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• Courtesy Photo
• Ashley Love, center, with the crew from Only Forever Tattoo

Best Tattoo Artist
Ashley Love, Only Forever Tattoo
A quick scroll through Ashley Love’s Insta feed and it’s easy to see why she dominated the BOU polls this year—there’s a lot to love. Specializing in traditional tats, Ashley’s current passion is planning flash tattoo events to support victims of sexual violence. Recently, her flash events raised funds to support the Rape Recovery Center and Planned Parenthood of Utah with “No Means No” and Roe v. Wade-inspired designs. 285 W. 800 South, Ste. 201, SLC, 801-493-5956, onlyforevertattoo.com, IG: ohashleylove
2. Mitch Anderson, Dark Arts
3. Bambi Nelson, Black Honey Tattoo

Best Animal Hospital
Advanced Veterinary Care
Having a trusted and reliable vet for your four-legged family members is essential and often overlooked. Knowing there’s a safe place to take a beloved pet is important, especially during an emergency. They offer 24/7 emergency services for cats and dogs, and they specialize in other fields like cardiology and small animal surgery services. Advanced Veterinary Care offers caring techs, knowledgeable vets and an easy experience for pet owners. 1021 E. 3300 South, SLC, 801-942-3951, thrivepetcare.com/locations/utah/salt-lake-city/advanced-veterinary-care
2. VCA Cottonwood Animal Hospital
3. University Veterinary Hospital & Diagnostic Center

Best Pet Groomer
All About Dogs
All About Dogs prides themselves on caring for your pets the same way you do; with plenty of love and affection. They offer a multitude of services from kind, professional and experienced staff. Finding a trusted groomer for your beloved pet can be difficult, but All About Dogs makes it easy. Multiple locations, allaboutdogssalon.com
2. The Paw Wash
3. Dirty Johnson Self Services Dog Wash

Best Bank for Small Businesses
America First Credit Union
Most people don’t realize the difference between a credit unit and a bank, but they certainly can feel it at AFCU. Credit unions like AFCU are nonprofit whereas banks exist to make a profit for their owners and stockholders—not their customers. Credit unions are more community based and can offer more customized service to members. They’re able to offer lower fees, with better interest rates on savings and loans. AFCU has been around since 1939 and has branches in Nevada, Idaho, Arizona and Utah. Multiple locations, americafirst.com
2. Mountain America Credit Union
3. Utah First Credit Union

Best Brewery Can Art
Bewilder Brewing Co.
When Bewilder Brewing Co. opened weeks before the beginning of the COVID pandemic, brewery owners Cody McKendrick and Ross Metzger were more worried about people accessing their beer versus what’s on the cans. Since weathering the storm, customers have been treated to a wide array of jackalope-themed can art that is as vivid as it is inviting. And they’re all designed in-house. 445 S. 400 West, SLC, 385-528-3840, bewilderbrewing.com
2. Salt Flats Brewery
3. Proper Brewing Co.

Best Bike Shop
Bingham Cyclery
Bingham Cyclery isn’t just a great bike shop, it’s five great bike shops, serving cyclists in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and (as of this month) Summit counties for more than 60 years. With more Utahns embracing cycling for transportation, leisure and sport, Bingham is serving and advancing those trends with a full range of road, mountain and city bikes in both electric and traditional models with full-service on-site maintenance. Ready for a ride? Go see Bingham. Multiple locations, binghamcyclery.com
2. Contender Bicycles
3. Guthrie Bicycle Co.

Best Comic Book Store
Black Cat Comics
Long before superheroes took over the pop-culture landscape, they existed primarily in the realm of print comic books—many of them exclusively in specialty stores like Black Cat Comics. Owner Greg Gage’s Sugar House store celebrated 18 years of operations in 2022, and you can tell from walking in the place that the old-school print comic book remains their focus. Whether you want the latest new releases or are looking to complete your collection with something from the many rows of back-issue boxes filling the floor space, Black Cat has you covered. 2261 S. Highland Drive, SLC, 801-461-4228, blackcat-comics.com
2. Dr. Volt’s Comic Connection
3. The Nerd Store

Best European Food Imports Market
Caputo’s Market & Deli
Utah lost an icon with the passing of Tony Caputo in March of 2021. He believed in building a business in downtown Salt Lake at a time when few did. Today, Caputo’s Market & Deli is operated by Tony’s son, Matt, and Matt’s wife, Yelena, who have taken Tony’s passion and made it their own. The market has the best cured meats and specialty cheeses around, including the delectable Prosciutto di Praga, excellent in a pairing or snack on its own. Multiple locations, caputos.com
2. Pirate O’s
3. Black Cherry Mediterranean Market

Best International Market
Chinatown Plaza
You can’t miss the towering decorative Chinese Gate on State Street in South Salt Lake. It opens a portal to an amazing experience of shopping at the largest Asian grocery store in the state and a chance to eat at 11 highly specialized restaurants like the Korean Moon Bakery, K-Recipe Korean takeout, Chick Queen Korean fried chicken, Sakura Hibachi Steakhouse for sushi and hibachi, Hero Hotpot and Pho Salt Lake. You can spend hours strolling through the huge grocery store and then try to decide what and where to eat in the 5-acre mall. 3390 S. State, South Salt Lake, 801-906-8788, chinatown-supermarket.com
2. Caputo’s Market & Deli
3. Rancho Markets

