10 things to do in Salt Lake City!

I have been to Salt Lake City many times. It is a gorgeous city at any time of year.

What to do:

1.       Park City, UT The 2001 Winter Olympics were held here. You can view where the luge, skeleton, bobsled, and freestyle took place. There is a little museum where you can view memorabilia from the Olympics including Kelly Clark’s snowboard, Bodi Miller’s gear and Timothy Goebel’s outfit. Make sure to also visit historic downtown.

2.       This is the Place Heritage Park There are many statues and memorials of the early Mormons who found this place. There is also a living historic village that recreates daily pioneer life during the 19^th century.

3.       Temple Square The architecture is phenomenal. It is dominated by a magnificent six-spired temple. You can take a free tour around the premises. They talk about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints as well as what is happening today.

4.       Salt Lake City Capitol building Make sure to go on an hourly tour. You see more than the self-guided tour and it is really informative. There are some great murals in the building.

5.       Council Hall

6.       Gilgal Sculpture Garden This mid-20^th century garden features 12 original sculpture and over 70 stones engraved with scriptures, poems, and literary texts.

7.       International Peace Gardens These gardens feature floral architecture and displays representing other countries. Open May-September, dawn until dusk.

8.       Red Butte Garden This garden is part of the University of Utah. The garden features more than 150 acres of landscaped grounds and colorful flowers with walking paths.

9.       Big Cottonwood Canyon This canyon offers great hiking, camping, rock climbing, and biking in the summer. In the winter there is skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and cross country skiing.

10.   Great Salt Lake This 20,000 square mile lake is the second saltiest lake in the world. It is also a wildlife refuge attracting millions of migratory birds every year to the ten islands within it.

Sheridan, Wyoming

I spent my last semester of college in Sheridan, Wyoming as a student teacher in Kindergarten. Sheridan is a small town in northern Wyoming. The Big Horn Mountains surround Sheridan.

●Population: 17,444

What to do:

1.       Trail End Historic Site This is a mansion that was finished in 1913. It was the home of John Kendrick. Kendrick was a cattle rancher who served as governor of Wyoming before being elected to three terms as a United States senator. Trail End is a state-operated museum and is known locally as Kendrick Mansion.

2.       Kings Saddlery Museum This museum contains many saddles, leather work, guns and Western artifacts. It is located behind the retail store.

3.       Kendrick Park This park is located at the corners of Badger and Beaver Streets. The park includes a children’s play area, an ice cream shop, a swimming pool, and a buffalo and elk conservatory. I walked by this park everyday and it was so neat to see elk so close up!

4.       Historic Downtown

5.       Cross Country Skiing at Sibley Lake

6.       Camp, bike, and hike in the Bighorn Mountains.

7.       Shell Falls The Falls are just off of US 14.

8.       Mint Bar

Seward, Alaska

Kyle and I went to Seward, Alaska for my 22^nd birthday. Seward is absolutely gorgeous! Seward is one of Alaska’s oldest and most scenic communities. This town offers a bustling harbor, quaint shops and galleries, and many different ways to tour Kenai Fjords National Park.

●Seward is the 7^th most lucrative fisheries port in the United States per value.

●Seward is the southern terminus of the Alaskan Railroad.

●In 1927, 13 year old Benny Benson of Seward, won a territory-wide American Legion contest to design a flag for Alaska. His design became the territorial flag and eventually the state flag.

●Seward is located 126 miles south of Anchorage.

Things to do in Seward

1.       Benny Benson Memorial Park

2.       Kenai Fjords National Park-Exit Glacier Exit glacier is only 15 minutes from town. A half-mile trail leads you to the base of the glacier. When we went to Exit Glacier the road had been flooded from a rainstorm.

3.       Alaska SeaLife Center This is the state’s only marine research and rehabilitation facility. Come face to face with puffins, sea lions, and harbor seals.

4.       Glacier and Wildlife Day Cruises Choose which boat tour you want to go on. You will see glaciers, fjords, and wildlife.

5.       Take a walking tour. Walk along Main Street. There is a collection of refurbished railcars from the Alaska Railroad. They now house several private businesses. Visit the small boat harbor. Go to the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center. Walk along the paved Coastal Walk. The coastal walk follows the route of the original Iditarod National Historic Trail. Visit the library, the Taroka Inn, The Liberty Theater, the Van Gilder Hotel, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, the Ballaine House, the Cameron House, the Stewart House, the Resurrection Bay Historical Society Museum, and the Buoy Tree.

6.       Look for the many murals in town.

Where to Stay

On the way to Exit Glacier there are many camping spots that are free! You can just pull off and claim a spot.

                                                            The view from our campsite!



11 things to do in Banff National Park!

