Throughout the pandemic, Utahns have found an escape from social distancing, working from home and remote learning — terms that have come to define our lives — in the beautiful natural environment we are so lucky to live in. Whether it’s a stroll through Sugarhouse Park or a strenuous trek in the Uintas, there’s never been a more important time to get out and get moving — for … [Read more...]
Going to Disneyland is My Job
Can you imagine your job consists of traveling the world and visiting Disneyland Theme Parks? That is just what Chris Provost and his wife Amanda do and then post their adventures, secrets, tips, and history stories on their YouTube channel, Provost Park Pass. Chris is the emcee in the main ballroom of Salt Lake’s FanX® and has been since the first event. His job there is … [Read more...]
You can create glass beauty at Red Flower Studios!
Tucked away in Park City, and guarded by two friendly golden retrievers, is a unique and off-the-beaten-path resort destination — Red Flower Studios. Here, owners Daniel Bell and Micah Goddard teach the ancient art of glass blowing. Customers melt color into glass before a 2000 degree oven, blow air into the molten globules to give them shape, and then put finishing touches on … [Read more...]
Best Staycation Within One Hour of Salt Lake: Ogden and Its Beautiful Valley
Travel these days looks a whole lot different than it did a year ago. Planes, trains, and ships are basically out of the question for most Utahns, who, by this time, would have finished their summer vacations and started planning their holiday travels. That’s why stay-cations — excursions close to home — have cabin-fevered locals traveling to places that are close enough to … [Read more...]
Creative Destruction – Smash Your Troubles Away in Rage Rooms
A person can marvel at the wonders of the world when they’re watching a sunset, but what does it take to find the same awe in a piece of Deseret Industries tchotchke like a ceramic clown or that big screen TV that hasn’t worked since the Clinton administration? That’s easy. The awe comes from smashing the hell out of these things. Of returning creation back into nothingness, or … [Read more...]
Squaw Peak Road – My favorite Sunday drive in Utah
I rediscovered the great American road trip in the 1980s after returning from graduate school in Alabama. I had just started up Provo Canyon in my car when I saw the turnoff to the Squaw Peak Road (FS Road 27) on the right leading to the Rock Canyon area above downtown Provo. The Rock Canyon “Gorge” is easily visible from I-15, immediately above the Provo LDS Temple, and … [Read more...]
Strum Your Way to a Sunny Day: It’s Easy to Learn the Ukulele
So you have run out of videos to watch, books to read, friends to text and new recipes to cook. May I suggest discovering the ukulele? Learning how to play this simple stringed instrument may make the corona lockdown all seem worthwhile. You can actually learn the necessary chords and play your first song within 30 minutes. Yep, I'm not kidding. What makes the uke so … [Read more...]
Starry Starry Night: Dark Sky Parks and Research Flourish in Utah
One of the great delights of a camping trip, or better yet, living in one of Utah’s remote places away from the lights of the larger cities, is looking up on a clear night to see the sky filled with stars. Staring into the dark sky, punctured with points of light and maybe the glowing brushstroke of the Milky Way, can be inspiring, humbling and exhilarating. It is … [Read more...]
Discovering Moab, Again
Bikes, Jeeps, and rafts, oh my! There are hundreds if not thousands of different things to do in Moab, such as 4x4ing, rafting, hiking, biking, rock climbing, rock hunting, finding dinosaur tracks & fossils, skydiving, kayaking, paddleboarding, UTV riding, zip-lining, and mountaineering. The things you can do are only limited to your imagination. A person could spend a … [Read more...]
St. Patrick’s Day SLC: Everyone can “go green” on March 17
While enjoying a beer with a few of his friends 43 years ago on St. Patrick’s Day, John Welsh and the crew started wondering why Utah didn’t have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. A quick barroom decision was made, and moments later they marched down the street in honor of the holiday. The following year, Welsh, himself an Irish-American, formed The Hibernian Society, and an … [Read more...]