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Camping and Cocktails

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Aug 05, 2020

Judy and I enjoy camping and wanted to share a great article by Adventure Mom for Ski Utah in Camping at Utah's Ski Resorts. There are several ski resorts in the Utah area that provide camping opportunities for those who would like to spend time outdoors while enjoying nature and the stunning scenery. Check out the following resorts for an experience of a lifetime.

Beaver Mountain, located in Garden City, Utah, is a popular place for skiers and camping enthusiasts alike. Many choose to visit Beaver Mountain because of its beautiful scenery and all that is offered to them, including a spacious RV park with access to fire pits and large picnic tables, campsites for those who want to sleep in tents, and even lodges for those who prefer staying indoors. Amenities includes shower/restroom facilites, OHV trails, full service 30 amp hookups, free WiFi and much more. Bear Lake is a short 20 minute drive from Beaver Mountain and offers water sports activities and famous raspberry milkshakes. Make sure to complete your reservations in advance.

Alta Ski Area, just outside Salt Lake City, is one of Utah’s most scenic ski resorts that offer camping. Many amazing hikes to lakes and viewpoints can be found near the Albion Basin Campground as well as some mountain bike trails. The Albion Basin Campground is where all of the fun camping takes place in the summer months. In order to book with the Albion Basin Campground, you’ll need to go to Recreation.gov. Please remember dogs are not allowed in Little Cottonwood Canyon, a protected watershed area. In addition to camping, numerous lodging options are also available. You can book your reservation at one of several spots open for summer or simply visit them for a night off of cooking by the campfire.

The Redman Campground between Brighton and Solitude Mountain Resort is just a few miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. There is much to do and see in the area, such as fishing and hiking. The area is known for its scenic views and a massive elevation of 8,300 feet. In addition to going on hikes and fishing, guests may enjoy riding bikes on the trail while exploring the area and taking photos of nature’s beauty and the amazing wildflowers during peak summer months. Plan to leave your furry friends behind on this trip — dogs are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon, a protected watershed area. Reservations for the campground are available and you can bring a tent or your RV to camp here.

The Spruces Campground, located on Big Cottonwood Canyon Road in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a kid-friendly spot with an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet. Make sure you make plans to leave the pups behind for this one, too — Spruces is part of the Big Cottonwood Canyon protected watershed area. It is the perfect spot for those looking for a comfortable and convenient place to set up a tent or park their RV for a camping extravaganza. There is plenty of space available for RVs to park next to tents. Guests can book a reservation for as low as $26 per night.

The Mount Timpanogos Campground at Sundance Mountain Resort is well-known for its surrounding beauty because it is in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah County, Utah. It is a great place to visit when you want to experience a stunning scenic view surrounded by aspen and fir trees. Those who come to the campground will often have picnics, go on hikes, ride their bikes on the trails and even indulge in activities at Sundance Mountain Resort just down the road. It is a great spot for those camping in RVs and tents. Its recreation sites are standard non-electric and RV non-electric. Activities at Sundance during the summer include scenic chairlift rides, zipline, horseback riding, fly fishing, art classes, music and more. Guests can make reservations online. A stay at the campground will cost as low as $24 per night. If you’d like to reserve a campsite call 1-877-444-6777 or you can click here to make those reservations on-line.

While you are out camping make sure to check out the stars. If you are up for a road trip, her are Bradley O'Neill's Best Places in the U.S. to See the Stars. Here’s Discover Blog's list of the best locations for stargazing in the US. They range from the solitude of US National Historical Parks to towns, cities and historical places that are members of the International Dark Sky Places.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico - This remote park is a prehistoric archaeological site and on clear nights you can appreciate the starry skies as our ancestors did thousands of years ago. The Chaco Night Sky Program runs between April and October and features astronomy workshops for everyone from school children to astronomers.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah - One of the things that will instantly grab your attention upon arrival to Bryce Canyon is how dry and pollution free the air is. This combination makes it among the darkest places in the country. The week of and prior to the new moon are the best times, but thousands of stars still twinkle on moonless nights. Check the Astronomy and Night Sky Programs for events.

Devil’s Tower National Monument, Wyoming- The landscapes of Devil's Tower are as ethereal as you are likely to experience and you’ll feel like you are sat on a far-off planet when stargazing here. Go in the summer for the best chance of seeing the Milky Way curve over the centerpiece monolith.

