rare opportunity and do... something. But, what?

The last time this happened, I went west on I-80 to Wendover and then dropped south to Ely. I poked around town, spending a lot of time at the railway museum (and made sure to ride the old steam train), then spent the last bit of evening relaxing at the hotel pool. The next morning, I went east on hwy 50 to Baker, where I stopped and explored the Lehman cave (which was awesome). From there I continued east to Delta for a great hamburger dinner at the Ashton Burger Barn, then remained on hwy 6 north through Eureka and finally back home. Nothing extravagant; it was just a nice break to get away and relax/explore for a couple days.

So, what this time? I'm thinking something within ~250 miles. It does not need to involve Jeeping--I'll be driving the Corvette, so 4WD is really out of the question. Depending on what I decide, I could drive there Sunday morning or maybe even Saturday night straight from work. Either way, I definitely need to return Monday evening to be ready for work Tuesday morning.

Right now my only idea is Vernal so I can explore the dinosaur museum/stuff there and possibly also some petroglyphs at McConkie Ranch. I've never been to Vernal; in fact, I've never been on hwy 40 east of Heber City, period. Why have I thought of this now? Because years ago when I made my Ely trip mentioned above, this was my #2 idea... and I still haven't been there.

But that's just one idea. Anything else I ought to consider? Where have you guys been that you've enjoyed?

Cedar City, highway 12 to Loa

That us 39 road from Huntsville to woodruff is sweet, then you could cruise up around bear lake.

Little further, but highway 12 from Torrey to Boulder then Escalante is rad too. That's probably my vote if you haven't done it.

Cody said:

That us 39 road from Huntsville to woodruff is sweet, then you could cruise up around bear lake.

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And then come down through Logan canyon. That would be a sweet cruise in a Vette!

Pretty sure the Cache Valley Cruise-in is that weekend. It’s a pretty good time if you like car shows.

Rot Box said:

And then come down through Logan canyon. That would be a sweet cruise in a Vette!

Pretty sure the Cache Valley Cruise-in is that weekend. It’s a pretty good time if you like car shows.

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mbryson said:

Cedar City, highway 12 to Loa

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Cody said:

That us 39 road from Huntsville to woodruff is sweet, then you could cruise up around bear lake.

Little further, but highway 12 from Torrey to Boulder then Escalante is rad too. That's probably my vote if you haven't done it.

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Rot Box said:

And then come down through Logan canyon. That would be a sweet cruise in a Vette!

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These suggestions are primarily just drives rather than destinations, and that's something I hadn't even considered until now. Hmm.

While poking around on Google maps looking at southeastern Utah, I was reminded of the four corners monument, which came up in a recent family conversation. I've never been there, either. Hmm....

TurboMinivan said:

These suggestions are primarily just drives rather than destinations, and that's something I hadn't even considered until now. Hmm.

While poking around on Google maps looking at southeastern Utah, I was reminded of the four corners monument, which came up in a recent family conversation. I've never been there, either. Hmm....

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I would make sure it is open. The reservations to my knowledge have been slow to reopen after COVID.

Four Corners is hardly worth stopping when passing through IMO, I wouldn’t recommend that as a weekend destination. Loop on Mesa Verde and now we’re talking.

I love the cedar breaks area, makes for a nice drive and beautiful scenery, also doesn’t seem to be too overrun typically.

TurboMinivan said:

That means I have two sequential days off work--Sunday and Monday. I feel I should take advantage of this rare opportunity and do... something. But, what?

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It’s not helpful and I hate to be so negative, but I think the real answer is a job hunt. You’re planning a month in advance for something most employees get every week. The current job market is hot, maybe what you have works for you, but sounds rough.

benjy said:

You’re planning a month in advance for something most employees get every week.

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Like many people who work in retail, it is true that I work every Saturday and thus my "weekend" is only one day long. In some ways, that's a bummer. On the plus side, I do get one weekday off (Thursday, in my case). In many ways, that's wonderful. So it all balances out in the end.

And thank you for your feedback about the Four Corners.

I’d say:
hanksville > Torrey enjoying Caineville and capitol reef.

Hop on highway 12 to do the loop

Drive through Bryce Canyon

There are a TON of little cabins/yurts in the cannonville/tropic area that would be a great place to rest for the night

TurboMinivan said:

These suggestions are primarily just drives rather than destinations, and that's something I hadn't even considered until now. Hmm.
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Sometimes the drive is the destination

You consider yourself a car guy but you never considered cruising down Route 66? Shame on you!

We used to ride on it regularly and loved every trip. It’s also the reason I live where I do.

So if I had a weekend like that my first choice would be to take a van trip somewhere and leave Saturday night after I got off work no matter how late that is.

But if a destination is what you’re after. What do you want to do? If you want hang out by the pool and enjoy some drinks you can catch a late flight to Las Vegas Saturday night at like 11 PM stay the weekend for about $150 bucks a person round-trip right now. Book a hotel room with an awesome pool go have some good dinners and fly home Monday night. That’s a pretty reasonable weekend vacation. No need to rent a car super short flights that are cheap and hotels with good pools for reasonable rates.

I personally can’t stand Las Vegas so I wouldn’t do that. But I definitely would spend maybe $300 - $400 on a plane ticket per person and fly to San Diego, Bend Oregon, Missoula Montana. I love the idea of taking driving trips but sometimes on those short weekends you spend most of your time in the car and it’s worth the extra money just to get some place and enjoy the destination. Both Bend And Missoula have very fun down towns on the river that are all explorable on foot. So an Uber from and to the airport is all that would be needed.

Also if you’re into live music there’s a good chance that you going to be able to catch a good live show Sunday somewhere as a lot of artists will try to put a show in a smaller city the day before a Fourth of July show in a bigger city.
So you could check out places like Boise Idaho for a fun concert that’s well within driving distance catch a show have fun downtown and then come home the scenic route.

I like the Vernal area- lots of cool stuff.

Capitol Reef NP for a full day if you can. The hiking is great and there is lots to look at in the old mormon orchard there.