A Local Wander

Travel Memories Saturday (Alaska)

2013-05-18T05:00:00.000-06:00

My first day in Alaska, 1999.
This is Auk Bay, the only suburb of Juneau, a city reachable only by airplane or boat.
In less than a week my husband will be flying there to work for the summer.
We're excited for the opportunity, but also wondering
how it will work with the 5 others of us still down in the lower 48 wandering.
Wish us luck and stay tuned!

We all have those classic shots that capture travel memories without having to say one word.

Each Saturday morning, Sharon (from State by State Travel) and I post photos that express emotion, tell a story or make you wish you could be there. Be sure to also stop by State by State Travel and see what travel memories she is sharing today!

Do you want to hop into the picture and join in the fun?

What's your favorite travel memory photo? We'd love to see!

If you would like to have your travel memory photo used,

email it to alocalwander@gmail.com

with a brief description of where it is or what is happening

and we will schedule it

for one of our weekly Travel Memories posts.

If you are a blogger,

you will get a free link back to your blog below the photo.

We Almost Died That Day

2013-05-16T14:47:00.000-06:00

Anywhere along the Wasatch Range in Utah, you can take a few hours or days to hike parts of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail or the more expansive Great Western Trail. Close to my house there are three very easy access points, the easiest being the Battle Creek Trail, which my kids love because it has a refreshing waterfall.

For years I've been wanting to explore more of these trail systems that pass behind "G" Mountain. I actually started out one time with a bunch of friends, but quickly decided my sea-level midwest lungs were not ready for such an endeavor. Since then, though, I've known a couple other people who've camped with their families up there, and I've been waiting for the day I'd be motivated to try it again. The painful and frightening journey we encountered when we finally tried it will not be something I EVER forget!

Here is a reference point to use as we move through the hike today...

What we attempted to do was hike from Grove Creek over to Battle Creek. We left a car at the Battle Creek trailhead, and drove the mile or so to where we wanted to begin. In my mind the hike was going to take 6-7 hours. We would have an uphill climb, but not too bad, on the Grove Creek side, level out into a much-talked-about green meadow, have an easy walk across the back, and even though we'd be tired, the Battle Creek downhill would be a piece of cake.

It started out okay, wide and gradually climbing...

...then narrowing...

...then narrower and rocky...

...and HARD! Instead of the easy climb I was expecting, we quickly found ourselves in the middle of steep and dangerous switchbacks, heading in the opposite direction we wanted to be going...

View of the switchbacks about halfway through them.

It was about this point that people passing by started remarking how brave it was to be hiking with our kids. We're used to hearing that, too many people don't get out and do challenging things as a family. We didn't realize that this time, they were mostly educated and heeding us a warning. This is what we were about to come up on...

The already steep and narrow trail changed from packed gravel to extremely loose rock shale on either side as well as right up the middle. We'd now gone from slightly harrowing hike to white-knuckled parents clenching onto their over-energetic little boys to keep the whole family from sliding down the mountain.

It was also at this point that we started seeing people who had passed us coming back down and passing us again. We knew there had to be a turn-around point for people not wanting to go all the way, we just never seemed to be getting there!

This is how we were feeling...

...until, finally, we made it to the waterfall...

...where we could see this view of the valley down below...

...and higher up, a trickling stream...

Surely this means the trail is going to level out and be smooth sailing from here, right? Uh , NO! All these years we have been lied to! There's no leveling out and ease on the backside of this mountain. What we had not taken into account after our legs were already screaming is that we now had to climb the hidden mountain on the left before eventually summiting the visible mountain on the right and then traversing the rest of the way straight back down.

We tried to keep on going. After the waterfall, the terrain changed from brown, hot, and rocky to green, cool, and safely packed. We even ran into a friend on the trail...

Year-old moose

Trying to decide what we should do

In the end, we just couldn't make it. B, P, and I collapsed to the ground in the middle of a lush green hill while my husband ran ahead to find out where the blasted meadow was. 20 minutes later he came running back down the trail with a discouraged look upon his face. This is a man who never quits anything, and doesn't always have the best sense about how far to push the boys. Even he knew we were beat. The only thing we had left to do? Turn around and creep our way back down the death-defying way we'd already come.

It was harder. Poor P had nothing left in his legs to give. I carried him as far as I could before my own knees threatened to give out on me, and then somehow my husband managed to get back down the rest of the way with baby on back and P on his shoulders, scrappling through the steep rock shale, heading downhill this time instead.

The last photo before we were too exhausted and frustrated
to get the camera out anymore.
Trust me, it does NOT represent the way we were feeling by the end of the day!

After nearly 5 hours we were back in the car, all alive, barely. The next three days were not great as exhaustion brought about weak immunity and a round of family flu. It's the first thing we've ever done that every person agreed equally was not a good idea and has not paled to some of rose-colored glasses nostalgia. I'm quite certain it never will.

So, what is the take away?

Don't do this hike with kids. Nobody told us beforehand, and everyone told us afterwards.
Don't do this hike as your first big trip of summer after sitting around all winter. Your legs will scream at you!
Don't do ANY hike without first doing your research. This was so uncharacteristic of me, but we had absolutely no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Really simple lesson learned the really really hard way!

Where Have You Spread To?

2013-05-13T11:04:00.000-06:00

I had a fabulous weekend trip back home to throw a baby shower for my sister and celebrate Mother's Day with my Mom. Yesterday as brunch ended and we all went our separate ways in the restaurant parking lot, it struck me how neat it is that we've all branched out in different directions. Here is my family's current breakdown of home locales...

3 sisters still call Iowa home

My parents are based in Iowa

but have recently called both Alabama and Joplin, MO home

as part of their disaster relief mission work.

I'm in Utah falling more and more in love everyday.

One sister is in Western Nebraska.

One sister is in New Mexico.

I'm curious, where is your family living now?

I should tell you about my husband's family, too!

10 siblings, plus his parents are still right here in Utah.

1 brother is in Pennsylvania,

1 brother in San Diego,

and 1 brother in Manila, Phillipines.

(Can't wait to go visit them!)

Travel Memories Saturday (London, England)

2013-05-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

Taxi Cabs in London, England, 2008

We all have those classic shots that capture travel memories without having to say one word.

Do you want to hop into the picture and join in the fun?

What's your favorite travel memory photo? We'd love to see!

If you would like to have your travel memory photo used,

email it to alocalwander@gmail.com

with a brief description of where it is or what is happening

and we will schedule it

for one of our weekly Travel Memories posts.

If you are a blogger,

you will get a free link back to your blog below the photo.

Road-Trip Ramblings #2: Driving Through Wyoming is Really, REALLY Boring! (And a few things to break up the monotony)

2013-05-08T17:30:00.000-06:00

When an Iowa-girl meets and marries a Utah-boy, it's inevitable that the two of them are going to make the drive back and forth every once in awhile. I think in 11 years I've made the trek more than 25 times. Trust me, very little of this 1000-mile section of I-80 is very interesting! About a year ago my sister moved to western Nebraska and I'm so excited to have somebody else out here "in the west" with me, but after visiting her there three separate times, I'm ready to scream from the mountaintops that Wyoming is really, REALLY boring!

This is Wyoming...

Seriously, even the shape of Wyoming is boring.
I'm not exaggerating, this is traced straight out of my Rand McNally Atlas.

At least 49% of the people who visited Wyoming in 2012 focused their entire trip on this one corner of the state...

