The spectacular red-rock scenery of southwest Utah's national park country is most colorful in the winter season when the white snow accentuates red spires and cliffs against blue skies.

Brian Head, the state's highest resort town at an elevation of 9,600 feet, is within three hours of Las Vegas area. Utah's Iron County and Brian Head make a great family getaway.

This unspoiled, uncrowded recreation haven is a playground for all seasons. Cedar City is famous for the Utah Shakespeare Festival annually June through September, offering professional theater productions and backstage tours to see the costume and scene shops.

Drop over one vertical mile on a bike spring, summer, and fall on some of the nation's best mountain bike terrain. The three favorite rides here are: Dark Hollow; Bunker Creek, one of the top five fat tire trails in the nation; and Blow Hard, a favorite for advanced technical red-rock riding. On a jeep tour, climb to Brian Head peak then travel through miles of aspen corridors and ancient bristlecone pines.

Cedar Breaks National Monument with its "circle of painted cliffs" is but a 30-minute drive from Cedar City. Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park are each about an hour and a half drive. Both national parks are open year round, with winter being the quietest season. The sheer sandstone cliffs of Kolab Canyon, a little know portion of Zion National Park, is only 18 miles south of Cedar City.

See pioneer and Native American artifacts at the Iron Mission State Park Museum and Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum. View ancient Native American petroglyphs. at Parowan Gap Petroglyphs. Enjoy concerts, theater and dance productions year round at Southern Utah University.

In winter there's world-class alpine and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling on that dry powder snow Utah is famous for. And for the young of all ages, there's a Snow Tube Park, like a water slide park on snow.

About 90% of Brian Head's terrain is beginner/intermediate, with a whole mountain dedicated to beginners.
After a day of adventure in the out of doors, indulge with a high altitude, deep body massage at Cedar Breaks Spa.

Fresh mountain air renews and soothes the spirit.

Brian Head: www.brianhead.com

Iron County, Utah: www.scenicsouthernutah.com

Utah Shakespeare Festival: www.bard.org

Cedar Breaks: www.nps.gov/cebr

Zion National Park: www.nps.gov/zion

Bryce Canyon: www.bryce.canyon.national-park.com