With temperatures soaring in the high 90’s to 100’s in the Salt Lake valley and even higher in other parts of the country beating the summer heat is on my mind and I don’t think I’m the only one.  Last weekend I found several ways to get out of the heat while enjoying a family reunion. 

Park City Shopping 

I started in Park City shopping at Tanger Outlet Mall.  Not only was the temperature much cooler than in Salt Lake City the deals were incredible (I got a t-shirt from Gap for $1.99 and dress pants at Ann Taylor for $14.98)!  Yes- I’m a sucker for sales.

 My sisters and five nephews were with me and while shopping with five boys under the age of nine isn’t ideal we had a great time.  There are two playgrounds at Tanger Outlet Mall so we rotated watching the boys play on the playground and shopping.  Even with taking my turn watching my nephews play I still managed to do enough damage to my credit card.  

Park City Mountain Resort

Park City Mountain Resort has attractions for everyone.  I purchased the combo pass for $24 which provides a ticket for both the Alpine Coaster and Alpine Slide.  You can add a passenger to either ride for a minimal amount.  Kendall did a post several months ago on the Coaster so I’ll just add that it is awesome!   

Most of the little ones were able to ride as passengers on the Slide and Coaster and LOVED it.  They also spent time on the carousel, airplanes, and running around. 

City Park

What a great place for a picnic, especially if anyone likes to skate.  The skate park at the City Park has street skating and bowl skating.  Even if you don’t skate it’s entertaining to watch.  The park has nice facilities and grassy areas for chase or a makeshift game of soccer or softball. 

Rock climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Just on the other side of the mountain from Park City is Big Cottonwood Canyon.  During the summer months Guardsman Pass is open and allows easy access between the two areas.  Keep in mind part of the road is dirt, but usually doesn’t require 4 wheel drive.  I’ve made the drive several times without problems in my small Honda Civic hatchback. 

The areas of the canyon exposed to sun can get fairly warm, but overall Big Cottonwood Canyon is cool especially when compared to Salt Lake City.  This weekend I chose to climb at one of my favorite areas, The Slips, because it isn’t exposed to the sun and is right next to Big Cottonwood Creek.  There were times I was a little cool.

If rock climbing isn’t your thing there are several other options in Big Cottonwood Canyon including hiking, fishing, Frisbee golf, and picnicking.  

One of the best things about this weekend was I was able to get out and do something without roasting.  Any other ideas of how to beat the summer heat without going into a summer hibernation?

In case you missed the Utah Arts Festival which was held this past weekend in downtown Salt Lake City at Library Square, the Park City Kimball Arts Festival is right around the corner. This year the Park City Arts Festival will take place August 1-3. It’s a marvelous time to be in Park City to take in the arts.

When most people think of “arts” they often conjure up images of paintings.

No, this festival is much more broad than that. Artists in all types of expertise from sculpting, photography, painting, woodcarving, wood prints, potters, and more will gather in this the 39th year of the art festival. In addition there will be musical talent and street entertainers with a plethora of culinary artists there to satisfy any pallet.

If you’ve got children there will be an area for young artists where they can let their creative minds express themselves. It truly is a family affair. Aside from the festival there are still plenty of outdoor activities, restaurants, and sites to visit (including the amazing art at the Kimball Art Center) so whether you’re here for the weekend or the week, you won’t lack for variety in a mountain setting.

Park City Arts Festival Lodging

Since the Arts Festival is held on Main Street it’s to your advantage to be close enough to stroll from your rented condo or home to the festival and back throughout the day. Taking in the festival is an unique experience that you’ll want to maximize. If you’re coming to town and need to find a place, Utah Vacation Homes has a number of properties close by which are still available:

The Park City Kimball Arts Festival encompasses much more than just a stroll up Main Street. We have partnered with the community to present the very best that Park City has to offer. We encourage you to spend the day, evening or weekend enjoying all of the possibilities for fun, fine dining and entertainment. Park City has something for everyone, from the stunning exhibition at the Kimball Art Center to theatres, restaurants, clubs and concerts at Deer Valley. Come for the weekend and enjoy!

