Set amidst snow-capped mountains and winding rivers in picturesque northern Utah, Cache Valley an ideal location for families, students, outdoor enthusiasts, and businesses. Home to one of the largest research universities in the West, a growing population and dozens of high tech firms, the valley nevertheless maintains its charm as a place for picnics, fishing and outdoor concerts.

In 2005, Cache Valley’s population reached 110,000, making this stretch of northern Utah an accredited metropolitan area. Residents and families alike take comfort in the fact that although the valley is growing, it retains the security of its small-town roots. In 2005, Logan was named the safest metropolitan area in the United States by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is not surprising given that community service, family and education are among the valley’s most encouraged pursuits.

At the heart of the valley is Utah State University (USU), established in 1888 on the foothills of Mount Logan. Classified by Carnegie Foundation as an independent policy research center, USU has become a national leader in land, water and space science, and also brings diversity and a wealth of intellectual and cultural offerings to the wider community.

Cache Valley enjoys four distinct seasons and has an abundance of national forest land and parks, making it a superb area for outdoor entertainment of all kinds. Summer activities include the annual arts festival, running the river by kayak or biking through the area’s scenic towns and farms. Cache Valley is also a skier’s paradise with an average yearly snowfall of 400 inches at the nearby Beaver Mountain resort. Other winter entertainment includes snowmobiling, ice skating, sledding and cross-country skiing along pristine mountain trails.

In the autumn take a stroll through central Logan and catch a glimpse of the historical homes of Center Street while the colorful leaves of autumn dot the landscape. Pick your own apples from local farms, and enjoy carving a pumpkin for Halloween, but do it quickly - those colorful leaves may soon be glistening with the first snowflakes of the winter season.