akeisel's Passport
 | Been to 209 Attractions |
 | 205 Reviews |
 | 136 First to Review |
 | 1138 Photos |
 | 116 Helpful Votes |
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Send a ComplimentAbout Me & My Family
My family and I love road trips. In fact, our annual road trip miles amount to at least 10,000 per year! We love National Parks and any place that is off the beaten path.
Our Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, curious, simple, independent, energetic, spontaneous
We Just Got Back From
The road (wherever it takes us), of course!
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
National Parks
A Place We'd Love To Visit
Alaska
Favorite Vacation Memory
There are so many to name. We love Alta Ranch Montana. We have so many fun memories of just staying at the ranch. We never left the place and we were never bored!
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
My daughter got car sick on the way to New Mexico. She puked in every state on the way. I sat in the back and caught the puke in a Ziploc bag for about 8 hours. Once we got to our destination, she was just fine and happy to be there.
Websites I Like:
July 4th 2012 Events in Utah
It's time to celebrate our nation's independence. Check out some of these community sponsored events throughout Utah.
(400 E University Parkway)
Provo, Utah
Comment:
Experience Utah's Freedom Festival at one of the largest 4th of July celebrations in the country. Stadium of Fire is returning to its 32nd consecutive year featuring classic rock living legends The Beach Boys. July 4th at 8pm.
4000 The Canyons Resort Drive
Park City, Utah
Comment:
Celebrate Independence Day one day early? If so, then head over to Canyons for a July 3rd celebration. Activities begin at 3:00pm including live entertainement, concerts and the fireworks show at 9:30pm. All free to the publi
reviewed on: September 15 2011
"Destination resort in any season"
As a lifelong Utah resident, I recall skiing the former “Park West Resort” in college; cheap skiing with little amenities offered. Forget about the past, the former Park West Ski Resort, now Canyons Resort is Utah’s largest ski resort with amenities galore and outdoor recreation suitable for families in any season.WINTER
My family visited Canyons resort in early September where we delighted in all of the wonderful summer activities. However, riding the lifts with kids ignited their desire to come back, ski the slopes and see the snow making equipment at work. We stayed at the Grand Summit which is just steps from Canyons Resort’s Red Pine Gondola and Orange Bubble Express high speed quad lift. I have not skied with kids, but can imagine convenience is crucial when handling little ones outfitted in awkward equipment. Furthermore, the Grand Summit offers year round in-house child care that includes activities such as gondola rides to sledding hills and ski lessons for kiddos as young as 2 years of age!
Canyons resort offers some very unique winter programs such as the First Tracks program which gives skiers early entrance to the mountain on certain days of the week. You may even be accompanied by some Olympic skiing celebrities!
Something that completely interests me, something I never knew existed, is an option to ride in one of Canyon Resort’s snow cats, grooming some of the resort’s 4,000 acres. I can already see my 10 year old son and his young at heart father salivating at the thought of riding in one of these state of the art machines.
If picturesque family friendly opportunities are your cup of tea, consider booking a horse drawn sleigh ride at the Grand Summit Hotel. I can already envision those picture perfect postcards that I could send to my flatlander relatives!
SUMMER:
Outdoor recreation at Canyons Resort doesn’t end when the approximate 355 inches of snow melts, it just transforms. Canyons Resort has recently undergone several capital improvements making this a destination resort for all seasons. These improvements include an extensive group of groomed trails, mountain bike park with different skill level trails, private reservoir for fishing and pedal boating, a Zip Tour Adventure for thrill-seeking travelers, and an 18-hole putting course.
We took our kids age 10, 7, and 2 to Canyons Resort in early September to check out some of the new additions to the resort. We rode the Red Pine Gondola to mid-mountain where we embarked on an adventurous journey. First stop, hiking the Red Pines Loop trail (see my detailed review on this hike) where we spotted a moose within 15 feet of the trail. Next we were amazed by the new mountain biking park with obstacles fit for Shawn White on wheels.