Flagstaff, Arizona - Flagstaff has the honor of being the first city to become a designated International Dark-Sky City. It even has its own dark sky preservation program, called Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition. Simply by standing on an unlit city street you’ll have a good chance of viewing hundreds of constellations and the Milky Way. If you take your astronomy more seriously then pass by the Lowell Observatory for a guided tour.

Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Michigan - While the Headlands may not compete with some of the more remote parks, its location on the northwestern shores of Lake Michigan serves up a different perspective. Besides the stars, watching the full moon illuminate the lake is unforgettable. And there’s the added bonus of being able to witness the enchanting Northern Lights. Just keep an eye out for updates on the park programs and events.

Joshua Tree National Park, California - After a spectacular sunset, countless stars, planets and meteorites begin to appear above the park’s high and low desert landscape. There’s superb stargazing to be enjoyed around the nine campgrounds. Visit in November for the Night Sky Festival.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii - Lauded by astronomers as one of the world’s best stargazing destinations, the visibility is helped by an inversion cloud layer that protects the summit from the damp sea air. You can hike or drive by 4WD to the summit, where international astronomy teams conduct research round the clock. The Maunakea Visitor Information Center runs free programs without the need to go all the way to the top.

Cocktail Time - the Park City Area Restaurant Association is hosting its 16th annual summer cocktail contest now through the end of the month. The contest, which was started in 2004, normally runs in July, but was pushed back to run Aug. 1-31 due to the coronavirus. Visit parkcityrestaurants.com to see the 2020 Summer Cocktail Contest participating restaurant and bars and vote for your favorite. The participants share their recipes so you can try the cocktails at home too.

710 Bodega

Alpine Pie Bar

Billy Blanco’s

Blind Dog

Butcher’s Chop House

Eating Establishment

Flanagan’s on Main

Grappa Italian Restaurant

Hearth and Hill

High West

O.P. Rockwell

Royal Street Cafe

Silver Star Cafe

Squatter’s Roadhouse Grill

Waldorf Astoria

Wasatch Brew Pub

 

Tags: Park City, Fun, Outdoors, Utah, Cocktails, Camping
Posted in Local Events, Things To Do in Park City, Food and Beverage | 0 Responses to "Camping and Cocktails"

Heading Outside

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.
Jun 03, 2020

Summer is upon us, so use this time to explore your child’s interests, and incorporate some real life lessons that can’t be taught in classrooms. With a number of national parks and campgrounds closed due to the pandemic, many family camping trips are canceled for the time being. But, there are still ways to take your kid on that camping excursion by crafting the perfect indoor or outdoor adventure. Vivian Chung of the Adventure Blog for Staycation shares How You Can Still Take Your Kids on That Camping Trip.

First, set the scene by pitching your camping tent in the backyard, or by clearing the living room or basement and setting up a pop-up tent for the kids there. Cozy up the spaces by padding them with blankets and pillows.

Now, take this opportunity to teach your kids about the local wildlife you might encounter on a camping trip and how to behave around them on a hike through the forest. To get the ball rolling, check out National Geographic Kids on YouTube, where your child can view short videos to learn about the wildlife and critters that live outdoors, and what their role is on this planet. Go out into the backyard afterwards, and try to identify some of these critters with your kids. The younger ones will also love a scavenger hunt using stuffed animal versions of the wildlife you just discussed.

Part of the fun of camping is being able to make your meal and eat it outdoors. This can easily be recreated in your backyard or on your patio using a camp stove, which will also shake up the dining routine a bit for the kids. End the meal by making s’mores for a fun dessert, a recipe simple enough for kids to take part in and assemble too.

Encourage your child’s love of learning by exploring the curiosities of the night sky together. You can also use your indoor fireplace, or build one by gathering branches for the base and crumpling up yellow, red, and orange tissue paper for the flames. Round out the night by singing campfire songs, or by reading camp themed bedtime stories.

