A Salt Lake native, Heather Hayes is a journalist with over 20 years of experience. She loves a good yarn, no matter the angle. From seatmates on ski lifts to line-dwellers in a grocery store, no one is safe as she chats up strangers for story ideas. When she’s not badgering her teenagers to pick up their dirty socks or spending quality time with her laptop, you can find Heather worshiping the Wasatch range on her bike, skis or in a pair of running shoes.
Seems like it’s getting harder and harder to just go—no plans, no apps, no three-month-in-advance reservations. These days, even snagging a simple night under the stars can feel like coordinating a moon landing.
Fortunately, tucked along the Wasatch Front are a handful of overnight backpacking trips that don’t require hours of driving, no spreadsheets or permits required—just a free evening, a bit of gear and a hankering for starry skies. So, for those times you just want to shoulder a pack and disappear into the mountains, we’ve got you covered.
From trailheads you can reach after work to alpine lakes and quiet ridgelines that still feel wild, these close-to-home backpacking adventures offer a much-needed escape. Below, we’ll cover five solid overnight routes perfect for a quick getaway, along with a checklist of essential gear to ensure your night in the mountains is safe, warm and comfortable.
This gorgeous trail brings you to an Alpine lake with stunning views of Sundial Peak. It gets crowded in the summer and early fall, but you’ll still find plenty of space to spread out. Amongst granite peaks, you’ll experience wildflowers and wildlife. It’s the quintessential overnight trip, but you’ll have neighbors. It’s very popular—but there’s plenty of room to have space to yourself.
2. Lone Peak
Distance: 11–15 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 5,600 feet
Difficulty: Challenging
Why we love it:
Rising sharply above the Salt Lake valley, Lone Peak is one of our greatest mountain monuments. Its isolated single granite summit juts in a dramatic point with sheer cliffs and white granite wildness on every side. There are five different routes to the top. Jacob’s Ladder, while the shortest, is also the steepest. The route from Bell’s Canyon is longer, but passes waterfalls and unmatched scenery. No matter what you choose, you’ll face challenging terrain that buys you a calorie-fest at Crown Burger when you finish. There are campsites in the upper cirque area, where we suggest you regain your strength before ascending the peak. You’ll want to ditch the backpack for that anyway.
3. Red Pine & Upper Red Pine Lake (Little Cottonwood Canyon)
Distance: 7 miles round trip to Red Pine; 10 to Upper Red Pine
Elevation Gain: 2,000–2,500 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Why we Love it
Tucked away high in the Wasatch, the climb is steady without being excruciatingly steep. Winding through pines and aspens, the lake sits at a cirque basin surrounded by rugged granite ridges, offering plenty of spots among the trees and boulders. We suggest camping on the slabs to get a clearer view of the brilliant stars each night, reflected back in the clear alpine lake. It’s a great jumping off point for the Pfeifferhorn summit, just a couple miles beyond the lake.
4. Desolation Lake via Mill D North Fork and Desolation Trail
Distance: 7.4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Why we Love it
Another serene lake tucked deep in the high Wasatch wilderness, the hike will enchant you with wildflowers while keeping you well-shaded with aspen groves and brilliant conifers. Unlike the lakes we’ve mentioned above, this one feels more meadowy and open, as if Maria from TheSound of Music might come spinning down the grassy slopes while bursting into song. You can spread out and find a quiet spot, and the mileage is manageable.
5. Mount Timpanogos via Timpooneke Trail
Distance: 14 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 4,400 feet
Difficulty: Challenging
Why we Love it
Considered THE MOST iconic peak in the Wasatch, the Timp trek passes Alpine meadows, waterfalls, glaciers and goats. Seriously—you’re almost guaranteed to see a mountain goat or two. The views are spectacular, the scenery is breathtaking and you’re bound to feel like a world-conqueror at the top. As with every major peak in Utah, you’ll encounter many who hike this all in one day rather than stopping for the night (and more than a few who run this in space of a morning—the maniacs). If you want to camp (which we highly recommend), sheltered spots are at the ready along the trail, with the most coveted near Emerald Lake.
Honorable Mentions:
White Pine Lake (Little Cottonwood Canyon) – quieter than Red Pine
Cecret Lake and Catherine Pass area – great for base-camping with several lake hikes nearby
Uinta Highline Trail: A more strenuous, multi-day trek through the Uinta Mountains, offering a true wilderness experience.
South Willow Lake Trail: Located in the Stansbury Mountains, this trail offers stunning views and is a good option for families.
Tips for Planning a Backpacking Trip:
Check trail conditions, elevation and water sources
Leave no trace: Pack out everything you pack in, and minimize your impact on the environment.
Open Fires: Are prohibited in most areas.
Add rain/warm gear: Mountain weather can change quickly, so be prepared for all types of conditions.
Share your plans with someone: Let a friend or family member know your itinerary and expected return time.
Plastic Bag for picking up all trash: Leave no trace
Food: (Dehydrated meals packs, sandwich and oatmeal packs, granola bars
Water Bottle (with filter)
Insulating Layer: The mountains are cold at night, even in the summer. Bring something warm, light, and easy to pack (a puffy in a stuff sack, for instance)
Extra pair of socks
Flash light/Head lamp
First-aid supplies (inlcuding moleskin for blisters)
Hiking shoes and socks
Discover moreoutdoor inspiration and find all our Adventure coverage. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah?
Staging chamber concerts in nature to celebrate outdoor acoustics is just one element of the celebrated Moab Music Festival. Of course, the main event is the composition itself and the skill and dexterity of the musicians. But the fantastical settings are close rivals.
Take, for instance, a red rock grotto on the banks of the Colorado River accessible only by jet boat, where a Steinway grand piano sits in stark contrast to its desert stage. Or a secluded canyon, scored at the top of a bright morning hike where a couple dozen audience members take in a string arrangement of Bach’s Partita No. 3. Picture red mesas towering over a riverboat, fitted with a woodwind ensemble on the foredeck in a floating Mozart serenade. Or foamy whitewater crests, snaking along crimson towers, where adventurous music-lovers battle waves with raft-mates (a handful of whom might feel more at home in Carnegie Hall than in this heart-pumping Cataract Canyon). Later at camp, a cello will wail in concert with distant coyotes.
Festival-goers, tucked into a red rock grotto, are treated to a violin concerto. Photo Courtesy of Moab Music Festival Photo Courtesy of Moab Music Festival
“The Moab Music Festival brings world-class musicians into pristine, intimate settings where they perform in concert with the landscape,” says Festival organizer Tara Baker, who describes it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for audiences, but also for performers. “It’s often a favorite stage for them—playing in these natural amphitheaters and red rock concert halls. So we draw some of the most recognized musicians in the world.”
In a town known for fueling adrenaline junkies on Slickrock Trail and Hell’s Revenge, the classical music palette might seem like a mismatch. Instead, consider the Moab Music Festival a soft landing place for those who don’t regularly patronize the Royal Albert Hall. A writer from the Wall Street Journal once admitted she didn’t know Tchaikovsky from Brahms, but the beauty of the festival was, she didn’t have to.
“The music seems to articulate something in our souls when we’re in nature,” describes Elizabeth Dworkin, a representative for the event, adding that there is no need to be well-versed in the classical genre in order to enjoy. “People come to this festival to feel something. And then they keep coming back because of what they feel, not what they know.”