• John Taylor
• Enso's Dustin Robbins

Best Piercer
Dustin Robbins, Enso Piercing + Adornment
If someone says they’re going to give you a new hole, just hope that someone is professional piercer and owner of Enso, Dustin Robbins. There are several reasons his shop consistently gets 5-star reviews, including cleanliness, client education, customer service and a variety of very cool, very unique jewelry. He’s also great with kids, so if yours is begging for pierced ears—holes for the whole fam! 336 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-953-0201, ensopiercing.com
2. Jade Ross, Koi Piercing Studio
3. Courtney Marriott, Abyss Body Piercing

Best Company That Gives Back
Cotopaxi
When your company slogan is Gear for Good, you’d better put your money where your proverbial mouth is. And for those wondering how Cotopaxi gives back, the better question is how aren’t they giving back? A percentage of annual revenues goes toward eradicating extreme poverty, they’re a member of 1% for the Planet and they work with numerous partners to support global health and education initiatives, all while working toward impressive sustainability goals with every piece they make. Multiple locations, cotopaxi.com
2. Mark Miller Subaru
3. Black Cat Comics

Best Local Gear Brand
Cotopaxi
In theory, we all love supporting brands that give back. But in reality, we also want damn good products. When you shop Cotopaxi, you get both—especially if you’re in the market for a pack. Daypacks, backpacks, duffel bags... you name it, they make an eco-friendly version of it. Plus, shop insulated jackets, fleece and activewear that will have you saying “Patago-who?” Multiple locations, cotopaxi.com
2. The Heavy Metal Shop
3. Black Diamond Equipment

Best Minority-Owned Business
Fillings & Emulsions
Not only is founder, co-owner and executive pastry chef Adalberto Diaz’s macaron Mecca minority-owned, its management and chefs are largely minority and female. Since 2013, they’ve been laminating, frosting, filling, kneading and glazing mouth-watering combinations of Latin and French flavors into pastries and desserts like must-try popcorn panna cotta, bestselling key lime cheesecake, French baguettes and dazzling, rainbow-colored macarons. Multiple locations, fillingsandemulsions.com
2. Sauced Up Salsa

Best Tree and Shrub Nursery
Glover Nursery
Imagine walking 10 acres of trees, shrubs and other plants all perfectly suited for growing in Utah and being able to take your pick of the bunch. At family-owned Glover Nursery, that dream is a reality. Throughout the year, roughly 500 varieties of trees and shrubs can be found at this pastoral paradise, and its expert staff knows all the secrets to keep your spruce and sumac in top shape. 9275 S. 1300 West, West Jordan, 801-562-5496, glovernursery.com
2. J&J Nursery and Garden Center
3. Millcreek Gardens

Best Boutique
iconoCLAD
Do you ever find yourself sifting through drawers over and over to find a new fit, but everything seems plain or oft worn? Try out iconoCLAD, where you can “ball on a budget” and snag a whole new look without digging too deep in your pockets. People love dressing up so much in items found at iconoCLAD’s funky shop that the boutique just opened a second location a few miles away on State Street. 414 E. 300 South, SLC; 855 S. State, SLC, 801-833-2272, iconoclad.com
2. Salt & Honey Market
3. The Stockist

Best Local Company to Work For
Harmons Grocery
The Harmon family is approaching 100 years of serving Utahns’ grocery needs. Their mixture of commitment and experience can be seen in their inviting, locally minded stores throughout the state that function as community gathering spaces as much as they are a pit stop to buy milk and eggs. Their entrances have hosted scouting and school fundraisers, citizen initiatives and donation drives; their shelves give priority spacing to Utah-made goods; their cooking classes inspire customers to venture out of their comfort zones; and their helpful employees brim with contagious positivity. Multiple locations, harmonsgrocery.com
2. University of Utah Hospital
3. WholesomeCo Cannabis

Best Grocery Store Bakery
Harmons Grocery
Harmons’ pastry chefs make everything fresh, including an ever-changing selection of divine and decadent desserts ranging from fancy cakes to mini-fruit tarts to chocolate croissants to crème brulee and macarons. At Harmons, every season is cookie season with made-from-scratch gingersnaps, brownies and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that are cinnamon and nutmeg-scented pillows of perfected deliciousness. From sourdough baguettes to croissants to country French loaves to ciabatta, their artisan breads are the best in the state. Multiple locations, harmonsgrocery.com
2. Central 9th Market
3. Bowman’s Market

Best Looking Utah Liquor Bottle
Holystone Distilling
The slender and statue-esque looking bottles from Holystone Distilling hark back to the obelisk inspired art deco of the 1920s. The polished edges blend with the angular chassis below the neck to allow the various Holystone liquors inside to shine like jewels. Every bottle is an ornament showcasing Holystone’s angel inspired logo. These are the centerpiece of any given bar’s collection. 207 W. 4860 South, Murray, 805-490-7202, holystonedistilling.com
2. Waterpocket Distillery
3. Beehive Distilling

• Courtesy Photo
• Upbeat consignment wear for men and women at iconoCLAD

Best Thrift/Consignment Store
iconoCLAD
Consigning your clothes is a great way to get a few bucks back for your secondhand wardrobe—one man’s trash is another man’s thrift, after all. Bring your clothes to iconoCLAD and they’ll stock the shelves and cut you a check when someone decides they want to rock your old style. Their Instagram @iconoCLAD is a fun follow as well, where they aren’t afraid to put shoplifters on blast. 414 E. 300 South, SLC; 855 S. State, SLC, 801-833-2272, iconoclad.com
2. Pib’s Exchange
3. Clever Octopus Creative Reuse Center