Daly Avenue #2 - Located just above Main Street.
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Sleeps: 10
Unit Type: Townhouse

Top of Main-B Old Town - Located at the top of Main Street
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
Unit Type: Townhouse

Motherlode #4
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
Unit Type: Townhouse

Park Ave - Rebuilt Old Town Home
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Sleeps: 8
Unit Type: House

So you’re staying in Deer Valley at one of Utah Vacation Homes‘ many Deer Valley area properties.  Or perhaps you’ve found your way to Deer Valley by other routes.  Either way, summer is here and the options of outdoor activities are abundant.

One of the things that I look forward to each summer are the number of outdoor concerts that are available. With more music than this set of ears could listen to in one summer it gets tough choosing where to go and what band to hear.

Sitting on the lawn, on a blanket or in your lawn chair enjoying outdoor music in the mountain air at Deer Valley Resort….what could be better? Oh, yea, the fact that it’s FREE?!

The Mountain Town Stages summer concert series which is held each Wednesday Night at Deer Valley used to be held in the park. Those concerts in the park are now on the weekends. This coming Wednesday, July 2 will feature The Joy & Eric Band which is being presented by Local’s Have More Fun, a Park City based company.  The Joy and Eric Band is a Blues, Folk and Rock band that performs original music as well as some covers.

Speaking of the concerts in the park, this coming Sunday afternoon will feature hometown Parkite Mary Beth Maziarz (seen above) with her band Wild Honey. She’s one you’ll not want to miss as her unique piano band sound of blues, pop and soul will surely strike a cord with you.

No longer is the “I don’t have time” excuse valid with so many concert options.  I hope you get out to see a show this summer, especially since a lot of them are free.

–Check out a clip of Mary Beth’s music

–image credit Mark Maziarz

Last week I posted about the Jordanelle Reservoir and a few of the activities that you can do when you’re there. With temperatures in the Salt Lake Valley sitting solidly in the 90’s this week, summer may be finally in full swing.

While the decision for ski resort lodging is an easy one when it’s winter, what about summer? Go for the resort town? Plenty to do that’s for sure, but what about variety? The Salt Lake Valley is nice where you’re close to the mountains, the city, and golf but if you live in a city you may be thinking mountain getaway.

Here’s something unique - what about a lake house on the Jordanelle Reservoir? Views, water, mountains, with plenty of activities or some needed peace and quite? Bingo!

Jordanelle Lake Front Lodging

Sitting on a bluff just above the Jordanelle Reservoir, the Slopes and Shores #1 town home is one of the newest additions to the Utah Vacation Homes options for lodging in the Park City area. If summer fun is your goal in a relaxing setting with golf, biking, restaurants 15 minutes away in either direction then this spot is going to make your summer!

With 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths this town home will sleep 10. The fact that it’s nearly brand new will make you feel pampered. Other amenities include:

• Private Hot Tub
• Gas Fireplace
• ‘Viking Professional’ Kitchen
• Direct TV Satellite Service
• Wireless Internet
• 47 Inch LCD TV in Surround Sound Theater Room
• 42 Inch LCD TV in Living Room
• 32 Inch LCD TV in Master Bedroom

Heber Valley Golf

If the lake gets windy or you’re looking for another way to enjoy the fresh mountain air, there are 3 golf courses down the hill in the Heber Valley with a combined total of 90 holes to play. Play them all and you’ll feel like you’ve played a major. Each course is unique but I have really enjoyed the links style course of Soilder Hollow Courses.

The Gold course starts out in the meadows but circles up into the foothills while the Silver course at a couple hundred yards shorter stays in the meadows. Watch the rough as it’s tall Scotland style grass that loves to eat golf balls.

Check out the Golf Wasatch website for more info on the various courses located near the Jordanelle Reservoir.

Some people may say that road biking in Salt Lake City can be hectic and mediocre at best. I’d tend to disagree. From the Cottonwood Canyons to locations like Suncrest, Wasatch Blvd and the Jordan River Parkway, to the west end of the valley there are plenty of road biking gems to be found.

A friend of mine was out biking yesterday evening to the west of Salt Lake near Saltair and captured some images that say more about how beautiful the cycling can be in Salt Lake than I could surmise in an entire blog post.

You can pick up this trail (seen below) on the east side of the Salt Lake Airport which then runs through the golf course and west into the business complex. From there you can follow the frontage road that leads out to Saltair and then return back for a good out and back.