Audience members also love the intimacy with the musicians. Sitting in the grotto, one can nearly reach out and touch cellist Jay Campbell’s nimble fingers dancing the length of his fingerboard from neck to bass bar. Or, after a day battling whitewater, one could easily strike up a conversation with Grammy-nominated violinist Tessa Lark, who also happens to be the festival’s new Artistic Director.
During a float tour down the Colorado, audiences pause for a musician playing riverside. Photo Courtesy of Moab Music Festival
“I take genuine pleasure in personally connecting with folks from all backgrounds,” Lark says of the intimate vibe. “What makes the Festival extraordinary is relishing nature and music all at once, and being able to share that heaven-on-earth with others.”
As you can imagine, the more intimate and remote the setting, the higher the price tag. The 4-day, 3-night Cataract Canyon Musical Raft experience, complete with victuals by celebrated chef Kenji Lopez-Alt, who will “explore the parallels between food and music through curated meals and demonstrations,” comes in at over $5K a pop.
But not all of the performances over the two-week festival (20 concerts in total) is aimed at the deep-pocketed. Many of the acoustically perfect “stages,” surrounded by buttes, mesas and endless sky, happen at other locales in Moab.
“Making the music festival accessible to the community is extremely important to us,” says Baker. More modestly-priced offerings take place at a historic hall, a local resort, a café—even a working farm. There’s also a free community Labor Day concert in the park.
Like the venues, programming is decisively varied, a reflection of Lark’s forward-thinking vision, with new faces like Latin-fusion band People of Earth, bluegrass mandolinist Sierra Hull and singer-guitarist Lau Noah.
Call it a bucket list item or a religious experience, just make the Moab Music Festival part of your Labor Day plans.
Photo Courtesy of Moab Music Festival
The 33rd Moab Music Festival: From low $ to high $$$
Dipping a Toe $35-90
Opening Night Program:At historic Star Hall, the program features a night of duos and Schubert’s Trout Quintet. (Wednesday, Aug. 27)
Music Hikes Program:A chamber orchestra awaits trekkers in a secluded canyon. (Saturday, Aug. 30; Sunday, Aug. 31; Saturday, Sept. 6)
Sorrel River Ranch Program: Grammy-nominated mandolinist Sierra Hull graces audiences with her 5-piece band. (Saturday, Sept. 6)
Diving In $100-250
Floating Concerts Program: Explore the Colorado River by morning on a riverboat while taking in an ensemble of woodwinds or strings. (Friday, Aug. 29 or Sunday, Sept. 7)
Kin Program:Collaborators Andy Akiho (steel pan) and Ian Rosenbaum (marimba) perform in a glass-walled, open-air venue. (Wednesday, Sept. 3)
Ranch Benefit Concert: Edgar Meyer—Then & Now Program: Set at a private ranch, famed double bassist Edgar Meyer dazzles guests with a Bach Sonata and hand-picked trios. (Friday, Sept. 5)
Cannon-balling $500 +
Grotto Concerts Program: Delight in the rhythm of a guitar or the tremor of a Steinway grand piano with cozy ensembles in a secret grotto. (Thursday, Aug. 28, Thursday, Sept. 4, Tuesday, Sept. 9)
Cataract Canyon Musical Raft Trip with Chef Kenji López-Alt Program: Float with artists and an an award-winning chef for a 3-day, 4-night star-studded musical and culinary experience in Cataract Canyon. (Tuesday – Friday, Sept. 9-12)
Get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribeand get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
These charming small businessesdotting rural Utah have gained unprecedented fame thanks to big followings on social media. To thousands of followers, these niche shops and boutiques are often considered as much of a destination as the sparkling lakes, powdery chutes and red rock monoliths that hover nearby.
Beljar Home
Furnishings and fashion
Following a handsome, well-established couple as they hunt antiques in chocolate-box villages amongst honey-hued cottage shops? Yes, please. Joining said couple online as they choose cabinetry, fixtures and furnishings for new building projects in picturesque Heber Valley? We’re liking and subscribing.
With a storefront in Midway, the owners of Beljar Home take their online followers on sourcing journeys through Provence and the Cotswolds, advise DIY home decorators on layering old and new items, showcase just-arrived merchandise and take us along for a peek into their building projects, throwing words like “moody,” “old-world” and “antiquey” around more often than candy at a parade.
Exterior of Beljar Home. Photo courtesy of Beljar. Owners Desiree and James Bastian take followers along on their sourcing journeys. hoto courtesy of Beljar.
“You can come into the store and outfit an entire home, custom-order a sofa or find those perfect vintage light fixtures,” says co-owner Desiree Bastian of Beljar Home. “But we love visitors who come to just look around or pick up a little something to take home. Collecting things over time helps people tell their stories: an heirloom pillow, a unique salt and pepper shaker set, a hand-painted bowl, a cozy throw.”
James Bastian, the other half of the quintessential husband-wife duo, agrees. “We love it when our friends stop by. Some live around the corner, some live out of the country and stop in to meet us,” he says. “They pick up a cinnamon roll at Midway Bakery, come into the store, and then…on with their day. We love being part of the itinerary.”
Make a Day of It: Visit Deer Creek Reservoir, Homestead Crater, Soldier Hollow
Followers: 83.4k
Emie James
Home decor and gifts
Comprising Eden, Huntsville and Liberty,the 7,500 people who make up Ogden Valley cherish its small-town charm and tight-knit community. Amid sparkling Pineview Reservoir and nestled between the Wasatch and Monte Cristo Mountain Ranges, the valley hosts only a few storefronts and gas stations, a handful of restaurants, a market, a church, an elementary school, a hardware store and a library. The old monastery is gone now.
Peaceful, yes. Quaint, for sure. A little too quiet? Sometimes. Lifelong resident Lisa Pack and her daughter Marne Grange say they wanted to create a fun community hub not just for lifers like themselves, but for new residents and even visitors eager to make new friends.
Mother and daughter duo Lisa Pack (right) and Marne Grange (left), create a community space in Eden at Emie James. Photo courtesy of @emie_james
“There really wasn’t a place to hang out and see your girlfriends, to meet new people, to buy a little gift for a shower, to grab a little treat and say hello,” says Lisa, adding that the valley has deep roots going back generations but it’s sometimes hard to connect—especially for newcomers. “It occurred to us that some people feel like, ‘If I don’t have family from here, I don’t belong.’ We want people to feel connected in this community.”
Teaming up with her daughter, Marne Grange, the two, (who consider themselves “besties”), answered the call, opening a charming little home decor, gift and treat shop in Eden called Emie James.
Marne believes their online presence far outweighs store traffic because, while merchandise is trendy and up-to-the-minute, followers also get a glimpse of small-town life. It’s what compels folks to trek from Kaysville or Kentucky to meet the uber-friendly staff and bring home a whimsical, mounted metal moose sporting spectacles, a trendy kitchen towel or an oversized “Apres Ski” sweatshirt. Some visitors even stick around long enough to sign up for Emie James’ flower arranging, sushi-making or sourdough-baking workshops.
Owners: mother-daughter duo Lisa Pack and Marne Grange
Make a Day of It: Splash in Pineview or Causey Reservoir, hike the Brim Trail, mountain bike Ben Lomond or ski at Snow Basin or Powder Mountain.
