HARDWARE RANCH

My friend Rachel called me up this morning to join her on a spontaneous trip to Hardware Ranch.

 When you reach the area in Hyrum, UT, you can go to the visitor's center for a great view from inside with the all glass front room and magnifying viewer.

 Tickets are for sale for a wagon ride to check out the Rocky Mountain Elk in the area. The elk come to this part of Utah in the winter when the snow pushes them to lower ground. They are migrating in search of food.

This Wildlife Area grows it's own grass hay each summer to feed these animals.

 Tickets for the wagon rides are priced at $5 for adults and $3 for children over the age of three.

You ride out in between these animals. They don't budge much when the wagons go by them. 

 This area estimates that 500-600 elk come into this area each year. 

This experience is super cool for those who love wildlife and the outdoors.

 You don't have to ride the wagon, but I would recommend it.

 Check their website for visiting days and hours and how to plan your trip.

VISIT THE #LLPA AQUARIUM THIS SUMMER #AquariumSummer

I was able to go the amazing Loveland Living Planet Aquarium here in Sandy, UT, with the fam this week as part of the Mom It Forward Influencer Network. This means I received a family pass for 6 to check out the new attractions. You might be thinking a visit doesn't fit in your budget this month, BUT the aquarium has $5 off for Family Night every Monday, where guests can get $5 off regular admission prices after 4:00 p.m. The aquarium is open until 8:00 p.m. so you will have plenty of time during your visit.

There was so much to see!

There are hands-on exhibits for children that help you have fun and learn at the same time.

We were entertained for the longest time trying to spot different colored frogs,

touching sting rays and tiger sharks in the ponds,

watching the penguins waddle and dive, 

walking through the tunnel with sharks,

and enjoying the fish swim in a natural habitat.

As I have mentioned, the aquarium has so much more to offer besides just fish and sea life. In the new Expedition: Asia area, there is a leopard!

The aquarium has party rooms and you can host events or company parties in their banquet rooms.

Guests can participate in animal feeds, meet 'n greets, and story time. Those events are listed on their calendar page at thelivingplanet.com/calendar and are free when you visit.

There is always something exciting happening at the aquarium.
Get ready because in July, they will be celebrating Shark Week.

Visit the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium this summer, and you’ll see and experience the following:

ecosystems, South America, Expedition: Asia, the deep sea, the South Pole, the ocean, and so much more. That's right, you can experience different ecosystems from around the world without even leaving Utah. Say hello to your best ever staycation!

Find out more information about the Living Planet Aquarium by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

#LLPA #AquariumSummer

VISIT GARDNER VILLAGE #GardnerVillage

I was invited to #gvpartyontheplaza event hosted by Gardner Village in West Jordan, Utah. I have been to Gardner Village once before at halloween time for WitchFest to run a 5k and it was so fun.

There is a new Mill Plaza around the historic Gardner Mill that just opened and is a great venue for your future parties/events. It is a beautiful area with charming brick walkways and great views. There are other venues (Archibald's Restaurant, the Gathering Place, and the Naborhood Bakery & Cafe) that are equally as fabulous. 

 The restaurant and bakery has delicious catering that I was able to get just a hint of that night. 

Everything tasted so wonderful...I wish they would cater my dinner every night.

If you like shopping, you will enjoy the many locally-owned shops available at Gardner Village.

 The wishing bridge is probably my favorite find of the night. The shop next to the bridge has ribbons that you can get to tie on as you make a wish.

 Right now, the Woodland Fairies are part of a scavenger hunt around the village. 

It is reported that the fairies will come around and take your ribbon wish and grant it.

Then don't forget to get your fairy wings!

#gvfairywings

There are so many cute backgrounds for fantastic photo opportunities all around the village.

One final surprise, there is a petting zoo there that will allow you to bottle feed the animals and pet them. Can this place get any cuter?!

So grab your family, friends, date, or go for a night out alone and visit Gardner Village.

SUP UTAH LAKE PADDLE BOARDING

I had the opportunity to go to Utah Lake today to try to paddle board for my first time.

There is shop right on the lake where you can rent boards if you don't have access to one.

I climbed on and had no trouble with balance and paddling. It was quite easy.

My friend Jake and his dog Gunner were with me on another board. They were first timers too.

It wasn't sunny that day, but the weather wasn't bad.

We all had fun swimming and paddling. Then the weather changed. I could tell even Gunner dog was a little nervous.

It started to rain and got pretty windy. We started to get waves and paddling became a little harder. I remember the guy at the rental place told me to paddle 3 times on each side or else you will paddle in a circle. I started doing circles. A boat full wakeboarders saw the waves and slowly drove up to Jake to ask if we wanted them to throw a board out for us to help take us in. He declined. I would've taken it because I worried I was going to keep getting pushed out farther and have to start a life at sea as a mermaid. Thankfully, the waves calmed down, I said a little prayer, and we made it back to the dock. 

The weakest links needed a nap afterwards.

Paddle boarding is fun...on a clear, sunny day.

Get out on the lake and give it a try.

TULIP FESTIVAL at Thanksgiving Point

I love flowers. In Spring, I love to see tulips.

 Tha Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point (in Lehi, Utah) hold an annual Tulip Festival with 55 acres of gardens of beautifully colored flowers.

Tulips are planted in fun displays like around a carousel,

by fountains,

and in a rainbow of colorful displays.

There is also a gift shop and tulips available for sale.

This is an annual event you won't want to miss. Don't forget to visit later in the year to see the roses bloom after the tulips are gone.

UTAH HOT SPRINGS

Utah has so many cool hikes and places to discover. So I decided to get and out discover more.

It was time to visit some of the hot springs that are close by.

 The first stop was a 2.5 mile hike up to Fifth water hot springs. It is located up Diamond Fork canyon near Spanish Fork. There is a fabulous waterfall that greets you as you reach the pools. The pool closest to the waterfall is the warmest and they get cooler the farther you go from them.

There is a parking lot at the bottom and the trail was pretty busy that day. The pools are big enough that groups of people can wade in them at the same time.

 The next spring is Baker Hot Springs in Delta, UT. This one has 3 tubs that are large enough to accommodate several people at once. When we arrived, there was a skinny dipper already in the tub...a risk you take at the hot springs.

 Just like the other other Spring, the tubs have different temperatures and cool as they move farther from the source. The scenery around this one is fabulous.

Meadow Hot Springs was next on the list.

 My friend Rachel and I went with her daughter Claire during Spring Break. It was super crowded and full of people. This spring gets a lot of visitors.

 Meadow has 3 pools to swim in all serrated by short walks. The first one, pictured above, is the deepest and is known to have people dive in it to explore it. This one is the warmest of the three.

 The next pool is a little cooler, but your feet can touch the ground in most places.

I didn't get a picture of the third tub. This one has a cute wooden dock with small fish swimming in the water. It is the coolest of the pools.

 The final hot spring I visited was Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, UT. There is an entry fee of $16 for adults. There are other fees for camping per person and attending concerts that may be held there throughout the year.

 There are crazy buses and teepees as you drive in to the parking lot. There were almost no other people visiting the day we went because of the overcast weather.

As you walk up to the natural springs, the first spot you see is a giant pool with a small waterfall that can hold a large number of visitors at one time.

As you walk up the hill, there are individual bath tubs you can soak in. 

Like I said, we were the only visitors, so we had our own individual tubs, but you can fit more than one person in a tub.

 You'll spot 3 right away and if you walk to the right, you can find two more that placed right in the rocks.

These springs are so fun and worth the entry fee, in my opinion.