A Local Wander: state parks

Showing posts with label state parks. Show all posts

Salt Lake Like the Pioneers Did It: This Is the Place Trail Rides

This is a sponsored post.

I received a product in exchange for an honest review.

Living in Utah, we talk a lot about the "pioneers." It was their tenacity and faith that brought about the blooming of the Salt Lake & Utah Valleys. During our recent visit to This Is the Place Heritage Park it was exciting to step back through time and see what the area would have been like when they were first here working and praying. The park offers so many different hands-on activities that bring history to life and perhaps the most realistic of all is a trail ride in the park's outer hills.

Here is when I tell you that my niece, who came prepared for the day with pink cowboy hat, sparkly belt, and cowboy boots, decided at the last minute she did not want to go. So, she and I had a nice time walking around Brigham's Forest Farmhouse while my husband and B went out on the trail. Since he went, and I didn't, I'm turning the reigns (Yep, terrible pun) over to him today as my first A Local Wander contributor...

The Joy of a Horse-riding Father

Growing up I had a horse. She was an ornery horse, spoiled, lazy, and slightly homicidal. She almost sent me to the spirit world seven different times and I'm sure she knew it. We fought through a lot of stubbornness (on both our parts). After breaking both our family saddles, she and I came to an agreement that I would ride bareback and she would accept me as her rider.

The horses at This is the Place Heritage Park are the exact opposite of my horse! It was refreshing to learn that horseback riding can be effortless and pleasant. The welcoming committee (a very friendly toddler) greeted us and welcomed us in to meet his Dad, the real McCoy of western cowboy fantasies. Our trail guide introduced 8-yr-old B to his horse and explained how to help her stop and go. Right from the start B was in charge of making sure Classy was walking and not always stopping to eat.

The ride wound through the park with incredible views of the Salt Lake valley and the historic pioneer buildings. It was amazing and rewarding to see my son commanding a beautiful horse and learning that even at the ripe age of 8 he was the one in control. We had a guide in front and a guide in back sharing information about the park and surrounding areas. The horses are so incredibly gentle and the guides are so confident in their abilities that any concerns I had of this ride being like those of my youth were quickly erased. I had expected them to take halter rope and lead him in a manner reflecting a circular pony ride, so when they gave him the reins and said, "Go," I was very impressed. It was a unique and relaxing way to spend some time with him..

I detest not being able to control my destiny, I like to drive my own ATV, I prefer to paddle my own boat, and I love to control my own horse. I saw this in my son today. It was great to see the joy of accomplishment when we returned and he told his mom that he rode a horse!

The trail rides at This Is the Place Heritage Park are a great place for children and parents to take the ropes and experience the joy of riding a horse. It's a hands-on way for them to put themselves in the pioneer stories they've always been told. This activity will enrich the great time families are already having at This is the Place Heritage Park.

Book your trail ride today at This is the Place Heritage Park!

Goblin Valley: A Utah Hidden Gem?

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.

Goblin Valley: Mars Is In Utah

Tucked away in the middle of nowhere southern Utah is one of the most bizarre places you'll ever see on Earth. In 100 visits you'll take 100 different paths and never feel like you've covered the same ground twice. And in a world of ever-increasing security and liability precautions, Goblin Valley is refreshingly void of safety rails and "stay off the grass" signs. If you can see it you can climb it, scurry around it, or burrow underneath it.

So what do you do when you get there? Let yourself be a kid again! Leave any fear of heights at home and scale to the top for a view across red rock country that is unmatched anywhere. Put aside claustrophobia and squeeze into as many nooks and crannies as is physically possible. Let your toughest decision be whether to go over a bulbous rock or around. Explore, explore, explore.

Goblin Valley is truly nature's best playground, especially if you get creative. Toss a Frisbee over a red rock obstacle to friend's you can't see. Play an intense game of sardines or hide and seek. Challenge the family to an extreme round of croquet. And definitely stick around until night when the unfamiliar terrain will take on an entirely new personality.

In all seriousness, Goblin Valley State Park is a treasure for Utahns and the Utah state park system. Go there and make it at least a day. It'll get inside of you and you'll find yourself wandering down there again and again!

Directions and Information:

Leaving from Spanish Fork, drive south on Hwy 6 to the junction with I-70. Merge onto I-70 to the west and then take Exit 149. Passing underneath the interstate, follow UT-24 south for 24 miles. From there, signs will take you 12 more miles west and south before the park literally appears before you in the middle of nowhere. The park entrance fee is $13 and only good for the day you arrive, so make sure to get there early enough to feel like you got your money's worth. Also, a small visitor's center inside the ranger booth provides books and maps of the local area as well as a few treats.

