Only an hour away from our home is the city of Ogden, the best kept secret in Utah. No crowds, no traffic, not a destination spot. But for my husband and me, it’s our new favorite place.

Because among other attractions, how can you not love a city that has statues of painted horses lining the downtown streets?

I was going nuts seeing these horses, naming them, taking pictures, petting their darling noses.

Like this pale one — so cute I just wanted to take him home with me. Look at that sweet face! I named him Cute Horse, not very original but he was just too cute to be named anything else:

What do you think of Money Horse? Not my favorite because it seemed embarrassing for poor Money Horse to have dollar bills painted all over him, but still, it’s a clever idea.

There are so many more, I didn’t get pictures of them all. But you must see Dinosaur Horse!

And then I love this one that looks so noble and grand and majestic–

It has our nation’s founders– Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Quincy Adams and a couple others. It’s very cool and probably my favorite.

Most tourists to Utah will see Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Zion’s National Park, the Bingham Copper Mine, Park City, Moab and the Arches, the Great Salt Lake– there is more to see in this great state than one could imagine– but don’t forget an out of the way place called Downtown Ogden, where the painted horses are waiting.