Big Splash Paddle Boarding

Utah has a number of beautiful lakes and reservoirs, and paddle boarding it an excellent way to enjoy those lakes.   Paddle boards are amazingly stable and easy to maneuver.  They are perfect for adults or kids!  The paddle board is stable enough to hold an adult and a child.  Parents and kids will enjoy the adventure and the amazing views.

 Tips and Tricks

• You will learn a lot from viewing a "How To Paddle Board" video on youtube prior to going.
• Take two people.  Loading and unloading the boards is so much easier with two people.  The board is pretty much the full length of a car and you really need two to get it up on top of a vehicle.
  Later in the afternoon/ evening is a beautiful time to go to the lake.  If you are on the lake as the sun sets, the views are amazing! 
• Bring a picnic or dinner, eating by the lake is so beautiful!  Also bring lots of snacks for the kids.  You can really work up an appetite.
• Don't forget drinking water, sunscreen, and bug repellent.
• If you can bring your own comfortable life jacket.  The rental jackets are sometimes not the most comfortable.
• Take a crawdad trap, or a fishing pole.  My boys really got into trying to catch something.
• Make it fun! Don't have too high of expectations if you are paddling with your kids.
• Let kids know the rules: Never take off life jackets.  Don't go out past a certain area.  Watch out for boats, and don't get in their way.  Don't ram, or bump other paddle boarders.  Wear the leg strap.
• Allow the kids to take a turn and take the board out.
• If you are arriving later in the evening bring jackets and a change of warm clothing, it can get pretty cool after dusk.

High Adrenaline Park City Olympic Park

The Utah Olympic Park is a winter sports park built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and is now a high adrenaline adventure park.  The park is located 28 miles east of Salt Lake City near Park City, Utah.  There are athletes training all year around.  The practice trampoline is right next to the ski jump pool and both are fun to watch. The ski jumpers do their flips, twists and turns into a swimming pool.  There are many activities including high ropes course, alpine slide, two ziplines and a bobsled on wheels.  The xtreme zipline is the longest and steepest zipline in the world!  You can purchase a day pass for unlimited activities for $60. 

Tips and Tricks

• If you can go to the park on a early weekday morning.  Mondays & Tuesdays are the least busy. 
• Weekends and evenings are busy.  You can wait in line for over an hour for each ride.
• The freestyle zipline is the smaller of the two ziplines.  To riding the ziplines you are put in a chair and your body is placed up against a door. The ziplines can be very intimidating, and feel scary, especially for kids.  Let the kids know it is SO EASY, especially the smaller zipline!  Let kids know BEFORE you get up the lift what will happen, and how easy it will be.  There is ZERO drop, just the doors swing open and you sail easily down to the bottom. 
• If your kids are nervous, try not to let them stand in line waiting.  It can make them more scared.  Let them be the last one to be put in the chair.  Once they do it, they will LOVE IT and want to do it again and again!!! 
• Parking is in the upper parking lot, and the activities are in a lower area.  There is a lot of walking.  Make sure everyone is wearing good shoes.  You might want to take a stroller for younger kids. 
• The alpine slide is so fun!!!  It can be extremely fast for adults!  Be warned not to follow young children if you want to go fast.  The kids are really slow! 
• The alpine slide will close if there is rain!
• You can buy each activity separately or you can purchase a day pass for unlimited activities for $60.   We got three activities for around $20
• The ultra zipinle minimum weight is 55lbs.  If you have kids lighter than that, the only ride they can do is the alpine slide. 
• The xtreme zipline is the longest and steepest zipline in the world!  You must be a minimum of 100lbs to ride it.  It is a fun zipline!  You do NOT feel any tingles like you would feel with a drop, it is a easy down slope.  It is fast, but not too fast.
• If you can remember, let go of the chair harness as you come to a stop at the bottom.  The rope can pull through your hands.
• Ski jumpers the Flying Aces practice every Saturday at 5:00 PM.  Cost is $10 a person
• The museum is interesting and fast-paced.  It has lots of exhibits from the 2002 Olympics.  FREE
• The zip line is $20  for one ride and last maybe 30secs. The ropes course ranges from $15-20 and last 30-45 mins.

