You live in Southern Utah and your friends are jealous

By now you’ve learned almost no one in Southern Utah is from Southern Utah. Now and then you’ll find someone born and raised here or an occasional 2nd or 3rd generation native but it’s rare. For those who moved here from somewhere else, you know this is the time of year when you start to hear from friends and family across the USA. Why? Their daily temperature doesn’t have a second digit anymore. 

They may laugh during the summer months when we’re hitting 116° regularly but NOW, we’re the people they really want to visit for a few days.  

It still gets cold here now and then but Southern Utah really shines when it comes to the winter months. I was surprised the first few times I saw snow after we moved to St George. And my wife’s horses were not thrilled. I could feel them looking at me as they stood in the snow asking, “What part of ‘Arabian’ horse made you think this was a good place for us?” (I hate when her horses talk to me).  

But it’s fun to send your friends a selfie as you stand on the tee of your favorite golf course in January. You might even get a kick out of telling them about your sun burn in February. My sister is moving back to Hawaii and she knows her family will visit ...because it’s HAWAII, but that’s a very expensive plane ticket.  

We’ve got 11 golf courses in St George and another 7 or 8 within 15 miles of here. Even if you don’t golf, send your friends a few pictures just to make them jealous.  

If you’ve ever been to Wisconsin in the winter, you know the people move from one building to another through a series of tunnels like a hamster habitat. Those people need to see your pictures from the hiking trails that wind all over our little paradise.

Everybody loves to dine outdoors and we win there too. You may have to check the forecast and plan a little but if you’re OK with sunny and 55 for outdoor dining, you’ve come to the right place.  

I visited the Mall of America in Minnesota once but while it is BIG, I still like being outside going from one store to another and St George wins there too. Even if it’s 40 degrees, if the suns out – you're good to go.   

I think we’re becoming the mountain biking capital of the world too. I know you have a lot of choices when you're ready to bike some trails. And have you witnessed the e-bike explosion? These things are everywhere because people who haven’t been training every day can still take a bike out for a spin and let the motor do the work when they need to get back to the starting point.  

Be polite as you gloat.  Just invite your friends and family to drop in for a visit.  Even if you don't mean it.  They'll still be jealous and you'll look like you actually wanted them to fly out.