That would be Yellowstone National Park.
Three other top visited places are within a short driving distance from there.

Unfortunately, I-80 does not go anywhere close to there...

(an approximate drawing)

Let me take you along the longest of 5 hour drives. (I will say one nice thing about driving through Wyoming: the major towns are all equally spread apart at about 100 miles. It does make it easier to envision how long until your next reprieve) Here we go...

Evanston to Green River/Rock Springs

With Utah as my starting/stopping point, this section is pretty much a throw away for me. Either we're barely on the road so it's still exciting, or we're almost off the road so we're only thinking about finally getting there. There are two things to note, however...

Little America-An AWESOME Oasis of Green in the middle of nowhere. I'm going to write about it more in a separate post, so for now know it's a gas station/play area/restaurant/hotel stop thriving where nothing else is living.
The Green River Tunnel. I-80 crosses the bluff above Green River and you have to go through this tunnel to get to the other side. A Greyhound driver once told me he saw a compact car literally blown off the road from winds coming down the canyon on the west end. I've experienced the strong winds a handful of times and will add my testimony that this is definitely a place to exercise perfect 10 & 2 on the wheel.

Rock Springs to Rawlins

Brown, brown, brown, brown, brown, train, train, brown, brown, brown...You get the picture. When you finally do get to Rawlins look north of the highway for a small conglomeration of horse and llama corrals. They really will make you feel for a second like you're in cowboy country. Also watch for the Kermit the Frog house. You'll know it when you see it.

If you have time to leave the freeway in Rawlins, I highly recommend venturing up to a place called Martin's Cove. There is a visitor's center operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and opportunity to experience hiking like the Mormon Pioneers did back in the 1800's.

Rawlins to Laramie

There is nothing more disconcerting than coming up on a section of interstate temporarily closed due to severe winter weather. And something very eerie about being the first car through the crossing gates when the road reopens. If it is going to happen while you're driving across Wyoming, odds are pretty good it's going to be on this particular stretch of the highway. I have been in white-out blizzards here as late as Memorial Day and even when the weather is warmer, wind and fog can be a major hazard. On my recent drive, in fact, this is the only place I encountered snow. What is there to see along here, then? Impressive miles and miles of snow fencing.

Laramie to Cheyenne

"I'd rather lose and live in Provo than win and live in Laramie."

-Lavell Edwards, former BYU football coach

The good news about Laramie (if you're traveling east) is that it's the beginning of the end of your drive through Wyoming. The distance from there to Cheyenne is only about 45 miles and after what you've been through, it goes so quickly! In addition, there are actually a few interesting things to see...

Medicine Bow National Forest-there is a REALLY steep climb east of Laramie that takes you out of the brown through a red rock canyon up into an evergreen forest. It is such a treat on the eyes! In winter the snow on the side of the roads can be higher than your car, though, so be careful. Also, I've rarely made it through this stretch without some kind of heavy fog impeding me.
Most people would never put Wyoming and Abraham Lincoln in the same sentence, but here he is right on the side of the road immortalized in stone at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument.
And just for something strange, there is a monument in the interstate median with a tree growing out of a boulder. I've never stopped because it's in a very odd place, but you should. It seems like something interesting. Now that I think about it, it's pretty amazing they didn't destroy it during the construction of I-80 on either side.

Cheyenne to Pine Bluff (Nebraska Border)

Whether the end or the beginning,
you'll be excited to finally be here!

It's all back to normal driving now. If you're just coming into Wyoming, it's pretty exciting to just FINALLY be out of Nebraska. And if you're on your way out of Wyoming, you're singing the praises (which won't last long if you're now heading across all of Nebraska) of dropping down onto the western plains with new scenery coming up ahead.

Obviously I write a little tongue-in-cheek, and the other parts of Wyoming I've travelled to are absolutely beautiful and interesting. But, I'll tell you, I don't look forward to making the exact same trip again one month from now!

Where is that section of road you could do without ever driving again?

More Information

For a much more in-depth and motivating

log of I-80 across the state of Wyoming,

please visit Tracks Across Wyoming.

They have a great list of attractions you can see along the way.

Travel Memories Saturday (Italy)

2013-05-04T07:56:00.000-06:00

Climbing in the Cinque Terre, Italy 2008

We all have those classic shots that capture travel memories without having to say one word.

Each Saturday morning, Sharon (fromState by State Travel) and I post photos that express emotion, tell a story or make you wish you could be there. Be sure to also stop by State by State Travel and see what travel memories she is sharing today!

Do you want to hop into the picture and join in the fun?

What's your favorite travel memory photo? We'd love to see!

If you would like to have your travel memory photo used,

email it to alocalwander@gmail.com

with a brief description of where it is or what is happening

and we will schedule it

for one of our weekly Travel Memories posts.

If you are a blogger,

you will get a free link back to your blog below the photo.

Road-Trip Ramblings #1: The 2-Hour Bladder

2013-04-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the beginning of a new series on A Local Wander where I'll share random observations, tips, and questions that come up while I'm out on the road...

Image Source: By Colin from Los Angeles, USA

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Less than 3 hours to make it on the road today; this should be a piece of cake!

3:30 Send B & P to the bathroom, load into the car, and finish the last minute errands before leaving town for the week

5:00 Get to soccer practice and P needs to go to the bathroom again

6:00 Soccer is over. B & P head to the potty one more time before we hit the road

6:45 5 miles out of Park City and P already needs to go the bathroom. It was hot today and I know he didn't get enough water while he was outside playing, so I have no idea where all this is coming from.

6:55 Pull into a gas station less than 1 hour from home. This does not bode well. Wondering if P's just over exaggerating how badly he needs to go, but, no, those 3-year-old legs are clenched together as tight as they can be!

8:15 5 miles away from the hotel and little P is back to squirming.

8:30 Pull into the hotel lobby and go to get the keys. Completely forget that P needs to pee. My mistake. 10 minutes later B & P come running into the lobby in an almost emergency. B goes back out to sit with the babies while I run P to the closest restrooms.

8:35 Into our rooms and the rest of the night P miraculously seems to be tinkle free...

Road-tripping with a newly potty-trained 3-year-old...keeps the journey interesting...He's so good at patiently waiting to his limit and we try to stay attuned to his little body's schedule. That doesn't mean we haven't spent our fair share of time stopped along side the road, but I'm thinking I-80 in the middle of Wyoming might not be the safest place for that tomorrow. Preparing now for the extra time it takes for potty breaks...

What tips do you have for traveling with a potty-training newbie?

Saying Good-bye to A Trusty Friend

2013-04-29T12:02:00.002-06:00

Spring is finally poking out her beautiful little head, and summer is peeking out just around the corner. In our house that means it's time to pack away the comforters and long johns and pull out all the camping gear. Truth be told, we've already been camping once this year ( a few weeks ago when we went to Goblin Valley) and we're ready to do it again soon. We only have one problem...

This is the tent my husband and I bought shortly after getting married. We barely had enough money to put rice and beans on the table, but we knew a good tent and sleeping bags would come in handy. We were right and this tent has been to a lot of places...

Denali Park, Alaska

Green River, UT

Maybe this trip was a little too early in the season?

It's been a great tent, but we especially love that one entire side of it is a mesh wall. Whenever possible we leave the rainfly off and we feel like we're just camping straight under the stars. It's helped us feel free while still keeping us out of range of the mosquitoes and wind and other expected (or unexpected) things in nature. Unfortunately, this is a 3-person tent (which really means it sleeps 2 comfortably) and we are now a growing family of 6.