More zipline information:

Zipline Rides

Take an exhilarating ride on the WORLD'S STEEPEST ZIPLINE! There are two ziplines to choose from, the Xtreme Zip and the Ultra Zip.
Xtreme Zipline
• Length – 1,454 feet
• Max. Speed – 55 mph
• Ride Time – 55 seconds
• 4 lines
• Minimum weight – 100 lbs
• Maximum weight – 275 lbs
• Located at the top of the K120 ski jump hill
• Sensation of what it is like to be a ski jumper or freestyle aerialist
Ultra Zipline • Length – 754 feet
• Max. Speed – 42 mph
• Ride Time – 30 seconds
• 4 lines
• Minimum weight – 55 lbs
• Maximum weight – 275 lbs
• Located at the top of the winter freestyle aerial hill

Cost: Xtreme Zip: $20, Ultra Zip: $15
When: Open May 19th-September 3rd. Please call 435-658-4200 for times.

Hill Air Force Base Warriors Over Wasatch

If you like air planes and speed, you will love the Hill Air Force Base Warriors Over Wasatch air show.  The show is usually every other year, over Memorial weekend.  Attending the show is one of the coolest visual adventures our family has done.  You can park on base and take a shuttle to the entrance.  There many different air planes displayed near the runway.   We had considered watching the air show in a near by neighborhood, but decided to go face the crowds and go on base. There are many reasons to attend the show at Hill.  The show is situated just for the people on base, with fly buys, aerials and dog fights all choreographed to music.  On base you will feel the pride and honor for the many service people that protect our freedom.   If you dare to go on base, you will not be disappointed. 

• You don't have to be early to the start of the show, you can attend anytime.  The different air performances are linked closely together, and are through out the day. 
• Follow your GPS for parking on base.  Some signs were false, and wanted to get you to park and pay.  Exit the freeway on Hill Field Rd, that will access the base entrance directly.
  The base offers FREE parking and shuttle to the entrance of the show.  UTA has an off base parking lot, and it costs $3 per person to ride the shuttle bus.
• Expect that parking will be crazy. 
• Don't rush to get on a bus, there are many buses and they come and go often.
• Take a lunch (not in a cooler) and eat while watching the show.
• We were allowed a back pack, even though  it was one of the "restricted items."
• Take ear plus, it can get extremely loud!
• Don't forget sun screen. 
• Take cash for treats, or bring your own.
• The blue angels flew about 30 minutes.  If you watch the show 15 minutes and then leave you will miss the majority of the crowd at the end. 
• If you parked on base, and leave at the end of the show plan on about 45 minutes to get out of the gates. 
• The last three years Hill Base has not had a show because of budget cuts. 

Hope you enjoy the show!

Teaching Kids the Fun of Rappelling

WARNING: Do not attempt any rock climbing or rappelling with out a rappelling and climbing safety class!  You need to know your gear to keep you safe!

What kid doesn't love rocks? All kids love rocks, and kids love adventure.  Nothing goes better together than rocks and kids! (Except dirt and mud maybe!)  Kids thrive when there is structure, activity and fun.  Rappelling is the perfect thing to do to get kids outdoors!  Teaching kids to Rappel off a cliff or rock face can be a challenge!  Don't start the learning process on the mountain top.  It can really scare and frighten little adventure, so start someplace safer.  

Beginner Kids Rappelling

• Start your adventure at a local park, or someplace that has a big hill that has a really good slope to it.  
• Get in your gear, harness and all. 
• Attach your rope to a tree or a stable starting point.
• Show the kids how to back off the hill.  Show them how a person on the lower rope can STOP you from coming down the hill. 

• 

  10 year old

  Clip them in and let them feel how the rope feels, how it holds their weight. 
• 
  Teach them to keep their right hand behind their bottom to control their speed.  Show them how you have to pull it tight to slow them down.  Hold the rope loosely to let the rope go through.
•  Have them hold the rope tight, and see how far they can lean back towards the ground.
• Have someone hold the bottom part of the rope and show them how the person below can stop them from decending.
• Practice until they are completely comfortable with rappelling(going) and stopping the rope.