Sometimes people have complained of the smell of brine shrimp near the lake but I believe it’s typically that way in autumn when the water is receeding.

Road biking is just one of the many activities you can do while in Salt Lake. Bike rentals are just $35 a day at one of Canyon Sports’ four Salt Lake locations.

– Photos by Marit of the Grrrlie Chronicles

Jordanelle Reservoir, located just 10 minutes from Park City, is one of the more scenic reservoirs in the Wasatch Mountains. Large enough to accommodate recreational boaters, fisherman, and plenty of shoreline adventure it’s a popular local destination. It wasn’t until 1995 when the reservoir finally reached maximum depth that it opened for recreational use. Within the past couple of years it has really come into it’s own.

There are two access points to the water’s edge - one being the Jordanelle State Park which is in the distance of the image above and the other access point is the Rock Cliff Recreational Area on the eastern edge where the upper Provo River drains into the reservoir.

Rock Cliff Recreational Area

Rock Cliff Recreation Site is located two miles west of Francis on SR-32. There is a Nature Center as well as plenty of day use facilities. Unique to the area is an elevated boardwalk and trail that goes through the aspens. If you’re camping, you may find the hot showers and full service restrooms a plus.

If you’re looking for an adventurous hike then the Perimeter Trail is for you. It leads from Rock Cliff on the northern side of the arm of the lake and heads west. Be ready for lots of ups and downs and I’d recommend plenty of water and food. If you have all day and plenty of energy you may make it to the Jordanelle State Park, although the trail terminates near highway 248 near the new Deer Mountain development.

Jordanelle State Park

Access for the Jordanelle State Park is from US Highway 40 at the Mayflower exit. There are many services available at the park including camping, day use, boat launch and lots of beach front to explore.

Jordanelle Reservoir has good fishing. Species include rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and small mouth bass. According to Utah.com a “population of brown trout produced in Provo River, is expanding in the reservoir”. The variety of fish and the cool summer temperatures make for a great fishing and overall water recreation location.

- here is another Jordanelle Reservoir resource

When one thinks volleyball one of the first things to come to mind is beach volleyball. So why would we, here in Utah, be writing about the 2008 USA Junior Olympic Boys’ Volleyball Championships?

For the fact that this type of world class event doesn’t come to town very often and if you happen to be a local or visiting from out of state from July 2-9 then this might be something you’ll not want to miss.

Put together by the United States Volleyball Association which is recognized by the Olympic Committee as the governing body for world class volleyball here in the United States, this tournament is bound to feature future Olympic talent and some amazing team competition.

The event is taking place at the South Towne Exposition Center which is in Sandy. Utah Vacation Homes has a number of condos and homes which are nearby if you’re looking for a last minute location to stay. One example of a home that sleeps up to 10 is the Cottonwood View B townhome just 5 miles from the South Towne Center.

If you’re interested in ordering tickets for the 2008 USA Junior Olympic Boys’ Volleyball Championship before hand the deadline is June 13.

The South Towne expo center is located at 9575 S. State Street, Sandy, Utah 84070. Let Google maps be your guide.

View Larger Map

One of the more popular and enjoyable summertime activities in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah is hiking. Just in the tri-canyons area of Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood and Mill Creek Canyons there are well over 50 different trails to be explored.

Ranging from the more strenuous hikes like summiting Mount Superior or Mount Olympus to the ever popular Dog Lake Trail in Big Cottonwood there are all sorts of vistas to be had as well as adventures to find. Amazingly, you can feel like you’re so far away from it all when you’re only miles from the city. It’s a unique feeling that only Salt Lake can provide.

One of my favorite times to hike is when the wildflowers are out in Albion Basin area above Alta Ski Resort where the trail meets with Catherine’s Pass. This area is often frequented by moose and the flowers can be amazing.

The typical time to catch the flowers starting to bloom is mid July and into August. This year may not see flowers at that elevation until well into August given the current snowpack.

Evidence:

So what to do in the meantime? Right now the following trails are just a few that are dry and ready to go:

• Temple Quarry Trail in Little Cottonwood Canyon
• City Creek Trails
• Lower Lisa Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon
• Lower section of Mount Olympus
• Lower section of Grandeur Peak

Look for us to update trail openings as the Utah Vacation Homes employees get out and hike in the Wasatch Mountains this summer.