Followers: 24.6k
The Creamery
Quick-stop dairy shop and full-service eatery
Many a childhood was spent gnawing on squeaky cheese curds in the back of the family station wagon after an I-15 pit stop at the dairy plant in Beaver, Utah.
“Those cheese curds are what got us here today,” says Matt Robinson, director of The Creamery. Matt also happens to be Beaver City’s mayor.
Still housed right off the freeway directly between Salt Lake and Las Vegas, the storefront experienced an extreme makeover as The Creamery, a stunning dairy dream house drawing in not just I-15 travelers, but–more than ever–those making a special trip.
The Creamery has long been a must-stop for I-15 travelers coming north to Salt Lake City or south to Las Vegas. Photo courtesy of The Creamery.
Formed by a dairy farmer co-op, the store makes it a point to share farming families’ stories via social media and posts every scrumptious dairy iteration sold in the store (think wrapped mango fire cheddar wedges and blueberry shortbread cookie mix). The quick-serve restaurant is a foodstagrammer’s dream: creamy strawberry ice cream, jalapeno mac and cheese, braised short rib grilled cheese sandwiches…you get the picture.
“Our guests come for amazing and unique dairy products and that’s a credit to the farmers, producers and folks in the kitchen,” says Mayor Matt. “Unmistakably, without a doubt, though, what people come to consume most at The Creamery is that small-town connection, that farm-to-table experience. They want to drink milk that comes from the Roberts’ dairy just 12 miles to the west, or those cheese curds made at 4 a.m. this morning.”
Make a Day of It: Birthplace of the famous outlaw, Butch Cassidy, visitors can check out the new Eagle Point ski and summer resort, hike, fish, snowmobile, or horseback ride through Fishlake National Forest in the Tushar Mountain Range, or check out the famous Crusher in the Tushars bike race.
Followers: 7.8k
Cosy House
Home and lifestyle shop
OK, OK, St. George is not exactly a small town,but it ain’t big either. And despite big-box stores anchoring strip malls among its red rock vistas, the southern Utah hotspot is not known as a shopping destination. (Just try to pry visitors away from their bikes or golf clubs!)
When Nancy Van Matre moved back to Utah from Southern California, she says she loved hopping on her bike and hitting the trails from her front door. “What’s not to love?” she asks, “Everything was right at my fingertips.”
Everything, the former homestore owner adds, except a beautiful place to shop. “I’d ask friends, ‘Where’s a place to buy a lovely little gift or something pretty for my home?’” she says. “The answer was always the same: TJ Maxx or Target.”
Nancy says she was anxious to recreate the quintessential cool home store, gift go-to and “shop around the corner.” Now, her Cosy House hosts a loyal following of local and social media friends who celebrate her effortless, laid-back aesthetic. The store features mounds of books, cozy furniture, ridiculously un-faux-looking faux foliage (because of all the second-home owners in St. George), sleek lamps, precious oil paintings, modern rugs, marble cake stands, delicate soap dishes and yummy smelling candles.
Now Nancy, her neighbors, and her followers who venture a visit really do have it all: their bikes, their golf clubs and their little shop around the corner.
Make a Day of It: Enjoy Snow Canyon, Zion National Park or Sand Hollow State Park. Try your mountain biking skills at Bearclaw Poppy or tee off at one of seven public golf courses in the area.
Followers: 18.2k
Snuck Farms
Modern farm and storefront featuring produce, gifts and a to-go menu
When Page Westover and her husbandBrian obtained her Grandpa “Snuck’s” Pleasant Grove property, cradled between Mt. Timpanogos and Mt. Nebo, the land had been reduced to just over three acres, surrounded by the type of residential developments that tip small towns into suburb status. But Pleasant Grove, which touts itself as an agricultural community, resists suburbia. Silicon Slopes may be a stone’s throw away, but rituals like June’s Strawberry Days—with its charming parade and rodeo—push back against encroaching sprawl.
Page dreamt of preserving her family’s land and its heritage. She also longed for a simple, small-town life for her family. By ‘simple’ she didn’t mean easy—but a back-to-the-land existence where the trained nutritionist could enjoy growing fresh food while working side by side with her kids.
“I’m driven to nourish people in that way,” says Page. “We need more spaces like this where people can be connected to their food.” A pipe dream for most, Page set about farming her small plot by utilizing hydroponics: a method of growing greens sans soil, which sprout side-by-side in an extended system of PVC pipes fed by recirculated water.
Photo courtesy of Snuck Farms Snuck Farm’s market is stocked with locally made foods, gifts and more. Photo courtesy of Snuck Farms
The result is fresh greens all year long. Documenting her labors with picturesque images of her modern barn, her maturing leafy lettuces in vivid greens and purples, and massive bundles of cut flowers from the extensive cutting gardens, her followers soak in the wonderment of romantic rural life. To get a closer look, folks can visit the farm store, where pressed juices, bags of fresh greens, cut flowers and products from other local farmers and artisans await purchase. The kitchen to-go items like wraps, salads and granola.
Page says her farm life attracts followers because farming is in our DNA—an intrinsic connection between humans and land. “People comment: ‘You’re living my dream, I wanna do this,” she says with a laugh. “And I think, ‘No you don’t.’ It’s nonstop, 24-seven, 365 days a year. There’s a reason people sell their farms.”
Truthfully, though, Page says she understands the draw—of course she does. “We don’t get access to this anymore, there’s very little greenspace,” she says. “There’s something innate and familiar, we don’t want to let go of this tie we feel with land and food.”
Make a Day of It: Explore Timpanogos Caves, hike to Battle Creek Waterfall, bike, walk or rollerblade along Murdock Canal trail, or hit the Strawberry Days parade and rodeo every June.
Followers: 16.2k
Bolt Ranch Store
Western lifestyle, clothing, home and gifts
Instead of buzzing through Kamas on your way to Mirror Lake, Jenny and Abby Watts recommend stopping to smell the flowers—or the fresh hay—and then coming by Bolt Ranch Store.
“The calving season in April and May is worth the drive up,” says Jenny. “Just cruise by all the beautiful fields and you’ll see them.”
Abby often answers questions about the famous nearby Oakley Rodeo in July, which Bolt Ranch Store sponsors, but she also reminds customers about Kamas’ Demolition Derby in May, Fiesta Days rodeo in late July, Frontier Days Rodeo over Labor Day weekend in Francis and Peoa’s Ranch Rodeo Shoot in June.
Jenny and Abby Watts, co-owners of Bolt Ranch House. Photo courtesy of Bolt Ranch House.
But you’ll need a great pair of boots to fit in—and if you’re in the market for a Stetson, the in-house hat shaper stands at the ready. If you decide to stay in Kamas and buy the whole ranch, Bolt House will stock you with enough horse tack, saddles, bridles and cowhide to last you until you remember you’re actually a city slicker.
“But we don’t just sell cowboy stuff,” says Abby, who owns the store with her mom, likening their partnership to a constant girls trip—shopping included. “We have all kinds of stuff, like Free People, Mother Denim, Goorin Bros. Hats, turquoise jewelry, local artwork and gifts. We’re like a mini department store.”
Yes, shoutouts and tags from Food Nanny and Ballerina Farm have helped put Bolt Ranch Store on the social media map, but it’s their gorgeous ranching photos mixed in with modeled merch that keeps followers coming back for more.
