Brigham Young University - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

While Provo is beautiful, nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, it is by no means a big city. Provo is a college town, housing both BYU and UVSC students. It is within driving distance of Salt Lake, allowing those who are looking for a “night on the town” an outlet. Since the majority of residents are college students, traditional date activities like movies and restaurants tend to be fairly crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. A lot of the charm of Provo is found in the nearby mountains and river. In the summer, bonfires up Provo canyon are a nightly occurrence.

Provo is understandably a very conservative town. You are not likely to find political rallies or protests occurring. The closest thing to a real protest was an e-mail campaign aimed at lifting the noise ordinance that prohibited big parties and dances outside of campus functions or stake dances. An understanding of Mormon culture will ease the transition into the “bubble” of Utah County. However, the lack of city life is far overshadowed by the great outdoor activities available to students year-round. And with great student discounts and a little ingenuity, most of these activities are fairly affordable.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Provo has an atmosphere of a... Provo has an atmosphere of a college town because the student body is 30,000 strong. The town is built around BYU and has over 100,000 residents. U of U [University of Utah] is only 45 minutes away. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I highly recommend Beto’s Mexican... I highly recommend Beto’s Mexican food—one of the few places open 24 hours a day. The malls and Borders are also fun once in a while—to stroll around or sit down and digest some print. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I love Provo. Some people consider... I love Provo. Some people consider it a little boring because there aren’t tons of cultural attractions like museums and concerts, but I usually attribute those views to boring people, not to the location. I love the outdoors, and the mountains around Provo are brimming with trails for hiking, biking, skiing, and rock climbing. I’ve been impressed with the creativity of the student body in coming up with fun things to do. From getting inner tubes to raft down the Provo River in the summer, to ultimate Frisbee, flag capture, and cross-country skiing in the winter, there is more than enough to keep people busy if they’re willing to tap into a little ingenuity. There is great rock climbing at Rock Canyon, about five minutes from campus. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Provo is a college town, and a lot... Provo is a college town, and a lot of community activities revolve around the happenings at BYU. The arts are well represented with good orchestras, choirs, museums, good plays, and even opera every year. The town is rather quiet, to be honest. It is not at all a party town because it’s not a party university. However, Salt Lake is about 45 minutes away, with more of a city feel. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Provo is home to BYU and UVSC,... Provo is home to BYU and UVSC, both of which boast enrollments in excess of 30,000 students. With that many college-aged kids in one happy little valley, you would think there would exist something resembling nightlife. Not so. Provo unofficially shuts down at 10:30 p.m., and if late-night studying is your speed, you would do well to develop a taste for Denny’s or Village Inn, as these are the only two places to ‘hang out’ in Provo after the sun sets. However, in the daytime, one will find mountains, canyons, lakes, and ski resorts all in close proximity, which makes Utah Valley an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. Despitethe population boom from September to May, Provo really has a small-town feel to it, which has its perks. The crime rate is low, the town is clean, and the people are all pretty friendly. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Provo:
• Just minutes away from the Provo River are Bridal Veil Falls, Utah Lake, and Deer Creek reservoir. Waterskiing and tubing down the river are popular summer activities.
• The Ironman Triathlon was held in Provo in 2002 and 2003.
• It’s not only summer that brings great athletes. In 2002, the Salt Lake Winter Olympics had a hockey venue in Provo.
• Provo, while not as big a concert venue as Salt Lake, has some great local artists perform regularly. Also, Utah Valley State College regularly hosts concerts and shows.
• Sundance Ski Lodge, up Provo canyon, is owned by Robert Redford and is the namesake of the Sundance Film Festival.

Famous People from Provo:
Avard Fairbanks (sculptor)
The Osmond family (actors)
Virginia Sorensen (author)

Local Slang:
Sluff (“sluff” class) – Similar in meaning to ditch, cut, or skip class.
Sweet Spirit – Girl with a great personality, but not such amazing looks.
Creek (pronounced “krik”) – The meaning is the same; the pronunciation is just a little off.

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