Biking Big Springs, Provo

Big Springs Mountain Biking- Provo Utah

Mountain biking has always been a very big hobby of mine.  This past summer I was able to bike up South Fork Canyon in Provo Canyon and bike the beautiful Big Springs Trail (Go to South Fork Rd).  We started biking at the Big Springs Trailhead.  

This part of the bike ride is almost all uphill and can be very strenuous.  However, the downhill and the scenery that you will encounter will be well worth the strain.  I ride a Kona Coiler Delux bike.  It isn’t the lightest bike, but it gets the job done.

As you weave your way over a few small streams and cross some man-made wooden bridges, you will see some incredible open fields and thick foliage.  If you go during the fall time, you will be amazed by the color and magnificence of the leaves.

After biking for about 25 mins, you’ll come to a gravel road where you can either follow the road, or continue the trail.  They will both take you to the Big Springs base camp where you’ll find a small water fountain, streams and an open field to rest.  This is where you only have about 15 more minutes of uphill and then you get to experience the wind in your face from the downhill thrill. 

Once you get to the field, you can either turn around and go back down the way you came, or continue on the trail.  The trail is hard to find, but just look to the stream and you’ll see a crossing.  Follow that trail.  If you stay on that path, you will end up riding down some switchbacks and get to a gravel road and then a paved road.  After continuing down the road, you will come to realize you are at the park where you started.  It is one spectacular biking loop!

I have included some biking pictures to show you how beautiful it is.  Make sure to try it out!

If you're up for more outdoors, check out this link to Silver Lake!
Silver Lake

Moochie's Meatballs and More

Moochie's
One of my favorite places to eat in the Salt Lake area is Moochie's.  The place in known for their authentic Philly Cheesesteak and their handmade meatballs.  The owner, Joanna Rendi is a Philadelphia native, so you can trust the authenticity of their sandwiches.  The place is located at 233 E 800 S in Salt Lake City.  The restaurant itself is in an older neighborhood on the south side of Salt Lake.  There is plenty of seating inside and also outside when the weather is good.

The Cheesesteak
My favorite thing to get at Moochie's is of course the cheesesteak.  The sandwich is made from sliced rib-eye steak and topped with grilled onions and melted American cheese.  All of this comes on a very fresh bun and optional condiments.  My favorite thing to add is the jalapeno sauce.  I'm not sure exactly what is in the mixture but it is probably a combination of ranch, jalapeno, and other seasonings. This place is great for any occasion.  If you aren't feeling like cheesesteak they also offer other traditional Italian items such as meatballs and lasagna.  I have never strayed from the cheesesteak, but I am sure the other menu items are just as good

One little addition to the authenticity of this place is that it was featured on Food network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  If that doesn't win you over, I don't know what will.

More great restaurants here http://allthingsutah2012.blogspot.com/2012/09/mountian-west-burrito.html

Silver Lake

October is the perfect time to get off the couch and head outside to enjoy the beautiful fall scenery! One of my favorite places to go to enjoy the vibrant colors is Silver Lake at Solitude Ski Resort. Solitude is located about 15 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon in Sandy. As you pull into Solitude you will start to see signs for the Silver Lake Trailhead on the right side of the road. The best way to soak in all the exquisite fall colors is to take a walk around the boardwalk that surrounds the lake. If you're looking for a more difficult hike, the boardwalk also gives you access to other hikes such as Lake Solitude and Granite Lakes. For those who may have small children or senior citizens with them (or those just wanting a nice and easy stroll), the boardwalk circles the lake and has access to picnic tables and benches along the way. 

Fishing

Silver Lake is also a great place to fish if you have a Utah State fishing license. Every time I have gone, there are always people in canoes or standing on the boardwalk fishing. From those I have talked to, it sounds like the fishing is pretty good up there!

The fall colors won't be around for very much longer, so take some time to enjoy Silver Lake soon!

Halloween Costume Ideas

When the air turns chilly, the leaves start changing colors, and pumpkins start appearing on doorsteps you know it is time to start thinking of Halloween costume ideas. If you are anything like me my creative juices start to flow and I will not settle for a mediocre costume. A ghost, a pumpkin, a  witch, a clown, etc... are too plain to compete with trick-or-treater/party-goers of Utah. Over the past several years I have stretched my imagination to find unique costume ideas every October. The following are a few that I would like to share to start those creative juices flowing for this year. Enjoy.

My recent Halloween Costume ideas-

Above is my interpretation of "Farmville". This was a few years back when the social media game was a big hit. We borrowed the overalls, suspenders and hoe from my father and only had to purchase the $20 cow costume for my son and $3 "Billy Bob teeth" from Wal Mart.

Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head was a hit. My wonderfully talented wife sewed these up from fabric bought at Joann's and each accessory was attached by Velcro so we could rearrange the parts.

Zombies. Easy. And a classic Halloween costume idea. We just took some old clothes, tore holes, applied some read paint and literally ran them over a few times with my car.

Fire and Firefighter. One of my all-time favorites. I bought a full body black suit from china and glued pieces of red/orange/yellow fabric on as fire.