Planning to really get outside and visit one of Utah’s National Parks - read this before you go. Michael Alpiner of Forbes has shared - Arches National Park Opens At The End Of The Covid-19 Curve. One of the country’s most impressive natural wonders is once again open for visitors. With over 2000 natural stone arches, soaring pinnacles, gigantic fins and balanced rocks, Arches National Park reminds us that the natural world can create landscapes of beauty, not just invisible malignancies. Lodging, commercial campgrounds, restaurants and activities are allowed with respect to recommended guidelines. Arches National Park began its phase one opening on May 29th with access to roads, hiking trails and viewing areas, though campgrounds, backcountry camping and fiery furnace access remained closed. All safety practices are being implemented in the park, even though social distance seems easy to accomplish in a park as vast as Arches.

Moab Adventure Center, a full-service resource for the adventure-minded, suggests three guided park tours to encourage the housebound into the outdoors. The daily morning and sunset tour showcases the work of 150 million years. Tour rates are $89 for adults and $79 for ages 5 to 12. A third tour offers an aerial tour of the park. Leaving mid-morning, the half-hour flyover views formations such as Courthouse Towers, North and South Window Arches, Delicate Arch, Devil's Garden, the Colorado River, Fisher Towers, and Castle Valley. Youth two and under fly free on a parent's lap. Tour rates are $109 for adults and $55 for youth 3 to 12.

The Adventure Center also arranges full and half-day Colorado River Tours along the southern border of Arches National Park via raft. A half-day morning tour showcases the mild to moderate rapids under a background of red rock cliffs, spires and buttes. Rates are $74 for adults and $64 for ages 5 to 12. Another half-day option comes with a BBQ lunch. Rates are $89 for adults and $79 ages 5 to 12. A full day on the river, with lunch, is a memorable seven-hour excursion. Rates are $109 for adults and $79 for age 5 to 12.

Along with the escape one gets from the grandeur of nature, a restful and comfortable accommodation is yet another way to return to a sense of normality. The Gonzo Inn, located in Moab, five and a half miles from Arches National Park, offers a “dessert chic vibe” in their 43 condominium style rooms. The proximity to raw nature does not distract from the rustic luxury these accommodations provide. Their deluxe suites have whirlpool tubs and fireplaces, yet all rooms have private patios and views of the Red Cliffs. In respect to the safety of its guests and staff during the pandemic, the ownership has suspended maid service and breakfast.

Not looking to travel far, The Park Record shares that Park City has approved Main Street pedestrian days, which is seen as a step toward economic recovery. Park City will invite shoppers, diners and revelers onto the Main Street asphalt this year on certain days. Cars will not be welcome on those days. The Park City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a street closure along Main Street from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Sundays from June 14 until Sept. 6. Main Street will instead become a pedestrian zone on those days in an effort to attract customers at a time of economic uncertainty caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Historic Park City Alliance, a group that represents the interests of businesses along Main Street or just off the street, supported the decision. The organization sees the pedestrian zone as something that will advance its own recovery blueprints for Main Street.City Hall staffers explained that a turnaround will be put in the Brew Pub lot toward the southern end of Main Street in an effort to keep drivers from heading into the neighborhood.

There was also brief talk about the difficulty of measuring the success and about the possibility of the city councilors conducting walk-throughs of the pedestrian zone to gather information once they launch. The elected officials plan to review the pedestrian zone in early July and again in early August.

Leaders created the weekly pedestrian zone as the summer-tourism season arrives. The supporters of the change along Main Street say the pedestrian zone will provide more space for social distancing, something that could be attractive to people who remain hesitant about returning to places where there could be crowds. The pedestrian zone will involve two stretches of road encompassing most of the commercial section of Main Street. One will run from Heber Avenue south to the Brew Pub lot while the other will run from Heber Avenue north to 9th Street. The cross streets of Heber Avenue and 9th Street will remain open to traffic.

The Sunday timing of the pedestrian days is significant after the cancellation of the Park Silly Sunday Market this year based on concerns about the sickness. The Silly Market draws large crowds on Sundays in the summer and early fall. It is centered on a car-free lower Main Street and extends to several locations on upper Main Street. It is expected that the pedestrian days this year could draw some of the people accustomed to heading to Main Street on Sundays for the Silly Market. More details about the operations of the pedestrian zone are expected to be publicized as the first Sunday approaches.

Tags: Park City, Utah, Family, Outside, local, Moab, Arches, Camping
Posted in Local Events, Things To Do in Park City | 0 Responses to "Heading Outside"

 
 
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