It's time to get a new tent. And it's turning out to be a life-changing experience for me.

We've loved having our small tent that puts together with one person in about 3 minutes. It fits really easy in the trunk and is light enough to carry on a backpack if we get an inkling to do such a thing. And it will fit in any space we want it to with ease. My research into new tents that will fit our whole entire family is finding that we are going to have to leave almost all of that behind.

Here are the few tent styles we've narrowed it down too:

Coleman Elite WeatherMaster 6

This would be my ultimate, no-cares-in-the-world choice. I love that it has two rooms so the adults and children can sleep separated. And with the babies starting to become mobile, this screened-in area would be perfect for letting them move around, but keeping them out of the fire or the road or whatever else they tried to get in to. The down fall of this tent is that it is GIGANTIC compared to what we have been using. I have real doubts whether it would even fit in a standard campground camping spot. And we definitely would not be slinging that on our backs!

Eureka Copper Canyon 2-Room Tent

This, then, would be the logical next step-down from that King of all Tents. Still, two rooms, but without the screened porch. The benefit of this over that would be a slightly smaller footprint, but still I'm not so sure about the size.

Coleman 6 Instant Tent

Ultimately, I think this is what we are going to get. It makes me sad to look at it with barely any windows and know that we'll be sacrificing the great view we've become so accustomed to. But, for our purposes right now I think it's going to work the best. The biggest selling point? This summer I'm taking our 4 boys on a 6-week road trip without my husband. We're going to be camping 5 of those weeks and I need a tent I can put up quickly all by myself. This tent promises a 60-second set-up because of the telescoping poles that are permanently attached to the tent itself. No unfolding and snapping together poles that you then have to shove through little holes and then somehow manage to get it stood upright without falling on it or having it collapse on you.

Like I said, for ease of putting it up by myself, this tent will probably work the best for me this summer. The earlier models were sold without a rainfly but all the information says it should be water-tight anyway. The latest version does have a rainfly, but makes it considerably more expensive than buying one without. Knowing we'll be camping in places that have floods more rain compared to Utah, I'm having trouble deciding which one we should go with. And we might turn out to really really love it, but if this is the one I go with, I hope we decide in good time to buy one of the examples above with much more opportunity to feel free out in nature again.

Do you have a tent you would recommend?

This post was in no way sponsored or affiliated with the listed tent brands.

Just my own opinions on tents I've researched for my family.

Travel Memories Saturday (Snowshoeing)

2013-04-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

We all have those classic shots that capture travel memories without having to say one word.

Each Saturday morning, Sharon(from State by State Travel) and I post photos that express emotion, tell a story or make you wish you could be there.

Be sure to also stop by State by State Travel and see what travel memories she is sharing today!

This week's travel memory comes from pretty close to home, but every time I see it I feel myself instantly transported back to that day...

Snowshoeing up Provo's South Fork Canyon

Do you want to hop into the picture and join in the fun?

What's your favorite travel memory photo? We'd love to see!

If you would like to have your travel memory photo used,

email it to Sharon or I

with a brief description of where it is or what is happening

and we will schedule it

for one of our weekly Travel Memories posts.

If you are a blogger,

you will get a free link back to your blog below the photo.

National Park Week: The Wrap-Up

2013-04-26T17:15:00.001-06:00

The movie "Field of Dreams" prophetically professed,

"If you build it, he will come."

As I've reflected this week on trips and experiences I've had in America's national parks, it seems like the same could also be said for those places;

"If you designate it [a national park], they will come."

We live in a busy world where we don't always take the time we should to stop and focus on the beauty of the place we live in. And yet our national parks are overflowing with visitors each year. Offering something for every type of person, from visitor center exhibits and videos to multi-day and multi-sport back-country adventures, they draw us in with the allure of grandeur and tranquility.

Nearly 80% of the state I live in, Utah, is designated in one way or another as public lands. Year after year the controversy brews over the fairness and necessity of the government controlling where and how we live within our own borders. Oftentimes the blame gets put on the lawmakers and other officials "back east" who have never been here. Would they be so quick to sign the dotted line of a land deed if 80% of their state were to be taken away (seriously, Rhode Island/Connecticut/Delaware, think what that would mean).

While I do agree in many ways that states themselves should control their resources (yes, land is a precious resource), I am also grateful for the places near me which are protected from development and urban sprawl. With 5 national parks and many other BLM (Bureau of Land Management) or other legally protected sites, in Utah I have been spoiled by the ease in which I can walk out my door and escape reality to peacefully wander away from it all. I'm grateful, too, thinking of all the similarly designated sites in places I've lived or visited all across the United States.

Several of my favorite examples are:

Shenandoah National Park

Cape Cod National Seashore

Yellowstone National Park
Image source: wikitravel.org

Redwood National Park

Mount Rushmore National MemorialImage Source: commons.wikimedia.org

My hope is that every citizen of this great country takes the time occasionally to step away from the daily grind, slow down, and truly appreciate the gift of nature and preservation we've been guaranteed through the national park system.

Tell me about your favorite national park experience!

Unless otherwise noted, images in this post

are linked to their source on nps.gov

National Park Week: White Sands National Monument

2013-04-25T11:56:00.000-06:00

Every year in October my family makes a 9-hour trek south for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. We try to explore at least one other area in New Mexico while we're there and two years ago we drove 3.5 hours further south for a laid back day of fun at...

White Sands National Monument

I say laid back because it was so easy to forget every adult care on my mind and spend the whole day being a kid with my kids. The landscape is pristine and beautiful. We watched rain showers coming in over the mountains for four hours before they finally made their way to us. There was digging and sledding and rolling and running. We got filthy and wind-burned. We laughed and played until our legs refused to go up the hill any more. And we can't wait to go back and do it again. (Next time we're definitely going to camp there. It seems like it might always be a little windy, with sand blowing all around, but the thought of seeing hills of white beneath full moonlight will surely make it worth the pain.)

A pretty amazing place to spend a day with your family

Where was the last place you played in the sand all day?

More Information

Directions to White Sands National Monument

The park is adjacent to the White Sands Missile Range.

From time to time they do conduct missile testing there,

causing temporary closures at the park.

Be sure to check before driving all that way!

Having a sled with you is an absolute must!

The gift shop does rent them out for a minimal daily price.

Look for the used ones for an even better deal.

National Park Week: While We're In Alaska...

2013-04-24T17:52:00.001-06:00

While my mind is on Alaska, I want to share with you one other amazing national park site from there. Nestled within the borders of America's largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias, the historic Kennecott mining site is an astounding relic of industry and ingenuity deep within the wilderness...

Historic Kennecott Mining Site

In case you doubt the validity of saying Kennecott is in the wilderness, this glacier is it's next door neighbor...

These mine buildings are considered to be "the best remaining example of early 20th century copper mining"

The park service has begun a slow and intensive process to decide which buildings they can stabilize and preserve. It's quite the labor of love for an operation that has always been off the beaten path and continues to be so today.

Notice the rusting bullet holes in the lamp post

More Information:

Getting to Kennecott is an adventure.

Located 315 miles east of Anchorage

and the last 62 miles are on the McCarthy Road,

35mph and gravel.

Definitely heed the warnings and be prepared for flat tires.

