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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