Medium Kids Rappel:

• Find a rock face that is short, and is 60-50% of vertical. Something you could almost walk down.
• Tie off your ropes securely at the top.
• Have the kids

7 year old

St George Mountain Biking Dino Cliffs/ Grapevine

Church Rocks is just North of St. George Utah.  It is an intermediate kids trail.  Although this trail could be rated a much more difficult trail, There are several reasons why it is a great trail for kids with some experience.   While riding on the trail it is very easy to see difficulty sections approaching and it is very easy to get off and walk.  Kids do not have any element of surprise along this trail, you can see it all.   Anything my kids (7 Yrs & 10 Yrs) didn't think they could ride, they got off their bikes and walked.   Both our kids love this trail.  It is full of huge lizards, great views, and slick rock. The trails is a 1.8 mile loop. 

Tips and Tricks

• Take a treat to eat on the slick rock.
• The trail is crazy in the first section, take your time.
• Have the kids walk if they need to, don't make them ride any part of the trail.
• If you don't want to bike it, you can hike it.
• Take plenty of water.
• This trail is warm in April, I wouldn't do it with kids in the summer months.
• Stop and play on the slick rock hill 1/2 through. 
• Make a plan to go to lunch or dinner after your ride.  Someplace the kids love

 Exit on the Washington Parkway, and you will come to a round about with a Mavrick on the south side. 

 Take the third exit on the round about, the one that heads North, and looks like a dead end.  You are at the trail head.

 Just west of that parking area is the trail head.  Hikers and bikers use this trail all year round.

 You pass under TWO tunnels that go under I-15

 The trail goes under the freeway, is almost always covered in water, and a green slime that is very slippery!  Be very careful riding over this green stuff!!!

The trail then heads up a nice pavement incline, and through some steep switch back.  This is the biggest incline of the whole trail.

 You will come to several "Step Over" gate, and a map of the trail.

 Make sure you take a look at the map so you know specifically where you are going.

 The trail heads up a nice dirt road. The views from here are amazing! 

 There are several slick rock areas along the trail.  We love to get up on this one and bike around while our kids catch lizards.

 The wind is always blowing on top of this slick rock bluff, I decided to bring a kite! I had fun flying it, but the kids were more interested in stuffing rocks in their pockets and chasing lizards.  More time for me!

You can either fly a kite, or test your biking skills on the steep slick rock. 

 The next part of the trail is a quick steep up hill, and then a steep down hill. At the bottom you hit sand.

 The trail spits into a "Y" where you go right and stay in the sand and go back under the bridge and back to the cars. OR you can go left and there is more slick rock and the start of Church Rocks Trail.  You actually are at the end of the Chruch Rocks out and back trail.

 Most of Church Rocks is fun and technical slick rock.

When you get to the bottom of the canyon there is a tunnel that goes under the freeway.

The tunnel is so fun, and the highlight of the trip!!! It is dark, and can be scary.  Just go slow and take your time.  Keep your eyes focused on the light at the end.

Once you get through, make your way south on the dirt road back to your car!

Enjoy!!!

Utah's Wasatch Crest, is it for kids?

The Wasatch Crest Trail is one of the most beautiful trails in Utah.  It is a 12.5 mile trail that runs the distance between Big Cottonwood Canyon and Mill Creek Canyon. Along the trail you can view Park City, as well as several lakes and peaks on the Salt Lake Valley side.  This is a popular and well-travelled trail.  If you plan to ride in the early summer you will want to call local bike shops to see if anyone has ridden the trail yet.  You want to make sure it is open and ride able.  If snow fields are still covering the trail, you might want to consider waiting a few more weeks to ride.
The Crest trail is filled with many fun trail sections as well as challenges even for the most avid mountain biker.  Although this is an amazing trail it is not a trail you could take just any kid on.  The youngest kid I have seen on the trail was 10 years old.  He was in excellent shape, and had some obvious biking skills.  This trail is for bikers with lots of experience and has the ability to pace them. A good age range would be around 12 years old, with at least a one year of true mountain biking experience.(dirt roads don't count!)   The shortest time I have ridden this trail in about 1 1/2 hours, but that was really cranking on the uphill as well as down.  The average time our group has taken is about 2 1/2- 3 hours.  That time line gives us the ability to take our time, and wait for everyone to catch up.  The longest time was over five hours.  We had two preteens on bad bikes, and had numerous flats.   With that said your bike should be in good condition with tires that are in good condition.  Even getting a tune up right before the ride would be a great idea.  It would really suck if you got 6 miles in, and your bike broke!