The village of McCarthy is the stopping point for your drive.

McCarthy is as small and rough as you'd expect a wilderness hangout to be.

Don't expect a lot and you'll be blown away by this step back in time.

A shuttle will take you the last 5 miles to the mine.

Want a truly historic experience?

Stay at the historic Kennecott Glacier Lodge.

You'll sleep in the shadows of all there is to see.

National Park Week: Denali National Park, Old Sweet Home

2013-04-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

If I go out on a limb here, I'm guessing none of you fabulous readers are going to be able to rush out and partake of the National Park's free entrance promotion at this park this week. First because it's still very much winter in the middle of Alaska and second because, well, it's a LONG way away. But it's the national park I'm most familiar with after spending 5 full summers there and I want to share it with you today...

Denali National Park

This park is absolutely amazing! As remote and inaccessible as lands protected by national treaty should be. There is only one road in and out. On that road, the first 5 miles contain all of the visitor centers, transportation hubs, and interpretive information. The first 15 miles are paved and open for the public to drive. After that, the remaining 75 miles of road are dirt and closed to anything but park service vehicles. If you want to go further, you have to be willing to tour on one of those.

Don't let the limited access turn you away, though. There are nearly as many things to do in and around Denali National Park as there are square miles in the park. Of course you can sit on the 4-6 hour park bus tour (and I'm definitely not saying that you shouldn't), but also know that there are as many things to do here as you want to make the time for. (Denali National Park is actually where I met my husband, so I guess there's that to start with if you're in the market...) I want to share three of my favorite (free) park activities with you today...

Wonder Lake

If you're going to endure the bumpy, dusty bus ride into the park, my opinion is you may as well go all the way. Located at mile 85 of the park road, you can expect a good the ride to take all day and you will need to stay overnight once you're out there. There is a perfectly adequate campground next to the lake or you can be adventurous and wander off back-country style.

Whatever you decide, you are NOT going to regret making it all the way out there. The views of Mt. McKinley are breath-stopping (the top photo is taken from there) and nowhere else on the planet have I experienced such a true sense of wilderness untouched by human hand. Absolutely incredible! But do prepare yourself-the joke about mosquitoes being the Alaska state bird will take on a serious new meaning!

Triple Lakes Trail

Technically, the Triple Lakes Trail starts outside of Denali National Park, but just barely outside and you're going to end up at the train station which is very much inside the park. Catch a ride to the trail head marker on the side of the highway south of the park entrance and you're good to go. You probably can make this trip in one day, but it is such a beautiful journey and looks so completely new in the changing shades of sun throughout the day and night.

Yes, there are three lakes (or ponds), so pick your favorite one to set up camp and have a peaceful night of sleep listening to the water softly lap the shores. One thing to look forward to? Getting off the trail and back to civilization might include crossing an active train bridge "Stand By Me" style. Timing the end of your hike might be kind of important.

The Erratics

This hike is absolutely unbelievable! Situated well within the 15-mile public driving area, these monstrous boulders can be seen from the road as small little rocks off on the horizon. Left behind millions of years ago as glaciers moved forward and back, they look entirely out of place atop the rolling tundra hills where they lie.

There is no marked trail, so you will need to talk to someone in the area that looks like they may have been bored enough one to head off towards them one day. And when you start it's going to look like an easy stroll ahead of you. Trust me, you're going to be wrong! Hiking over the tundra is an aerobic workout as you sink in and step out over and over again for hours. It's like walking on an earth-size sponge. And, as if the terrain weren't enough, this hike is rapt with false endings as you celebrate making it to the top of a hill only to see yet another one off in the distance. But, if pure grit and determination can conquer fatigue and taunting, the payoff is worth it's weight in, well, these multi-ton rocks.

Has Denali National Park been on your list of must-see places?

What is the most remote national park you've been to?

More Information

Denali National Park is located

6 hours north of Anchorage

or 2 hours south of Fairbanks.

The drive there is beautiful, but if you can arrive by train,

I would totally recommend it!

There are a plethora of hotels, restaurants,

and shops just outside the entrance to the park.

If you're looking for a bit of luxury in the wilderness,

my heart and working roots are at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Find a surprising fresh/organic menu at 229 Parks Restaurant & Tavern

Find my all-time favorite Bleu Cheese Dressing at the Perch Restaurant.

Obviously, the main attraction

in Denali National Park is Mt. McKinley,

but be prepared not to see her.

At 20,300 feet, the mountain creates it's own weather patterns

and is often clouded in.

Oftentimes the best views can actually be seen

at Denali State Park,

approximately 100 miles south of the National Park Entrance.

If there is any place on Earth I would recommend taking a guided tour,

Denali National Park is the place.

Helicopter or fixed wing flights will take you out

over the glaciers and even over the top of the mountain itself.

Land on a glacier if you want to. It's definitely going to be worthwhile.

When should you go?

June, July, and August: mid-60's and 70's but prepare for rain showers any day

May & September: The snow either hasn't melted

or has already started falling,

but this will be an Alaska a lot of people never see.

In September, especially, watch for the Northern Lights.

Want to really experience it like a local?

Enter the Park Road Lottery.

For a few days in September the park road is open

all the way for personal vehicles to drive in as far as they can make it.

It turns in to one big Alaskan party!

Is it obvious how much I love Denali National Park and the great state it's in?

If you have any questions, I would be more than happy to tell you what I know!

National Park Week: The Grand Canyon and the Scariest Thing I've Ever Done With My Kids!

2013-04-22T12:00:00.000-06:00

Since it's National Park Week, I'd like to share a few of my favorite national park experiences with you. And if you have a park close by, entrance is free this week so I beg you to take a day off to go explore!

Today we're going to...

The Grand Canyon

I know, I know, the Grand Canyon is one of the epic (translate over-populated with tourists) national parks, and if I espouse the virtues of getting away from the tourist-trap, it seems like a strange park to start off with. It's precisely for that reason that I'm going to start with it.

Our trip to this most monstrous of geological wonders was completely an act of spontaneity. We got a call from family two days before they were leaving for there on spring break and without hesitating we dropped what we were doing and started packing our bags. Having never been to The Grand Canyon before, the 8-hour drive gave me plenty of time to think about what I knew about the park...

It was big
A river runs through it
You can stand at the top and look down into it

That is embarrassing. Thank goodness we were not there by ourselves, or that is probably all we would still know. Fortunately, our the family were with was gung-ho to get their money's worth and we gladly went along for the ride...well, the hike.

That's what I can teach you about The Grand Canyon-the only way to truly experience it is to step off the lip and get down in it! We hiked 3.5 miles of the South Kaibab Trail, but there are several other hikes to choose from. Any one of them is going to be strenuous and taxing, but one trillion percent worth it.

For us, the start was a little stop and go. They were doing trail maintenance, which consisted of a throng of college-aged ranger interns throwing rocks and boulders over the side onto the trail below. Once we were able to pass them, though, the hiking down got a lot more adventuresome. And this is where I explain why The Grand Canyon is the scariest thing I've ever done with my kids.

My niece resting precariously close to the edge to watch the action down below

The canyon is STEEP and the drop-offs are HIGH! I'm used to hiking with my kids, but this poor mama's heart did more than one pitter-patter as we made our way down into this desert hole. It took awhile, but we finally mastered what we called, "Wall-side, Canyon-side." At the end of each switchback, the adults and kids craftily traded sides of the trail we were walking. Doing that tremendously cut down the number of times I found my hand reflexively reaching out to grab at a child's collar.