• Courtesy Photo
• Get your best look at Jed's Barber Shop

Best Barbershop
Jed’s Barber Shop
Hey fellas, in the market for a trim or a straight razor shave? Head to Jed’s, where a standard cut only sets you back $35 and includes a hot lather neck shave, shoulder massage and an old-fashioned soda. Open seven days a week, it’s easy to walk in or use their online booking tool to reserve a window with your preferred barber. Don’t forget to pick up a quality beard oil or styling product to keep your ‘do looking dapper. 212 S. 700 East, SLC, 801-532-5337; 167 E. 900 South, SLC, 385-528-3808, jedsbarbershop.com
2. Salt Lake Barber Co.
3. City Barbers

• Courtesy Photo
• Nailed! Where there's no damper on your pamper.

Best Nail Salon
Nailed!
If you’re not already getting regular mani/pedis, it’s high time Nailed! transformed your self-care game. With two adorable locations, it’s easy to book an appointment and the prices are such that regular pampering puts no pressure on your pocketbook. From the seasonally scented, house-made sugar scrub to the plethora of polishes, Nailed! is nail nirvana. 875 E. 900 South and 3369 Highland Drive, SLC, 801-532-6245, nailedboutique.com
2. Pink and Ink Nail Salon
3. Four Seasons Nail Salon

Best Smoke/Vape Shop
IVape SLC One Stop Vape Shop
Peep the Google reviews, and it’s easy to see why IVape was voted this year’s reader’s favorite. Their customer service can’t be beat, and they have arguably the largest selection of all things vape in the state. As one customer put it, “If you can’t find it here, you won’t find it anywhere.” And if you’re not sure what you want, belly up to the outdoor juice bar where you can sample the latest, tastiest flavors. 4523 S. Redwood Road, SLC, 801-268-8273; 6657 S. State, Ste. 5, Murray, 801-290-2605; ivapeslc.net
2. Blackhouse Vapor Co.
3. Murray Vapes

Best Bookstore
The King’s English Bookshop
For over 40 years, The King’s English Bookshop has filled the heads of generations of Salt Lakers with information and imagination. The King’s English has been matching books to readers since 1977 and has even opened a shop in the newly built Salt Lake City International Airport. It’s the ideal spot to get lost in a new read, join a club, or offer your newly minted novel on consignment. 1511 S. 1500 East, SLC, 801-484-9100, kingsenglish.com
2. Ken Sanders Rare Books
3. Under the Umbrella Bookstore

Best Piercing Studio
Koi Piercing Studio
For 25 years, Koi Piercing Studio has built a following thanks to the high-quality tools they use; their friendly, professional and well-trained staff; and the stunning jewelry they sell. It’s a well-played strategy that continues to make them SLC’s preferred piercing studio. Be sure to check out the studio’s selection of unique jewelry. 1301 S. 900 East, SLC, 801-463-7070, koipiercingslc.com
2. Iris Piercing Studio and Jewelry Gallery
3. Abyss Body Piercing

Best Hair Salon
Landis Lifestyle Salon
There are no bad hair days at Landis, a full-service salon and spa with two hip Salt Lake locations and a who’s-who roster of some of the best stylists in the state. Whether you’re looking for a blowout for your bachelorette or a regular root touchup, the end result is certain to be a cut above the rest. Their lineup of plant-based Aveda hair products are as good for your hair as they are for the planet. 1298 S. 900 East, SLC, 801-485-5506; 569 N. 300 West, Ste. A, SLC, 801-364-3354, landissalon.com
2. Planted Salon
3. Salon O

Best Veggie/Flower Nursery
Millcreek Gardens
With our new climate realities, you want expertise behind the plant choices you make for your landscaping. And you’ve got more than 60 years of experience behind the Salt Lake City fixture that is Millcreek Gardens, which boasts more than three acres of nurseries and displays for every possible kind of garden need. Hosting various family-friendly holiday themed events, it’s as much a community space as it is a retail space. 3500 S. 900 East, Millcreek, 801-487-4131, millcreekgardens.com
2. Cactus & Tropicals
3. Glover Nursery

Best Local Credit Union
Mountain America Credit Union
This friendly institution opened its doors in the 1930s and has grown to have over 95 branches across six states, and more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs. It’s headquartered in Sandy and is the second largest credit union in Utah, is the 12th largest nationally by membership and the 24th largest in total assets ($14 billion). In the early 2000s, banks lobbied Utah legislators to charge a 5% tax on local credit unions that were in competition with them, so MACU converted from a state-chartered to a federally chartered credit union in 2003. Multiple locations, americafirst.com
2. America First Credit Union
3. UFirst Credit Union

Best Tattoo Shop
Only Forever Tattoo
First off, can we all agree that this is the best name for a tattoo shop?! This new darling of the Granary District is jam-packed with talent and is quickly becoming the neighborhood go-to for traditional and neo-traditional tats. But why stop there? Sit in Lily or Carlos’s chair for Japanese-inspired ink or book a session with Angel if realism is more your aesthetic. It’s also where you’ll find this year’s Best Tattoo Artist, Ashley Love. 285 W. 800 South, Ste. 201, SLC, 801-493-5956, onlyforevertattoo.com
2. Everybody Tattoo Studio
3. Black Honey Tattoo

Best Vinyl Record Shop
Randy’s Records
This local gem was started in 1978 by Randy Stinson, a guy who had collected 45s and LPs for decades before opening the store. The store has around 20,000 new and used records in all popular genres and has a reputation for selling high-quality products—especially the used inventory famous for few scratches and sweet jacket covers protected in plastic. Many thought the shop might go out of business when the music world changed from vinyl to CDs, but Randy hung in there and collectors saw the value of sometimes priceless music history. 157 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-532-4413, randysrecords.com
2. Graywhale Entertainment
3. Diabolical Records

• Steven Vargo
• Recreation Outlet, FTW!