Later we explored the Canyons Resort private reservoir after a short hike from the High Meadow Lift where pedal boats and fishing equipment rentals were readily available. Finally we rounded out the day with 18 holes on the resorts beautiful putting course (see my review of the Canyons Resort putting course).
It was a lovely weekend exploring all of these new improvements. Our only disappointment occurred when we arrived at the Canyons Resort’s private reservoir to see Tiger Trout jumping, pedal boats begging for a ride, and fishing poles lined up, all surrounded by clouds and lightening closing in. We were instructed to immediately return to the Red Pine Lodge and wait for the storm to pass. Obviously we didn’t get to boat or fish that day, but I can attest to those fish ready to bite. Okay, so I’m dreaming of those fish waiting to bite; I’m one of those crazy Moms that love to fish. But I do appreciate the caution that Canyons Resort paid due to the storm. We were stranded at the Red Pines Lodge for 40 minutes, a good warning to be prepared for anything at this high elevation. Luckily, I had a stocked backpack with snacks and drinks and the lodge served complimentary hot coffee. We visited the resort a week before the Zip Tour Adventure was to open but I can attest to the awesome venue amid this high alpine paradise. Future visitors who experience the Zip Tour Adventure, please come back and report.
One of my family’s favorite summer activities at Canyons Resort was biking. We discovered that you don’t have to be an extreme bike park obstacle junkie to enjoy the trails. Canyons Resort has groomed trails appropriate for beginning bikers to wild trails suitable for the bold mountain biking crowd sporting complete face-covering helmets and neck braces. With a little one in training wheels and another better suited for a bike trailer, my family found our own adventure on the valley floor of Park City. Canyons Resort and the Grand Summit Hotel are within steps of the Cabriolet lift which dropped our family off, with bikes in tow to a gateway of never-ending bike paths (see my review of Nineteen Sports). These pathways aren’t just paved trails along a busy highway, these pathways lead explorers through trees, and bridge covered streams, expansive farmland and country adequate for video game animation. Every place we turned we found a new path imploring exploration. Unfortunately, “dairy air” issues (i.e. posterior pain) kept us from exploring beyond a few wonderful hours. We will return with gel seats and bike shorts in hand!
In summary, our visit to Canyons Resort can be summed up in a few words, “Park West….never heard of it”. Canyons Resort is a developed, full amenity luxury resort, perfect for families in any season. Bring your bike, bring your skis, or just bring a good book to read; this is destination recreation at its best.
Disclosure: Although I received complimentary gondola and lift tickets, my reviews are always my own opinions and are not influenced by staff or its affiliates.
1330 S 2100 E
Salem, Utah
Comment:
The Sugar House Park community fair begins at 12 p.m., music and entertainment go from 5-8 p.m., and fireworks begin at dusk.
3003 Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, Utah
Comment:
The Utah Symphony takes patriotic music on the road with outdoor concerts at the Thanksgiving Point's Waterfall Amphitheater on Friday, July 6, 2012, 8 p.m..
1310 Lowell Ave
Park City, Utah
Comment:
Annual 4th of July events in Park City include the following:
7:00 am
Pancake Breakfast at City Park
8:00 am
Park City Ski Team 5k Fun Run. Call Cole Sport at 435-649-4806.
10:00 am - 9:00pm
Rugby games, live music, BBQ at the north end of City Park.
11:00 am
Famous 4th of July Parade with over 70 floats
12:00 noon - 4:00pm
Food, live music, beer garden, vendors in City Park.
Fireworks at Park City Mountain Resort at Dusk.
Memorial Hill Summit
PO Box 422 Midway, Utah
Comment:
Check out Midway's annual firework display at Memorial Hill, 10 p.m.
reviewed on: November 02 2011
"Teach kiddos about some real heroes"
The American flag on the top of this mound, with a spiral road wrapped around can't be missed. I'm not sure why this hill exists in the Midway valley, next to the Wasatch Mountain peaks, but I love what this town has done with this unique geographical feature: honored their county's service men and women by listing their names on a monument.We drove up the spiral road to the top of this hill for a nice view of Midway. What we found were solemn memorials to brave men and women. Reading all of the name revealed to me the impact that a small community can have on U.S. military conflict. It was a great teaching moment with kids, allowing them to visualize heroes represented by names on a wall.