After mastering that, the 7-mile hike was just long, hard, and a load of fun!

Passing a mule train

Perched on the top-This rock was literally cradled on top of another ,
which we didn't know until we were hiking further down below.

To sum up the Grand Canyon, yes, it can be packed FULL of people...at the top. Definitely spend a little time there, and then immerse yourself fully in the landscape that is just below them all. You'll find a park there that far fewer people have seen!

Have you been to the Grand Canyon?

What's your favorite thing to do there?

More information:

The Grand Canyon National Park website

Looking for an historic adventure while you're there?

Ride the Grand Canyon Railway that boards in Williams, AZ.

It's super cheesy, but gives you a unique perspective

and keeps you out of traffic

Please, remember, if you're hiking here to bring PLENTY of water.

The trails are long, and the air is dry.

You're going to need it.

And watch for condors!

My husband and his brother saw one flying

and ran chasing half-way around the Canyon Rim to watch it land.

Travel Memories Saturday (Albania)

2013-04-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

We all have those classic shots that capture travel memories without having to say one word.

Each Saturday morning, Sharon(from State by State Travel) and I post photos that express emotion, tell a story or make you wish you could be there.

Be sure to also stop by State by State Travel and see what travel memories she is sharing today!

This week's photo comes from the 6-week European backpacking trip my husband and I took after he graduated college and B was about to turn the sweet young age of 1.

These diapers from a tiny grocery in post-Cold War Albania seem to have been a little misleading...

Do you want to hop into the picture and join in the fun?

What's your favorite travel memory photo? We'd love to see!

If you would like to have your travel memory photo used,

email it to Sharon or I

with a brief description of where it is or what is happening

and we will schedule it

for one of our weekly Travel Memories posts.

If you are a blogger,

you will get a free link back to your blog below the photo.

We Always Turn Left...

2013-04-17T22:24:00.002-06:00

The name A Local Wander did not come by me lightly. I think it's important to get out, explore, and find new things in the areas we call home. The challenge sometimes comes when I realize we've moved to the land where my husband was born and raised-he's pretty much seen and done everything. He lives for those days when we find ourselves on a road he's never been on before, and last weekend's drive home from Goblin Valley did NOT disappoint!

Otherwise known as the middle of nowhere!

Let me take you on our journey...

Starting at our house, we drive on the interstate,
a dangerous mountain road,
another interstate,
and then the road to Hanksville.

We rarely ever go to Hanksville, but when we do it's fun to stop in at the Hollow Mountain Gas Station, literally built into a hollowed out rock...

This time we forgot diapers (I guess the babies thought they were kind of important) so we did go to Hanksville and came across this historic church building...

Now back to the map. This is the road to Goblin Valley...

And this is where we always turn left...

We don't turn there because that's where the road ends, but just because that's always the way we go. As we turned this time, though, my husband noticed a sign indicating that if we went straight it would, indeed, get us back to the interstate for our drive home in only 29 miles. It was a road he'd never taken before, and so OF COURSE I decided this was the day that we were going to do it. This time we went straight!

There's a whole amazing world back there! Free camping (which is something VALUABLE that I'll address another day), restrooms, historic mining claims, and hiking...

We now know a couple of things:

This is Temple Mountain Road. It is only 29 miles to the interstate, but that 29 miles is rough. My good mid-western roots would call this Level B at best.
It is BEAUTIFUL! After the first 5 miles there is literally no one and no thing out there with you.
Just when you decide you must have gotten lost, there comes a fork in the road with a sign meant to reassure you...

10 more miles on that dusty gravel road and you pop out of the barren desert and back on to the populated interstate highway. From experience we know at that moment that the drivers around us are confused to all extremes wondering where in the world we just came from. But because we didn't turn left, we've now found a whole new world to wander through.

Tell me something you've found after turning a different way!

Bring on Spring!

2013-04-15T07:30:00.000-06:00

Spring in our house is always signalled by Mom getting a crazy inkling to spontaneously pack up the car and head a few hours south to warmer weather and our first camping trip for the year. This year my husband beat me to the punch with a simple text last Wednesday saying, "We should go camping this weekend." With an overwhelming push from all you great friends on Facebook, we did,indeed, pack our bags and head south to...

Goblin Valley

I've written before about Goblin Valley and hope you'll take a second to go back and read why I think Goblin Valley is the closest thing we have to Mars on Earth. During this weekend's trip, however, the name that kept coming to mind was "Utah's Hidden Gem". Here's why: Over and over again we mention this state park as one of our favorite places in the whole state to explore and only get blank-eyed stares back in return. These are locals we're talking to, Utah natives, born and raised, and they've never heard of or been to this mythical-looking red rock playground.

Can I beg of you something?

(After you've read more about why I love Goblin Valley,)

Get out there and SEE it!

(Seriously, call me, I'll give you an over-enthusiastic tour!)

What's the area in your neck of the woods you wish everybody could see?

More Information:

A lot of what you need to know

is on my previous post, so I won't repeat it here.

My advice for today would be,

Prepare for getting dirty-

it's going to happen!

And PLEASE take PLENTY OF WATER!!

Even on an overcast day like we had this time,

the dry air will drain the moisture right out of you.

And please come back tomorrow

when I tell you what we learned this time

about camping at Goblin Valley.

For us, it opened up a whole new world!

Letter to Fellow Traveling Parents

2013-04-10T00:20:00.000-06:00

Dear mother and father in the airport who I have to assume are homeless and so need to bring all your material possessions with you,

You are STRESSING me out! Not because you're physically bothering me in any way, but because I see you bogged down with your deluxe mega-strollers and overstuffed diaper bags and stuffed-to-the-brim luggage for each of your kids and car seats and gear for all 4 seasons and it starts to give me anxiety.

You see, I am a travel minimalist. The less I bring with me from home, the more I can focus on the exciting new place I'm going. It doesn't take me an extra half-hour to sort out what I'm checking and what I'm not. I don't get a headache (well, not much of one) from figuring out how to fold down the pram and jam it through the x-ray machine. And I don't feel the most stress at the end of the jet bridge because the line is backing up while I figure out how to unload the same mobile contraption of it's accumulated coats and shoes and snacks and children so I can check it at the gate.

Please know that I am not judging you. Every person has to do what makes a situation best for them. I just wonder if I might be able to suggest something you hadn't thought of before...

Leave it at home!

Or at least check it, please. I know sometimes you'll need the carseat and stroller on the other end, but if you could make the stress of flying a little easier, wouldn't you want that? Here are a few of the ways my family makes getting through the airport a breeze...

Carry the Baby: There is a lot going on in an airport, especially if you have kids in tow. You need to have your hands free. Put the baby in your front or back carrier of choice instead of strapping them in a stroller. Wearing them means never having to worry about where they are, and while you do still have to take them out to go through security, it's a much smaller and less questionable piece of equipment to send through the screening machine. With baby attached, there's no figuring out how to safely leave them in the main flow of traffic while you grab a water and magazine from the cramped gate-side kiosk. And if you're clever, you can stash your i.d. and boarding pass in next to baby instead of shoving them in your bag and looking frantically for them later.

