New Year's Celebration at Canyon's Resort. Park City, Utah.

When you have kids, it can be difficult to find a way to celebrate New Year's Eve that doesn't involve sitting in front of a TV. Fortunately, Park City had families in mind when they planned their New Year's event.

The fun starts in the afternoon with free concerts at the Canyon's Resort and goes all the way into the evening. They don't wait too late for the fireworks. Head over to the Ski Beach just before 7:30pm to see a spectacular fireworks display. Any later than that and everyone would have been frozen. The temperatures we in the single digits, so dress appropriately.

Since it ends so early, there is time to get the kids to bed and head out to go dancing.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 8
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $0

Pictures

Soldier Hollow, Midway, Utah.

There's tubing and then there's tubing. The former usually takes place on a hill in park near your house. The latter takes place on a monstrous groomed area on the side of a mountain.

Soldier Hollow is a recreationarea best known for golf during summer and cross country skiing during winter, but also offers the best tubing we have ever experienced. There is a rope tow that attaches to your tube to pull you up the hill so you don't have to wear yourself out. Once at the top, there is a small line, but it moves quickly. They created 4 1200 foot long groomed lanes with several large bumps along the way down. It's about a 45 second ride, so quite a bit longer than the neighborhood park.

Another benefit is you get up in the mountains and out of the inversion. The view is beautiful and makes us wish we lived up there. You have to purchase tickets and they only allow so may people at a time, so it's a good idea to buy them online well in advance.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 2
Cost: $22/person 7 yrs+, $12/person 3-6 yrs

Please check their website for most updated info.

Pictures

North Pole at Seven Peaks. Provo, Utah.

Water parks aren't normally open for business in winter, but Seven Peaks transforms into the North Pole in December. It is free for all Pass of all Passes holders and it includes 3 rides down the giant slide, the carnival swing ride, and a visit with Santa. This Santa was obviously not the real Santa, as the kids pointed out, since he was so grumpy and didn't even have his beard on right.

The slide is tons of fun and we made sure to go as much as we could. You can purchase tickets that will get you more rides down the slide, but we opted to go around the lazy river in the bumper boats. We also took a train ride around the park and watched a movie that included free cookies.

Overall, it was a great time. Just make sure you check the forecast so you don't get rained on like we did.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $0 (with Pass of all Passes)

Pictures

 

Temple Square. Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Christmas lights at Temple Square is something that most people in Utah are familiar with, but we had yet to go as a family. It was very crowded and finding free parking was next to impossible. Everyone is in that area to see the lights, go to a Jazz game, and visit the City Creek Center.

Even with all of the traffic, it was worth it. The lights are breathtaking. The LDS church opens up the grounds for everyone to enjoy and puts on a nativity every 30 minutes. Make sure to go east of the Temple to get some of the best views and the prettiest lights. The best spots to pose for pictures are very crowded, so be patient if you want that perfect shot. The Conference Center is also decorated and looks amazing.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 8
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $0

Pictures

 

Bean Life Science Museum on the Brigham Young University Campus, Provo, Utah.

It has been years since we have visited the Bean Life Science Museum on the Brigham Young University Campus and a lot has changed. We went on the same day as a BYU Football game, so we had the place pretty much to ourselves.

There was free face painting and some games with the Conservation Kids. The museum also holds several interactive presentations every Saturday.

After visiting the museum, we took the kids on a tour of the school. The sheer size of the campus and the buildings, particularly the library. We got to try some of the treats we would get at the bookstore when we were students and purchased a couple souvenirs for the kids.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 8
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $0

Pictures

 

Lake Mary. Brighton, Salt Lake City, UT.

to the album: November 7th at Brighton, Salt Lake City, UT.

Published by Jed Terry · November 7, 2015 · 

 · 

‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

The hike up to Lake Mary doesn't normally have snow this time of year, but we were so excited to get to play in it. There were already snowboarders who were hiking up to get their first rides of the year in. A couple of more weeks and it wouldn't have been possible to get all the way to the lake without snow shoes.

