The Great Salt Lake

Good news! Lauren and I (the authors behind this here blog) were able to have some adventures together last week! She came to stay with me and we had a blast. One of my favorite adventures was our trip to see THE Great Salt Lake.

(enjoy this obvious song choice to go with the post. i'm not sure what the video has to do with SLC though...)

We arrived as the sun was setting- one of the best times to visit a lake. The sun glistened off the water and cast stunning flares over the west mountain.

The views around the lake are incredible. Mountains in the distance and salt flats for miles.

It's a pretty dry area considering there's a lake. I am sure there are better times of year to visit, times when the lake is more full. But no matter when you visit, be prepared for the smell... Oh ya, it stinks. You kind of get used to it until you get in the car and realize it's sorta stuck around.

I haven't been out to Antelope Island yet, but that is on my goal list. But just visiting the marina is a good time and a great place for photos.

Be aware that this isn't a lake you go to swim in, or fish, or lay on the beach... This is more of a- look how pretty it is but don't touch anything and plug your nose- kind of trip... Ok, doesn't sound appealing when I put it that way, but trust me, it's worth seeing. I guess we didn't visit the right spot, further north is the place to be- apparently.

Some fun facts about The Great Salt Lake:
- It's the largest lake West of the Mississippi, it's 75 miles long and 35 miles wide
- It has the highest salt content next to the Dead Sea, it's salty because it doesn't have an outlet
- You can float in the GSL because of all the salt
- If you head about an hour north of SLC you can visit the Spiral Jetty (I'll try to do a post on that soon)
- There used to be lots of fun things to do at the GSL, including a roller coaster
- The GSL is the remnant of Lake Bonneville, a great ice age lake

Reaching the lake from Downtown SLC only takes about 20 minutes, unless you're looking for more of a recreational beach. Then it'll take longer.

I fully plan on returning to the lake and getting the full experience. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to test the waters (to see what it's like to float without trying)... Or maybe I'll just take everyone's word for it.

Stone Mountain

This last February I was able to visit my sister and her family in Atlanta, GA. One morning, my sister, oldest niece, and I went out to hike Stone Mountain.

This is an easy hike that almost anyone could do. The hardest part is at the end where it gets steep. But they do have handrails to make it easier. My sister (pictured below) is climbing without the handrails and was 5 months pregnant with her 4th child. She's a champ.

The view is amazing. It's pretty much the only spot IN Atlanta where you can have a view like this. 

I know, I know, we're awesome.

I loved being able to see the city and then on the opposite side you could see the Appalachians through the clouds.

Stone Mountain is a great hike for those visiting Atlanta who want to get away from the city, plus I know there's a lot of other things to do inside the park as well.

Haleakala Crater

Haleakala Crater is located on the island of Maui. (Surprised? I didn't think so.)
The sunrise on top of this volcano is a MUST see. Even though you have to wake up and get going at the butt crack of dawn...it's totally worth every chilly, yawning moment. Seriously. Worth. It.

The very highest point of the crater measures in at 10, 023 feet tall. It's so insane to look out and see the clouds beneath you. And then you catch a teeny tiny glimpse of light and all the sudden the sun is coming up. It is amazing.

This sunrise will absolutely and instantly be at the top of the list of any sunrise you have ever seen. 

You'll want to be prepared so you can enjoy every minute of it so here's what you need to take with you:

wear- warm pants, warm shirt and light but warm jacket. It's chilly up there! It's mighty early and the sun is not out AND you are above the clouds. It's cold. Also wear comfy running or hiking shoes so you can be sure to make it up to the very top!

Bring some snacks and water with you so you can stay up there for a while and enjoy it!

&

DO NOT forget your camera! This is an obvious must but could be forgotten in your sleep drunken state of mind at 2:30 am. So maybe pack it up the night before.

So who is up for a trip to Maui just so you can see this sunrise? I thought so. See you there!

Exit Glacier

One of my favorite spots in Alaska was Seward, and just outside of there is Exit Glacier. There's a specific trail that leads right up to the glacier, the hike has a few difficult spots/ a few spots where you want to hold the hands of little ones, but overall it's a hike that most people could do.

There are little signs along the trail that teach you about Exit Glacier and glaciers in general, which makes the hike interactive for kids.

Then after you've hiked to the glacier, there's just a short drive back to town where they have restaurants and other things to do.

It's about a 2 hour drive from Anchorage, but completely worth it if you have the time.

Cedar Breaks

Southern Utah has many famous spots, but there's one spot that isn't as popular yet deserves to be. Cedar Breaks is a State Park named for the cedar trees and the breaking away of the canyon. This place is breathtaking, The green of the trees, the red of the dirt, and the blue of the sky create so much color it's almost hard to look at.

There are lots of hiking trails here. The one my sister and I did was a beautiful trail that led to a pond. The path was lined with wildflowers and natural treasures.

I could have taken a nap in that bed of flowers.

I think "Utah" doesn't sound appealing to some- but Utah alone is home to 5 national parks (making it the capitol of national parks) and multiple state parks, plus it's gateway to many other national and state parks. We are a hidden gem and I'm excited to share more with you!

Jasper

Possibly the most beautiful place I've ever seen would be- Jasper, Canada. Nestled among the Canadian Rockies, this little German town is smack-dab between two National Parks. You can't ask for better than that!

The city is filled with quaint little restaurants, a beautiful park in the middle (perfect for picnics or evening strolls), and anything your exploring heart could desire- within minutes of the city center. The city welcomes you with a giant totem pole and the architecture of each building is vintage and detailed- making Jasper feel right out of a storybook.

Planning to visit Canada? Let me urge you to visit Jasper! Check out Nicole's blog, she lives in Jasper!