Don't Carry Your Kid's Things: At age 2, B & P started carrying their own backpacks, which they pack (with a little supervision). If they want it with them, they keep it with them. Toys or coloring books and sometimes even the snacks go on their backs and they LOVE it! It's gotten to the point in our house that if they see the backpacks out of the closet they instantly know it means we're going on a trip. Once we're at the airport, they feel grown-up having their own items to be responsible for. The adventure starts for them long before we leave the ground as they jump on and off the moving walkways, watch for jets taking off or landing, and try to guess where everyone is going.

Trust the Airplane Seat: I have never taken a car seat on the airplane with me. I honestly don't even know what the requirements and rules are for doing that. In all my years of flying I have never been on a flight where the turbulence was so bad that the regulation airplane seatbelt would not have been enough to keep my child safe. Knowing that until age 2 most small children ride on their parents' lap with no belt makes me even more confident that the odds are very small something catastrophic is going to happen to throw my older child out of his seat. And while I'm on the topic of seats, trust the lavatory seat as well. I was on a 3-hour flight once with a family that took their young son to the bathroom every 15 minutes, carrying his dirty portable potty seat up and down the aisle. No one in close quarters with recirculated air wants to see and smell that while trapped at 32,000 feet.

Consolidate, Consolidate, Consolidate: Flying with children comes with an automatic stigma. Any person who sits down next to you is going to have a moment of dread and regret as they imagine your unruly kids behaving badly. If the two hours in the airport leading up to a flight are full of juggling bags along with those kids, the stress level is going to be close to overflowing. Why feed into the stereotype by also needing 3 overhead bins to cram in what you could quite possibly have left at home? If at all possible, I implore you to only bring on the plane, what you're going to need on the plane. Snacks, diapers, one emergency change of clothes? Great. Your Sunday clothes, swim rafts, business ledgers, cooking utensils? Not going to need them for quite awhile. And if you can, be considerate of your fellow travelers-keep your bags at your feet; because no matter how good we all know our own kids are, they might actually be a little annoying. If you can avoid adding to that by not getting up over and over again, it'll only benefit you in the end.

Please, moms and dads out there traveling beside me, know that I am so happy to see you out exploring the world with your family! I don't sit in my seat at the gate mocking you or snickering at your method of packing. But if there's a way to make your next trip to the airport a little less hectic, I hope you'll try it!

What are your tricks for flying stress-free with children?

Solo in San Francisco

2013-04-05T08:05:00.000-06:00

It did not seem right to send my husband to a job interview in Berkeley, CA, without also somehow including myself in the ride. Thank goodness I made that decision! Leaving B & P with family for two days, and with the Babies in tow for their first airplane ride, we took off for the Golden State.

It felt so amazing to get out of my homeschooling housewife/mom routine and back to being a roving backpacker for a day. With one baby in a stroller and the other on my back and no agenda, the wharf in San Francisco turned out to be completely relaxing. This adventure was a rediscovery of a past part of me and I spent most of my time focusing on big and small things that jumped out at me beautifully.

Exotic mushrooms at a shop in the Ferry Building

Hot milk steamers and homemade mac & cheese. Yes, please!

A webbed friend within view of the Bay Bridge

Anchor lines

And this little boy who made me smile as he quite carefully followed
the inlaid glass blocks along the Embarcadero Ribbon .

Although I was in the touristy end of town, I had a remarkably easy time finding peacefully secluded areas to amble at my own speed and enjoy the babble and giggles of my two miniature traveling companions. At the end of the day my feet are for sure sore, but my spirits are high and I feel renewed for a trip back to the chaos of home tomorrow.

I'd love to hear about your last solo excursion!

More information:

I used the BART train system to get around between

the airport, Berkeley, and downtown San Francisco

It's pretty clean with surprisingly few vagrants.

Make sure to buy only one train pass and

add fare money onto it as needed.

Multiple tickets cannot be easily combine.

The lines are coded by color,

but once you're in the train station those colors mean nothing.

You will need to know the end terminal

in the direction you are going to know which train to get on.

While near the Ferry Building,

look for signs that read "Public Walkway".

You'll find a secluded stroll that follows the water

behind the buildings rather than walking

in all the hubbub on the street.

There are benches along the way ,

public self-cleaning street toilet,

and a lamppost lined walking pier along the way.

Also, wander to the east side of Pier 39 for another quiet stroll overlooking the Pier 39 marina.

What Wandering Means To Me

2013-04-01T13:32:00.000-06:00

As a first step to re-launching A Local Wander, I want to give you a chance to get to know me...

My Past
Small town Iowa girls don't often take far trips from home. From birth to age 17 the longest trip I had taken was a three-hour road trip to my uncle's house in Weeping Water, Nebraska. Then my mom blew everything out of the water. Attempting to get me away from an abusive high-school boyfriend, she loaded me on a plane and sent me 8 flight hours away to the European continent.

Now, don't go thinking this was normal for my family. We grew up on hand-me-down clothes and Hamburger Helper with twice the noodles and half the meat. Fate just happened to intervene that year and I became the first student hosted by our local Lions Club in a Youth Camp and Exchange Program. Traveling to Brussels with 25 Iowa teenagers and then embarking on a 6-week solo adventure with host families in the Netherlands was the most frightening enterprise imaginable.

I came home at the end of that summer an altogether different girl (yes, I did get rid of the loser of a boyfriend soon after). Wanderlust has been a part of me ever since. It prompted me to study Hospitality Management and released me from the Midwest to see the world. Working seasonal hotel jobs, I lived on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and all over the state of Alaska. Because they were seasonal jobs, and in the tourism industry, I was also afforded months of open-ended travel. My mid-twenties found me gallivanting around the globe and culminated in a 4-month backpacking/cruising trip that hopped from the Caribbean to western Mexico, from southeast Asia to Australia and New Zealand. Those are the days that spoiled me!

My 1st trip away from home,
at the Kinderdijk in the Netherlands

My Present
I'm married to a native Utahn and that has been my dwelling place for the past 9 years. Within 9 months of moving here I had experienced more of what this diverse state has to offer than a close friend who'd been going to school here more than 3 years. As a married couple, and now as a family with four young boys, we've made it a priority to continue getting out to see what there is to see.

People often give us long sideways glances after hearing of the next trip we're planning or reading about our latest exploits on our family blog, It's What We Do. What they usually fail to understand is that while they're spending their expendable cash on clothes, eating out, and movies, we're bundling ours together and escaping the humdrum of our every day lives. The ultimate example of these glances, and our own sacrifices, was a 6-week trip to Europe in celebration of my husband's college graduation and our oldest son's 1st birthday. More than anything, traveling with my family proves to myself that I am still me and the doors of the world didn't close when I said, "I do."

At the baron's house in Yvoirre, France

My Future
A day does not go by without me gazing out my window wondering where else there is to be. Traveling is now inherently in me. I used to passionately proclaim that, "You don't have to settle down until your kids are in school!" I want my family to share the world with me. Some argue that toddlers and infants are too little to even know, that world travel is wasted until they're old enough to read about the places they are going. I don't agree. My 5-year-old son (you'll get to know him as "B") is a map-lover! He will stop every 10 steps on a trail or in a museum, lay down his map, and recalculate which way we should be heading. I want him and his brothers to start out right from the beginning with a love and appreciation like that for exploring.

