Swimming, grilling out, camping, playing outside, garage sales, etc. I like to think that I never grew out of my childhood love of the outdoors.
My neighbors across the street are always, and I mean always, outside with their kids. I can't wait to do that with my kids! Lemonade stands, sidewalk chalk, and sprinklers!
Funny little story: Growing up, if the sprinkler was on, we were in it. Period. It wasn't until I was an adult (no really!) that I realized that the sprinklers were for watering the lawn and not a toy! I just never thought about it! Oops? :)
In the beautiful land of Utah, I am surrounded by the glorious mountains, trails, lakes, streams, and sunshine. I've often gone longboarding down the canyon, canoeing on the river, and rafting. The snow melt rivers are not ideal, but they can feel lovely on the hottest of days!
For my non local readers, forgive me! To find out about cool activities and places around you, try to google "Fun things to do in..." There are tons of websites that will give you ideas, and even coupons or deals with large groups! Hey! I may even inspire you to take a vacation to Utah! ;)
Here is a list of my favorite things and how to actually do them!
Canoe down the Provo River
My husband and I did this when we were first dating! It was a lot of fun. We went with another
couple, but got "lost" down the river. It was perfect. For a canoe for two hours, it's $13 total. Not
bad! There are a few companies that will host this. I believe we went through CLAS Ropes Course.
Rafting down the Provo River
Big groups are the best for this! We had a blast doing it. Usually you can call ahead to get a group
discount. I've used High Country Rafting quite a few times and I was pleased. My only qualm with
them was timing. They got behind and we waited an extra two hours to go down the river. They
charge about $10 per person, but with groups you can usually talk them into $8. What I love is that
you park, hop on a bus, jump in the river, and then float practically back to your car. It is about a 20
Camping in Southern Utah
My husband and I both love camping! In fact, for his last birthday, we got a bunch of camping
supplies. It was my best birthday ever! ;) We got two lawn chairs, a cooler, a fold out table, and
cooking supplies. We went camping at Sand Hollow and loved it! It was $8 per day to camp there. I
loved it because you can camp next to a huge lake! It's absolutely stunning. As a bonus, there are
restrooms and an open shower close by! I know it's not exactly roughin' it, but when you have to be
at church early the next morning, you don't want to be sandy and stinky :)
Bonfire in Provo Canyon
Nunn's Park in Provo has the perfect place for a bonfire! It's just up Provo canyon. There are about a
dozen pits and a ton of picnic tables. It's free and based on a first come first served basis. The pit's
are spaced out nicely, so you don't have to worry about crashing any one's party. Bring your
starbursts to roast along with your hot dogs and marshmallows!
Bridal Veil Falls
One of my all time favorites! My husband and I have a lot of memories here. This is us last summer. He is 6'9 by the way! I am a proud 5'3 (on a good day).
Here's a better picture of it. As you can see in the picture, it's easy to climb up to the main falls. We usually go barefoot to make sure we have a good grip and don't slip on the rocks. It's like rock climbing, but much safer and cooler in the hot summer sun! It was a weekly thing for us to climb it. We would tie our shoelaces together and throw our shoes over our neck for the hike back down the trail. You can climb back down the falls, but that may be a little risky! I would definitely recommend visiting here even if you don't climb it. It's gorgeous!
At Nunn's park where this is located, there is also a beautiful paved trail for cycling, boarding, and running. The river is rushing right next to you as you sit in luscious green grasses with your watermelon. We usually chill our watermelon in the river for a few hours and then come back to devour it! Yum!
Longbarding in Provo Canyon
The paved trail is also boarding friendly! I love night riding because it is not nearly as crowded. The trail is perfect for beginners because of it's gradual downward slope. The first few times I went down, I required a friend's hand. My first time riding solo was at night! As scary as that may seem, I was much more focused on my balance and speed because of the darkness. The moonlight gives the perfect "night vision" light. If it's overcast, it's even better! The moonlight reflects on the clouds. It's very peaceful and fun.
Scenic Drive in Park City
I love Park City! I love the old timey feel the little town gives me. It has gorgeous lakes like Deer Creek you can go boating in. There are fields and fields of horses and pastures to soak in. Being a country girl from Georgia, I miss the green fields. This is my "getaway" place if I need to clear my head. I love getting lost and wandering around the town. If you want to go on a Sunday drive, I would recommend Park City!
Horseback Riding
This is something I haven't done in Utah yet, but it's definitely on my bucket list! I love horses and nature. riding horses through nature is amazing! I've gone through the mountains of Virginia before, but never Utah. You can find places to do this here!
Temple Picnics
Whether you're LDS or not, this is definitely something you need to do. If you're ever passing through Utah (and many other states) and need a place to take a walk or have a picnic, I would recommend one of the temples! The grounds are open to the public. The grass is always beautiful and the flowers freshly planted. We had time to kill last weekend, so we got some shaved ice and sat in the shade with some good friends. We just talked and enjoyed the beauty of the temple. It was very peaceful and relaxing. If you'd like to find a temple near you, go to this website: http://www.lds.org/locations. You can search for a church building, a temple, visitor centers, and much more!
See what I mean?
This, of course, is only the tip of the iceberg for activities to do in Utah! I've done quite a few, but I have many more things to discover! For more ideas of Utah activities, you can find the mothership of ideas: here
Happy Summer!
Oh man, I loved canoeing Provo River! I only did it once (for kind of an epic group date) but it was SO fun. Great list!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the best? Thank you!
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