The trail is fairly short, only 2 miles out and back, and isn't that steep either. Most everyone would be able to make the hike. It is possible to hike over to the Albion Basin and few other lakes from this trail. Up at the top you can see nearly all of the Brighton Ski Resort. In spring and summer, the lake is full, but is drained in the winter.

This is definitely one of the hikes we will be repeating, but will make sure to do it in late spring or summer. If you decide to go, just remember that no dogs are allowed in Big or Little Cottonwood Canyon, even in a car.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 7
Difficulty: 4
Cost: $0

Pictures

Tracy Aviary. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Each Halloween, the Tracy Aviary holds the Halloween Hoot. The workers dress up in Halloween costumes and hold several events that only happen on October 31st. Admittance is 50% off if you are in costume. There is free face painting, a straw maze, and arts and crafts. Some of the birds are free to walk around the park. There are birds from all around the world and makes for a fun, educational experience.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 5
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $5/child, $8/adult

Pictures

Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead. Lehi, Utah.

Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, takes place every year from October 31st - November 2nd. Here in the United States, Halloween gets in the way, which is why Thanksgiving Point has the celebration a week early.

To the outsider, the Day of the Dead may seem rather morbid, but it is quite the opposite. Dia de Los Muertos is a celebration of one's ancestors. People will take baked goods, special items, bread of the dead, sugar skulls, marigolds, and photos to the graves of their ancestors.

The celebration at Thanksgiving Point includes alter displays, face painting, sugar skull decoration, mask making, traditional food, and demonstrations and dances on the main stage. It is a great educational experience and gives you a greater understanding and appreciation of the tradition.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 6
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $10 for 12 years and up

Pictures

Sundance, UT.

‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

Every fall, the Ray's Lift at the Sundance Resort is taken over by circus freaks and aliens to provide an entertaining lift ride up the mountain. At the base you will find an outdoor movie theater, paintball range, pumpkin bowling, face painting, and some bean bag games. The lift ride takes you up in near total darkness so you can see the entertainment below and the projected images all across the resort and on the mountains opposite the lift.

While it may be mild down in the valley, it gets very cold up in the mountain. Bring winter clothes and a blanket for the 45 minute ride. When you get back to the base, there are wood burning fire barrels to warm up at. There is also a restaurant and deli open late if you want to get something to eat and warm up inside.

For the more adventurous, there is a zipline that begins at the summit of Ray's Lift and crosses a total of 3,870 feet. You can hear it screaming down the mountain in the darkness from the lift.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 8
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $52 for a family 4 pack

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Gardner Village, West Jordan, UT.

‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

Gardner Village is a collection of little shops, boutiques, a petting zoo, and restaurants that people can visit throughout the year. Every fall, witches converge from all over and it is transformed into a Halloween fantasy land. While it isn't posted anywhere, your entire family should dress up in your costumes when you go.

Most of the activities are geared towards little girls, but there are still things for the boys to do. Throughout the day you will find witches in amazing costumes roaming around the village. There are face painting boothes, bead activities, a scavenger hunt, and a lot of delicious street food. On the west side of the village you will find the Halloween theme park Six Hags Witch Adventure. This is really for kids about 6 years old and under. There is a hay maze, a giant bouncing balloon, and a few other things, but nothing that would keep the attention of older kids.

The funnest part of the whole day was at the petting zoo. It is actually there year round and is run by a farm animal rescue. All profits go to support that rescue and not Gardner Village, so your money is going to a very good cause. The kids took the longer pony ride that went around the whole village. The kids got a bag of feed and were able to feed horses, goats, sheep, alpacas, chickens, cows and ducks. They were also able to sit and hold the most beautiful rabbit.