“At our ranch, we run 150 cow-calf pairs, (300 total), and we own eight Highland cows, four donkeys (which we plan to breed), ten horses, three Kunekune pigs, two barn cats and Walter, our Bernese Mt. Dog,” says Jenny. “You’ll meet Walter if you come in, he’s the official shop dog.”
Make a Day of It: Drive mirror Lake Scenic Byway, visit Provo River Falls and Notch Pub.
Followers: 20.2k
Read more stories like this and all of our Community coverage. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
Maybe it was Wonder Woman who lit a fire under a young Jacki Zehner. Kicking butt and taking names, it was she—(not a he)—wielding her truth-extracting magic lasso, those bullet-deflecting bracelets and rocking the tall red boots on the airwaves in Jacki’s hometown of Kelowna, B.C. Canada.
Or maybe it happened years later, when Jacki met trailblazing social activist Gloria Steinem. “Use your corporate role to create more opportunities for women,” Steinem told the finance whiz, who had just become the youngest female partner at Goldman Sachs.
Whatever set her course toward serving and championing women on the financial frontier, Jacki has spent nearly three decades leveraging her wealth, shrewdness and social capital, investing in female-owned businesses and funds, empowering women around money and inspiring financial power.
“Women simply haven’t been socialized to embrace money as a ‘power to’ tool—to our detriment. A ‘power to’ serve our families, have a positive social impact, help fund wealth creation for others,” she says. “Normalizing conversations and stories around money is a pathway to getting better with money.”
A Park City resident, Jacki says Utah’s high rankings for doing business, livability and quality of life can’t offset a glaring problem. “When it comes to women’s social and economic well-being and equality, we rank at the very bottom,” she says. “We can’t proudly tout favorable rankings while ignoring the unfavorable ones.”
Wonder Woman
Jacki studied finance at the University of British Columbia before joining Goldman Sachs as a trader in the late ’80s. Driven and fearless, she made partner in 1996 at just 32 years old. When Goldman Sachs went public three years later, Jacki experienced a significant windfall, and suddenly, she wasn’t just managing wealth for others—she was navigating her own.
Jacki (an avid collector) shares actress Linda Carter’s costume pieces from the original DC Comics Wonder Woman TV series. Photo by Adam Finkle
“After 14 years at Goldman, I was itching to leave and, believe it or not, write a Wonder Woman screenplay,” she says, reflecting on her lifelong love of the iconic character, and her newfound love of film.
Beloved by women the world over, Wonder Woman championed love, equality and sisterhood. Yet somehow, even by the early 2000s, the red-booted Amazonian princess didn’t have her own movie, her time on the airwaves had passed, and the newest generation of girls didn’t know her. Jacki was determined to change that.
At a dinner party, she found herself once again face to face with Gloria Steinem. Also a mega-fan, Gloria regularly peppered her speeches with allusions to the superhero and was known to have DC Comics on speed dial in the ’70s whenever the character edged more toward car-hop than superhero. Wonder Woman even graced the very first issue of Gloria’s Ms. magazine.
So, was it a coincidence that Jacki was seated next to one of the foremost experts on Wonder Woman?
“It was a sign,” she says, adding, “The next day I turned in my resignation at Goldman Sachs to chase the screenplay.” Jacki and Gloria have been friends ever since.
It was Warner Brothers that finally produced its own Wonder Woman movie in 2017 (try as she might, she could never secure the rights). But for Jacki, it was just the beginning. Still inspired and free from the hamster wheel, Jacki redirected her energy into helping women—and the world—in a different way: wielding her financial wizardry as her very own superpower.
Women Moving Millions and She Money/ShePlace
“Because women get less than 2% of venture capital,” Jacki explains when asked what motivated her next move.
She became the first president and CEO of Women Moving Millions (WMM), the only women-funding-women community of its caliber, having given over $1 billion towards the betterment of women and women-founded businesses. Additionally, her Foundation has invested in 25 women-owned companies and more than a dozen funds focused on female advancement.
Ever interested in film, she’s promoted and funded female documentary-makers and filmmakers interested in telling women’s stories as a Sundance Institute board member.
Now she’s taking to task Utah women’s upward mobility limitations, working with global thought leader Dr. Susan Madsen (Utah State University) on her state and privately-funded initiative, A Bolder Way Forward.
Once the youngest female partner at Goldman Sachs, Jacki’s SheMoney and ShePlace empower women around money. Photo by Adam Finkle
“Looking at the metrics with Susan and other state leaders,” says Jacki, “what I heard was: we need to get women talking about money.”
Jacki’s wildly popular monthly newsletter on LinkedIn (currently at just under 170k subscribers) became the impetus for a more robust platform. She founded ShePlace, an online and in-person network for women to grow their social capital, and, soon after, SheMoney, a consultancy and content platform to champion financial engagement for women.
So while Jacki could be spending her 60s sailing around the world attending Wonder Woman Comic-cons, she’s leading affordable summits, hosting workshops, creating podcasts and educating women’s organizations about the power of their money and how to use it better.
Jacki seems to have her own magic lasso for truth-telling. She’s encouraging women to share their ‘money stories’ and teaching them how to access capital. While the topic is weighty, somehow she manages to lighten the mood by infusing her other loves into the discussion: Beyoncé, cowboy culture and line dancing (or a combination of all three).
“I want to live in literally the best place in the country for everyone, including women,” Jacki says. “It’s not a zero-sum game. When we help women, we help children…we help everybody.”
Read more stories like this and all of our Community coverage. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.
These charming small businessesdotting rural Utah have gained unprecedented fame thanks to big followings on social media. To thousands of followers, these niche shops and boutiques are often considered as much of a destination as the sparkling lakes, powdery chutes and red rock monoliths that hover nearby.
Beljar Home
Furnishings and fashion
Following a handsome, well-established couple as they hunt antiques in chocolate-box villages amongst honey-hued cottage shops? Yes, please. Joining said couple online as they choose cabinetry, fixtures and furnishings for new building projects in picturesque Heber Valley? We’re liking and subscribing.
With a storefront in Midway, the owners of Beljar Home take their online followers on sourcing journeys through Provence and the Cotswolds, advise DIY home decorators on layering old and new items, showcase just-arrived merchandise and take us along for a peek into their building projects, throwing words like “moody,” “old-world” and “antiquey” around more often than candy at a parade.
Exterior of Beljar Home. Photo courtesy of Beljar. Owners Desiree and James Bastian take followers along on their sourcing journeys. hoto courtesy of Beljar.
“You can come into the store and outfit an entire home, custom-order a sofa or find those perfect vintage light fixtures,” says co-owner Desiree Bastian of Beljar Home. “But we love visitors who come to just look around or pick up a little something to take home. Collecting things over time helps people tell their stories: an heirloom pillow, a unique salt and pepper shaker set, a hand-painted bowl, a cozy throw.”
James Bastian, the other half of the quintessential husband-wife duo, agrees. “We love it when our friends stop by. Some live around the corner, some live out of the country and stop in to meet us,” he says. “They pick up a cinnamon roll at Midway Bakery, come into the store, and then…on with their day. We love being part of the itinerary.”