Tips and Suggestions:

•  Remember the Millcreek trail only allows bikers on even numbered days!  A way to remember this and city creeks trail is "It is ODD to ride on the road, EVEN better to ride on dirt."
• Call a bike shop before you ride in the early summer.  You want to make sure the trail is open.
• The Millcreek gate is open from July 1st through Nov 1st.  There are less hikers and dogs when you bike before the gate opens.  The ride down from the end of the Crest to the gate is about 3 miles, all downhill. 
• You can ride down to the bottom of Millcreek, it is about 9 miles.  Add another 2 if you are biking to get your car parked at Dan's on Wasatch. 
• Consider taking the Pipeline trail to the bottom.  It starts about 1.6 miles down from the Crest.  It is an easy 6 mile ride to the bottom of the canyon.  You can always bail if you are too tired: after the series of 4 switch backs there is a "Y" as the trail flattens out.  Take a sharp left, the trail takes you back to the road. 
• Water! Don't forget your water! You will need it especially on warm days.
• Take a camera.
• Take a snack, or Power Bar.
• Wear your gear!  If you want to BOMB the downhill, wear your elbow and knee pads!  There is nothing worse than having an injury and not being able to complete the ride!  (Unless you want a Helli ride!)
• Ride in the morning, then you don't have the sun in your eyes as you descend into Millcreek.
• Use a bell, or a child’s horn to warn hikers that you are coming.
• Take a first aid kit.
• If you do decide take a young biker on this trail, please be patient!  I have seen a dad yelling his sobbing child to "Keep up with the group!"  Take your time and allow for breaks.

The best way to ride the Wasatch Crest trail is to use a shuttle. There is a shuttle that picks bikers up at the carpool parking by Dan's Food on 3961 S. Wasatch Blvd.  The cost is around $15 for you and your bike to be taken to the top of Guardsman’s pass.  If you have a group of friends, you can always meet at Dan’s, and use one vehicle to shuttle your group to the top of Guardsman. After the ride, you will have to go back up to the top of Guardsman to get your vehicle.  The best way is to have a driver that is willing to take you to the top of Guardsman, and drop your car off at Dan’s, or pick you up at the top of Millcreek Canyon.

The Wasatch Crest starts in two different places. 
Lower Wasatch Crest Guardsman Road trail head: Get to Big Cottonwood Canyon (Wasatch Blvd and 72nd South) and drive up past Solitude Resort (about 15 miles). Just before you reach Brighton, the road to Guardsman Pass turns off on your left. At 0.8 miles, you'll see a red metal gate. Exactly one mile later (1.8 miles from the fork in the road), you'll see a dirt road on the left. GPS N 40° 36.817' W 111° 33.532'.  You can park anywhere along the hairpin turn.  Ride down a steep dirt road to a gate, carry your bike over the gate, and you are ready to start the trail. 
Upper Wasatch Crest Guardsman Trail Head:  Travel past the hairpin turn (as stated above) to the top of the road, before it descends into the Park City side. There will be a dirt parking lot on your right side at the very top of the canyon, you can park anywhere.  Just north of the parking lot is a dirt road, which is the start of the trial.  As you start up the dirt road, you will see a single track off to your left, which is the start of the Upper Wasatch Crest Trail. 
The difference between starting on the lower or upper is a little less uphill climbing.  The upper section starts you right at the base of the most intense "Puke Hill" climb.  The climb is properly named for the feeling you get if you make it up the entire mile of the pure uphill climb.    If you start on the lower section, you will have a mile of climbing before you start your "Puke Hill" Climb. 

