Provo, UT

Confession. I’d been itching to take this boat ride since last year, when my husband flatly refused. He’s a big guy and was worried about the seaworthiness of the vessel.

At first, I was horrified. I could deal with the promotional facial from Mary Kay, the evening with my roommates, and the finishing touch of a late night movie . . . but as princesses?! During the week, however, the idea grew on me. So seldom do we get a chance to truly dress [...]

Get ready for Halloween fun at Thanksgiving Point! From traditional pumpkin picking to the only-in-Utah David Archuletta corn maze, there are tricks and treats for kids (and adults) of all ages.

Lions and tigers and scares, oh my! Each year, on the Saturday before Halloween, my daughter gets dressed up to go trick-or-treating at Hogle Zoo’s annual Halloween event, Boo at the Zoo. Boo at the Zoo is for kids 12 and younger, and is included in the price of regular zoo admission. Kids can dress up in their favorite costumes and trick-or-treat at booths set up throughout the zoo. They even provide treat bags if you forget your own.

One of my favorite things to do with my daughter is attend weekly story time at Barnes & Noble. I’ve been taking her since she was five months old. I admit that was very young, but I really believe that such early exposure to books has helped foster her interest in learning to read [...]

Attention art lovers: stop whatever you’re doing and head straight to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Simply put, you do not want to miss the Monet to Picasso exhibit currently on loan from the Cleveland Museum of Art. The show only runs until September 21, 2008, so make it a priority!
The UMFA touts [...]

After attending the early morning balloon launch, we headed over to the Wolf Creek Resort, site of the 2008 Ogden Valley Balloon Festival. The festival didn’t start until 9 a.m. so to kill a little time between the launch (which ended by 8 a.m.) and the festival, we ate a picnic breakfast, then drove the short distance to Wolf Creek.

We watched as about 25 colorful envelopes (the uninflated balloons) covered the ground. Soon the propane tanks began hissing and the field exploded with beautiful colors as the balloons inflated. Before you knew it, they were upright, straining against the lead ropes with the same anticipation as the watching crowd. It was a breathtaking sight as the balloons lifted off one by one into the morning sun with the elegance and grace of whales dancing in the ocean. The sky filled with a kaleidoscope of magnificent colors, uplifting music filled the air, and my heart soared with the beauty filling the sky.

If you’re looking for a fun evening activity for the whole family to enjoy, how about a free movie at your local park? Grab your kids, friends, or a date, plus a blanket, chairs, and refreshments, and enjoy a film under the stars.

The Utah Arts Festival is one of my favorite events to attend. It has a cool, edgy vibe while still managing to be family-friendly. The 2008 festival will be held Thursday, June 26 through Sunday, June 29, from noon to 11 p.m. at Library Square in downtown Salt Lake City. The four-day event is one of the largest outdoor festivals in Utah, attracting 80,000 people. It features more than 130 visual artists, 100-plus performing artists, literary and culinary artists. It’s a total feast for the senses.