Best Camping Gear
Recreation Outlet
Recreation Outlet all started when a guy shopping at R.E.I. asked, “Why is it so expensive to sleep outside?” OK, we made that up. But it may as well be true! The great outdoors should be accessible to everyone, and when you shop for camping gear at Recreation Outlet you can get all the essentials at an unbeatable price, with friendly service to boot. Multiple locations, recreationoutlet.com
2. The Gear Room
3. Klymit

• Courtesy Photo
• The doctor will see you now ... at VCA Cottonwood.

Best Veterinarian
Robert Bagley, DMV, VCA Cottonwood Animal Hospital
Still asking your neighbors, co-workers or random strangers at the dog park if they know a good vet? Here’s your answer. Utah native Dr. Robert Bagley has been practicing veterinary medicine officially for 20 years, but we’d say being raised on a farm counts as extra credit. If his patients could talk, they would probably ask for treats, but at some point, they would tell you he’s the best in the valley—at least their owners think so. 6360 S. Highland Drive, Murray, 801-278-0505, vcahospitals.com
2. Lynette Sakellariou, DMV, Neighborhood Veterinary Care
3. Kanda Hazelwood, DMV, Mountain View Animal Hospital

Best Recreation Sports Store
Recreation Outlet
Want to shop for outdoor rec gear like a local? Recreation Outlet is the place, because when you burn through camping equipment and outdoor sports gear as quickly as we do, you need it to be affordable. You may not find any North Face or Patagonia, but you will get the whole family dialed without dipping to anyone’s college fund. Multiple locations, recreationoutlet.com
2. The Gear Room
3. General Army Navy

Best Trax Route
Red Line
Some people ride the train to work; some people ride the train to school; some people ride the train to dinner and a movie or to get in some shopping downtown. On the Trax Red Line, you can do all of that, multiple times over, and much, much more! With terminal points in Daybreak and at the University of Utah, the Red Line is a critical east-west transportation connection in a north-south-oriented state and one that offers a legitimate alternative to driving for many residents both in and around Utah’s capital city. rideuta.com
2. Blue Line
3. Green Line

Best Library Branch
Salt Lake City Main Library
The first fancy library building in Salt Lake is now the downtown home of O.C. Tanner. Many remember the downtown library when it was in the building where the Leonardo is located today. But walk north, and you’ll find our architecturally unique main branch at the 400 South Trax station. The wedge-shaped building is home to active beehives on the roof, retail stores on the main level, a sweet children’s library and more than 500,000 books, newspapers and magazines. You can read many items like The New York Times online for free and learn languages via Babel, also for free. 210 E. 400 South, SLC, 801-524-8200,services.slcpl.org
2. Marmalade Branch
3. Glendale Branch

Best Culinary School
Salt Lake Culinary Education
You watch the Food Network every night, you’ve read Mastering the Art of French Cooking and now you’re ready to go full Ratatouille by becoming a professional chef. Salt Lake Culinary Education offers the most affordable American Culinary Federation certificate program in Utah, and courses are just 12 weeks. Still want to keep your day job? Try one of several cooking classes offered throughout the month. 2233 S. 300 East, SLC, 801-464-0113, sliceutah.com
2. Granite Technical Institute
3. Salt Lake Community College Culinary Arts Miller Campus

Best Runners Store
Salt Lake Running Co.
Being a “serious” runner is not a prerequisite to shop at Salt Lake Running Co. In fact, what many non-runners and runners alike love about shopping at SL Running Co. is the friendly knowledgeable staff—plus the array and quality of the shoe selection. Sense of community is another feature, including the SL Running Co. workshops and running groups. After all, working out is better with a buddy. Multiple locations, saltlakerunning.com
2. Fleet Feet-Striders
3. Runner’s Corner

Best Family-Owned Business
Sauced Up Salsa
The Bush family knows good salsa. Maybe you’ve met creator and owner George Bush at the Ogden Farmers Market or maybe you’ve ordered a batch from their Salt Lake pick-up location. But if you have yet to taste their mango habanero salsa, add it to your bucket list. Sauced Up Salsa also serves to-die-for homemade tortilla chips and freeze-dried salsa (trust us, it’s life changing) that will take your camping snack game to a new level. 3678 W. 2100 South, SLC, 385-419-6263, saucedupsalsa.com
2. Pirate O’s
3. Grove Market & Deli

Best Middle Eastern Market
Shahrazad Market and Restaurant
From Halal meats to Armenian cheeses, exotic spices to hookah supplies, Shahrazad is your one stop shop for all the flavors of the Middle East, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Somalia and Persia. Scents of shawarma waft through the air as you shop, enticing you to the back of the market where you’ll find a small restaurant. Grab a kebab if you’re feeling peckish or ask about catering for your next event. 1615 W. 2100 South, SLC, 801-975-9977, shahrazadslc.com
2. Black Cherry Mediterranean Market
3. Zeitoon Market & Cafe

