Current News
Cedar City voted "Best Utah Getaway" by Las Vegas Review Journal
Cedar City Ranks In The Top 20 Cities for Outdoorsmen In Outdoor Life Magazine
Cedar City Receives A Top Ranking From Where To Retire Magazine
The Garden Cottage B&B Chosen As The Top Rocky Mountain B&B in Utah
Cedar City Bed and Breakfast gets National Attention with another Feature Article
NBC Today Show Rates Cedar City in their Top Eight Fall Foliage Destinations
Utah Bed and Breakfast gets National Attention with Feature Article
Las Vegas Review Journal Votes Cedar City – “Best Utah Getaway”
Las Vegas, NV / Cedar City, UT – For the past twenty-eight years the Las Vegas Review - Journal, Nevada’s most widely read newspaper, compiles the “Best of Las Vegas”. Cedar City, Utah garnered the top honor of “Best Utah Getaway” for 2009.
On the website for the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Best of Las Vegas, the “staff picks” notes of Cedar City, “whether it’s off of red rock cliffs or at the theater, this is our pick for hanging in Utah. If the terrain and Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespearean Festival aren’t enough, there’s the Braithwaite Arts Gallery, cute shops and plenty of nearby lakes, parks and petroglyphs.”
“We are thrilled that Las Vegas readers recognize the perfect getaway vacation just across the Nevada border in Southern Utah”, Bonnie Char Oldroyd, Public Relations Specialist, Cedar City ~ Brian Head Tourism Bureau states. “Cedar City offers a myriad of activities for all ages. Our diversity of outdoor activities and arts offerings makes Cedar City a clear choice for families and individuals of all phases of life. Our beautiful red rock mountain welcomes visitors and residents alike to explore, relax, and feel right at home in Cedar City.”
Las Vegas resident, Matthew Blackburn, says: “You can do everything in Iron County, [UT], from hunting and fishing to four-wheeling, snowboarding to hiking, it’s all right there.”
According to the congratulatory letter received by the Cedar City ~ Brian Head Tourism Bureau from publisher Sherman R. Frederick, “On Sunday, March 29th over 531,369 readers enjoyed the Review-Journal’s results in the twenty-eighth edition of “Best of Las Vegas”, filled with articles and advertisements about the best and worst of Las Vegas.”
This year’s Best of Las Vegas poll featured 184 choices. The Review-Journal received 15,145 votes for 2009, nearly double from last year’s votes. Most of the votes came from Las Vegas Valley, but votes were also received from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Cayman Islands, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, the Philippines, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Cear City Ranks In The Top 20 Cities for Outdoorsmen In Outdoor Life Magazine
Outdoor Life recently named Cedar City as one of the top 20 places to live for the avid outdoorsman. From a list of 200 cities, Cedar City came in at #15.
Outdoor Life evaluated towns across the country using such criteria as hunting, fishing, access to public lands and local economy.
They began by compiling a list of every town with a population center of more than 4,000 people. They evaluated the growth rate, unemployment rate, commute time, crime rate, housing prices and more. Towns were then graded on their appeal from a sporting perspective.
When the totals came in, they combined all the factors and placed the locations in order. Cedar City scored well. On a scale of 1-10, Cedar City sported a nine in public land access and gun laws, eight in "trophy" hunting potential and a seven in huntable species.
To view the entire report, click here. http://www.outdoorlife.com/article.jsp?ID=1000057228
Cedar City Receives A Top Ranking From Where To Retire Magazine
For the second time in a year, Where To Retire Magazine has recognized Cedar City as being one of their best picks for retirees. In their recent February “Best Choices” issue, the Magazine recognizes Cedar City as one of their “Five Best Budget Towns To Retire”.
The magazine, which is geared towards helping people with their retirement decisions, profiled five towns that give residents the most bang for their retirement buck. The towns were selected based upon the myriad of perks and amenities offered at a lower cost than many communities. Where To Retire editors chose the following top five locations as the picks for best budget towns, including Crossville, TN, Columbia, SC; Mount Dora, FL, Sussex County, DE and Cedar City, Utah.
According to the Where To Retire editor, Mary Lu Abbott, these budget locations offers retirees outdoor recreation, scenic beauty, cultural events and a well rounded lifestyle with costs of living below the national average. According to Abbott, Cedar City was selected because “it’s a haven for lovers of the arts and outdoors with access to an array of national parks as well as the Utah Shakespearean Festival at Southern Utah University.”
"We received the call a few months ago that we were in the running for the Best Choices Issue", said Maria Twitchell, director of the Cedar City-Brian Head Tourism Bureau & Visitor Center, "I think it's great to be recognized again by this well known publication".
Where To Retire magazine was created as a means in helping readers find the ideal place to retire. Now published six times a year, the magazine covers the best retirement regions, towns and master planned communities across the globe and has a national circulation of 220,000. Cedar City was spotlighted in a 10 page feature in their 2006 January/February edition and was selected as one the magazine's "Top 8 Ski Towns" back in 2004.