Navigating in Arches National Park

Dreams and reality are constantly changing for our family. We are going to be out in the world seeing things, make no doubt about that. Maybe we won't be continent-hopping like I'd once dreamed, but we will be packed and jet-setting to somewhere more exotic than our suburban landscape regularly. This summer I, by myself, am taking my boys on a two-month cross-country road-trip from Utah to North Carolina and back. Next summer I want to take them to New England, Niagara Falls, across Canada and to the beautiful border lakes of Michigan and Minnesota. And the summer after that? Glacier National Park and maybe even the Al-Can Highway.

The truth is, kids can do complete K-12 programs online now. No one around me should be surprised the day I sell off all our things and strike out permanently on the open road. The world doesn't have to settle in on me!

Updated and Revised

from original post on Wandering Still

Moab: No Room in the Inn?

2012-05-29T23:52:00.001-06:00

Source

Alright, it's time to spend a little blog space talking about Moab! The Moab tourism board has done a superb job of making their town seem like "the" place for cool people to be. We all want to be cool, right? I have to tell you, it's worked on me! Unfortunately, my anticipation and my reality never quite come together on the total excitement and enjoyment spectrum...until now!

One of the absolute most discouraging parts about going to Moab is finding available lodging. If you're a planner and like to make reservations months in advance, maybe this isn't such a hard task and you'd like to write something up for me. My experiences, however, have been a little different, where the dozens of hotels are always full or ridiculously high-priced by the time we get down there, and so many of the campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. Trust me, even with the plethora of camping available in the Moab area, first-come, first-served is usually not really an option if you don't live down a secret grown-over footpath from the campground.

I'm not trying to turn you off of a jaunt down to slick rock country. Quite the contrary, actually. I just want to be completely honest with my experiences-it can be really frustrating to drive the 3+ hours from the Salt Lake area only to spend as much time looking for a place to lay your head. That is why today I'm going to share with you two of my recent lodging success stories...

Camping in Moab, Utah

There are an endless number of camping facilities in the Moab area ranging all luxury levels. Nearly free sites with absolutely no facilities to complete resort accommodations. My two new favorites, Slickrock Campground and Moab Valley RV Resort, fall somewhere in between.

Located directly on Hwy 191 on the north end of Moab, both campgrounds are in a convenient location to anything you are planning to do in the area. And so, with that in mind, here are my impressions and recommendations...

Campsites

Moab Valley RV Resort

At this stage in life,my family and I are tent campers and the tent sites at these two campgrounds are in stark contrast to each other. Staying first at Moab Valley RV Resort, our two tents were pitched in a well-marked-off area, but on hard dirt with barely a wisp of shade in sight. We were lucky to be on the farthest row, but the road noise was still always in the background. There are covered tent sites available, but I have a hard time seeing how you'd fit two tents underneath the awning and neither type of spot allows for any stretching out.

Slickrock Campground

At Slickrock Campground, on the other hand, shade and space are at a premium. Especially shade. There are full-grown cottonwood trees leafing out all over the place. The day we checked in the desk clerk gave us a map of available sites and let us drive around looking for the one we wanted. There are definitely sites with less shade and space, but even these are a breath of fresh air over the sun beating down on you at Moab Valley RV. We were in space #120 with ample room for two tents and the kids to do a little running around. It's directly across from the restrooms and off the main traffic path. I'd definitely recommend trying to get something back in that area.

Recreation Facilities

Moab Valley RV Resort wins this category. They have a decent sized rectangular heated swimming pool and a gigantic hot tub attached on one end. It's easy for parents and kids to enjoy both together without having to worry about running and slipping on the concrete or being too far away to safely see each other. The deck area is as big as it needs to be with plenty of deck chairs, as well. Slickrock Campground does also offer a pool and hot tub, but both are smaller and dirtier. The weekend we were there, the pool had more tumbleweeds floating in it than people. Also, at Slickrock, the hot tub patrons seemed much rowdier than at Moab Valley irregardless of the time of day. This may be in part to the easy access to the cold beer cooler located only steps away in the office store.

Life-size Chess at Moab Valley RV

In addition to the pool, both campgrounds have other areas to keep families busy. Slickrock has a pretty cool mounted motorcycle for kids to sit on outside the office, and a not so cool playground with an old school climbing dome and not much else. Unlike the campsites at Slickrock, the playground is not in the shade. Moab Valley has created a fun game area with life size chess and checkers in a quaint garden setting. Just come prepared-the bugs can be REALLY annoying while you're playing.

Bathrooms/Showers

In full disclosure, I can't remember the bathrooms at Moab Valley RV, other than having to walk a little ways to get there. Not having terrible memories imprinted on my brain, I'm safely assuming they were clean and nice. The pictures on their website certainly make them appear so. I can say with certainty that the bathrooms at Slickrock Campground are clean and large and completely acceptable. The bathhouse next to our campsite had huge toilet stalls, and plenty of shower stalls with dressing areas. There was never a suspect odor wafting from the building into the campground, and it seemed like there were constantly staff members coming by to give it a once over. The morning cleaning lady even serenaded us (though she probably didn't know it) while we were getting ready in the morning.

Staff/Customer Service

I'm sure both places have great people working for them and that both places have employees that have bad days. Based on my most recent experiences, though, I'm going to sing the praises of the employees at Slickrock Campground. Stopping first at Moab Valley RV Resort because I'd stayed there before and loved it, I was less than impressed with the desk clerk who made us wait forever without greeting us at all and then snippily told us we could only stay one night and then before we would have to find somewhere else to go. The store and office at Moab Valley RV are more professional, but it doesn't make up for that kind of customer service.

Driving one minute down the road and walking into the Slickrock office was like licking a lollipop compared to that. The desk clerk greeted us and started joking with us right away. Like I mentioned before, he printed us a map and sent us on our merry way to choose the site that spoke to us. Every encounter we had with the office staff at Slickrock was similar the entire weekend. Be warned, though, multiple cats show up out of nooks and crannies in the office and store when you're least expecting...

Overall, both Moab Valley RV Resort and Slickrock Campground are worth a try the next time you find yourself in Moab cursing at your travel companions and burning all your gas looking for a place to stay. Weigh out their ups and downs for yourself and let me know what you think!

When you're in Moab, where do you like to stay?

More Information: From Salt Lake/Utah Valley, take I-15 south to Exit #257 Spanish Fork/Price. Follow Hwy 6 to Green River and merge onto I-70 eastbound. Take Exit #182 Crescent Junction and follow Hwy 191 south until you enter Moab.

There are innumerable options for camping in the Moab area. Here are some useful links for planning your stay...

Private Campgrounds
BLM Campgrounds (super cheap, minimal facilities, 1st-come 1st-serve)
Park Campgrounds (includes Arches & Canyonlands National Parks & Deadhorse Point State Park)

Also Coming soon: Where to Eat in Moab, Getting Your Feet Dirty in Arches National Park, Moab mountain biking, and Moab off the beaten path

This review was not solicited and I was not compensated.

Just my honest opinions based on my own experiences.

This Is My Utah-Summer Concert Venues

2012-05-14T00:01:00.000-06:00

We have a great article for you today shared by Alyssa at Wumpsee.com. It's time to start making some fun summer plans!!!

Music in the Mountains:

Utah's Spectacular Concert Venues

Utah has become a favorite place for performers and concertgoers alike. The state truly offers something for every person’s taste in concerts and shows, from beautiful outdoor backdrops, to gorgeous indoor venues worthy of the world’s finest symphonies. Wumpsee.com has compiled its top seven venues to attend any type of concert.