If it's not the height of summer or UEA weekend, you're almost guaranteed to share the park with only a few other people like yourself. So many times I've been there and not run into a single other person. Regardless of the time of year you go, though, be sure to dress in layers and take lots of water. There are vault toilets, but there is no water source once you've arrived at the park.

If you're not fitting Goblin Valley into a larger weekend/vacation itinerary, there is camping available just outside the park. It's beautiful at night and quiet in the morning, but trust me on this: It can get cold after dark!!! Not a problem if you come prepared for that (I speak from unfortunate experience). And if you're resourceful or daring, there are opportunities for free camping on public lands in several places nearby. Read this post for more information on using the public BLM land.

Have you been to Goblin Valley?

State Parks Road Trip Week

In April a group of Utah tourism/outdoor enthusiasts took a 72-hour road trip, visiting all 43 Utah state parks along the way.

After their trip, Governor Herbert declared August 1-7 to be Utah State Parks Road Trip Week. The goal of both efforts is to get all Utahns out into at least one state park in 2011. This week I want to get you excited for a few of my favorite state parks, but first I'm going to let you in on way to do it for free.

State Park Passes are available to check through Utah's public libraries; I cannot think of a single reason to pass up this opportunity for free outdoor exploring! Based on my own experience at the Orem Public Library, this is what I know:

~Skip the search on the electronic card catalog and go straight to your librarian to get on the list. The pass seems to be creatively labeled and it took my librarian several word combinations before she could find it.

~You're going to be on a long waiting list. I was #19 on the hold list. My library only has 1 pass and it checks out for 7 days. But don't lose hope! They work year-round-so, no, you probably won't get one to use this week, but the parks will be equally enjoyable later in the year-Just don't put off getting on the list or it could be Christmas before you get out there.

~Research now or later. No need to panic if you're not familiar with all 43 Utah state parks. The pass comes with a booklet describing each one. And since you do get it for 7 days, you'll have a chance to group a few together and visit more than one.

Directions and Information:

It's not any harder than the flyer or information I've given above. Go to your library, get on the wait list, check it out, and go!

List of participating libraries

I can't wait to hear how it works for you!

This is My Utah: Great Salt Lake

Summer of Salt: An Exploration of Great Salt Lake
A Blog about Two Friends, One Lake, and a Summer of Salt.
Written by: Nicole Anderson

Antelope Island by R Jefre Hicks

If you have ever thought of Great Salt Lake as a dead sea, then this article is for you. Or, perhaps you know that the Lake is a haven for wildlife with millions of birds from all over the world stopping here to rest and dine on brine shrimp and brine flies, or raise their young before they migrate to warmer climates. The Lake is not just for the birds, bugs and brine shrimp, however. It is an invaluable resource for people, too.

Birds in Bear River Bay

The Sun Tunnels

The Team on Fremont Island

We are especially glad to have our support team:

Photographer Charles Uibel, proprietor of My Great Salt Lake, His beautiful pictures and technical expertise are proving invaluable on this journey.
And our dear friends Cindy Lund and Sarah Middleton who have offered to drive when they can, pack lunches and always be honest about our writing.

We want people to fall in love with the Lake as we have. Our goal is to educate the public and to dispel many of the negative myths that come to mind when thinking of Great Salt Lake. It brings forth beauty, recreation, economic prosperity, and is rich in history; it contributes to the “Greatest Snow on Earth,” and is home to 5 to 8 million aquatic birds. Great Salt Lake is one of the most magical places in the state of Utah.

Foam blowing across the Lake

Misconceptions of a stinky place full of bugs have led to the rocky collision between man and nature. Yet, even still, with its bad reputation among many, its shorelines and saline flats welcome all who go there. Whether you seek solitude or adventure, a livelihood or an escape - the Lake has provided for the people on her shores for thousands of years - and is at your fingertips in our own backyard!

Join us as we explore both the nature and people of Great Salt Lake.

Find us on Facebook at: Great Salt Lake

Contact Nicole Anderson by e-mail nma9999@xmission.com

Heidi Nedreberg at heidi.nedreberg@gmail.com

Charles Uibel at cuibel@gmail.com

or follow our adventures on Twitter @nedr3547.

Organizations listed or linked are for identification purposes only and no endorsement or other involvement by the organization is implied.