View from the Cascade Gardens



I went to Banff in September 2010. It was snowing but it was still gorgeous. It was a nice time to go because there weren’t too many tourists and the aspens were at their peak.

●Canada’s first National Park, established in 1885

●1 ½ hours west of Calgary in Alberta

●Connects to Jasper National Park

What to do:

1.       See Lake Louise. While at Lake Louise, walk through the Chateau Lake Louise.

2.       Visit the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

3.       Ice fields Parkway This is a gorgeous drive that passes through lakes, glaciers, rivers, waterfalls, and mountains.

4.       Banff Gondola The gondola takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain for spectacular views. To get there take Banff Ave south across Bow River. Take a left on Cave Ave. Take a right on Mountain Ave and follow that road until it dead ends at the gondola parking lot.

5.       Parker Ridge Trail This is a 2.5 mile round trip hike with a view of the Saskatchewan glacier.

6.       Cascade Gardens These gardens are behind the park administration building. It is free to walk around. There are many paths that go over bridges and through gazebos.

7.       Bow Falls Bow Falls is located right behind the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

8.       Lake Minnewanka The lake is located 15 miles north of Banff. This is the park’s largest waterway.

9.       Vermillion Lakes From downtown, take Mount Norquay Rd. north towards Hwy 1. Turn Left on Vermillion Lakes drive. The hike is 3.7 miles round trip. There are 3 lakes and there are wonderful views of Mt. Rundle.

10.   Banff Upper Hot Springs These soothing hot springs are open year round. From downtown, cross the Bow River bridge. Turn left on Spray Ave. Take a right on Mountain Ave. The hot springs are at the end of the road.

11.   Surprise Corner This is the spot where most of the famous pictures have been taken of the Banff Springs Hotel. Drive down Banff Ave towards Bow River. Turn left on Buffalo Street. You will see the parking lot just after the view opens up.

How Not To Be A Tourist

What kind of traveler are you? Do you travel to see what life is like as a local? Or Do you travel to impress your friends and family? This is the difference between a traveler and a tourist. A traveler creates their own itinerary and learns about the culture of the place. A tourist is on a guided tour. 

I want to be a traveler that fits in instead of the typical “tourist” who sticks out like a sore thumb. I want to blend in and learn about local customs.

How not to look like a tourist:

1.       Consult your map discretely.

2.       Dress like the locals. Wear a messenger bag instead of a backpack or a fanny pack. Dress conservatively.

3.       Ditch the athletic shoes. White athletic shoes are stereotypically American. Flip-flops are also very noticeable as American attire.

4.       Buy accessories at local stores, especially ones that you see the locals wearing.

5.       Avoid US brand name clothing.

6.       Keep your camera out of sight unless you are using it.

How to live like a local:

1.       Respect shared public spaces. Do not speak loudly. Remember that you are representing your country. Learn the local customs about personal space. Observe locals to know how far or how close to stand.

2.       Research the sights and history of your destination. Make sure you know the basic geography, the name and rate of the local currency, language and dialects, capital city, major towns, unusual customs, and any dangers.

3.       Learn the native language. You don’t need to become fluent. Even knowing a couple of words and short phrases is fine.

4.       Don’t rush. Prioritize the sights you want to see and allow plenty of time.

5.       Bypass tacky tourist spots and go to more interesting and authentic backstreets.

How to eat and drink like a local:

1.       Go to local restaurants instead of known fast food franchises.

2.       Take whatever condiments they give you. Requesting typical US condiments is a sure giveaway that you are American.

3.       Give up the ice. In many parts of the world, you will be served your drinks with little or no ice.

4.       Use local table manners.

5.       Avoid walking down the street while eating. This is against proper etiquette in most countries.

13 free things to do in Victoria, British Columbia!!!

I went to Victoria when I was working at Camp Orkila in the San Juan Islands. To get there I took a ferry from Orcas Island to Sydney, British Columbia. I took a bus down to Victoria. I was able to walk to my hotel, which I booked beforehand. After dropping my stuff at the hotel, I walked to downtown Victoria and explored!!!

The #1 most popular thing to do in Victoria is visit the Butchart Gardens. Unfortunately, I was unable to go because it was too far from the downtown district and I was only there for 1 night.

Free things to do:

1.       Stroll through Beacon Hill Park. There is a petting zoo, a lake, and beautiful gardens. The children’s petting zoo accepts donations. I walked through the park and got to the ocean. You can see the Olympic Mountains across the water.



Beacon Hill Park



2.       Tour and shop China Town.

3.       See the Parliament Building. The building lights up at night.

4.       Walk through the Empress Hotel.

5.       Check out the churches in town. These include the St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Christ Church Cathedral.