Overall, the kids had a lot of fun, even though one of them tried to act too cool for a pony ride.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 8
Difficulty: 0
Cost: ~$20/child (activitieshttps://www.facebook.com/terrysweekendadventures/photos/ms.c.eJxFkskRAzAIAzvKcB~;9N5YYYvm7IySBzZFl7FRNFqT54QFK4snSTH8gGgMyrkL5gCq~_CnPR7FAD2JEIgF6gF6QN0LrAa4DDI~_QUk7ojpXVSyBAbA4IvUNsRQkpsrL3YLaYoVnQ8vPuB8QgHkFUkgC14Ct8RXKxyUgSK5gWo3rs~_3~;W1~_JhaAxCtQh6YFLumyjE9cFOVHOAY8a0ueFufYuX~_wCowEpPCBUXIjhBAjiLRNHoB~;kfOLr~_fBaDjoQ2w1fFQWr7rG4CNaeBt96aFm2rPM9hr~_tv8KDgfWIV9AS2nmDM~-.bps.a.1678410142379865.1073741849.1668788590008687/1678415089046037/?type=3&theater are a la carte)

Olympic Village, Park City, UT.

‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬ ‪#‎unplugged‬

Even though we have lived in Utah since the 2002 winter Olympics, we have never visited the site where they actually took place. It is just a short drive up I-80 from Salt Lake City. The main visitor center and museum situp against the mountains behind Park City. You can see the medals awarded to athletes and some of the equipment they used. You can also see some of the props that were used during the opening ceremonies. There are two cool simulators inside. One takes you down a bobsled track, deep powder skiing, and parasail skiing, and the other takes you down the 120 ski jump. The museum, with exception of the simulators, and walking around the grounds are free, but outside of that it will cost you a fortune.

You can ride tubes down the giant ski jumps, watch the free style ski team practice, ride a zip line, ride the alpine slide, and play on a ropes course. Each of those things costs around $20 per person or you can get an all events day pass for $65. While that may not sound that bad, it is much more expensive than what you can find at other places with similar attractions like the Snowbird Resort.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 3
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $0-$65

Please check their website for the most updated info.

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Wadley Farms, Lindon, UT

 October 17th at Wadley Farms, Lindon, UT.

‪#‎unplugged‬ ‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

Most people who have seen Wadley Farms probably only know that it is a beautiful place to hold a wedding reception. The vineyards are for more than just a nice backdrop. During fall you can go pick grapes, but they aren't the kind you will find in the produce section at the local grocery store.

This late in the season, the grapes are incredibly sweet and many of them have already turned into raisins on the vine. The manager will hand you some buckets and pruning shears to pick as much as you would like. There are several varieties, so we started at one end and move along the vineyard to get all the different types.

On Mondays you have the option of having your grapes cold pressed into juice or you can just take them home to enjoy them. We opted for the latter. If you are just brining them home, bring some bags to put them in after weighing the grapes, as bags are not provided.

We all helped out washing the grapes and removing them from the stems. We ran them through our juicer and then ran the solids through the juicer a second time to get every last drop out. What came out wasn't what we expected at all. We didn't filter it so we ended up with more of a nectar instead of the grape juice that you find bottled in stores. It was some of the sweetest, most delicious grape juice that we had ever tasted.

The whole process was a lot of fun and we will definitely be going back next year.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 7
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $1/lb of grapes or $6/bottle of juice

Please check theirhttps://www.facebook.com/terrysweekendadventures/photos/ms.c.eJxFkLkRxDAMAzvyiBTf~;hs7mzhBiYMdLAhZItNsSXvJ~_92P~;EG12HZNglTLqNADVJGgolCEikLxqzTAOmAvKE6wJ2FxgGFY8IrLJLQI9iS8CfIrtWIiFhLcYVCibwIKdwSuCDtq3pLNjioAuYkpVXa0D~_D~;~_CYMkAvmrNkBhtItP8uGUoM~-.bps.a.1677440169143529.1073741846.1668788590008687/1677440195810193/?type=3&theater website for the most updated info.

The Albion Meadows and Cecret lake, Alta, Utah

The Albion Meadows basin starts at the very east side of the Alta Ski Resort. It is a maintained path that is primarily used for hiking and mountain biking. Right now the meadows are the typical fall colors, but during spring and summer they are covered in a variety of wildflowers.