In all, do not miss this quick drive up this unique hill situated in the middle of Midway. Go for the views and teach your kiddos about true heroes.
700 East 1300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah
Comment:
Check out the annual firework display just before 10pm on July 4th.
reviewed on: July 23 2011
"Fun in the Shade at Liberty Park"
You know a park is good when it’s time to go home and all 3 kids are sulking. I took my kids, age 10, 7, and 2 to Liberty Park, Utah’s oldest and largest park in Salt Lake City, and all three gave this park a big thumbs up. We tend to avoid many parks in the middle of the day in summer as there never seems to be enough shade to keep the playground equipment cool. We discovered that the old large trees in Liberty Park provide such wonderful shade, all of the equipment stayed nice and cool. Likewise, since Utah’s heat is dry heat, you can run around and play in the shade without getting too overheated.There were two areas of the park that my kids liked the best. The first of these is the playground located on the park’s west side, complete with spraying water features and swings. This playground is definitely the most popular playground and is a bit crowded. The second place in the park that my kids couldn’t get enough of, was the seven canyons fountain area. This water feature is actually a replica of the Salt Lake Valley’s river drainage system. I tried to point this out to my kids, giving them a little geology lesson, but who wants learn when there is water to wade in. Again, there were plenty of crowds to combat at this play area as well.
There is plenty to keep you busy for an entire day at Liberty Park. There is a paved path around, good for a walk with a stroller, tennis courts, which do lack shade, a Ferris wheel, carousel, and a small swimming pool. If you have time, I would also recommend visiting the Tracy Aviary located at the southwest corner of the park. Parking is fairly easy to find either along the one way road that circles the park or in one of the lots near the tennis courts and aviary. Be sure to either enter the park's one way road at 1100 south or 1300 south. There is no access from 700 East or 600 East.
In all, Liberty Park is worth a visit if your kiddos need a place to run around in the shade. Just be prepared for the crowds on a hot summer day, and bring a towel and change of clothes as there are just too many tempting places to cool off.
1985 W. 7800 South
West Jordan, Utah
Comment:
West Jordan's annual firework display is slated to being just before 10pm on July 4th.
reviewed on: July 26 2011
"Playground for a child's imagination"
I wish they had playgrounds like this when I was a kid. This park has a playground that isn’t just the standard swings, slides and monkey bars. Instead, kids have to use their imagination while running and playing in the Wild West Jordan Playground with its fort like structures at Veterans Memorial Park. I took my kids age 10, 7, and 2 to this park and they all agreed that it was an awesome place to play.This playground is a fairly large fort with replicas of some of Utah’s famous attractions (i.e. Kennecott Copper Mine and Saltair at the Great Salt Lake). There is a tot area for kids 2-5 with smaller climbing structures, rocking horse and safety swings. The older kids area, for ages up to 12, has much taller climbing areas, tire swings and higher monkey bars. Both areas are contained with a small wooden fence around. The entire Veterans Memorial Park is quite large with a ton of open space, picnic tables and restroom facilities. There are a couple of smaller playgrounds located throughout the park but these playgrounds are just the standard equipment.
There are a few small things I didn’t like about this park, so I did deduct a star from my rating. First, the Wild West playground is relatively new, so there is not too many tall shade trees around it. The tot lot was especially sunny as it did not benefit from taller fort buildings’ shade. I also didn’t like that the two swing areas (younger and older kid swings) were not combined in the same area. It was difficult for me to push my 2 year old on the toddler swings and help out my older kids on their swings since there is a fort fence separating the two areas. This playground also gets quite busy. We visited the playground early morning on a weekday and were some of the first to arrive. However, by the time we left, the playground was pretty packed. My recommendation is to arrive early while it’s still cooler during the summer and much less busy. Don't forget to bring your imagination and have some fun!
