M Outdoors

 Moab is a city in the middle of Utah which is well known for its outdoor activities. Moab is about three hours and forty minutes away from Salt Lake City. The distance from Salt Lake City to Moab is just under two hundred miles, around 197 miles. The great attraction to Moab is the red rock country its surrounded by. The city is very close to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.  Of the two it is hard to pick which one is more popular, but the most famous arch called the delicate arch is in Arches National Park. The arch is called delicate because it looks as though it will eventually crumble from rain erosion.  People that live in Utah have an option to have the delicate arch as a background for their license plates. So you know I guess you can say that Arches National Park is the most popular.  Delicate Arch in Arches National Park              Photo by Chris Janda To get to Moab there are a few ways of getting the...

Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, Utah will be here very soon. For all the Bard lovers and medieval dramatists that enjoy a bit of cultural enlightenment stay tuned! Cedar City is great for many things, but two of the most popular are its annual Shakespeare Festival and the beautiful red rock country that surrounds the southern Utah city. Starting in June and running till late August nine plays will presented and enjoyed by many. Of the nine plays, four of them will be written by Shakespeare.  William Shakespeare    Photo by Mike Birdy The part about the Shakespeare Festival is that it all happens during the summertime months and with that said Cedar City is surrounded by so many beautiful outdoor attractions like the Cedar Breaks National Monument. Only about 44 minutes away or 34 miles, you can definitely plan out a full day of seeing the Monument and then be back in time for a Shakespearean play in the evening.  Most plays start in the evening and the time you h...

 People enjoy City Creek Mall in downtown Salt Lake City. A natural outdoor walking excursion with surrounding shops, food courts, and water fountains, just what the heart desires.  The historical city creek that runs its path through the heart of downtown Salt Lake City is also the path you can stroll through on your day off from work.  During a sunny spring day or a rainy downpour doesn't matter, because City Creek Mall has a retractable glass ceiling if in case the weather doesn't cooperate. Actual fishes swim in the creek and you can relax and sit by watching the fishes, just like a koi pond.  City Creek runs in the middle and pedestrians walk either direction on the sidewalks adjacent to the creek on either end. Truly an architectural wonder and a great opportunity to get outside and get some exercise or go see the excitement of seeing the public in a shopping frenzy.  Downtown Salt Lake City with City Creek Mall      Photo by Tanner Crocket...

 I am a lifelong enthusiast of Bonsai and I had to write about Red Buttes upcoming springtime bonsai show. Nestled up against the Wasatch mountain foothills resides Red Butte Gardens. It is Salt Lake City’s unofficial or official ( I'll let you decide) Botanical gardens. The garden itself is unique in its own way because they try to plant plants that do well in Salt Lake’s desert climate.  Photo by Eva Elijas The actual Bonsai show happens indoors in a beautiful contemporary building which lets the sunshine in.  Mark your calendars the show will be April 10th and 11th of 2021. Within Utah lots of people enjoy working in their gardens and take pride in their kept gardens, all with their personal touches filled with perennials or annuals.  Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh The art of Bonsai originated in China. Over time the art was introduced to Japan and became a beloved art to the Japanese. The whole idea was to try and create miniature replicas of nature inside the confin...

Snowbird Out of all the ski resorts Snowbird is quite unique. The two iconic trams one blue and the other red are popular in their own right. They both take the skier during winter or hiker in summertime to the top of Hidden Peak which stands at 11,000 feet above sea level. At the top of Hidden Peak you can hike down in summertime or ski down in winter. There is also the option to take the next tram down the mountain  if you're not in for a hike or skiing in winter. The base camp at Snowbird is 8,000 feet, it takes approximately ten minutes to reach the summit rising within ten minutes = 3,000 feet in elevation. There is a restaurant at the top of Hidden Peak called The Summit. It has pub food for those that enjoy a quick snack. You can always take with you in your backpack a small lunch though if you're on a budget. Snowbird allows both skiers and snowboarders on their slopes. Snowbird also hosts the Oktoberfest in September every year, which is a great idea if you want to get...

So why is the snow in Utah called "the greatest snow on Earth"? First of all let me say it should actually in my opinion be,  Why is Utah's snow the best snow to ski on? Because the more dense hard snow is on the bottom and the fluffy lightweight snow always ends up on the top. Ok that is one explanation but still why does it always end up gnice and soft? I can say it surely is more fluffy and soft, because when I skied in Colorado, namely Loveland Ski Resort, my body felt like it was run over by a semi-truck when I fell down. In Utah your butt literally doesn't feel so bruised if you fall. Not to say that Colorado skiing is not good, it certainly is and abundant at that, no doubt about it. But in general people would agree that Utah's snow is world famous for its nice fluffy powdery snow.  Most of the reason for being so nice is fluffy is for one the location of the ski resorts in Utah. Salt Lake City is for the most part a desert oasis surrounded by en...

                                                                   Photo by Trace Hudson As we all know St. George is kind of a get-a-way for local Salt Lake City locals. If you're looking for a quick vacation and most importantly want to get away from the cold weather, then St. George is it. The climate is always a little warmer down south in St. George. The city is also common for having a lot of retired people from Salt Lake City move down there, because the warm weather does well on their aging bones. It is kind of like the western version of Florida for New Yorkers. If people on the west coast want to get away they usually think of Florida. West of the Mississippi there are many choices when it comes to outdoor recreation. Here in Utah...St. George is the destination for weekenders and outdoor enthusiast...