Best Pet Supply Store
The Dog’s Meow
This year marks the sixth time The Dog’s Meow has won a Best of Utah award, and if that isn’t proof enough it’s the only place you should be shopping for your cats and canines, every brand the store carries has your pet’s holistic health in mind. In other words, read the labels if you want to, but you can’t go wrong with their impressive selection of clean-label food, treats and supplements. 2047 E. 3300 South, Millcreek, 801-468-0700; 866 E. 12300 South, Draper, 801-501-0818, dogsmeow.com
2. Healthy Pets Salt Lake City and the Avenues
3. Pets & Such

• Courtesy Photo
• It's easy to get hooked on Western Rivers Flyfisher

Best Fishing Gear Store
Western Rivers Flyfisher
Ever been in a fly shop and felt like the staff was about as helpful as saying “Go fish?” Get the helping hand you need at Western Rivers Flyfisher. These guys are passionate about the sport and happy to share tips and tricks over casting practice in the parking lot or a private lesson at nearby Liberty Park. Happen to be in the neighborhood? Drop in for a cup of coffee and joke about the big one they caught out front (the whale! we’re talking about the 9th & 9th whale). 1071 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-521-6424, westernriversflyfishing.com
2. Fish Tech Outfitters
3. Anglers Den

• Kelly Boyce
• Budtender Dennis Magana

Best Cannabis Budtender
Dennis Magana, WholesomeCo Cannabis
Utah’s medical cannabis pharmacies would be much more difficult to navigate without the many budtenders who work to help patients. Their role is to offer suggestions, answer questions, handle products and keep up with cannabis education. Essentially, they are a sommelier of the cannabis industry. According to the Center for Medical Cannabis, more than 400 budtenders work in Utah’s 14 dispensaries. Thanks to you readers, we now know that Dennis Magana and the runners-up listed below are among the best in the state. 580 W. 100 North, Bountiful, wholesome.co
2. Michael Johnson, Bloc Pharmacy South Jordan
3. Darcy Gonzalez, Deseret Wellness

Best ATV/ORV Store
Young Powersports
Utah may have been settled by pioneers, but the days of wagons and handcarts have been replaced by driveways full of RVs, ATVs and ORVs, and on any given weekend we jump at the chance to take out our toys. Shop for your all-terrain and off-road vehicles at one of several Young Powersports locations along the Wasatch Front, where you’ll find new and used inventory, parts, accessories and more. Multiple locations, youngpowersports.com
2. Steadman’s Recreation Inc
3. Rocky Mountain ATV/MC

Best Golf Store
Uinta Golf
If there are golfers in the Salt Lake Valley who are yet to shop at Uinta Golf, we’ve yet to meet them. Serving the local golfer since 1971, Uinta is a wonderland of golf equipment, clothing and accessories with every major golf brand represented. It’s the rare golfer who can lower his score just by changing balls or clubs, but all golfers like to look good, and here’s the place to make it happen. Multiple locations, worldwidegolfshops.com/uinta-golf
2. Golf Galaxy
3. Club Champion

Best Medical-Cannabis Card Provider
Empathetix
Since the program began in the spring of 2020, Utah now has nearly 60,000 registered medical-cannabis patients in Utah. The credit for those big numbers goes to the state’s nearly 800 qualified medical providers (QMPs). Although there are many worthy candidates who provide medical-cannabis cards, our readers have voted Empathetix as the best. With seven offices and a medical-cannabis bus reaching rural Utah, it’s estimated more than 25% of the state’s patients have used Empathetix for their medical-cannabis card. If you think cannabis can elevate your health and wellness, make sure to give them a call today.(CF) Multiple locations, empathetix.com
2. Tim Pickett, Utah Therapeutic Health Center
3. Get Canna Card, GetCannaCard.com

Best Pet CBD
Healthy Pets Salt Lake City/Avenues
Your cats and dogs have an endocannabinoid system, too—so don’t forget to saturate it with the best pet CBD found in the state. Healthy Pets SLC and in the Avenues offer the local brand Healthy Hemp Pets, with a variety of products with your pets’ health and wellness in mind. By using full-spectrum hemp oil, their CBD is not psychotropic, but the cannabinoids present will help calm your pets, help with aches and pains and generally make them feel better. 1790 S. 1100 East, SLC, 801-467-2822; 702 E. Third Ave., SLC, 801-499-7195, healthypetsslc.com
2. HempLucid
3. Koodegras CBD Oil

Best CBD Products
HempLucid
You can find CBD products almost anywhere these days. Grocery stores, smoke shops, gas stations, restaurants—you name it. So, how do you know which kind to buy to experience the best effects? Our readers chose locally operated HempLucid as their go-to CBD brand. HempLucid products are crafted with love and care by using only the finest naturally grown ingredients. Their CBD is extracted from certified organic hemp grown in Colorado—and not China, like those gas station brands made from hemp seed. 4844 N. 300 West, Provo, 385-203-8556, hemplucid.com
2. Beehive Buds CBD Wellness Center
3. Koodegras CBD Oil