Make a Day of It: Visit Deer Creek Reservoir, Homestead Crater, Soldier Hollow
Followers: 83.4k
Emie James
Home decor and gifts
Comprising Eden, Huntsville and Liberty,the 7,500 people who make up Ogden Valley cherish its small-town charm and tight-knit community. Amid sparkling Pineview Reservoir and nestled between the Wasatch and Monte Cristo Mountain Ranges, the valley hosts only a few storefronts and gas stations, a handful of restaurants, a market, a church, an elementary school, a hardware store and a library. The old monastery is gone now.
Peaceful, yes. Quaint, for sure. A little too quiet? Sometimes. Lifelong resident Lisa Pack and her daughter Marne Grange say they wanted to create a fun community hub not just for lifers like themselves, but for new residents and even visitors eager to make new friends.
Mother and daughter duo Lisa Pack (right) and Marne Grange (left), create a community space in Eden at Emie James. Photo courtesy of @emie_james
“There really wasn’t a place to hang out and see your girlfriends, to meet new people, to buy a little gift for a shower, to grab a little treat and say hello,” says Lisa, adding that the valley has deep roots going back generations but it’s sometimes hard to connect—especially for newcomers. “It occurred to us that some people feel like, ‘If I don’t have family from here, I don’t belong.’ We want people to feel connected in this community.”
Teaming up with her daughter, Marne Grange, the two, (who consider themselves “besties”), answered the call, opening a charming little home decor, gift and treat shop in Eden called Emie James.
Marne believes their online presence far outweighs store traffic because, while merchandise is trendy and up-to-the-minute, followers also get a glimpse of small-town life. It’s what compels folks to trek from Kaysville or Kentucky to meet the uber-friendly staff and bring home a whimsical, mounted metal moose sporting spectacles, a trendy kitchen towel or an oversized “Apres Ski” sweatshirt. Some visitors even stick around long enough to sign up for Emie James’ flower arranging, sushi-making or sourdough-baking workshops.
Owners: mother-daughter duo Lisa Pack and Marne Grange
Make a Day of It: Splash in Pineview or Causey Reservoir, hike the Brim Trail, mountain bike Ben Lomond or ski at Snow Basin or Powder Mountain.
Followers: 24.6k
The Creamery
Quick-stop dairy shop and full-service eatery
Many a childhood was spent gnawing on squeaky cheese curds in the back of the family station wagon after an I-15 pit stop at the dairy plant in Beaver, Utah.
“Those cheese curds are what got us here today,” says Matt Robinson, director of The Creamery. Matt also happens to be Beaver City’s mayor.
Still housed right off the freeway directly between Salt Lake and Las Vegas, the storefront experienced an extreme makeover as The Creamery, a stunning dairy dream house drawing in not just I-15 travelers, but–more than ever–those making a special trip.
The Creamery has long been a must-stop for I-15 travelers coming north to Salt Lake City or south to Las Vegas. Photo courtesy of The Creamery.
Formed by a dairy farmer co-op, the store makes it a point to share farming families’ stories via social media and posts every scrumptious dairy iteration sold in the store (think wrapped mango fire cheddar wedges and blueberry shortbread cookie mix). The quick-serve restaurant is a foodstagrammer’s dream: creamy strawberry ice cream, jalapeno mac and cheese, braised short rib grilled cheese sandwiches…you get the picture.
“Our guests come for amazing and unique dairy products and that’s a credit to the farmers, producers and folks in the kitchen,” says Mayor Matt. “Unmistakably, without a doubt, though, what people come to consume most at The Creamery is that small-town connection, that farm-to-table experience. They want to drink milk that comes from the Roberts’ dairy just 12 miles to the west, or those cheese curds made at 4 a.m. this morning.”
Make a Day of It: Birthplace of the famous outlaw, Butch Cassidy, visitors can check out the new Eagle Point ski and summer resort, hike, fish, snowmobile, or horseback ride through Fishlake National Forest in the Tushar Mountain Range, or check out the famous Crusher in the Tushars bike race.
Followers: 7.8k
Cosy House
Home and lifestyle shop
OK, OK, St. George is not exactly a small town,but it ain’t big either. And despite big-box stores anchoring strip malls among its red rock vistas, the southern Utah hotspot is not known as a shopping destination. (Just try to pry visitors away from their bikes or golf clubs!)
When Nancy Van Matre moved back to Utah from Southern California, she says she loved hopping on her bike and hitting the trails from her front door. “What’s not to love?” she asks, “Everything was right at my fingertips.”
Everything, the former homestore owner adds, except a beautiful place to shop. “I’d ask friends, ‘Where’s a place to buy a lovely little gift or something pretty for my home?’” she says. “The answer was always the same: TJ Maxx or Target.”
Nancy says she was anxious to recreate the quintessential cool home store, gift go-to and “shop around the corner.” Now, her Cosy House hosts a loyal following of local and social media friends who celebrate her effortless, laid-back aesthetic. The store features mounds of books, cozy furniture, ridiculously un-faux-looking faux foliage (because of all the second-home owners in St. George), sleek lamps, precious oil paintings, modern rugs, marble cake stands, delicate soap dishes and yummy smelling candles.
Now Nancy, her neighbors, and her followers who venture a visit really do have it all: their bikes, their golf clubs and their little shop around the corner.
Make a Day of It: Enjoy Snow Canyon, Zion National Park or Sand Hollow State Park. Try your mountain biking skills at Bearclaw Poppy or tee off at one of seven public golf courses in the area.
Followers: 18.2k
Snuck Farms
Modern farm and storefront featuring produce, gifts and a to-go menu
When Page Westover and her husbandBrian obtained her Grandpa “Snuck’s” Pleasant Grove property, cradled between Mt. Timpanogos and Mt. Nebo, the land had been reduced to just over three acres, surrounded by the type of residential developments that tip small towns into suburb status. But Pleasant Grove, which touts itself as an agricultural community, resists suburbia. Silicon Slopes may be a stone’s throw away, but rituals like June’s Strawberry Days—with its charming parade and rodeo—push back against encroaching sprawl.
Page dreamt of preserving her family’s land and its heritage. She also longed for a simple, small-town life for her family. By ‘simple’ she didn’t mean easy—but a back-to-the-land existence where the trained nutritionist could enjoy growing fresh food while working side by side with her kids.
“I’m driven to nourish people in that way,” says Page. “We need more spaces like this where people can be connected to their food.” A pipe dream for most, Page set about farming her small plot by utilizing hydroponics: a method of growing greens sans soil, which sprout side-by-side in an extended system of PVC pipes fed by recirculated water.
Photo courtesy of Snuck Farms Snuck Farm’s market is stocked with locally made foods, gifts and more. Photo courtesy of Snuck Farms
The result is fresh greens all year long. Documenting her labors with picturesque images of her modern barn, her maturing leafy lettuces in vivid greens and purples, and massive bundles of cut flowers from the extensive cutting gardens, her followers soak in the wonderment of romantic rural life. To get a closer look, folks can visit the farm store, where pressed juices, bags of fresh greens, cut flowers and products from other local farmers and artisans await purchase. The kitchen to-go items like wraps, salads and granola.
Page says her farm life attracts followers because farming is in our DNA—an intrinsic connection between humans and land. “People comment: ‘You’re living my dream, I wanna do this,” she says with a laugh. “And I think, ‘No you don’t.’ It’s nonstop, 24-seven, 365 days a year. There’s a reason people sell their farms.”
