St. George metro is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. With so many new builds it can be a real treat to find gems like this 1868 pioneer adobe. It was one of the first homes built in the area. Historic details include hand hewed beams, a hand sculpted archway and exposed adobe bricks. The home has been thoughtfully updated and includes honed zellige tiled countertops and a gorgeous steel staircase leading to a lofted suite and a second drool worthy bathroom. The design could surely be mistaken for a Leanne Ford. Outside, the courtyard area is a natural extension of the 1926 addition of the home with a spring running throughout.

189 W 200 S Washington, UT 84780

3 bed/2 bath - 1,861 sqft

Zillow Link

Now of course, a house alone is usually not a reason to pack your bags and move to an unknown area. Luckily, Southern Utah is nothing short of magical. If you love the outdoors it can be hard to ignore the allure of such a beautiful place. Below are some of the hikes you can expect to find around Washington, UT and the wider Southern Utah area.

Sand Hollow State Park - Great for cliff jumping, water sports, OHV (pictures via GreaterZion.com)

Snow Canyon State Park - (pictured left) offers hiking, sand dunes, lava tubes. Make sure to check for turtles before backing you vehicle out of a spot. If you don’t mind a further drive, head up I-15 to Tabernacle Hill Lava Tubes (pictured right). As far as lava tubes go, they beat out Snow Canyon.

Yant Flat aka the Candy Cliffs - Stay for the sunset if you can.

Joshua Tree Landmark - I guess if you grew up in the Southwest, Joshua Trees may not be that exciting, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a protected area just west of the Virgin River Gorge heading west out of St George. It’s another great spot for sunsets.

Zion National Park - Top 5 hikes: The Subway (pictured left), The Narrows (pictured right), Canyon Overlook, Angels Landing, Parunuweap Canyon

The Subway requires a permit to hike. I went on a weekday and won the lottery the first time so I imagine it’s not too difficult to get. Go during autumn for leaf peeping! As long as you do the hike bottom-up, the Narrows does not require a permit, but it can get quite busy.

Kanarraville Falls - Permit required, but it is easy to get. Go late afternoon on a weekday and you might have the place to yourself.

Grand Canyon National Park North Rim - Great for fall colors, sunsets and wildlife viewing. Seriously, the most deer I have ever seen! Plus, bison and foxes.

Buckskin Gulch - A hike you’ll want to do again and again. As with any slot canyon, make sure to check the weather forecast. Do NOT underestimate the rain.

Sitting south of Zion is Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park (pictured left) which is great for wildflowers and sand boarding, and north of Zion is Dixie National Forest (pictured right) with highlights such as Navajo Lake, Cascade Falls and giant lava fields. If you’re lucky you’ll also see the adorable flock of sheep.

Food around St George:

Papa’s Got Jerk (Jamaican) - my fav!

Painted Pony (Contemporary Seasonal Cuisine)

Viva Chicken (Peruvian)

Aragosta (American & European)

Red Fort Cuisine (Indian)