Best Cannabis Edibles
Hygge Chews
Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) cannabis edibles from Riverside Farm are the top pick among readers this year because of their effectiveness in promoting relaxation, reducing stress, relieving pain and lowering anxiety. Their popularity might also be fueled by the 1,000 mg THC gummies that are available at outlets across the state, including from Bloc Pharmacy in South Jordan and St. George. These are the highest-dosed edible you can find in Utah, and 10 times stronger than the largest dose you can buy in Colorado or Nevada (those states only allow 100 mg limits on their edible products). So, before you thumb your nose at Utah’s medical-cannabis scene, make sure you try these tasty, and strong, treats first. You can’t pass up a product that was named after the Danish concept of a cozy lifestyle, right?
2. Dragon Bites, Dragonfly Wellness
3. Torch, The Flower Shop, Ogden

Best CBD Retailer
Koodegras CBD Oil
Those looking for the benefits of cannabis without the high should stop by Koodegras—in Midvale, Sandy and Millcreek. The company has been helping Utahns find balance since 2015 with their in-house CBD formulations. That means you don’t need a medical cannabis card to purchase their small-batch artisan CBD. Go visit them today to find a wide range of products you won’t find anywhere else. Multiple locations, koodegras.com
2. Beehive Buds CBD Wellness Center
3. Blackhouse Botanicals

Best Cannabis Topical
Pure Plan Pain Cream
Are you trying to get rid of those aches and pains without getting lit? Skip the pain pills and find a natural solution—one that’s made in Utah. Readers voted Pure Plan Medical as the best pain cream available to Utah medical-cannabis patients. With only a small amount, this full-spectrum cannabis salve fights inflammation and pain at the source. It only takes a few minutes to start providing relief. 1914 E. 9400 South, Ste. 409, Sandy, 801-205-2673, pureplan.com
2. Dragon Balm, Dragonfly Wellness
3. Cypress Sage Balm, Zion Medicinal

• Courtesy Photo
• Flower power: Larry Cake from Dragonfly Wellness

Best Cannabis Flower
Larry Cake By Dragonfly
You spoke, and we listened. Larry Cake from Dragonfly Wellness was the obvious winner of this year’s cannabis-flower category, so we visited Utah’s first dispensary downtown to grab some for ourselves. It was clear as soon as we opened the jar why patients voted for this strain crossed by Gelato and Wedding Cake. The sweet and gassy aromas, mixed with a hint of vanilla instantly filled the air. Once consumed, the frosty buds provided a satisfying and sedating high, followed by a euphoric cerebral buzz. This is a regular strain at Dragonfly, so make sure you grab some next time you’re there. 711 S. State, SLC, 801-413-6945, dragonflywellness.com
2. Ice Cream, Beehive Farmacy
3. Gelato Cake, Pure Plan Medical

• Courtesy Photo
• Moxie products are nowofficially available in Utah.

Best Cannabis Pharmacy
WholesomeCo Cannabis
Although there are 14 medical cannabis pharmacies throughout the state, WholesomeCo Cannabis is the Best of Utah favorite for 2022. That’s not just because of their stellar northern Utah location, either. They offer free cannabis delivery to patients around the state. With a limited number of pharmacies operating north and south along Interstate15, those living in rural Utah are finding relief because of these go-getters. 580 W. 100 North, Bountiful, 801-695-4480, wholesome.co
2. Dragonfly Wellness
3. Bloc Pharmacy South Jordan

Best Water Sports Store
Marine Products
Utah may be known for its powdery snow but come summer when the reservoirs fill with snowmelt, we switch to boards and skis of the water variety. And there’s no better place to gear up than Marine Products, with its huge selection of wakeboards, wakeskates and waterskis, as well as SUP boards, boat gear and more. They even carry new and used boat inventory if you’re ready to take on the role of “the friend with the boat.” 949 W. 1700 South, SLC, 801-973-4017, marine-products.com
2. MasterCraft Boats of Utah
3. Taylor’s Boats

Best Ski/Snowboard Shop
Milosport
Readers have voted for this Millcreek institution year after year. Milo has been supplying locals with the freshest snow and skate gear and apparel since 1984 and has the faded out bumper sticker on your dad’s old Subaru to prove it. You’ll find everything from local brands like Hand Out gloves to coveted Japanese Gentemstick snowboards. If you bought it at Milo, you know it’s legit. 3119 E. 3300 South, SLC, 801-497-8600, milosport.com
2. Sports Den
3. Salty Peaks Snowboard Shop

Best Cannabis Concentrates
Moxie
Even if you’re not a concentrate’s person, the name Moxie might still ring a bell. That’s because they are the first cannabis company awarded a license to operate business in California when adult use began. So, it’s no surprise that our readers selected them as Utah’s first and best concentrate brand. Instead of waiting for federal cannabis laws to fall or making the painful drive to Wendover or Mesquite, you can get your medical-cannabis card and head to a local medical-cannabis pharmacy to get the sticky-icky you’ve been dreaming about since your last cannabis vacay. As of July 2022, Moxie is officially in town. enjoymoxie.com

Best Accessory
Dragonfly Wellness Novaa Vape Battery
Nothing signals that you’re a particular type of Utahn like the sleek, pack-of-gum-shaped vape battery from Dragonfly Wellness. Sure, it only works with Dragonfly cartridges—like an early-iPod of Utah medical marijuana. But cartridges made for universal batteries tend to clog up fast, whereas the magnetized Novaa gives a smooth pull every time. Plus, the convenience of Dragonfly’s downtown dispensary means city patients are probably shopping there anyway. 711 S. State, SLC, 801-413-6945, dragonflywellness.com