Truthfully, though, Page says she understands the draw—of course she does. “We don’t get access to this anymore, there’s very little greenspace,” she says. “There’s something innate and familiar, we don’t want to let go of this tie we feel with land and food.”
Make a Day of It: Explore Timpanogos Caves, hike to Battle Creek Waterfall, bike, walk or rollerblade along Murdock Canal trail, or hit the Strawberry Days parade and rodeo every June.
Followers: 16.2k
Bolt Ranch Store
Western lifestyle, clothing, home and gifts
Instead of buzzing through Kamas on your way to Mirror Lake, Jenny and Abby Watts recommend stopping to smell the flowers—or the fresh hay—and then coming by Bolt Ranch Store.
“The calving season in April and May is worth the drive up,” says Jenny. “Just cruise by all the beautiful fields and you’ll see them.”
Abby often answers questions about the famous nearby Oakley Rodeo in July, which Bolt Ranch Store sponsors, but she also reminds customers about Kamas’ Demolition Derby in May, Fiesta Days rodeo in late July, Frontier Days Rodeo over Labor Day weekend in Francis and Peoa’s Ranch Rodeo Shoot in June.
Jenny and Abby Watts, co-owners of Bolt Ranch House. Photo courtesy of Bolt Ranch House.
But you’ll need a great pair of boots to fit in—and if you’re in the market for a Stetson, the in-house hat shaper stands at the ready. If you decide to stay in Kamas and buy the whole ranch, Bolt House will stock you with enough horse tack, saddles, bridles and cowhide to last you until you remember you’re actually a city slicker.
“But we don’t just sell cowboy stuff,” says Abby, who owns the store with her mom, likening their partnership to a constant girls trip—shopping included. “We have all kinds of stuff, like Free People, Mother Denim, Goorin Bros. Hats, turquoise jewelry, local artwork and gifts. We’re like a mini department store.”
Yes, shoutouts and tags from Food Nanny and Ballerina Farm have helped put Bolt Ranch Store on the social media map, but it’s their gorgeous ranching photos mixed in with modeled merch that keeps followers coming back for more.
“At our ranch, we run 150 cow-calf pairs, (300 total), and we own eight Highland cows, four donkeys (which we plan to breed), ten horses, three Kunekune pigs, two barn cats and Walter, our Bernese Mt. Dog,” says Jenny. “You’ll meet Walter if you come in, he’s the official shop dog.”
Make a Day of It: Drive mirror Lake Scenic Byway, visit Provo River Falls and Notch Pub.
Followers: 20.2k
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While I like to hunt for little gems “off the beaten path” to share with readers, I haven’t forgotten why the path itself is well-trodden. Today, I pay homage to a time-tested favorite: the Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park in Utah.
It’s hard to believe it’s been around for 34 years. Like so many farmers markets all over the country, it’s evolved from a handful of stands offering home-grown fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, dairy and honey into lines of arts and crafts stalls and food trucks. It’s been the launchpad for many of Salt Lake’s most successful and iconic businesses—yes, Bruges Waffles and The Bagel Project were once just a food truck and a dream. You might even remember when Rico Mexican Foods, Saffron Valley, Laziz Kitchen, Licke’d Popsicles or Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade were just making a name for themselves as charming little stalls or trucks.
Treanna Carrol serves up limeade at the Sweet Lakes Limeade stallCourtney Stevens sips a fresh limeade at the Sweet Lakes Limeade stall
And while they’re all grown up with a proper storefront now, many haven’t exactly flown the coop. The line for fresh limeade at the Sweet Lake stand every Saturday isn’t going anywhere.
“The limeade stand started 19 years ago, and it was so successful that the owners opened a breakfast and lunch restaurant and expanded the menu,” says Tara Sperry, who manages the stand. “But the Farmers Market is still one of our biggest money-makers.”
Every June through the end of October, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Downtown Farmers Market serves as a community gathering space, even hosting hair-brained stalls like the “Old Coots,” where folks line up to get free advice from old guys.
For years, the “Old Coots” gathered at Caputo’s Market and Deli, sipping coffee and shooting the breeze with their leader, Tony Caputo. Later, they set up some lawn chairs by his stall at the Farmers Market and put up a sign: “Old Coots Giving Advice: It’s probably bad advice, but it’s free.”
People started wandering over—after years, they still do. Even though Tony passed away in 2021, the “Old Coots” live on, and so does the line of market-goers asking for advice on everything from cheating husbands to pets to what kind of car they should buy.
A favorite Farmers Market treat: apple cider donuts
I’m a regular at the market—a sucker for the bakery stalls, apple cider slushies and unique artsy gifts. My daughter loves to shop for turquoise jewelry (the only thing stopping her from buying more is the simple fact that she is out of real estate—every finger is taken, every square inch of her ears). I tend to eat my way through baked goods and limeade, then I inevitably buy a carton of apricots, raspberries, cherries, or whatever fruit is at its peak. Sometimes I buy a jar of lavender honey or pineapple salsa or whatever is new and interesting.
Volker Bakery serves up summer bakes at the Downtown Farmers Market
After I’m loaded down with food, I love soaking in the creativity that surges through the market. One woman’s passion for crochet has evolved into a stall filled with wearables and home decor. Another guy makes astounding treasures out of leather. I spotted longtime artist Stephanie Swift’s Pretty Little Pixel stall. She digitally illustrates iconic neon signs from around Salt Lake City, selling her art at the Farmers Market since 2015. Her prints and wood blocks tickle nostalgists like me who love gazing at the city’s old-timey signs like the Villa Movie Theater, Ex Wife’s Place, Blue Plate Diner, Dee’s, CarpeTown and Snelgroves.
Stephanie Swift’s Pretty Little Pixel stall at the Downtown Farmers MarketArtwork displayed at Stephanie Swift’s Pretty Little Pixel stall
“The Farmers Market makes up the majority of my livelihood,” Swift says between conversations, hugs and hellos from fellow artists and friends. “The other six months of the year I take on freelance art and graphic design work.”
Of course, there are many new faces at the Market, too. AmsterDam Delicious (Dutch stroopwafels), Do Young Kimchi, Beehive Freeze Honey Slush, Girls Who Smash (burgers), Grumpy Dough (Filipino sandwiches), Heat Street (hot sauces) and at least a dozen more are exciting new additions for 2025.
I wonder if this will be the origin story for the next wave of Utah’s favorite restaurants. Time will tell, but upon my 12:30 arrival, a few of these new stalls were plumb out of food—they may still be feeling their way through the supply process, but whatever the reason, it’s a good problem to have.
Since Utah prides itself on all things bee-related, I think the honey slush-makers are on to something. I haven’t even tried their product yet—they were out of slush and packing up. As I walk back to my car, I’m already planning an earlier arrival time next week so I can get a taste —I’m sure I’ll need another carton of apricots and another loaf of sourdough bread anyway. My daughter catches up to me, and…ope, it looks like she bought yet another ring. I guess she’s hoping to grow another finger.
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It’s making five stops around the country in search of the rare and exotic for its 30th anniversary tour, landing in Salt Lake City at Red Butte Gardens this past week for tapings of three episodes, which will hit airwaves sometime next spring.
