Utah

We spent nearly 5 weeks in Utah and did NOT want to leave. We dabbled across the border to Colorado and found underage drunken yobs cursing indian americans, mexicans, tourists and anyone with families; we heard from Californians how fantastic city life was but were given no explanation of why everyone was out east; we nipped into Arizona only to be talked down to by park rangers at Glen Canyon, and to find a town with more churches per capita than anywhere in Utah and a way more authoritarian attitude to go with it...

We barely saw a Mormon in Utah, but wouldn't have minded if we had. It has to be the most pleasant state in America, so listen up those from other states:

• Drivers are corteous - we never once came close to being run off the road and even truck drivers gave way to us!
  
• Utaians (not those who move there from other states) are friendly, polite, love to talk and are a lot of fun, and it doesn't involve getting drunk and making an ass of themselves
• The riding community are exceptionally friendly and helpful (but they are good in most places, so that's no surprise), even if they did joke about taking Al's bike over some sweet jumps...
  
• There is sooooo much to do: mountainbiking (tick), off roading (tick), amazing scenery (tick), rock climbing (tick), rafting and kayaking (tick), walking (tick), backcountry with no one else around (tick), scenic drives (tick), canyons (tick, tick tick), rivers and lakes you can swim in (tick)
  
• It's warm in spring and summer, it doesn't rain evey day, and you can ride without your jacket liner on
• Great hippie/indigenous art scene 
• Campsites (including state parks) that cost less that $20 per night, and include FREE hot showers
• Red rock isn't just red, its orange, terracotta, sand, yellow, white, pink and all combos between and you don't get bored of it...
  
• Who else does slot canyons and hoodoos as well as Utah?
  

Don't believe everything you hear about Utah; spend some time, relax and you'll love it as much as we did.