St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church

6.       See the Craigdarroch Castle.

7.       Watch performers at the inner harbor. Each evening through the summer months, the inner harbor causeway comes alive with street performers and merchants.

8.       Market Square. This charming mall has a courtyard that quite often is filled with free entertainment. It consists of a courtyard surrounded by three stories of shops and eating establishments.

9.       Take a garden walk. Visit the University of Victoria and the Governor’s mansion. Each has an excellent garden that you can tour for free.

10.   Take a free tour. The BC Provincial Legislature, the Victoria Estate Winery, and the Vancouver Island Brewery all have free tours.

11.   Go on an antique walk. A walk east along Fort Street from Douglas will take you past numerous antique shops.

12.   Go on a hike. Go on the Galloping Goose trail, The Dallas Road Waterfront, East Sooke Park, Juan de Fuca Trail and the West Coast Trail.

13.   Go on a beach walk. Victoria has many excellent and scenic beaches. Check out the Dallas Road Cliffs, Willows Beach, Cadboro Bay, Whitty’s Lagoon, and Island View Beach.

*Tips:

Make sure you have a map!

Stay at a hotel that is close to the downtown district so you can walk.

Learn the Canadian currency.

15 Tips on How to Travel on a Budget!!!

I have been able to travel to many places because I have been smart with my money. You don’t need to stay in luxurious hotels in order to have a good time. When I was a hiking guide in Alaska I met a woman who told me she spent $25,000 on her Alaskan cruise! I wanted to tell her that I spent $500 on my Alaskan vacation, but I held my tongue!

1.       Instead of eating out for every meal, go to a grocery store and buy food.

2.       Camp instead of staying at a hotel. If that is not an option, stay at a cheap motel like Motel 6 or stay at a hostel. Most people don’t realize that it is possible to get a private room at a hostel. Go to hostels.com.

3.       I have become so frugal that sometimes I sleep in my car! You can sleep at most rest areas.

4.       Another idea is to house-swap or rent out your home. Go to HomeExchange.com, HouseSwap.com, homeexchangevacation.com or CasaCasa.org. Rent out your home while you are away on vacation.

5.       Couchsurf! Stay on someone’s couch for free. Often times, your host will show you around. Go to CouchSurfing.org.

6.       Instead of buying travel books, get them at a library.

7.       Spend your days cheaply. Walk around, and visit free or cheap attractions. Visit tourist information centers to find out what you can do for cheap! TripAdvisor.com has some great ideas for what to do in any place! My favorite things to do while traveling are hiking, visiting art galleries, going on free brewery or winery tours, visiting cemeteries, going for a walk in the park, going to free festivals, and going to a coffee shop to hear live music.

8.       Do not travel during the holidays or mid-summer. Prices are usually higher on hotel rooms, restaurants, and tourist attractions.

9.       Don’t buy souvenirs. Take pictures instead!

10.   Use public transportation.

11.   Carpool or hitchhike. You can travel with someone going the same direction as you or if you have a car you can look for people to join you. Go to erideshare.com  or hitchhikers.org. Rides are also advertised at hostels.

12.   Find airfares at a discount. Go online to Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak, Sidestep, and Priceline.

13.   Instead of going on a guided hiking/bus tour, research information about the area yourself!

14.   Work where you want to visit. I wanted to go to Alaska so I decided to work in Alaska. I was a hiking guide at Denali National Park. I was able to go on free plane tours, glacier tours, bus tours, jet-boat tours, and rafting trips. I am now working at Stowe Mountain ski resort. For cool jobs in cool places go to coolworks.com. I get to ski all season for free!

15.   Go WWOOF. This acronym stands for World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. You work on the farm in any location and you get free room and board. Visit wwoof.org.

Arches National Park

I have been to Arches National Park a couple of times. The last time was in late March. It was a wonderful time to go because it wasn’t too cold or too hot. My husband told me that he enjoyed Arches more than the Grand Canyon because you are so close to the formations and you can touch them, while the Grand Canyon is more of a “big picture” kind of formation. We were able to hike the majority of the trails in the park. Many of the arches are very accessible and are a short hike away.

●Arches National Park preserves over 2,000 natural sandstone arches!

●Arches is 5 miles north of Moab and is close to Canyonlands National Park.

●Humans have occupied the region since the last ice age 10,000 years ago.

Things to do:

1.       Backpack: You must obtain a free backcountry permit at the visitor center.

2.       Auto touring: If you only have a couple of hours, drive to the windows section and see some of the park’s largest arches. Stop at Wolfe Ranch which is a restored homestead of John Wolfe who settled in the area in the late 1800s. It is located near the beginning of the Delicate Arch trail. Drive to the Delicate Arch viewpoint.  