2601 E. Sunnyside Ave
Salt Lake City, Utah
Comment:
Check out Liberty Days on July 4th at This is the Place Heritage Park and enjoy a day of good old-fashioned fun celebrating the birth of our great Nation. Join in a watermelon eating contest, stick horse races, or roll up your sleeves for a game of tug-of-war! There’s pony, train and fire-engine rides all day long! And don’t forget to be on the look out for a train robber!
North Temple and 1100 West
Salt Lake City, Utah
Comment:
Saturday, July 7, 2012 enjoy The Days of ’47 Family Fun Day. Activities include:
The Days of ’47 Rodeo Games
Educational Crafts
Art Garden
Magic Show
Carnival Games
Pioneer Demonstrations
Live Music and Entertainment
Dancing
Mini King and Queen Royalty Competition
77 West 1300 South
Spring Mobile Ball Park Salt Lake City, Utah
Comment:
On Wednesday, July 4th the Bees take on Tacoma and there will be a special Fireworks show after the game. There will also be fireworks displays at the BEES games on the 6th and 7th
Highway 210 Little Cottonwood Canyon
Sandy, Utah
Comment:
Pancake Celebration on July 4th at 9am – noon at Snowbird with all you can eat pancake breakfast: $10/Adults; $7.50/Children 6-12 or $18.95/Adult Tram & Breakfast.
reviewed on: August 23 2011
"Summer Fun"
When 600-plus inches of powder snow melts from Snowbird Ski Resort’s Hidden Peak, the resort transforms into a high elevation family adventure park with activities such as an alpine slide, tram and lift rides, bungee trampoline, bounce house, mechanical bull, ropes course, climbing wall and zip-line. Each of these activities can be purchased separately, for a completely customized day of activities. However, Snowbird offers an all-day activity pass that includes unlimited use of each of the activities at a reasonable price ($39 adults, $24 child). I can attest that the all-day pass is definitely worth the price as one-time individual activity price averages approximately $10 per activity. My family, with kids aged 10, 7, and 2 enjoyed an active day at Snowbird in August with our all-day activity bands around our wrists (and kiddos slept extremely well that night). Each member in my family had a delightful time discovering our own favorite activity with my 2 year old preferring the bounce house, my 7 year old mastering the alpine slide, and my 10 year old conquering the ropes course. Mom and Dad preferred the 10 minute aerial tram ride to the top of Hidden Peak where we hiked a short distance enjoying amazing views and beautiful wildflowers to the Peruvian Express Ski Lift where we walked through a 600 foot mountain tunnel to enjoy awesome views of Mineral Basin. Our return trip was on the Peruvian chairlift as tickets for the Peruvian chairlift and the aerial tram are interchangeable making it a great option for families to enjoy a loop trip. Note that even my 2 year old enjoyed the ride down the chairlift although it was a bit nerve-wracking for me to see her hanging from the lift at these heights. If you have a particularly wiggly toddler, or kiddos afraid of heights, you may want to just stay with the tram ride.
What to know before you go: Bring plenty of sunscreen and drinking water. Sunburn and dehydration is eminent at this high elevation. It is also a good idea to bring a good daypack. I was happy to be able to safely zip up all my belongings while riding the chairlifts. There are some good restaurants located at the base of the resort and many of them offer “kids eat free” specials in the summer. However, you can also pack your own picnic and eat at one of the many picnic tables provided. Parking is free but can get crowded during peak times. I would suggest parking at the Snowbird Resort Entrance 4, which is uphill from all of the activities. This parking is a little less crowded and you can ride the Chickadee chairlift back uphill to entrance 4 when you are departing. Finally, check out some of Snowbird’s lodging and activity packages deals which include activity passes and lodging at one of their fine resorts.
In summary my family enjoyed a beautiful summer day enjoying the activities at Snowbird Ski Resort. This is a five star family fun activity, if you can avoid long lines. I did deduct one star from my review just for the long lines at some the most popular activities. However we visited on a busy weekend day, so I would suggest visiting on a weekday if possible in order to avoid long lines.
Disclosure: Although I received complimentary all-day activity passes, my reviews are always my own opinions and are not influenced by staff or its affiliates.