The Garden Cottage B&B Chosen As The Top Rocky Mountain B&B in Utah in The Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards
The Garden Cottage B&B in Cedar City was selected as a “Best of the Rockies” winner in the annual Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards, 2008-2009. The Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards are based upon a qualitative and quantitative review of the nearly 50,000 independent reviews submitted to Bedand Breakfast.com, the leading online B&B directory and reservation network world wide. The Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast is the only Utah Bed and Breakfast to receive this award.
“We know how important independent reviews are. We’re delighted that inngoers concurred that The Garden Cottage B&B is a favorite among those seeking the B&B experience,” explained BedandBreakfast.com’s Sandy Soule, one of the most highly recognized authors and a spokeswoman for the B&B industry. “It’s clear that The Garden Cottage B&B earned high marks from inngoers for their fine accommodations, breakfasts, amenities, and wonderful hospitality and service,” commented Soule.
“We are pleased that we were chosen for a Best of BedandBreakfast.com Award and are thrilled that our guests posted reviews that resulted in this award, stated Diana Simkins, owner/innkeeper of The Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast. “It is rewarding that our attention to the details that make a difference to guests were recognized by inngoers who took the time to write reviews of The Garden Cottage,” commented Simkins. Here is an excerpt from on of our reviews:
“Garden Cottage is a visual and sensory delight. The charming, spotless rooms with comfortable queen-size beds decked with quilts and embroidered linens, charming antique furniture, and decorating details that complete each room perfectly are just a few of the reasons we return again and again. The colorful, old fashioned garden is a peaceful retreat, and breakfast is always delicious and ample. Diana and Gary are personable hosts and think of everything to make our stay memorable. Before we buy tickets for the Shakespeare Festival, we make sure that a room at Garden Cottage is available. We are already booked for the 2009 season!"
About The Garden Cottage B&B: Experience a romantic get-a-way in Cedar City, Utah, in an enchanting English cottage surrounded by an old-fashioned cottage garden. Five antique-filled romantic bedchambers with queen beds and private baths await you at the top of an inviting winding staircase. Full breakfast with savories and sweets. Between Zion, Bryce National Parks. Just across from the Utah Shakespearean Festival. For reservations call 1-866-586-4919 or visit our website at http://www.thegardencottagebnb.com or email us at romance@thegardencottagebnb.com.
The Garden Cottage a Cedar City Bed and Breakfast gets National Attention with another Feature Article
New York, NY/Cedar City, Utah-“I have been a garden writer for twenty years or so, also, a photographer.” explained Molly Dean, writer for WD Garden and Deck Design.” When I first saw Diana and Gary's gardens at The Garden Cottage B&B, I was entranced. I used to live in southern England--and the sight of The Garden Cottage's, lush, romantic flowers, so artfully grown and carefully nurtured, also, the charming garden nooks, crannies, and bowers--took me back to happy times I spent in some of England's most beautiful period gardens. What a delightful place The Garden Cottage is in which to escape. A guest might think he or she has slipped away into 'A Midsummer Night's Dream!'“
“It’s been a dream come true to have my photos of our beautiful garden published. With such great subject material it’s not that hard to fill the camera lens with eye popping floral color and produce dazzling photos. It’s exciting for us to see nature reveal such beautiful yearly blooms,” stated Gary owner/innkeeper of The Garden Cottage B&B. “We are just thrilled that our Bed and Breakfast garden was selected to be featured in yet another national magazine this spring, Woman’s Day Garden and Deck Design! Our Cottage and garden really do capture to feeling of ‘Old World Charm’… from the rose-covered English cottage style architecture to the authentic antique charm of the interior of the Inn to the lush enchanting cottage garden it is nestled in” stated Diana, owner/innkeeper of The Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast.
Here is an excerpt from the article” Old World Charm” written by Molly Dean- ‘Wandering amid spring delphiniums and clouds of roses, visitors to the garden surrounding Diana and Gary Simkins Bed and Breakfast Cottage might wonder how they stumbled into a quaint English garden in the heart of Utah’s high desert country. Inspired in part by the award winning Shakespearean Festival across the street, the garden mainly grew from Diana’s love for the English cottage-style gardens.”
A guest comment :” My daughter and I recently spent a delightful evening in an English style cottage. The gardens surrounding the cottage are lovely and provide a quiet spot to enjoy a book or just relax among the beautiful flowers, butterflies and humming birds. Our room (The Morning Glory room) had it's own private entrance adjacent to the garden gate. It was beautifully decorated with lovely antiques and a queen sized bed that provided a very comfortable nights sleep. There was a cozy chair that offered a comfy place to sit and relax. Our gracious hosts, Gary and Diana served a delicious breakfast on beautiful china in the homes dining room. This was our first visit, but it won't be our last.”