Scuba divers. borrowed my brothers scuba gear. Done.

Mafia. Just dress up nice and have a New England accent. Done.

Basketball hoop and player. Another one of my more creative ideas. $20 worth of supplies at Home Depot and Wal Mart got me Plexiglas, shoulder straps, a net, and a shirt. Wasn't too hard to put together either.

Other Costume Ideas-

The remainder for these Halloween costume ideas are not mine and can not claim the creativity of them but I thought I would give you a few more ideas to help those creative juices start to flow.
Woody and Jesse from Toy Story 2.
Dwight and Angela from the Office.
Salt and Pepper.
Old people.
Chickens.
Jesse James and Kim Kardashian
Tourists.
Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh my!
Assassin's Creed.
Music Box Monkey.
Nurses.
Red Bull Junkies.
Charlotte's Web.
Cowboy, Shark, and Skunk.

If you need a few more Halloween Costume Ideas click on this next post and watch the video closely for some unique ideas. http://allthingsutah2012.blogspot.com/2012/10/alpine-bike-jump.html

Alpine Bike Jump

History

In the city of Alpine Utah at the base of Lone Peak there is a huge dirt ramp that leads to a pond.  A few years back some kids that lived in Alpine decided to build the dirt ramp and started taking bikes up to this remote location . There is a hill right next to the pond that provides the perfect amount of speed to hit the jump.  This location/past-time is known as the Alpine Bike Jump.  Since the jump was created, it has been featured in dozens of YouTube videos and is a popular attraction in Alpine, Utah

Here is a video of the jump courtesy of Devinsupertramp

Personal Experience

I have been up to the Alpine bike jump a few times since I have been a student at BYU.  The first time, I went with the guys that had originally built the jump when they are in high school.  They told me all about the many bikes that had been lost in the pond and that they started putting noodles and other inflatable devices around the frame so the bike would float.  They also started taking the chain and brakes off of the bike after an unfortunate accident with someone losing their small toe.  The first time I went up the hill to try the jump I was extremely scared.  Since there weren't any brakes, I knew that once I committed to going down the hill, I had to give it 100%.  I finally mustered up enough courage and went for it.  It was very exciting as I flew 30-40 ft through the air.  From then on, I was hooked and went as many times that day trying different tricks.  I would recommend this to anybody in Utah that is looking for some adrenaline and excitement.

A little trip for sushi after the bike jump?  Of course!!
http://allthingsutah2012.blogspot.com/2012/09/demae-japanese-restaurant.html

The CrossFit prescription- just what the doctor ordered?

Remember when you played team sports in school or on community teams? Remember the competition and enjoyment that you got out of participating with others towards common goals; victory, team work, progress, etc.? For many of us we don't have discretionary time to join a community team so it is hard to find that same sense of competition and enjoyment while working out at the gym or running. So is there a prescription to this problem? Yes, the doctor says... CrossFit.

CrossFit workout

CrossFit workout is a strength and conditioning program that many police academies, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and many professional athletes use worldwide. It delivers a fitness that is designed to be broad, general, and inclusive. "constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement"is how trainers describe the Crossfit workout.  It is not a specialty workout like running, swimming, biking, or bench press. It purposefully prepares you to complete functional tasks that you find in the everyday world like moving large loads over long distances and doing so quickly. But dint be deterred or intimidated by all these intense professionals that use the program because it's scalability makes it a perfect application for everyone regardless of your experience.

CrossFit Culture

CrossFit is just what the doctor orders because it combines the benefits of a team sport, competitiveness and community without the intense time commitment involved in being on a team. Speaking of CrossFit Culture Greg Glassman of CrossFit.com describes it best, "We’ve learned that harnessing the natural camaraderie, competition, and fun of sport or game yields an intensity that cannot be matched by other means." This is accomplished by having daily prescribed workouts that fellow crossfiters complete at the same time in a competitive environment. 

So if you are finding it hard to motivate yourself to go to Gold's Gym everyday and lift the same weights on the same 5-6 machines or are tired of running 10 miles by yourself in an effort to stay in shape then a CrossFit workout might just be a breath of fresh air. Try it out.


P.S. After your intense workout you are going to need some healthy protein to replace the muscles you have just damaged. Check out this next post for a great local sushi recommendation. http://allthingsutah2012.blogspot.com/2012/09/demae-japanese-restaurant.html

Halloween Full Moon Lift Ride at Sundance

Looking for wholesome Halloween activities?

  Are you looking for Halloween activities that are fun for children of all ages? The Halloween full moon lift ride at Sundance resort is perfect for families who want to enjoy the holiday, without having to fight the crowds at haunted houses and corn mazes. Sundance resort will open its lift from October 24-31 from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. The lift takes guests on a ride over the beautiful fall leaves and Halloween-themed scenes of the resort under the light of a full moon. When is the full moon this year you ask? It falls on October 29th.

 This is be a great Halloween activity for all ages. My husband and I have done the full moon lift rides they have in the summer and have loved them! I was surprised by how many families with small children were there. The kids seemed to LOVE it! We also loved walking around the resort after the ride was over. There are walking trails near the base of the lift that have beautiful streams and waterfalls. We loved the experience so much that my husband decided to propose to me there last summer!