Best Made-in-Utah Impulse Buys
Alpha Coffee
Anyone who’s had a small, local business understands how hard it is to have a small, local business—which makes it a great act of solidarity to support other such merchants. Alpha Coffee locations are always buzzing with activity, and those who drop in for their morning (or afternoon) joe can grab offerings from Utah businesses like Park City-based Ritual Chocolate or Cache Valley’s Bee Brothers honey and treats. Add all the Utah-based nonprofits that Alpha supports through their Grounds for Good efforts, and you have lots of reasons to visit. Multiple locations, alpha.coffee

Best Specialty Nursery
Cactus & Tropicals
Looking for a stunning array of succulents? A bonsai tree to complete your meditation room? Perhaps a show-stopping orchid to gift a green thumb? Local nursery Cactus & Tropicals is a botanical oasis for plant lovers (or any lovers—they host weddings, too) and boasts over 40 years in the business of helping beautify your indoor and outdoor spaces with exceptional plants. For those of us who can’t even keep a weed alive, they also offer weekly classes. 2735 S. 2000 East, SLC, 801-485-2542; 12252 Draper Gate Drive, Draper, 801-676-0935, cactusandtropicals.com

• Derek Carlisle
• The tools of the pickleball trade: the wiffle ball and the paddle (don't dare call it a racket!)

Best Pickleball Courts
11th Avenue Park
Pickleball with a view. That’s exactly what you’ll find at 11th Ave. Park in the upper Avenues, where six new-ish courts (added just five years ago) overlook the Salt Lake Valley and foothills. There’s a small parking lot and ample street parking, as well as tennis courts, basketball courts, picnic tables and a playground. Courts aren’t lit, so be sure to start your match well before sundown. 581 Terrace Hills Dr., SLC, 801-972-7800
2. Murray Park, Murray
3. Highland Park, South Jordan

Best Public Golf Course
Bonneville Golf Course
Looking for a neighborhood course that’s as challenging as it is beautiful? Nestled against the foothills, Bonneville boasts incredible views of the city and an early morning/evening breeze from Emigration Canyon that feels downright delicious. Most players rate it as an intermediate or expert course due its deep ravine, heavily wooded areas and hilly terrain. You’ll want to rent a cart for this one! 954 Conner St., SLC, 801-583-9513, slc-golf.com/bonneville
2. Mountain Dell Golf Course
3. Mick Riley Golf Course

• ut.gov
• More than 40 miles of paved pathways await riders on the Jordan River Parkway Trail.

Best Hike Path
Bonneville Shoreline Trail
Utah’s Bonneville Shoreline Trail is to hiking what Interstate 15 is to driving, bridging the communities of the Wasatch Mountain range and serving as a backbone connection to both favorite attractions and parts unknown. While the BST may lack the backcountry seclusion of more advanced trails, it makes up for it with endless panoramic views of Salt Lake County and the sweet-spot convenience of a quick but meaningful escape out of the hustle and bustle and into nature, without getting too far from home. bonnevilleshorelinetrail.org
2. Moab
3. Lake Blanche

Best Bowling Alley
Bonwood Bowl
Knock down pins and throw back a cold one at Salt Lake’s favorite bowling alley, family-owned for more than 60 years. Boasting 42 lanes, affordable games and shoe rental, a snack bar that checks all the cheesy, greasy boxes and the Bonwood Trophy Room Lounge with over 30 brews, there’s nary a better place to channel your inner Lebowski when the mood strikes. 2500 S. Main, SLC, 801-487-7758, bonwoodbowl.com
2. Pins & Ales
3. Olympus Hills Bowling Lanes

Best Snowboarding
Brighton Resort
Honestly, we’re bummed Brighton was voted Best Snowboarding in our reader poll. Not because it isn’t great (it is!), but because we’d like to keep it under wraps and not tell anyone about Brighton’s locals-only, family friendly vibe. We’d prefer you didn’t explore Hidden Canyon, or jib alongside us in the park. And we definitely don’t want you sitting on our bar stool at Molly Green’s. But if you should find out about snowboarding at Brighton and why it’s the best, at least buy us a round first. 8302 S. Brighton Loop Road, Brighton, 801-532-4731, brightonresort.com
2. Snowbird
3. Powder Mountain

Best Paddleboard Lake
Causey Reservoir
Causey Reservoir prohibits motorized boats, making it the ideal playground for kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards. The 142-acre reservoir east of Ogden is located on the South Fork of the Ogden River above Huntsville. It makes swimming a bit chilly, but on hot summer days, it’s refreshing to take a dive off a paddleboard into the brisk water. There’s also a ridge suitable for 10x10 tents, perfect for hanging out with friends when not recreating on the reservoir. Skull Crack Canyon Road, Huntsville, 801-999-2103, visitogden.com
2. Bear Lake
3. Jordanelle Reservoir

Best Scenic Vista
Ensign Peak
In 1847, Brigham Young and other Latter-day Saints climbed Ensign Peak to survey the Salt Lake Valley. Today, it’s where hikers begin their season to gauge their stamina after a winter off from exercise. The mile-long out and back trek is around 400 feet in elevation—it’s no Mount Olympus hike, but it’s still challenging if you aren’t used to elevation gains. From the apex, you can look west to (what’s left of) the Great Salt Lake, south to the Point of the Mountain, and east to the entire East Bench. 1002 N. Ensign Vista Drive, SLC, slc.gov/parks
2. Dead Horse Point
3. Mount Olympus parking Lot

