Judy and I love to travel the state of Utah with our dog Zorro and this week we wanted to share Travel Awaits article 9 Utah State Parks That Should Be On Your Bucket List. Utah’s stunning landscape is far from a secret. The state’s “Mighty 5” pack of Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches national parks has long been a staple of family road trips and bucket-list adventures. Utah’s splendors do not end at the national parks, they extend into a system of 43 amazing state parks, here are nine Utah state parks that should be on your bucket list.

1. Dead Horse Point State Park - Just a half-hour drive from the world-famous rock formations of Arches National Park is another not-to-be-missed Utah experience: the overlook at Dead Horse Point State Park, which provides a big-picture view of the Colorado River meandering through the area’s canyons and mesas.

2. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park- If sand dunes are as fascinating to you as they are to me, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park is definitely one for the bucket list. Located in the midst of the Navajo sandstone formations of southwestern Utah, the state park features an otherworldly sea of shifting, rose-tinted sand. With few permanently designated trails, the dunes are generally open to hikers and ATVs. The shifting nature of the sand can make hiking a bit difficult, but gorgeous views await at the top of the dunes.

3. Kodachrome Basin State Park - For a wonderful stop on the drive to or from Capitol Reef National Park, consider making a short detour to Kodachrome Basin State Park, a veritable wonderland of rock pinnacles and colorful cliffs. Boasting 67 monolithic stone spires, the basin is a part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and is among the best experiences in the massive parkland. Owing to the basin’s photogenic qualities, a National Geographic Society expedition in 1948 is said to have named the area Kodachrome after the popular color film of the time.

4. Wasatch Mountain State Park - Located at nearly 6,000 feet elevation, Wasatch Mountain State Park offers year-round recreation in a mountain setting. A 45-minute drive southeast of Salt Lake City, Wasatch Mountain State Park’s Soldier Hollow was the host of the 2002 Winter Olympics. The park’s website notes that the venue remains open to the public and offers cross-country skiing, tubing, summer and winter biathlon, and inline skating.

5. Goblin Valley State Park - The name alone is enough to entice travelers in search of an extraordinary experience. Often compared to Mars, Goblin Valley State Park features thousands of mushroom-shaped hoodoos, also known as goblins. The state park, located about an hour and a half west of Moab in southeastern Utah, is a showcase of geologic history, featuring cliffs that reveal parallel layers of rock that have been exposed by erosion.

6. Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park - Billed as one of Utah’s most unique state parks, the 28-mile-long Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail follows an old route starting near Park City and on to the towns of Wanship and Coalville, then the Echo Reservoir.

7. Utah Lake State Park - For a lake setting with urban amenities nearby, it’s hard to beat Utah Lake State Park in the Provo area. Sitting at the mouth of the Provo River, Utah Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the west. The state park offers boating, fishing, hiking, and camping. It also has a day-use area for swimming in the outer marina, picnicking under one of the beach cabanas, and disc golf.

8. Sand Hollow State Park - Among Utah’s newest and most popular state parks is Sand Hollow State Park, a 20,000-acre park in southwestern Utah, about a 25-minute drive northeast of St. George and about 45 minutes southwest of Zion National Park.

9. Goosenecks State Park - Sweeping views are the name of the game at Goosenecks State Park located in the far southeastern corner of Utah. The park sits at the edge of a deep canyon above the curve in the San Juan River known as a gooseneck. The river twists and turns for six miles on its way west to Lake Powell. To read the whole article, CLICK HERE.

Looking to stay in Park City, Travel+Leisure shares the 7 Best Winter Lodges in the U.S. With Private Hot Tubs, Upscale Spas, Sleigh Rides, and More. Savor the season at one of these beautiful winter lodges in the U.S., from Utah to New York. It doesn’t get more luxurious than the Stein Eriksen Lodge — you can spend an entire day in the upscale spa or make use of the property’s extensive wine collection over dinner. Those interested in skiing will enjoy easy access to Deer Valley Resort, a ski area known for its customer service and family-friendly terrain. True to form, this ski lodge has all the cozy touches that make a winter lodge so appealing — beds heaped with pillows, in-room fireplaces, and suites with private hot tubs. To read about the other great locations CLICK HERE.

We will wrap up this week's blog with It's a Shake-Up! These 10 Drastically Different Design Trends Will Be Everywhere in 2021—and Beyond by Realtor.com . Realtor.com asked real estate and design experts to weigh in on what they anticipate will be the biggest home trends of 2021. It turns out, with all the stress that 2020 brought to our lives, it also influenced some defining changes in the way we decorate, design, and live in our homes.

1. Dedicated home office - Working from the kitchen table was kind of cute when you thought you would be doing it for only a few weeks. But now? Not so much. That's why, in 2021 (and beyond) home offices will be more important than ever. If you don’t have a spare room for an office, there are plenty of ways to get creative and set up a space with some personality. In fact, one of the biggest trends on Pinterest this year is the rise of the "cloffice," a portmanteau of "closet" and "office.

2. Clearly delineated spaces - They’re not completely passé (yet), but people are increasingly interested in closing off those wide-open spaces we so used to covet. The trend will be to create different living spaces within the open floor plan so people will have pockets or nooks in the home for e-learning, Zoom calls, a conversation, lounging, exercising, etc.

3. Houseplants and indoor gardens - During the pandemic when it was difficult for some to get their daily dose of nature, people started bringing the outdoors in with natural materials in their home.

4. Rattan accents - In line with the houseplant trend, natural materials are having a huge moment. In particular, rattan is the material du jour, appearing everywhere from drink holders to bed frames.

5. Wood-grain kitchen cabinets and counters - For the kitchen, our designer members are seeing more minimalist styles with touches of organic and natural materials such as wood grain—perhaps as part of a desire to connect with nature. Instead of painted kitchen cabinets or the ubiquitous all-white kitchen, expect to see homeowners embracing a more natural look with wood-grain cabinets and wood countertops on islands.

6. Next-level playgrounds - Experts say enhanced outdoor spaces will continue to trend in the new year—including elaborate custom playgrounds.

7. Outdoor kitchens - Multiseason spaces that feature fireplaces or fire pits, patio/deck areas, or screened-in porches that can be used year-round, that includes outdoor kitchens, which have become more popular than ever during the pandemic.

8. Smart bathroom innovations - Never embraced the bidet in your home bathroom? That's just the start of things—you can expect to see a slew of new bathroom innovations in 2021 as homeowners continue to focus more than ever on hygiene.

9. Retro furniture and color palettes - Expect to see funky color palettes (think mauve, forest green, and burnt orange) and furniture throwbacks like '80s curves and '90s traditionalism. An easy way to try the trend for yourself is with a quick coat of paint.

10. Cozy, layered vibes - Instead of stark white minimalism, expect to see more color and personality in 2021's home decor—less uber-modern and more boho chic. So go ahead and pile on those mismatched blankets and throw pillows, and don't be afraid to embrace a design that reflects your personality.

Have a great week, Ramon & Judy