There are a number of side paths that will take you up the slopes on the sides of the basin. There are also 2 paths that you can take to connect up to the Cecret Lake trail. We recommend taken the western trail, as it will take you through a shaded pine grove with a beautiful little stream that you would miss otherwise.

The Cecret Lake trail is fairly gentle until you get to the slope just under the lake. The switchbacks ascend roughly 450 feet in about .25 miles. Since it is a short hike, it is also very crowded. There is plenty of room to pass people, so you don't ever feel like you'll be squeezed off the path. The lake itself is a beautiful blue green sitting at the base of a mountain peak. You can explore all the way around the lake and climb up on some of the boulders that have rolled down the slope.

If you have little kids, you should probably just take the road up to the Cecret Lake trail head. If you have older kids and are looking for a bit longer hike, start at the Albion Base and hike the whole thing. You are exposed most of the way, so bring plenty of water and sunscreen. The hike from the base is a total of 5 miles out and back with around 1500 feet of elevation gain.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 8
Difficulty: 6
Cost: $0

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Cornbelly's. Lehi, Utah

‪#‎unplugged‬ ‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

Cornbelly's is a fall/Halloween themed event that happens every year at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT. During the day it is geared towards little kids and turns a lot scarier at night and is designed to keep the big kids entertained. We started off by going straight for the main corn maze that covers several acres. We spent a good half an hour getting lost in the Minion themed maze, but eventually made it out.

There are life size foosball courts, apple cannons, giant slides, and toned down haunted attractions. The hayride is included with the general admission and takes you around the grounds to see some of the farm area.

On your way out you can buy pumpkins and other Conbelly's merchandise. Be prepared for long lines and a lot of little kids. Since it is located between Salt Lake County and Utah County, it brings in a lot of people. Overall, it isn't worth the cost or time, especially for kids over 8. There are several other family owned pumpkin patches that offer similar attractions without the crowds for a lot less money.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 4
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $10/person with coupon code

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Provo River Falls and Mirror Lake, Kamas, Utah.

October 10th, 2015 at Provo River Falls and Mirror Lake, Kamas, Utah
‪#‎unplugged‬ ‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

The Mirror Lake Highway begins in Kamas, Utah and goes all the way up to Evanston, Wyoming. The falls are 24 miles east of Kamas, Utah up the highway, which follows the upper Provo River almost all the way up to where it starts in Wall Lake. As you go up the highway, you can see a change in the type of rocks that make up the mountains. The sides of the mountains look like bricks have just fallen off of them and made enormous piles that goes all the way to their flat tops. Because the rocks have broken up like that, it makes for a very cool hike up the Provo River Falls. Instead of just on big waterfall, there are multiple little falls that look as if they are running down staircases. There are small, sub 8 foot cliffs, that you can climb, but be careful of the wet areas that are extremely slippery. During the spring, the canyon gets very full, but during the late summer and fall you can get down in the canyon. Because the water is so low, it creates pools that have tiny fish.

We walked and climbed about a quarter mile up the canyon and then came back down the opposite side. We didn't even notice that there was an obervation area to overlook the largest cascade until we were nearly back to the parking lot. We recommend skipping the touristy observation area and look at them up close.

Mirror Lake is only about 15 minutes up the highway, so we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon there. There is plenty of parking and camping around the lake, so finding a spot for us wasn't difficult at all. The main parking lot is only about 200 feet from the lake and there is an very easy path that you can take that circles the entire lake. Part of the path is a boardwalk that takes you over some marshy grasslands. Walking at a leisurely pace will only take about 30 minutes to get around the lake. There are also signs for several other trails that will take you out into the woods and surrounding area.

We tried our hand at fishing and caught a lot of moss. Fishing is supposedly good in the lakes along the highway, but we didn't manage to catch any. It didn't look like anyone else was having any better luck so it could have just been the time of day.

