Can you describe Utah?

As I remember, Salt Lake City is more nestled between mountains and that monstrous lake. Ok, montrous may not be the right word... unless you are writing about Nessie's American cousin.

Might I suggest this link to google maps? Use the terrain button and you can zoom in, out and around.

OH, and, yes. They do, or at least did ten years ago, have actual seasons. Fall was pretty awesome. Short, but awesome.

Yes, the mountains rise from the edge of the city, but the city is located in a flat valley along the shores of the lake. It's a beautiful setting, especially in early fall when the foothills are dressed in gold and the weather is still like summer.

Parts of the Salt Lake Valley, like the east bench, are right up against the foothills, but calling it the "mountainous Salt Lake area" will sound wrong to anyone who's ever been there.

You could say, "in Salt Lake City, where the Wasatch Mountains dominate the landscape and there are actual seasons," or some such thing.

Not to mention that there are actual seasons everywhere in Utah. Great Salt Lake itself lies at an elevation of about 4000', and Salt Lake City is farther north than Denver, Colorado. Plenty of seasonal weather, I assure you.

caw