Red Butte Gardens – It doesn’t get lovelier than a concert at Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City. While offering a lineup of quality and diverse talent throughout its concert series, the setting in the foothills of the mountains, near the University of Utah, is simply breathtaking. Red Butte’s concert series has gained popularity, which has allowed it to bring in more popular artists. There are perks for becoming a member, such as advance ticket purchases.

There is much to enjoy before and during the concert. General seating is the call, so you have to get there early and wait in line to enter. But, making the most of it, fans turn it into a bit of tailgating fun. Once you are in the gates, take a stroll around the wonderful gardens, feed the ducks and bring a picnic to enjoy during the show (though they have food for sale).

According to Curt Barnett, “The crowd is full of fun people there to have a good time and you can make friends with whoever is sitting next to you.”

Tuacahn – For our friends in Southern Utah or those longing for an excursion, Tuacahn is a beautiful venue to visit. Set in the heart of Ivins, Utah (St. George’s next door neighbor), and nestled in an amazing red rock canyon, the backdrop of the theater is worth the trip.

“Those beautiful canyon walls seem to help amplify the sound. Gorgeous place.” says St. George resident Curtis Graff.

Tuacahn officials host wonderful plays throughout their season. They also entertain with excellent music and comedy concerts. Utah favorite Brian Regan will perform for three nights in May.

So, when visiting Southern Utah, get a great, scenic hike in and then head to one of Tuacahn’s outstanding shows.

Abravanel Hall – Home to the incredible Utah Symphony, the beauty and ambiance of this venue are stunning, and the acoustics are spectacular. As you enter you are greeted by an amazing Chihuly sculpture from the 2002 Olympic Games, and exquisite cascading staircases. The ceiling in the hall has dazzling chandeliers and the gold leafing throughout the facility is beautiful. Located in downtown Salt Lake City, near the new City Creek Center, Abravanel hosts remarkable artists from every genre imaginable. It is an ideal concert setting that is relatively large, but the quality of sound brings it in close.

“Some of my favorite, most intimate concert experiences have been at Abravanel Hall,” says Amy Barnett of Wumpsee.com

Kilby Court -This venue is as intimate as it gets, allowing you to stand face to face with the artists. Kilby Court is small, but the price is always right. Most tickets cost about $10. The unusual setting, in an old, converted garage at the end of an alley, makes you feel like you are at a friend’s house for a party and they just happen to know some talented musicians. Generally you will experience indie bands. But you may just catch a cheap concert from the next big thing; they all get started somewhere. Before you attend a concert here, keep your expectations in check; this is barebones entertainment with few amenities. Go to Kilby Court for the “experience.”

Sandy Amphitheater – Perched on a hill in Sandy, this amphitheater has gained popularity over the years and has become a wonderful place to attend concerts, theater, family events and more. There is excellent seating whether you choose to pay extra for assigned seats or go economy on the grass. The bonus of sitting on top of the hill, besides the great price, is catching a glimpse of one of Utah’s incredible sunsets. While food is available for purchase, you are also welcome to bring a picnic.

It’s another incredible outdoor venue where you can mingle with your neighbors, meet new people and enjoy a great Utah event.

Deer Valley – When the ski season ends, things don’t stop at Deer Valley. High atop the majestic mountains of Utah sits a wonderful amphitheater where the Deer Valley Music Festival takes over when the slopes are dry. This is another place where your picnics are welcome and you may kick back on the lawn and enjoy the outdoors. You may watch the symphony, an opera or a slew of world-renowned artists.

Arrive early to get a good seat on the hill. The higher up you are, the more difficult it is to see the stage. And don’t be fooled by the warm weather. It gets chilly when the sun goes down, so be prepared!

Now tell me, what is your favorite Utah concert venue

and what show are looking forward to this summer?

More Information: Wumpsee.com is a great resource for upcoming events in the Salt Lake Area with a daily calendar listing a variety of different activities open to the public. Be sure to check them out today!

Want to share your Utah experiences or expertise?

Click the "Share Your Utah Story" tab above for more information!

Giveaway Winner!!

2012-04-28T22:28:00.001-06:00

Congratulations, Sarah B.!

You are the winner of our

giveaway.

And welcome to all our new followers!

Be sure to watch in the coming weeks for the beginning of summer Utah adventures!

Utah Has Indoor Activities? (And a Giveaway!)

2012-04-25T18:40:00.000-06:00

I talk all the time about how much I love Utah because there are SO MANY different things to do. Usually I'm referring to the variety of outdoor adventures from north to south, east to west. Today, though, I want to turn inwards to one of the equally numerous indoor activities we have available here in our great state.

Utah Blaze Arena Football

Utah's indoor sports arenas are not a place I usually find myself, but after recently winning tickets from Tightwad in Utah I decided to give it a try. My family absolutely loved it! I'd definitely recommend giving it a try!

Before jumping into your first arena football experience, though, let me share a few of my observations:

1. It is going to be VERY VERY LOUD! Even with less than half the seats filled in the Energy Solutions Arena, the combination of fan cheers, actual game sounds, and obnoxious noisemakers is deafening. If you're going to be taking little kids, please remember to bring them some earplugs (and it wouldn't be a bad idea to take some for yourself).

2. All that noise isn't a bad thing-as a fan, even in the cheap seats, you really feel part of the action! As a first-timer we didn't understand many things that were happening on the field, but we could see it all and it kept us entertained and intrigued. Every play and every hit happens right in front of you and you can't help but get on your feet and scream!

3. It's a very fast-moving game and the fans are definitely part of it. The ball soars the length of the field with every kick and the players return it just about as quickly. This was the first event I've ever attended and thought the $100 seats would be worth it. Footballs, officials, and players alike constantly come flying over the wall to land in a lucky spectators lap. And the activities happening on the field during the timeouts are fun to watch as well.

So, arena football-probably a new idea to a lot of people, but a definite must-try and addition to all the fabulous things we already know there are to do outside our own front door!

More Information:
The Utah Blaze Arena Football team plays at Energy Solutions Arena in downtown Salt Lake City. There is plenty of parking in the area and a TRAX station stop directly outside the arena doors (Arena stop).

Tickets range from $10-$100 and are available online or at the ESA box office. Schedules and more ticket information can be found on the Blaze website as well.

And if you want a primer before you go, check out Arena Football 101.

*This giveaway is now closed*

The Giveaway!!!

I have 2 tickets left over from our night at the game and want to pass them on for one of you to enjoy!

Giveaway Item: 2 Utah Blaze Arena Football tickets

$15 seat section

Good for any home game through July 13, 2012

To enter: Simply leave a comment below telling me you want to win.

Be sure to leave email address to contact you if you win.

Extra Entry Option: Follow via Google Friend Connect.
Leave an additional comment letting me know you do and which email you're following with.

Giveaway Rules: Giveaway ends Saturday, April 28, 2012 5:00pm.

Open to Utah residents only. Tickets will only be mailed to a Utah address.

Winner chosen through random.org and will be notified via email.

Will have 48 hours to respond before new winner is chosen.

Quick Update and Welcome Back

2012-03-19T11:31:00.000-06:00

So, I've been gone a really long time! Life happens, huh? Just popping in today to let you know I will be back soon. I'm scaling my grandiose ideas way back, but I hope you'll still love it and keep stopping by.

In the meantime, look back through the archives and let me know if you find anything that inspires you to start planning your next cheap and local wander...