Suggestions

If you are planning on going up to Sundance resort for the Halloween full moon lift ride, I would suggest bringing the following items to make the most our of your night:
         - A camera. You won't want to miss the opportunity to take pictures of the kids in their costumes with the beautiful scenery of Sundance in the background!
           
         - Warm clothing! Even in the summer, it was cold enough to where we had to wear jackets. In late October, the temperatures are likely to reach the low 30's. Be sure to add some extra layers under you kids' costumes so they can enjoy the night!
         
        - Cash. There is a snack table at the bottom of the lift with hot chocolate, cookies and other snacks. 

            - A clever Halloween costume. This is a must if you want to make the most of the evening!

Check out the Sundance website for more information and ticket information!

BYU Women's Soccer

BYU Women’s Soccer
BYU Campus - South Field

If you haven’t been to a BYU Women’s Soccer game, you are missing out.  If you are looking for exciting things to do, then you'll be happy to know that the women’s team has the largest following of soccer fans in the nation.  They get more fans at their games than any other women’s soccer team in the U.S.   Their season is during the fall and the games are a great date idea.  Go with the family, or just hang out with some friends at the game.  This year (2012) the women’s team is currently ranked #2 in the NCAA!  They have an amazing record of 11-1-0 (Win-Loss-Tie). One of the reasons that I am so knowledgeable about the team is because my wife plays defense for the cougars.  I have been able to go watch many of their games and have found it to be incredibly fun.  The USA is the one country where soccer isn’t the popular sport.  It is, however, picking up traction and it’s because of teams like BYU’s Women’s Soccer team.

The entertainment at these games can get pretty intense with all the headers, and the high scoring players on the team.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a soccer team score more than 4 goals.  Well, the Cougars did it this year against Cal Poly.  The Cougars have only had one game this year where they haven’t scored (against Utah).

Again, if you are looking for something fun to do during the week, try attending one of the Cougars Women’s Soccer games.  The price of a ticket is usually not more than $4 and many times they have specials.  I like to buy my ticket in advance and have a reserved seat; many of their games sell out.  Also, there isn’t really a bad seat in the house.  However, I suggest not sitting on the first row.  People will be walking in front of you the entire game. 

The games are located on BYU’s campus on South Field.  

You can find all their information here at their website:

http://byucougars.com/home/w-soccer

Here is their schedule so you can find the right date to attend a game!

http://byucougars.com/schedule/w-soccer

For something else to do while in Provo (if you like the outdoors) Check out: Silver Lake Experience

Demae Japanese Restaurant - Sushi

Demae Japanese Restaurant

82 West Center Street Provo, UT

(801) 374-0306 

What an incredible Japanese Restaurant.  My wife and I decided to try Demae this week, and we will most definitely be going back.  My wife was feeling like sushi one night after class at BYU and she came up with the idea to go try Demae.  We like try to eat healthy so we decided sushi was a good choice.  When we arrived at the restaurant on Center Street in Provo, there was the perfect parking spot directly in front of the restaurant. 

We walked in and were immediately welcomed and the service was amazing.  We found out that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, all of their sushi rolls are only $4!!  We were so excited.  We decided to get 4 rolls, miso soup, and a salad after sitting down in the authentically decorated restaurant.  The servers were very kind and personable.

I am the kind of person who likes to have quick service and get in and out.  This place was perfect for that.  They keep my water glass full at all times, and our food came in a flash.  The sushi and all of the food was terrific.  Even though my wife and I were full, we thought about ordering more to take home!

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience eating at Demae and will be going there regularly.  It is hard to find a place that has a great price and great food. The total check was only $24!! Not bad for a night out for sushi. 

Mountian West Burrito

Today I want to talk about my favorite place to eat in the Provo area.  It is a little place called Mountain West Burrito.  The restaurant is located in a section of an old gas station on State Street in Provo.  This place is awesome!  There has been a need for fresh cheap Mexican in the Provo area for years.  I emphasize fresh.  Mt. West gets all their organic ingredients from farms that are locally owned and operated.  This makes the chicken, beef, rice, beans etc very fresh.

Menu
The menu ranges from burritos to quesadillas to salads that are made of either chicken, steak, carnitas, or roasted veggies.  For an extra dollar you can get sour cream and guacamole added to your item.  My favorite is the steak burrito but the chicken quesadilla is a close second.

History

Mt West Burrito was started by a local entrepreneur who could always be seen running his shop from open till close.  He did this for about a year until he was approached by the company that owns Pizzeria 712 and Communal here in Provo.  They purchased his business for a significant amount and the owner moved on to start his next venture.  Even though Mt. West was bought out, the menu stayed the same and the freshness of the food was not compromised.

If anybody is looking for amazing, quick, and fresh Mexican food, Mt. West Burrito is the place.


The company that owns this restaurant owns others in the area.  Check it out here :
http://allthingsutah2012.blogspot.com/2012/09/pizzeria-712.html