Ride to the Hills

My hubby and I have a goal to lose 10 pounds by November.  Ambitious you say?  Well, we aren’t so much gym rats (blah! Can you believe people actually enjoying going there?), so we decided to exercise and shed the pounds by doing activities we enjoy.  So this weekend we headed up to the world-renowned Snowbird Resort to see the beautiful fall colors and do some hiking.  I popped a few Akavar 2050 (whatever helps, right?), grabbed a few Clif Bars for lunch (can you say tasty?), and we headed up.  Unfortunately for us, Oktoberfest was going on…so we didn’t get as much hiking done as we would’ve liked and we stuffed our faces with roasted almonds and polish dogs.  Hey, there’s always next week, right?

(We did take some pics..but lo and behold, my camera isn’t working, so enjoy these breathtaking views).

Did you know that the beehive state is the most concentrated center for canyoneering in the United States?  Outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world travel to Zion National Park (located in southern Utah) to experience famed Utah Canyoneering.  Zion boasts nearly 50 technical canyons, including the Narrows, a section of canyon on the North Fork of the Virgin River.

The great state of Utah is by far one of my top vacation destinations - it’s an absolute paradise for the outdoor enthusiast, with miles and miles of diverse and scenic landscape.

It’s one of America’s most popular winter playgrounds, with world-renowned ski resorts and the “greatest snow on Earth!”

Southern Utah is home to a plethora of bizarre yet awe-inspiring rock formations and landscapes.  With mild temperatures most months of the year, it attracts visitors from all over the world and offers a myriad of different outdoor activities from mountain biking to rock climbing to camping.

Utah parks and recreation is a great resource to start planning a Utah getaway - if you do make it to the Beehive state, let us know!  We want to know how you enjoyed your time there.

With the summer fast approaching, people are starting to come out of hibernation and think of the outdoors again. I heard from some friends that Arizona has a new hot spot for outdoor recreation…a little city called Greer, up in the white mountains. If you like to get away, they’ve got accommodations for every taste, from upscale luxury lodge rooms, to family family cabins. I also hear the fly fishing is tremendous! So if you’re in AZ, make sure to check out Greer Rental Cabins.

This summer I did some pretty fun hikes while I was in Utah…I really think that there are very few places that can beat its natural beauty. If I had to choose a favorite hike however, it would have to have been the Narrows in Zion National Park.

The Narrows is a hike along the riverbed that runs right through the heart of the park. The crazy part is that you’re actually hiking in the river for most of the time. We went about five miles in, and then hiked back out. The steep canyon walls were beautiful, and there were plenty of places to sunbathe and relax along the way (be careful of sunburn though! If you get one, treat it carefully!). It really is a unique hike, and I’d suggest it to anyone who enjoys a somewhat challenging, adventurous hike.

I just finalized plans with my buddy to spend a week up in Alaska next month. We’ve got a tour guide and we’ll be doing some hunting/fishing/camping, etc. I’m crazy excited.

I’ll keep you posted as the details and trip unfolds.

If you ever have the chance to visit the Beehive state, you have to try Utah mountain biking.  Utah has some of the most stunning and diverse landscapes in the country.  Typically known as a tourist spot in the winter (”greatest snow on Earth” as the license plates boast), the warmer months offer some of the most fantastic mountain biking conditions out there.

Think intense up and down biking through remote pristine mountain trails, or more leisurely rides through gorgeous canyons.  Southern Utah has beautiful desert landscape complete with red rocks, sandstone cliffs, and canyons to enjoy while getting a good workout.