Antiques Roadshow, a PBS program with 5 million weekly viewers, features antique owners who bring in items to be appraised by experts. The rarest, most valuable, wackiest, or unwittingly worthless items are often chosen for airtime, so regular folks get a chance to receive an expert, unbiased appraisal of their treasures, and possibly, 5 minutes of fame.
Members of the press (and, by the way, volunteers who work the show) are offered a behind-the-scenes look at the show, as well as a chance to have a treasure of their own appraised. I’m carrying a 1899 Mormon hymnal that belonged to my great-grandpa. Approaching the “triage” tent at the entrance, my item is given the once-over by a gatekeeper of sorts, who directs me to a tent designated specifically for book appraisals. The Roadshow’s “pickers,” as they’re called, also wander the premises, observing appraisals and looking for potential film-worthy folks and items.
An easy guy to spot with his signature long white beard and shock of gray hair, Utah’s own Ken Sanders (of Ken Sanders Rare Books—a community fixture to be sure), meets with me at the Books and Manuscripts tent. He’s been summoned many times by the show to travel with it across the nation, where he sits with other expert appraisers in one of 20 or so tents, ranging in categories from sports memorabilia to small furnishings.
The show doesn’t seem to have a special section for old Mormon heirlooms, but maybe it should—regional items are a big deal to Antiques Roadshow, according to a media rep who escorts me to ensure I don’t film any big reveals or let any cats out of any bags. Many of the folks I chat with seem to have at least one LDS church-related heirloom in their cart—something owned by an old church leader, some out-of-print pamphlet, or some treasured Family Bible. When it comes to appraising books of faith, especially this particular faith, Ken, a 60-year veteran in the field, is definitely your man. He gives my hymnal a quick, but admiring look and asks me after its provenance, which I’m more than willing to share—I like any chance to talk about my grandpa, who has long since passed. Ken appraises the hymnal for between $300 and-500. Fair enough. I wasn’t planning to sell it, but even if I’d wanted to, no transactions or exchanges are allowed on the premises.
“I’m really after the stories,” Ken tells me of his appraising career, saying he enjoys going along with folks on their sentimental journeys, whether the heirloom fetches an exciting monetary value or not—although he hints that earlier in the day, he’d given one guest some very good news about a special object. (Details remain guarded until airing.) “I love watching people light up when they talk about their treasures and how it was brought in a covered wagon by their great, great grandparent and passed from generation to generation.”
He says he also alerts producers when he meets endearing or unique personalities. Guests Rodney and Kimberly (I’m allowed to say first names only) are chosen for filming after their appraisal. They say that while they’re disappointed to learn that a ring they thought was 120 years old was actually only 30 years old, and that their Family Bible wasn’t as rare as they’d hoped. But they still had fun at the event.
“The appraiser, Lourdes, was really kind about it, even though she had to break the bad news,” says Rodney. Yes, it’s a reality show, but unlike most that entertain us by exploiting tales of woe, Antiques Roadshow, according to the rep, aims to educate viewers on how to avoid swindlers and scams.
Wandering around, I spot folks toting old swords, china sets, vintage posters, paintings, dolls, video games, a giant Mr. Peanut figure, an old radio…it goes on and on.
Jo, who calls herself a ‘mega-fan’, says she hopes to meet one of the regular personalities on the show. Suzanne, who daintily sits in line awaiting her turn to talk with an appraiser, wears a 1918 nurse’s uniform from World War I. She says the uniform saw action, with blood stains that took five dry cleanings to remove. Suazanne also proudly shows me an original blood pressure cuff and a photo of her late husband, who died 30 years ago, performing the first heart surgery in the West.
A quick perusal of the pop culture collectables section proved most interesting. Travis Landry, a show favorite with his boisterous personality and loudly cool clothes, owns a pop culture auction house in New York and appears regularly as an appraiser. He says his category has found its way on the show because collectors are crazy for childhood nostalgia like Pokémon cards, GI Joes and Super Nintendos with rare games, which, I noticed, can sometimes fetch a prettier penny than, say, a Victorian-era walnut chair, even in pristine condition. Trends, after all, dictate demand.
“My favorite stories are when someone doesn’t even know what they have,” says Travis. “It’s something they’ve been using as a doorstop and then one day they think, ‘hmmm, I wonder if this is worth anything.’ I love giving them the great news.”
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Theresa May, Condoleezza Rice, Mike Pompeo, Antony J. Blinken, Jacinda Ardern and Kevin Rudd praise Utah and talk turkey with leaders about navigating economic uncertainty
A handful of global leaders met in Salt Lake City on Wednesday and Thursday to speak at an invitation-only event before Utah’s top political, community and business leaders.
Former Prime Ministers Theresa May (United Kingdom), Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand) and Kevin Rudd (Australia/current ambassador to the U.S.) as well as former U.S. Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice, Mike Pompeo and Antony J. Blinken were among those sharing insights and opinions regarding recent economic uncertainty and global market upheaval in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The 2nd annual Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit, sponsored by Zions Bank and World Trade Center Utah, was held at the Grand America Hotel.
“These across-the-board tariffs, I think, are a recipe for a downward spiral,” Antony Blinken said in a forum-style conversation with Jeff Flake, the former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, now serving as chairman of the board at World Trade Center Utah. Blinken called for the U.S. to remain the “last, best hope” of the world by continuing to assert global leadership.
World Trade Center Utah Board Chair Jeff Flake talks with former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
“If we isolate and pull back, the world will move on without us,” Blinken warned. “The most important currency we have around the world is trust, our greatest asset is the voluntary relationships we’ve created that are the envy of other countries…my fear is that will erode.”
The World Trade Center Utah serves as the statewide voice for international business and aims to elevate Utah’s global status and international engagement. Natalie Gochnour, Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, shared data showing why Utah is one of the best-performing states in the country: the top performing state in gross domestic product, with a growth rate of 4.5% (compared to the nation’s 2.8%), and its workforce is the third most “well-trained, well-educated in the country,” Gochnour said.
Zions Bank Chairman and CEO Harris Simmons talks with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
That’s good news for Utah companies, which are rapidly growing overseas and attracting global investors. In 2024, Utah exported $18.2 billion in goods to the world and imported $21.9 billion from 154 countries, according to the Gardner report. International trade contributed nearly $8 billion to the state’s gross domestic product and supports more than 70,000 jobs in the state.
Global leaders at the summit repeatedly assured attendees that the world is taking notice. They applauded Utah’s rapid acceleration and spirit of ingenuity despite a period of economic turmoil, and encouraged leaders not to react instantly to every news reel but rather to be prepared with scenario planning, compromise and restraint. Leaders were also warned against trade war legislation and dehumanization and encouraged to seek strategies for getting ahead of the curve when it comes to legislation on technological advancements that have the potential to harm.
“We have non-zero-sum thinking,” said Governor Spencer Cox, also a speaker at the two-day summit. Utah was recently named the best state in the nation for the third year in a row by U.S. News and World Report. “Utah is no longer this spunky upstart state trying to make our way on the stage. We are known for our people. The greatest resource we have is our people.”
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It’s not in the water… but it’s likely the altitude igniting super-fast runners from Utah at the Boston Marathon
This year’s Boston Marathon (April 21) put Utah on the world’s stage…from broken records to banana costumes. While we’re stoked about Banana Man Jordan Maddocks (of Draper) reclaiming his Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run by someone dressed as fruit (he ran in a banana costume with a very fast time of 2:33:19), we’re even more excited about three Utah runners who made history.