3.       Bike: A bike path connects the town of Moab to the entrance of Arches. This path continues to Canyonlands and Dead Horse State Park. You can bike along the road even though there is not a path.

4.       Camp: We camped at Slick Rock outside of Moab.

5.       Canyoneering: You don’t need a permit unless you stay overnight or if the route is in the Fiery Furnace.

6.       Ranger-led programs: You can attend evening programs which are 45 minutes at Devil’s Garden Campground. Take a guided walk. Take a Fiery Furnace tour. Tickets must be obtained in advance and are $10 for adults and $5 for children. The walk lasts about three hours and is moderately strenuous. You will walk on irregular and broken sandstone, along narrow ledges, and in loose sand. Reservations can be made online at www.recreation.gov.

7.       Rock Climbing

Things to see:

1.       Balanced Rock: (.3 miles round trip) There is a loop trail around the base of a fragile, picturesque rock formation. The balancing rock is the size of three school buses!

2.       Broken Arch: (2 miles round trip including the loop) Start this hike at the Sand Dune Arch parking area.

3.       Courthouse Wash Rock Art Panel: (1 mile round trip) The trail leads to a prehistoric rock art panel.

4.       Delicate Arch Viewpoint: (100 yards round trip)

5.       Double Arch: (.5 miles round trip) This trail leads to the base of two giant arch spans which are joined at one end. This arch was featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

6.       Landscape Arch: (2 miles round trip) Start this trail at the Devils Garden Trailhead parking lot. This trail leads to a spectacular ribbon of rock, whose span is more than a football field in length.

7.       Sand Dune Arch: (.4 miles round trip)

8.       Skyline Arch: (.4 miles round trip)

9.       The Windows: (1 mile round trip) This trail leads to three arches (North and South Windows and Turret Arch)

 The North and South Windows

10.   Park Avenue: (2 miles round trip, 320 feet elevation gain) This trail descends into a spectacular canyon.

11.   Tower Arch: (3.4 miles round trip) Start the trail at the Klondike Bluffs parking area.

12.   Delicate Arch: (3 miles round trip, 480 feet elevation gain) This is the famous arch that is shown on the Utah license plate.

13.   Devil’s Garden Primitive Loop: (7.2 miles round trip) This trail leads to 8 arches. There are narrow ledges, and scrambling on slickrock.

14.   Double O Arch: (4 miles round trip) Start the trail at Devils Garden Trailhead. Spur trail leads to Partition and Navajo Arches. Dark Angel is ½ mile farther. It is a free-standing 150-foot tall sandstone pillar.

Glacier National Park

St. Mary Lake

Glacier National Park is a magical place. Kyle and I enjoyed Glacier more than Banff, Jasper, and the Tetons. We got to Glacier in September. There were not a lot of people which was nice. However, the Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed.

●Over 35 Hollywood films were set in Glacier National Park.

●If current trends continue, scientists believe there will be no more glaciers by 2020.

●Glacier was established as the 10^th National Park.

St. Mary Falls

Top 7 Places to Go:

1.       The North Fork: This is one of the most uncrowded sections in Glacier. Rough dirt roads tend to deter people. However, the trip is well worth it because once there you can see views of Bowman and Kintla Lakes, visit a homesteading site, and see recently burned areas.

2.       Goat Haunt: You can either visit by boat from Waterton Lakes National Park or you can hike there. This is a remote area of the park that is very peaceful and tranquil.

3.       Lake McDonald Valley: This area is located at the west end of the park. Thousands of years ago glaciers carved out this valley. Lake McDonald is the largest lake in the park at 10 miles long. You can access the popular Avalanche Lake and Trail of the Cedars (.7 miles) from this valley.

4.       Many Glacier: This is the heart of the park. Mountains, glaciers, lakes, hiking trails and wildlife are located here. The Grinnell Glacier trail and the Iceberg Lake trail take off from here.

5.       Two Medicine: This area includes amazing vistas, extensive trails, waterfalls, and lakes. Many backpackers and hikers come to this area.

6.       Logan Pass: From here, Reynolds Mountain and Clements Mountain tower over fields of wildflowers. Logan Pass is the highest elevation in the park at 6640 feet. It is extremely popular so get there early to ensure a parking spot or take the Lake McDonald Valley or St. Mary Valley shuttles. The Hidden Lake trail and the Highline trail take off from here.

7.       St. Mary Valley: St. Mary is the eastern gateway to the park. A drive along St. Mary Lake provides some of the most incredible vistas available in the park.

8.       Sperry Glacier



Other things to do:

1.       Go on a guided tour: boat, bus, hiking, horseback ride, raft

2.       Go camping: There are 13 campgrounds in the park.

3.       Go cross country skiing or snowshoeing

4.       Go on a ranger-guided hike

5.       Go biking