Utah travel: Not the same old I-15 road trip (with interactive map)

Traveling the 302 miles from Salt Lake City to St. George along Interstate 15 is an automobile journey that thousands of Wasatch Front residents make each year.
    The route leads to vacation destinations including Zion National Park, Snow Canyon State Park, St. George, Mesquite, Nev., Las Vegas and Southern California.
    Whether traveling with children, as a couple or alone, the four-hour drive can become long and tedious, often broken up only with quick bathroom breaks or stops at fast-food joints near gas stations off freeway exits.
    To those who make this drive often, the oft-quoted words of the late Charles Kuralt - "thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything" - can ring true.
    The only thing that can make the trip even halfway satisfying is to occasionally get off the interstate and try to find a nonfranchise eatery, a museum or historical site or a factory outlet that breaks up the drive.
    Here is a look at places between Santaquin in southern Utah County and Cedar City that offer good spots to grab a meal, tour a museum or enjoy some quick shopping without spending too much time away from reaching a final destination (directions and exits are for those driving south from Salt Lake City).
   
    SANTAQUIN - Leslie's Family Tree Restaurant at 77 W. Main St., off the first I-15 exit, is a good stop if you take this turnoff to Little Sahara. The best thing about this stop are the giant hot scones.
    - Take the second exit off I-15 to the red barn visible behind fruit orchards that is Rowley's South Ridge Farms, 300 W. 900 South. This is a good spot to grab fresh fruit, Aggie ice cream, a cold drink or dried and chocolate-covered fruit as well as Utah-oriented souvenirs. It also has large, clean restrooms.
   
    MONA - Young Living Farms are at 3700 N. Highway 91. Take the second Santaquin exit and then follow the signs a few miles south. While essential oils are distilled and sold here, the farm also offers a variety of fun family activities, including a large petting zoo.
   
    NEPHI - Take the second exit to the Salt Creek Steak House at 22 N. Sheep Lane. This is an upscale restaurant with steaks and seafood, a children's menu, full-service bar and regularly scheduled entertainment. Open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner nightly except Sunday.
   
    FILLMORE - The Territorial Statehouse State Park at 50 W. Capitol Ave. (first exit) celebrates Utah history in the building that served as the state's first capitol. There are nice restrooms on the flower-and-grass grounds that surround the building. Take a few minutes to tour the impressive building that interprets Utah's territorial period.
    - The Old Frontier Steak House at 590 N. Main St. (first exit) is relatively new but offers great cuts of beef and barbecue in a Western atmosphere with the addition of a fun gift shop.
    - It's strange to recommend a Maverik Country Store, but this one (second exit) at 965 S. Highway 99 is a good one because it has a grassy picnic area and playground for the kids.
   
    COVE FORT - This historic fort, immediately northeast of the junction of I-15 and I-70, 24 miles south of Kanosh, has been restored in loving detail by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to the fort's Web site, this structure - built in 1867 by Ira Hinckley and his family - is the only fort built by the LDS Church in the 1800s that still stands. Missionaries give tours every day but Sunday.
   
    BEAVER - Arshel's Cafe, at 711 N. Main St. (first exit), is a longtime establishment that serves basic food at reasonable prices in a clean atmosphere. Homemade pies and soups are the specialties here.
    - Surewood Forest Candle Co. (first exit), at 31 N. Main, offers a variety of interesting handmade candles and craft items. Get a wax sculpture of your hand by dipping it in wax.
    - DFA Cache Valley Cheese (first exit), at 330 W. 300 South, offers discount prices on a variety of cheeses, snacks, drinks, souvenirs and large, clean restrooms. There is an area to walk your dog as well as an outdoor picnic area.
    - Kan Kun Mexican Restaurant (second exit) at 1474 S. 450 West, might have a cheesy name but offers excellent Mexican food from an extensive menu in a clean, pleasant atmosphere right off the interstate.
   
    PAROWAN - The Parowan Cafe at 33 N. Main St. (first exit) offers a down-home atmosphere and basic food at reasonable prices.
    - The Old Rock Church Museum (first exit), 90 S. Main St., can sometimes have limited hours - you can often get someone to open it for you by calling 435-477-3549 - but offers interesting bits and pieces of local history in a beautiful old building.
   
    CEDAR CITY - Iron Mission State Park (first exit), 635 N. Main St., tells the story of Iron County's settlement complete with a large collection of horse-drawn wagons, wagon wheels and pioneer memorabilia with some living history exhibits.
    - Bulloch Drug, 108 W. 1325 North (second exit), offers a chance to enjoy a malt or cherry Coke at an old-fashioned drugstore counter as well as an interesting place to do some trinket shopping.
    - Bruno's Italian Deli (third exit), 1744 W. Royal Hunt Drive, doesn't look like much from the outside. In fact, it's inside a Chevron gas station. But don't be fooled. The owner is a refugee from a fine Las Vegas hotel who cooks up wonderful pasta, chicken, sandwiches and some of Utah's best pizza.
   
    TOM WHARTON can be contacted at wharton@sltrib.com. His phone number is 801-257-8909. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.