15

We've been through a couple of times. It's just another Southern Utah Mormon town - very neat with wide streets. But it's not actually that well situated for both Zion NP and Bryce Canyon NP - some non-direct driving required to reach both. All very scenic - and Cedar Breaks / Brian Head is an interesting ski region as well - but I think Springdale is better. More hip, and more geared to the casual traveller.

16

Cedar City isn't very small or quaint. Population around 30,000. It is a college town, if that matters. It's a minor hangout for skiiers (using nearby Brian Head) in the winter. For such reasons, restaurants are perhaps a bit more varied than in the usual Utah small-city (but not by a lot)

Kanab is pretty much perfectly located for Zion, Bryce, and North Rim, and in a scenic location at the foot of the Utah Vermillion Cliffs. It is pretty small (population about 3500; doesn't seem that big), but I would not call it quaint, or possessing any character other than as an old Dixie (southern Utah) Mormon town; no particularly unique or "heritage" buildings. It has a fine "local-institution" Arizona-Mex restaurant (Nedra's) that's been run by the same family for 50 years or so (actually started in Fredonia, AZ, 7 miles away). I would echo ianw6705 that Springdale is "more hip, and more geared to the casual traveller" - though nothing in Dixie is all that "hip".

17

You've reminded me of the Dixie Hostel we stayed in a few times, in Hurricane. A small oasis of funkiness in an otherwise square Mormon town ... run by an unusual Yankee. And one of the local casual staff, about 30yo (who was rowing, but didn't seem to have all the oars in the water) told us his story ... said he was one of 47 siblings, and he hated his life. Weird world.

18

OP, you still around?