Once you reach the top of the hill, you can look into Park City, and overlook Solitude and Brighton ski resorts.  This one of the many beautiful over looks you will have during your ride. 

The Wasatch Crest is one of the most beautiful and intense trails in Utah.  If you don't want to ride the almost 13 miles into Millcreek you have another option.  As you continue on the Wasatch Crest you will come to what is called the "Spline."  The Spline is a red jagged rock that most bikers cannot ride.  The lake down below is Dog Lake, and there is a "Y" at the bottom of the trail.   You go right, or up to continue your ride on the Crest.  You can shorten your ride by taking a left turn at the "Y" and riding by Dog Lake.   The Dog Lake trail is rocky and loose as you descend.  You finish your ride by the Meeting of the Glaciers area, or out at the Dog Lake trail head.  Riding the trail this way eliminates the need of a shuttle, but then you miss the pristine dark dirt trail in Millcreek that makes the Wasatch Crest so liked. 

If you ride the full Wasatch Crest trail you will take the Right at the "Y" taking you to the division between Big Cottonwood, and Mill Creek.  When you get to that area you will see the designated sign.  The sign will also tell you "bikers are only allowed on even numbered days."  From this section on are some of most amazing trails in Utah!  You will ride through pines, aspens trees, and streams.  When you reach the lower section of the trail with the dark dirt, smell of pines, and a smooth trail you will know why so many people love this trail!

 As you near the bottom of the Wasatch Crest, be aware that there will be more hikers and dogs.  This trail allows dogs, and some days there are many.  The dogs are required to be on a leash, but many people don't abide by the rule.  You can find yourself flying over your handle bars trying to stop for a dog that is on the trail! 
A series of 3 switch backs is cue that you are almost to the bottom of the trail.   There is another "Y" that you come to at the bottom of the trail, KEEP LEFT.  The right will lead you to a shorter, steeper trail and you end up in the upper parking lot of the top of Millcreek.   Staying left you get a slightly longer, better ride.  Both trails end at about the same spot. 

Zions National Park with children

With over three million visitors a year Zions National Park it is the perfect adventure for any kid. 

Entrance to the park is around $25 per vehicle, unless you have an Eagle Gate Pass.  If you want to walk, bike or motorcycle into the park the fee is $12 per person, children 15 and under are free.  Vehicles must park at the entrance, or at the history museum.  Most of the hikes in the park are fairly easy, with only one or two that are too extreme or long for kids.  Many of the trails are at least partially paved, making hikes easy hike for even little children.

For Park Information and Maps:  http://www.nps.gov/zion/parknews/upload/ZionSpringMG2012.pdf

Best Hikes for Kids:

• Zions Lodge: Emerald pools Trail is a fully paved trail to the first waterfall.  From there the trail has stone steps and sand.  The Hike to the first waterfall is moderately easy, most children will enjoy this hike.  The second pool is on top of the cliff, and is a small pool of water.  Very beautiful, but be warned if your kids have difficulty staying on the trail, you will want to hold their hands as you pass this area.  There isn't any restraining ropes, or barricades to keep kids away from the cliff.   If you continue on to the upper pools, it is a moderate hike with sand the rest of the way.  The upper pool is beautiful and kids will love to dig in the sand and throw rocks. 
• Weeping Rock: Weeping rock hike is a very easy, short hike.  Kids will enjoy that water is flowing over the rock and falling down onto them!  Be aware that the trail and rocks can be slippery.
• Temple of Sinawava: The gateway to the Narrows is an easy, fully paved trail.  Perfect for kids, babies in packs, and strollers.  The kids will love this hike, it is easy and the views are amazing.  Take a jacket, the wind can really blow through this canyon.