On the drive home, we saw a number of deer right next to the highway and one that nearly was hit by the car in front of us. The highway also goes through an open cattle range, so watch out for the livestock. This was by far the most fun we have had at any waterfall so far and look forward to exploring the rest of the Mirror Lake Highway.

Activity rating 0-10
Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 0https://www.facebook.com/terrysweekendadventures/photos/ms.c.eJxNkcERAzEIAzvKADYC~_m8sNsSQzz121kJwDFOw6hJonM~_HH9CIy37ASC5Qpjb4~_IftNnYa5M~_wyIy1BuQTvCkIq1AdI3tQTwnKDJEGOQXsk3FDfTdYyCn0qmNXdZvQ3Fb8r8cF7DOlqvOrDuIC3EAyw6yBp0G7gZUhY2Sx1U~_Y00BXR51wdgEK9H~;xqh4DtG7ayznqYpjQPJDzFyeiZOg~-.bps.a.1675615512659328.1073741842.1668788590008687/1675615532659326/?type=3&theater

Oktoberfest at Snowbird Resort, Sandy, Utah

Oktoberfest ‪#‎unplugged‬ ‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬
October 3rd, 2015 at Snowbird Resort, Sandy, UT

Snowbird Resort has activities year round and every year from Labor Day until the second weekend in October, they celebrate Oktoberfest. There is plenty to do even if you aren't a beer drinker. We went up to try some authentic food and see the canyon. The Oktoberfest Halle is filled with traditional Bavarian music and the smells of traditional German food and beer. We wanted to try everything, but ended up ordering the Jager Schnitzel, Weisswurst, Goolash, Apple Strudel, and Black Forest Torte. It was all amazing. It was fun to see the people dressed in lederhosen and drindl, dancing to the live polka music.

We decided to take a tram up to the summit of hidden peak which stands at 11,000 feet. It was drizzling at the base, but that quickly changed to snow as we ascended. During the summer months you can hike down, but we didn't come prepared for a long hike. The funnest part of the ride was just after passing the towers, where the tram would drop and swing.

Once we came back down, we took a short walk on a path that parallels Little Cottonwood Creek and takes you to an observation deck. You get a clear view of most of the canyon from there. The kids went off the trail a ways and found a shelter that someone had built out of branches and small trees.

Many of the attactions were closed due to the weather, so we will have to go again next summer to ride them all. There is a Peruvian Chair Lift, which is a two person seat that zips you part way up the mountain and back down again at high speed, a mountain coaster, an alpine slide, and bungee trampolines. We also plan on hiking down from the summit next time.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $5 for parking. Anywhere from free for hiking to $48 per person for an unlimited pass.

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Cascade Springs Trail, Midway, Utah

Sept 26th at Cascade Springs Trail, Midway, Utah ‪#‎unplugged‬‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

This amazing little treasure is hidden about 9 miles from the summit on the Alpine Loop Highway. It only takes about 30 minutes to hike the entire area and is great for anyone who has mobility issues, as the entire area is wheelchair accessible from the lower parking lot. There are three main pools the dozens of tiny waterfalls connecting them. Signs say that the ponds are home to brown trout, but we weren't lucky enough to see any. There were plenty of leaves on the ground that the kids picked up to take home for tracings. The most amazing part, aside from the gorgeous fall foliage, is the fact that the entire system seems to come out of nowhere. As you get to the top of the trail, the water just seeps out of a dirt embankment and turns into a pretty large stream. The trail closes at dusk and it gets dark earlier up behind the nearby mountains, so make sure to plan accordingly.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 6
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $6 (Forest entrance fee)

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Timpanogos Cave National Monument, American Fork, Utah.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument, American Fork, Utah.
 Sept 12th, 2015