Connor Mantz at the Boston Marathon. Photo courtesy of Boston Athletics Association.
Smithfield, Utah native Conner Mantz became the top American finisher in the world’s oldest annual marathon with a time of 2:05:04—that’s the second-fastest time run by an American man on the course. Mantz averaged 4 minutes, 47 seconds per mile and came in fourth overall.
Closely behind Mantz were fellow Brigham Young University (BYU) alums Rory Linkletter, (6th place) of Herriman and Clayton Young (7th place), from American Fork, who clocked in at less than two minutes behind Mantz. All three competed last summer in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
African-born runners have won 32 of the past 34 Boston Marathons, and it’s highly unusual to see an American running within the elite, front-running pack, let alone three. While it was ultimately John Korir of Kenya crossing the finish first with a time of 2:04:45, the world is paying attention to little ol’ Utah. Is there something in the water? Probably not, but at 4,500 feet above sea level, our altitude, climate, and gorgeous peaks and valleys are gaining traction in the running world as a perfect training ground. BYU seems to have supplanted Oregon as the distance-running capital among universities and Utah’s recently created and state-funded Run Elite Program, (REP) is helping attract and retain high-level runners.
“With its towering mountains and supportive communities, Utah has been an integral part of my life,” Conner Mantz wrote for Olympic Team USA. “From my high school days at Sky View to my time at Brigham Young University, the cheers from the sidelines and the genuine excitement for our races were a constant source of motivation.”
Utah sent 377 runners to the storied Boston Marathon this year, which features a celebrated course, huge, high-energy crowds from start to finish, and, lest we forget, the iconic blue-and-yellow unicorn finisher’s medal.
“Boston is my victory,” a tagline for the annual Patriots Day event, (held the third Monday in April) really holds true. Most of this year’s 32,000 runners from around the globe worked tirelessly to achieve a qualifying time, and with demand ever increasing, those qualifying standards keep dropping lower and lower and runners hoping for a spot are required to beat that standard by an ever-increasing margin. Those selected to run Boston in 2025, for instance, averaged 6 minutes, 51 seconds faster than the minimum qualifying standard for their age group.
That means even Banana Man is no joke. How many folks do you know that can run a sub-six minute mile for over 26 miles? And in a banana costume? The chaffing alone deserves a medal. So here’s to you Conner, Rory, Clayton and…Banana Man.
Kenyan runners Sharon Lokedi and John Korir took the champion’s medal in the women and men’s category. Photo courtesy of Boston Athletics Association.
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They’ve put their stamp on Utah over decades, weaving threads of economic impact, cultural influence, social change and compassion into our community tapestry. When we ski next to a double amputee, cheer at a Jazz game, enjoy cuisine prepared by a culinary-trained refugee, take in community theater, serve food at a homeless resource center, or see a 12-year-old sporting his very first pair of new shoes, there’s a good chance that Gail Miller, Lavanya Mahate, Celeste Edmunds or Meeche White were involved. Get to know these long-standing women of influence.
Gail Miller
Co-Founder and Owner, Larry H. Miller Company
Gail Miller says it was her dream to be a mom. “I loved raising our five children, but because of Larry’s crazy schedule, I did it mostly by myself,” she says of her husband, Larry Miller, whose major automotive group with a portfolio of over 70 dealerships still bears his name. By the 1980s, the Millers became a powerhouse capable of building megaplexes and buying a failing NBA franchise, building a 20,000-seat downtown arena, and transforming the Utah Jazz not just into a goldmine, but into a truly unifying organization for the people of Utah.
With twinkling eyes and an easy smile, the soft-spoken Gail describes their clearly defined roles. “He was the breadwinner and I was the homemaker.”
Gail Miller
CO-Founder and Owner, Larry H. Miller Company
The plot twist: while he went to the office and she stayed home, Gail and Larry were more than life partners—they were business partners, too. Gail describes daily discussions of nearly every detail of the Larry H. Miller Company (LHM). “I was always plugged in as an equal partner and we made company decisions together, even though I didn’t work in the office.”
When Larry died from complications of diabetes in 2009, Gail, then 65, was enjoying her grandkids and looking forward to their quiet retirement. Instead, she stepped in to take over.
“Before he died, he knew there were things that needed to change and he asked me to stabilize the ‘now’ and create a bridge for the future,” she says. Although he acknowledged Gail as his business partner throughout his career, Larry’s role was highly visible and she preferred flying under the radar. Now, there was no avoiding it. “I had to preserve what we’d built,” she says.
What happened next may have surprised even Larry. “I think he knew I’d meet the challenge, but I don’t think he’d believe how far we’ve come since then,” she says of the company’s extensive growth.
Right away, she set up a board of directors, describing it as a tough sell to a company that didn’t see itself as broken. “I was a little unpopular for the decision at first, but everyone eventually realized it was a good change,” Gail says.
She admits she suffered from imposter syndrome, with fears and self-doubt. “I think as women we sometimes wait for someone to give us permission to move forward with an idea,” she says. “We let timidity and fear get in the way. We may have to fight a little harder, but we have the right to put ourselves and our ideas forward.”
At LHM, Gail directed the focus of the company’s growth and diversity of its operations. She oversaw the eventual sale of the dealerships and the Jazz and the subsequent investments in healthcare and real estate.
“I think as women we sometimes wait for someone to give us permission to move forward with an idea…We let timidity and fear get in the way. We may have to fight a little harder, but we have the right to put ourselves and our ideas forward.”
During the past 15 years, LHM has doubled in both size and revenue, making Gail the wealthiest individual in Utah.
She deflects praise and attributes her success to the confluence of many minds. She sees her leadership style as a gatherer of viewpoints, rather than a commanding executive.
“You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room, you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, you just have to be willing to learn,” she says.
While the “Grand Matriarch of the Beehive State” remains highly involved in all areas of LHM, Gail recently stepped down as chair to turn more attention to her family foundation and many community endeavors. Founding arts venues, fighting child abuse and campaigning for Major League Baseball to bring top level a team to Utah is all in a day’s work for Gail.
Her work with homelessness is something she’s especially proud of. The Gail Miller Resource Center provides a comprehensive network of support for unhoused individuals, and her work with the Utah Impact Partnership helps to humanize homelessness and encourage compassion.
As for her legacy, she says she’d like to be remembered for her values. “I think women have to understand who they are and not deviate from it to please someone else,” she says. “My values come out in whatever I do and I think that’s why people notice me. I haven’t tried to change who I am for anyone.”
Annual Impact
Pledged $22 Million to Ballpark development fund
Served 5,000 Thanksgiving Day meals
Donated $3 million and launched $500,000 grant initiative to improve lives on the SLC west side
$25 Million to Salt Lake County for new South Jordan Regional Arts Center
$2.2 million to for water conservation and water education
$850,000 for mental health resources at SUU
$1 million to the OTECH Foundation for a new Pathway Building
$394,500 toward new center for Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation
Larry H. Miller Family Foundation Community Organization Grants
The Miller Family Foundation supports community programs with missions related to health and medicine, shelter and food security, education and skill development, jobs and economic self-reliance, and cultural and spiritual enrichment. Learn more or apply for a grant for your organization at lhm.com/doing-good.
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