Month: July 2013

Stewart Falls Hike, Sundance Utah


When my niece came in town for a visit, I couldn’t help but take the tots on a hike in the mountains. We live near Sundance Mountain Resort and enjoy beautiful hiking trails nearby. One of my favorites is the Stewart Falls trail. We have yet to actually reach the falls, but the stream along the trail and the lush forest surrounding us makes this a favorite every year.

Little g is at the age where she wants to walk, but her tiny legs keep her pace excruciatingly slow. To remedy this I have to force her into the hiking pack. Wrestling her in is always a pain but once she’s strapped and we’re moving she’s happy enough.

On this hike we stopped for a bit to play by the stream. Just when I stopped to take a photo, little g stopped to have a snack. I hope it wasn’t anything toxic.

Big E was a big help carrying his own backpack and leading the way. We all stopped at the Deli at Sundance for some suckers and sodas at the end of the trail. It was a great day all around.

TRAIL INFO:
Length: 2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Tips: Stewart Falls has several trailheads. My favorite is to take Ray’s lift to the upper stop and hike from there.

Black Ridge Reservoir, Herriman Utah

The tots and I recently spent the day at the beach at Black Ridge Reservoir in Herriman, Utah. This little swimming hole was built by the city of Herriman as an outdoor recreation area and I have to say we really enjoyed it.

There’s not many places in landlocked Utah to dig in the sand and play in the water. The location of Black Ridge Reservoir, 15000 South Ashland Ridge Drive in Herriman, is so close to homes, shops and towns, it makes a great outdoor play place.

Little g and Big E loved digging in the sand along with our friends from the Rocky Mountain Mammas meetup group. Our group of kids dug, dumped, swam and squirted each other for hours, even when overcast skies and raindrops threatened to end their fun.

I brought along an inflatable river kayak and along with the help of some sturdy seven year olds, we pumped it up by hand and floated around the pond. It made a great flotation toy when kept in the shallow part, and an even better boat to take us out to the deeper section. 

Other than the awkwardness of hauling beach chairs, a cooler, towels, toys and life vests to and from the car, the whole day was a great adventure. The tots and I enjoyed it and I’m sure you will too.

You know it’s been a great day when the back seat looks like this:

SITE INFO:
Address: 15000 South Ashland Ridge Drive, Herriman UT
Activities: Swimming, Boating (no motors), Digging in the Sand, Plus a playground was under construction and should be open soon
Tips: Change the tots out of their swimwear in the public bathrooms. That way you can avoid the awkward back seat of the car dressing room that I endured.

Kayak the Mighty Provo River

Last Saturday, Mountain Dad and I attempted to introduce our tots to the wonderful world of white water. Mountain Dad was a river guide during his college days and since then we have acquired several inflatable kayaks in order to explore rivers in our area. Continue reading “Kayak the Mighty Provo River”

Sundance Mountain Resort Bluebird Cafe Summer Concert Series

Last Friday, Mountain Dad and I enjoyed the perfect summer evening, complete with good food, beautiful scenery and an unparallelled musical experience at Sundance Mountain Resort’s Bluebird Concert Series.
The evening began with a special summer barbeque where pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad and homemade coleslaw were served under a canopy of pines. Red and white checked tablecloths reminded me of summer nights growing up, and the sound of a gently gurgling river set a relaxed mood.
After we had eaten our fill, we joined the crowd in the Eccles Outdoor Amphitheater to welcome three talented musicians from Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. Every summer, Sundance Mountain Resort teams up with the Bluebird to bring great songs and the stories behind them out west.
When the concert began, Don Henry, Kim Richey and Jack Tempchin entered the stage to raucous applause. Each sat facing the crowd, their guitars the only thing separating us, ready to serenaded us with love ballads, dance numbers and silly singalongs.
Grammy award winner Don Henry was the first to perform sharing lighthearted songs and easy banter that made me laugh all night.
Although Don Henry excelled at joking around with the audience, he had a serious side too. His award winning song, “Where’ve You Been” brought tears to my eyes.
The best vocalist of the evening was Kim Richey, who has written hit songs for Trisha Yearwood, Brooks and Dunn, and many others. Her soulful serenades; Angelshare, Straight as a Crow Flies and Thorn in my Heart (the title track of her new album), were beautifully tender. Not to mention the stories she shared before each were very entertaining. At one concert, a grumpy girl in the front row sang along so loudly, she took over the lead vocals, leaving Kim to sing back up on her own song.
The third contributer, Jack Tempchin, is best known for his work with the Eagles. He performed his song Peaceful Easy Feeling and Already Gone at the concert, allowing the audience (and other performers) a chance to sing along. Although Jack performed some big hits, his most memorable song of the evening was a silly one titled, “Eat Some Food, Watch TV.”
As darkness settled, the other concert goers and I were mesmerized by comfort of this perfect summer night. The warm music, good stories and beautiful scenery brought us together like a large musical family.
Sundance Mountain Resort’s Bluebird Concert Series was the perfect way to enjoy the summer. I can’t wait till next year!