About The Garden Cottage B&B: Experience a romantic get-a-way in Cedar City, Utah, in an enchanting English cottage surrounded by a magical old-fashioned cottage garden. Five antique-filled romantic bedchambers with queen beds and private baths await you at the top of an inviting winding staircase. Bountiful candlelit breakfast with savories and sweets. Between Zion, Bryce National Parks. Just across from the Utah Shakespearean Festival. For reservations call 1-866-586-4919 or visit our website at http://www.thegardencottagebnb.com.
Link to PDF file of Gardening and Deck Design (A Woman’s’ Day Publication) Magazine Article
NBC Today Show Rates Cedar City As One of Their “Eight Great & Unusual Fall Foliage Destinations”.
Travel Editor Peter Greenberg recently revealed his list of “Eight Great and Unusual Destinations for Fall Color Viewing” on the NBC Today Show listing southern Utah’s Cedar City in the mix. Greenberg recommends leaf peepers to move away from popular destinations like New England to discover new places for fabulous fall foliage.
Greenberg recommends Cedar City as a surprising location for fall color viewing, stating “ Places like Cedar City offer one of the most dramatic fall foliage backdrops in the country. Cedar Breaks National Monument contains cliff faces eroded into the west side of the Markagunt Plateau. Alpine Ponds Trail takes you through trees, meadows, flowers and wildlife for spectacular foliage viewing.” Greenberg also adds “You can also drive along the access road, UT 148, which circles the cliff’s edge. Kolob Canyon is located in Zion National Park. It offers breathtaking canyon views (some say it rivals the Grand Canyon in terms of the gorgeous colors and layers).
To see the full report plus the video from the Today Show, go to this link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20997833/. Other destinations included in the report were: Aspen Colorado; Michigan’s, Upper Peninsula; Montana; Leavenworth, Washington; Wine Country, California, South Carolina, & the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Utah Bed and Breakfast gets National Attention with Feature Article.
"At Cottage Style Magazine, we are constantly looking at residences and gardens across the country and abroad in the hopes of finding not only beautiful places, but also ones with a twinkle in their eye, so to speak. The Simkins garden stood out to us first of all because of its wonderful assortment of color, its lushness, its variety and its spectacular climbing roses" explained Janet Mowat Cottage Style's Managing Editor. It captures the essence of a casual, carefree cottage garden and we knew that our readers would value hearing tips about how to make such a garden grow, especially from real-life gardeners who, like most, have jobs to squeeze in between planting, weeding and watering! Simply put, the garden at The Garden Cottage is a standout and a perfect complement to the Simkins aptly named B&B, and makes a great fit for Cottage Style Magazine, " commented Mowat.
"We are just thrilled that our Bed and Breakfast garden was selected to be featured in the popular Cottage Style Magazine. Our little piece of heaven really is the quintessential cottage...from the 1920's rose-covered English cottage style architecture to the original antique charm of the interior of the Inn to the enchanting cottage garden it is nestled in" stated Diana Simkins, owner/innkeeper of The Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast. "We are so honored that our attention to the details inside the Inn and outside in the garden have made our B&B worthy to be published in such a prestigious magazine." commented Diana. Here is an excerpt from the article written by Mara Bragg.
'Today, passersby stop their cars to photograph the lush and colorful English cottage garden that creates such curb appeal. The luckiest visitors get to walk up to the rose-bedecked entrance, step inside and stay for awhile-as guests at The Garden Cottage Bed & Breakfast. An abundant and carefree English cottage garden is not only a fitting style to accompany the home's architecture-it also pays homage to the local (Tony Award winning) Utah Shakespearean Festival".
A guest comment: "My family and I have stayed at The Garden Cottage for a number of years and even plan our trips to the Shakespearean Festival around its availability. It is a charming Victorian with attractive and immaculate rooms. The beds are remarkably soft and comfortable, topped with crisp, embroidered linens. The gardens are magical and call you to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet. Diana is a gracious hostess who prepares wonderful breakfasts. She has an unequaled eye to detail both in her decor and her cuisine; even the sugar cubes are garnished with sugared flowers. She brings a Victorian elegance and charm to Cedar City--and the cottage is located just across the street from the Shakespearean Festival theaters. Staying at the Garden Cottage is an absolute delight. We've never been disappointed. It's more than a room, it's a wonderful step back in time."
About The Garden Cottage B&B: Experience a romantic get-a-way in Cedar City, Utah, in an enchanting English cottage surrounded by a magical old-fashioned cottage garden. Five antique-filled romantic bedchambers with queen beds and private baths await you at the top of an inviting winding staircase. Bountiful candlelight breakfast with savories and sweets. Between Zion, Bryce National Parks. Just across from the Utah Shakespearean Festival. For reservations call 1-866-586-4919 or visit our website at http://www.thegardencottagebnb.com or email us at romance@thegardencottagebnb.com
Link to PDF file of Cottage Style Magazine Article
http://www.thegardencottagebnb.com/garden1.pdf
Diana Simkins
The Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast
16 N 200 W Cedar City, Utah 84720