‪#‎unplugged‬ ‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

The Alpine Loop Highway is only 45 minutes from home and has a lot of great places for outdoor entertainment. Although we have lived in Utah for over 15 years, we still hadn't gone to Timpanogos Cave National Monument, which is really 3 connected cave systems, until today. The trail is paved the entire way and is only 3 miles in and out, but it is steep and gets tiring. There is over 1000 feet of elevation gain in the 1 1/2 mile ascent. There is little shade in the afternoon since the entire trail is on the northwest face of Mt Timpanogos. There are benches to rest on scattered along the trail, but there is nowhere to fill up a water bottle if you run out on the hike. It is amazing to think that the caves were discovered back in the late 1800's when some brave souls were logging all the way up there. You really get a sense of the elevation after exiting the cave tour. The tour itself is about 45 minutes long and is fun and informative. The guide was great and was taught in a way that kept everyone engaged. The kids loved walking inside a mountain, ducking under stalactites, and twisting through the little passages. Overall, we would recommend this to everyone.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 9
Difficulty: 6
Cost: $7/person for the cave tour. Forest entrance fee is waived with tour
Make sure to check their website for the most updated info.

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Yuba Lake part II.

Yuba Lake part II
Sept 4th - Sept 6th at Yuba Lake State Park, Levan, Utah

‪#‎unplugged‬ ‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

We loved the beach at Yuba Lake so much that we had to go back, but this time we actually planned it out. We also came with the Smania family. We reserved a campground over on the east side of the lake. This side is a lot more secluded than the North and West Beaches. There is space for an RV and a tent pad, along with a covered picnic table and a fire pit/ grill. The first night gave us enough time to set up the tent and cook some dinner caveman style. On day 2 after a little breakfast, we headed over to the boat ramp on the west side of the lake and launched the wave runners, then took everyone over to North Beach. It was going great for about 5 minutes, then the winds ahead of a storm front kicked up. This did make for some great waves to ride on, but also made for a rather cold ride. Oh, and remember that amazing sand we talked about the last time? That was blown into everything. We all huddled behind the SUV and under the Sportbrella until we called it quits after about 3 hours. We weren't too concerned about the sand since we knew there were showers located in the Oasis campground area near the boat ramp. The name Oasis is truly fitting and we are already planning to go back next year and stay there.

On our way out we saw a zip line and decided to ride it. Normally the kids are afraid of heights, but they both found some extra courage to go without mom or dad pushing them at all. Really proud parent moment there! It is actually 2 zip lines; 850 feet one way and 650 feet coming back. It was still windy, but the ranger said it was still open. To give you an idea of how windy it was, H got stuck on the second zip line 1/4 of the way down because it was blowing so hard and didn't start moving again until it died down a bit.

We headed back to camp and worked on dinner. Dad taught the kids how to start a fire with some shredded tree bark and flint and steel. Dinner was cooked over an open fire while dessert sat in a dutch oven inside the fire pit. There was still enough daylight that we went for a walk down on the beach. Just a beautiful, serene area to relax. We finished off the night with dust covered s'mores.

Despite the wind and dust, it was a great time. It was the first time camping as a family and the kids absolutely love it and still talk about it. If you do stay on the east side of the lake bring a lot of water. Between drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth, we went through about 15 gallons in 2 days. Also, it gets cold at night, so bring a warm enough sleeping bag to keep you cozy.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $86 (2 nights, boat ramp, zipline)

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Stewart Falls in Provo, UT

August 29, 2015 at Stewart Falls in Provo, UT
‪#‎unplugged‬ ‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

The trailhead for Stewart Falls is just past the Aspen Grove entrance station on the Sundance side of Timpanogos up Provo Canyon. Arrive earlier in the day or you will have a difficult time finding a parking spot. This hike is an easy-moderate difficulty hike that most little kids will be able to do. It is 4 miles round trip with just a few steep inclines. It can get hot during the summer months and there isn't much shade for about half of the hike, so bring at least 1 liter of water per person. Dogs are also permitted, but make sure to bring enough water for them too.