Best State Park
Goblin Valley State Park
Utahn’s love our state parks but none better than the home of the hoodoos: Goblin Valley. Established in 1964, this other-worldly landscape of eroded sandstone provides visitors the unique opportunity to wander through its maze-like expanse, exploring by day and stargazing by night. (The park is designated an International Dark Sky Park). Camp within its borders or seek out nearby primitive camping if you prefer the less-beaten path. Goblin Valley Road, Green River, stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley
2. Antelope Island State Park
3. Snow Canyon State Park

Best Running Trail
Jordan River Parkway
If you’re looking for room to run, how does 40 miles sound? Completed in 2017, the Jordan River Parkway cuts a blissfully car-free string of green space through Salt Lake County on its winding path between Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake. Whether they stay close to home or get lost for hours, joggers and other parkway visitors are likely to find themselves transported into pockets of nature that might otherwise go unnoticed. slco.org/parks/trails
2. Dog Lake via Big Water Trail in Millcreek Canyon
3. Dimple Dell Trail in Sandy

Best Bike Path
Jordan River Parkway
It may come as a surprise that the Jordan River Parkway is the longest paved urban trail in the United States with more than 40 miles of pavement. The mixed-use trail is great for joggers and walkers, but it’s a cyclist’s paradise, safeguarded as it is from motor vehicles. It offers views over those many miles that can’t be beat. slc.gov/parks
2. Parleys Trail
3. Ogden River Parkway

Best Bike-Friendly Neighborhood
Liberty Wells
Anchored to the northeast by Liberty Park and spanning approximately one square mile, Liberty Wells is close to all the action Salt Lake has to offer. But its main veins of 300 and 500 East offer a safer commute than neighboring State Street or six-lane thoroughfare 700 East, with plenty of relatively flat, shaded streets in between. https://bit.ly/3CG2Xhx
2. Emigration Canyon
3. Daybreak

Best Utah Road Trip
Mirror Lake—Uintas
From Kamas to Evanston, State Route 150 winds through the most impressive mountain terrain in the state. Better known as Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, this drive follows the Provo River and passes several alpine lakes before meeting up with the Bear River as you head into Wyoming. Drive it in a day or spend the weekend. Designated campgrounds and primitive camping abound—don’t forget your fishing pole. https://bit.ly/3Sh1Hra
2. Moab
3. Capitol Reef National Park

Best Ski Resort
Snowbird
As a local, there are two questions you’re often asked (OK, three, if we’re counting the Mormon one). No. 1: Do you ski? No. 2: Do you ski the Bird? To put it another way: If you don’t ski the Bird, do you even ski, bro? Snowbird is in a class all its own, an aprés bragging right, the epitome of Greatest Snow on Earth, a legend. 9385 S. Snowbird Center Drive, Snowbird, 801-933-2222, snowbird.com
2. Brighton Resort
3. Snowbasin Resort

• Courtesy Photo

Best New Indoor Alternative Spot
All Together Skate Park
What parent wants their kid in front of a screen all day? Who doesn’t love an air-conditioned ride? At only $10 a pop (or you can buy a punch pass making it only $7.50), it’s an affordable spot for anyone who has a love of skateboarding. This new skate park—with its flat banks, quarter pipes, a half pipe, ledges, flat bar and more—is in the Granary District and features a mural by Trent Call inside the space. The staff is friendly and helpful, and they even have a pretty rad retail store inside. Open seven days a week. 660 S. 400 West, Ste. 300, SLC, 385-379-3173, alltogetherskatepark.com

Best Long-Forgotten Optical Illusion
Gravity Hill
Time was when most every SLC teenage boy drove to “Gravity Hill,” a stretch of East Capitol Boulevard near the State Capitol. He’d turn off the engine, put the car in neutral and—lo and behold—the vehicle seemed to roll uphill. It was a fabulous optical illusion due to the surrounding terrain. After the floods of 1983, the city made East Capitol Boulevard one-way—going north —and the trick doesn’t work in this direction. The illusion seems to be lost on hikers, bikers and joggers who take the southbound route. Legends abound about “Gravity Hill,” including one that magnets were implanted in the Capitol’s foundation attract vehicles there. Today, let’s hope the lodestones scramble the signals received by the tin-foil-hat-wearing members of the Legislature. 585 to 1099 N. East Capitol Boulevard.

Best Saturday Hobnobbing
Downtown Farmers Market
Aside from your high school reunion, where else can you find a regular crowd filled with familiar faces? The Downtown Farmers Market is one of those places where you cannot hide yourself away, even if you tried. From patrons to vendors, the friendly vibes are free flowing, and you’re bound to go home with a large gourd you have no use for and some re-connections (or new connections) with food lovers in the community. Overall, the experience makes for a great Saturday. Pioneer Park, 300 S. 300 West, SLC, slcfarmersmarket.org

Editor's Note: Over 160,000 votes were cast in the 2022 City Weekly Best of Utah poll. The ballot software used was from Revfluent, Inc. which provided City Weekly a list of "estimated winners." That list was tallied and vetted by City Weekly editorial staffers per our historic rules and published guidelines that are intended to monitor ballot malfeasance. The official City Weekly Best of Utah 2022 results were printed in Salt Lake City Weekly on Nov. 17, 2022 and are republished here online.