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS:


• On the way to Zions there is a cute little shop called "Fort Zions."  It has a nice picnic area for eating, and a petting zoo.  This could be a 1/2 spot to stop and stretch, and let the kids play for a few minutes.  The petting zoo is $2 a person, but is worth it to have the kids have someplace to run around and play. 
• Consider riding down the canyon on bikes!  You can load bikes, and a tag-a-long on the bus, and take them up the canyon. The best areas to ride down the canyon from is The Grotto, or Zions Lodge. The views from a bike are amazing!  You are free to stop and spend time at any spot you like.  Plan to take your time and enjoy the view.  If you ride hard, you can even BEAT the bus down the canyon.
• Take hiking and sandals/water shoes.  You can hike up the Narrows a little higher than the trail if you have sandals.
• Take a snack and treat.  Don't forget water!
• If your kids get easily motion sick, DO NOT RIDE in the second section of the bus.  It sways and bumps and can cause motion sickness in young kids. 
• There are certain hikes, such as Angles Landing, that are not for kids.  Several hikes have huge drop offs, or long hikes.   Consider the skill level of each hiker before you go.
• Make a reward for kids good behavior, or good efforts by visiting the rock shops in town.  They have many items that are around a dollar, and it makes a fun ending to the day.

Green River & Goblin Valley Kid Adventures

Goblin Valley

The little town of Green River is perfectly situated to visit both Moab and Goblin Valley.  It is a 3 hour 10 minute direct drive from Salt Lake City.  Located one hour and 10 minutes from Goblin Valley, the River Terrace Inn is the best place to stay if you are not camping.  Ask for a river view room, which will have views of the river.  The second floor rooms are quieter, and the lower level rooms have easy access to the back garden area and pool.  The Inn also offers a full made to order breakfast including individually cooked eggs of all sorts as well as bacon, sausage, cereals, and juices. 

Goblin Valley is an hour drive from Green River and is the perfect place to take young hikers.  The soft sandstone has eroded into interesting shapes, some people say they resemble goblins. In some spots the rock formations are close together and produce a maze-like playground ideal for family explorations.  There are many spots for kids to play and hide.  Visitors say the park landscape has a surreal appearance.  It has the perfect look for an alien planet. In fact Galaxy Quest was filmed in Goblin Valley. 

Entrance to the park is $7.

You can also camp at Goblin Valley State Park for $16.  Make sure you have everything you need, it is an hour drive to any stores.

Tips and suggestions:

• Pack a lunch and eat at the Goblin Valley terrace
• Take 2 way radios to communicate.
• Kids can easily get lost in the maze of sandstones, make a plan of where to meet.
• EVERY child needs a whistle, teach them to use it if they get lost.  You can also use a code of whistles to have everyone gather at a certain spot.
• Look at the maps and take a hike around the hills and mountain. 
• Take more water than you think you will need.  It can get really hot even in the spring.
• Make a family soundtrack of fun music.  Sign along with the music!!
• Take hiking shoes, AND water/sandals.

Just up the road from Goblin Valley State Park is an amazing slot canyon called Little Wild Horse.  It is a fun hike to do with kids! 

Best Tips and Tricks for Little Wild Horse:

• Go EARLY or go later in the day.  If you go at noon the rock walls get extremely hot.  If it is a warm day, don't expect to hike the whole canyon with kids.
• When you get into the canyon and the trail spits at a "Y", go right to find the slot canyon.  Use this hike as an out and back.  Go into the trail as far as time allows and then come back out.
• Take BOTH hiking and water shoes.  If there is water, sometime you don't have a way to get by the water and you will have to take your shoes off. ICK!
• Water is essential! Take double you think you will need. Both times we have gone we have run out of water.
• If you hike the canyon early plan on taking a lunch. 
• Take a camera, and a waterproof case. We dropped our camera in one of the little ponds.  It could have been prevented if we had had the camera in a plastic bag.
• WATCH THE WEATHER! The slick rock canyon surface can have flash flood very easily.  Be prepared, and don't go if there is a chance of rain.
• The canyon draws you into it with the thought "What is around that corner?"  Make a plan of how long you will hike, and then turn around when that time comes.   We hiked 2 hours into the canyon, then decided we were getting tired. It was a really long hike out with kids. Both Curt and I had to carry kids on our backs with zero water.  It could have been a really bad experience!
• There are many dogs on the trail, warn kids that there might be dogs and how to handle them.
• Keep cold ICE water in the car to come back to.  After a long dry hike it is so nice to come back to a nice cold drink.