Once at the falls, you are rewarded with a two tier waterfall. You can walk underneath the lower falls and play in the stream. It is a nice cool place to rest before hiking back. For the more adventurous, you can hike up a steep incline and cross a narrow path to get to the upper tier, although the kids should probably stick to the lower falls.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 8
Difficulty: 6
Cost: $6 (vehicle entrance fee)

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Yuba Lake State Park, Levan, Utah

Aug 22nd, 2015 at Yuba Lake State Park, Levan, UT ‪#‎unplugged‬‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

Yuba Lake State Park is just an hour south of Provo. It is only 2 miles off of I-15, but is hidden behind a mountain and cannot be seen from the freeway. The area surrounding the lake is the typical arid Utah wilderness, but once you get down on the beach it is completely different than any other lake in the state. It has very fine sandy beaches like you would expect to find at an ocean. The water is cool, but is refreshing on a hot August day. The kids spent the day making sand castles and burying their arms in "quicksand". The wake free zone was far enough out that we could go swimming without worrying about huge waves or out of control waverunners. There are also fire pit rings along the beach for the public that are perfect for s'mores in the evening.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $10

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South Fork Park, Provo Canyon.

Aug 15th, 2015 at South Fork Park, Provo, UT ‪#‎unplugged‬‪#‎terrysweekendadventures‬

South Fork Park is just a short drive up Provo Canyon. The park is a great place to spend an afternoon with the family and pets. It has a large open field for games, a pavilion, several barbeque pits and picnic tables, and restrooms. There are plenty of shade trees to sit under with a blanket, too. The most fun for the kids, by far, is playing in the river. Wearing shoes in the water is recommended, since it is cold and walking on the rocks can be difficult in bare feet. It is only ankle deep in fall and has plenty of rocks you can use to build up a little dam. You can walk up and down it, with a few areas that get slightly deeper where logs have fallen and blocked up the river. There are also several side trails that you can explore.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 0
Cost: 0https://www.facebook.com/terrysweekendadventures/photos/ms.c.eJxNzcENwDAIA8CNKlMSA~;svVhQE6Q~_dbCykO5xUXYDoIw2kpXFgF1iDb1WNiDWJfIA83wZDVS5Uwn5wZrEH~;CTos8ICfH4BIoc~-.bps.a.1668808623340017.1073741830.1668788590008687/1668808663340013/?type=3&theater

The Grotto Falls and South Fork Park

Aug 15th, 2015 at The Grotto Falls Trail, Payson, UT and South Fork Park, Provo, UT

The trail head for the Grotto Falls Trail is about 8 miles off of I-15 up the scenic Nebo Loop Road in Payson, UT.  The hike itself is just over a half mile, round trip.  The trail is a fairly gentle incline that follows a stream all the way to the top.  There are several log bridges that crisscross the stream.  There are quite a few trees that provide shade, but it still gets hot during summer.  Upon reaching the top, you can either take a very steep path up the rocks to see the falls from the top, which is not recommended for the kids, or you can go straight and enter the grotto.  The view from up top is beautiful, but inside the grotto is the coolest part.  You are almost completely surrounded by rock walls with the falls coming down one side.  It creates a small pool at the bottom that is fun to play in.  It is pretty shallow in the fall, so late spring or early summer is the time to go to see the waterfall is at its fullest.  Pets are allowed on this trail, so don't forget to bring your four-legged friends.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 9
Difficulty: 3
Cost: 0

Going up

The Grotto

From up top

Coming back down

South Fork Park is just a short drive up Provo Canyon.  The park is a great place to spend an afternoon with the family and pets.  It has a large open field for games, a pavilion, several barbeque pits and picnic tables, and restrooms.  There are plenty of shade trees to sit under with a blanket, too.  The most fun for the kids, by far, is playing in the river.  Wearing shoes in the water is recommended, since it is cold and walking on the rocks can be difficult in bare feet.  It is only ankle deep in fall and has plenty of rocks you can use to build up a little dam.  You can walk up and down it, with a few areas that get slightly deeper where logs have fallen and blocked up the river.  There are also several side trails that you can explore.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 0
Cost: 0