utah

Did you know that the largest plein air painting competition in Utah is held right here in our valley? Painting “en plein air” is really just the French way of saying “in the open air.” With an easel set up right on location, this process allows artists to paint directly in the landscape they are working to capture on their canvas. For fifteen years now artists from all over Utah, and neighboring states, have gathered in our beautiful valley for Wasatch Plein Air Paradise, the signature event put on by the Midway Art…

I love to go out and up. Outside and up in elevation, that is! Our mountains are an invaluable treasure that people, from near and far, flock every season of the year to enjoy. Do you remember Disney’s Humphrey Bear and his ‘boss’, Ranger J. Audubon Woodlore? How about Yogi and Boo Boo, the troublesome bears who constantly went the rounds with Ranger Smith? In my wanderings, much to my children’s dismay, I often sing songs I acquired from the shows of my childhood! My favorite tune to sing when we’re outdoors is the chorus…

My first introduction to the lost town of Keetley came from a story my dad tells about him and his high-school friend, driving along the old stretch of highway 40 that then bridged Park City and Heber, before the dam was constructed in the late 80s. They had a tradition that as they approached Keetley, my dad would kick his 1964 Buick Special into neutral, turn off his engine, and coast down the hill towards Heber; then, as they approached the Keetley town limits, as indicated by a small road sign reading “Keetley,” they…

Mental health is a broad and complex topic. This article is not meant to be comprehensive. Suicide is a sensitive and serious topic. Our deepest love goes out to anyone who is struggling, getting treatment, or has lost someone to suicide. Are You Thinking About Suicide? I know. It’s a very uncomfortable question to ask. However, it is one that has become normal and necessary in our house. Suicide is something I never thought I would have to worry about. When our daughter was admitted into a mental hospital, on three…

“I love to go a-wandering, Along the mountain track, And as I go, I love to sing, My knapsack on my back. The Happy Wanderer - Florenz Friedrich Sigismund As a child I had the incredible opportunity of spending time in Germany. My siblings and I are first generation born in America; both my parents are from Deutschland. One of my favorite activities while visiting my Großeltern (Grandparents) was to go walking and hiking all over. My young imagination ran wild as we traversed hills and mountains to visit castles,…

The lost art of a “staycation” needs to be dusted off and put back into circulation, and this summer is just the time to do it! For most, vacation means experimenting in new parts of the world. It goes beyond discovering but rather immersing ourselves in a pocket of memories carved out in one to two-week increments. The Wasatch Back is incredibly fortunate to be situated within minimal driving distance of everything from a quaint bed and breakfast to a swanky 5-star resort. Throw in some incredible scenery, and what…

I know, I know! Why would we want to revisit 2020 when we are so glad to be over it and pushing ahead for a better 2021? I don’t know about you, but I want my rear-view mirror to have cute little bobbles dangling from it instead of my assortment of face masks. Regardless, 2020 as it pertains to Utah Real Estate is something to marvel at. It’s nothing like we have ever seen. Low available inventory, record home sales, record sold prices, and exponential homebuilding increases. Utah has had the fastest growth rate over…

Once again, it’s that time of year. The remnants of the black snow are melting leaving odds and ends of buried treasures, or bits of trash on the curbs. The birds chirp a little louder in the mornings. And blades of grass are popping up along the fairways. It’s Spring. It’s golf. It’s time. “Golf…is the infallible test. The man who can go into a patch of rough alone, with the knowledge that only God is watching him, and play his ball where it lies, is the man who will serve you faithfully and well”. – P.G.Wodehouse…

A city is most often defined by its Main Street. It’s the calling card. Most likely, anyone driving through Heber City will see Main Street. So, what sort of impression does Heber’s Main Street give? Quaint? Peaceful? Industrial? Busy? Is it a gathering place? Or is it a place people want to get through quickly? Many community members and leaders would love to create a more memorable Main Street. Heber is an amazing place, with a rich and interesting history. The people here are welcoming and thoughtful. The location is…

Utah’s annual skijoring competition was held on Saturday at Soldier Hollow. Skijoring is an event where a skier or snowboarder is pulled by a horse and rider. The group races through a course including jumps, gates, and rings. Skijoring is not a new sport. Reindeer skijoring occurred in the Nordic Games of 1901, and it was used as transportation for hundreds of years before that. Skijoring behind horses made its way to North America in the early 1900’s. Brian Gardner and his friend, Joe Loveridge, had seen the sport in…

Thrive 125 commemorates the 125th anniversary of Utah’s statehood.

In early March 2020, we all received a crash course on COVID, whether we liked it or not. As quarantine, business shutdowns, and required masks became the new norm; it became abundantly clear how reliant we all truly are on each other. Assessing the four necessities of life became front and center: food, water, clothing, and shelter (and apparently toilet paper).

“Variety’s the very spice of life that gives it all its flavor,” said the poet William Cowper.

Gather your kids, friends, and family to discover different cultures and the food they eat. Try out a few new recipes, and prepare them together. Participate in a festivity you've never celebrated before. Eat new foods. Share and create a new tradition!