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Travel

The Ultimate Park City Travel Guide

Hi, everyone, I’m back and if you read my last blog post you might remember my trip to Park City, Utah, I mentioned to you all in my 2020 Planning Blog. My very first trip of 2020, and my first time skiing this season. Park City did not disappoint. It truly felt like a winter wonderland. It snowed on and off each day but the sun came out for a perfect day on the slopes. If you are looking for a true winter escape, whether you ski/board or not, Park City is definitely a place for you to check out.

+ Getting to Park City-Park City is located about 45 minutes away from Salt Lake City, Utah. If you are flying into Salt Lake there are a few options to get to Park City. There are several shuttles you can book to transport you, they are located in the baggage pick up area and can be arranged ahead of time. You can also take an Uber or Lyft and depending on the time of day will run you anywhere from $40-$60. There are also car rental places and depending on what you plan on doing when you get to Park City this may be a good option for you. When in Park City you can use the city shuttle or trolley for free from one side of Main Street to the other. This is super convenient, especially if you make into town and don’t get back to the lifts before they close.

+Things to do in Park City- If you are thinking about visiting Park City, like most people you are probably looking to hit the slopes, but if skiing/boarding is not for you there are many other things to do and enjoy in the town itself.

+Skiing/Boarding– If you are looking into hitting the mountain you can purchase your lift ticket in advance at Park City Mountain for a cheaper price than on the mountain. Park City Resort is a large mountain and regardless of your level of expertise there are runs for everyone. Being the largest ski resort in the US if you want to ski/board the entire mountain you will need more than one day to really be able to hit all sides of the mountain. It is definitely beautiful and most certainly worth it. There are also several places to rent equipment if you will not be taking your own. We opted to use a ski valet company. They get your information before hand and then literally take and pick up the equipment for you. It was so easy I highly recommend using this service if you will be in need of renting equipment and if you do not have a vehicle during your stay.

+Thinking to do in town- Park City is a such a cute, trendy town. There is plenty to see and do in town without skiing/boarding. Downtown Park City has both local and commercial shops and many places to eat and drink. If you like shopping there is plenty of it downtown. If you are more of a foodie, make sure to check out the High West Distillery and Saloon, you can even ski in and ski out if you are on slopes for the day. You can also search for original Banksy artwork, which isn’t very hard to find, right off Main Street, if you are interested. One thing I was not able to do but will definitely check it out next time is Olympic Park. I hear it is super cool.

+Where to stay in Park City- Park City like any ski resort city has major hotels located relatively close to the ski resort. There are also many Airbnb options, some closer than others to the resort. During our stay we wanted to be as close to the mountain as possible to be able to walk over to the resort and hit the slopes. Park City Silver Star Retreat is a lodging resort with the ski mountain as it’s back yard. Our condo was beautiful and was just a 2-3 minute walk to the nearest ski lift. It was awesome!

Park City was such a surprise and a beautiful town, I really would like to go back again. I loved all the snow and vibe of the town. If you are considering a ski trip or just going for fun you will not be disappointed. I can only imagine how beautiful it is during the spring and summer. Add Park City to your list of ski towns to visit!!

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Travel

Coachella Survival Guide

It’s Coachella season and I’m here to share my survival guide with you all to help prepare you for your festival weekend!

+Buying Tickets- You have several options for purchasing your Coachella tickets. You can check the http://www.coachella.com website for a countdown for ticket sales. Set up an account ahead of time so the day tickets go on sale you have everything set up and ready to go.

  • Pre-Sale Tickets– Pre-sale tickets usually go on sale in June of the year before. This takes some serious planning and commitment in knowing you will be attending the festival the following year, without knowing the line up before hand in most cases. You will however, get the best price for your festival ticket if you are able to score it during pre-sale.
  • General Ticket Sales- Ticket sales to the public usually happen in December. Tickets cost more during this sale, and there are fewer tickets for sale at this time. You will, however, know the line up for the festival! If this ticket sale is for you, use your countdown timer, and be online to buy tickets the minute they go on sale. I’m not kidding! The festival will sell out quickly and if you aren’t ready you won’t get tickets. You might also have to buy tickets for weekend 2, rather than weekend 1, usually the first weekend sells out most quickly.
  • Re-Sale Tickets– If you were not able to score tickets during the pre-sale or general sale event buying re-sale tickets may be an option for you. This option is definitely more risky, but it is completely possible. Do your homework, use social media sites you trust and make sure your tickets are legit before you buy them and it not a scam.
    My best advice is if it feels too good to be true, it probably is. You might pay more for tickets than face value and you might also be able to buy tickets for one or two days. It all depends on what is available at the time.

+Where To Stay- Once you have your tickets you need to start working out where you are going to stay. This is not something you can put off. Hotels and Airbnb’s book quickly, so the sooner you can book a place the better off you will be.

  • Hotels– There are many hotels in and around the Indio Valley available for the festival. Make sure to check if they have a shuttle from the hotel to the festival. You may have to purchase a shuttle pass to access this option.
  • Airbnb– Lots of Airbnb homes are available in the Valley and up to an hour out of town to rent during the festival. Depending on what size of accommodations you need, how early you book, and how much your willing to pay, your options will become more limited the longer you wait. Book early, you’ll thank yourself later.
  • Camping– Unlike other festivals, Coachella, offers the option of camping on the premises, in a designated area of course. You do have to rent a camping space ahead of time. There are bathrooms and showers available and all the rules regarding camping can be found on the Coachella website.

+Organizing Coachella Days- An important park of any festival is figuring out what bands you want to see, what stage they are preforming on and what time they perform.

  • Download the Coachella App to use before and during the festival. This will give you the dates, times and stage of each performance and will help you plan your days. This will also help when you have time after a performance to see what other performances are going on around the park.
  • Take a tour around the park when you get there to become familiar with the grounds. This will help you navigate the park between performances, knowing where each stage is and how much time you will need to get there.
  • Plan out your days based on the performances you want to see. Festival doors open at noon and the festival last till about 1am-2am, each day. Some concert goers are at the festival from the moment the doors open until the day is over. I’m not one of those people. I look and see what time the performances I want to see begin and I get to the festival a little before. Some days that is later in the day, but I don’t care to be in the hot sun if I don’t have to. With that said, I will say, some of the best performance I’ve seen are random acts I’ve seen waiting for a performer I’ve been looking for. So you will definitely catch new, awesome performances no matter what time you arrive.
  • Have a “home base.” This is one of the first things we always do when attending a music festival. Find a spot to meet in case you get separated from your group. We all have the intention of staying together but sometimes things happen and you can’t find your group. Cell phone service is spotty during the festival and you might not be able to call out and having a arranged place to meet with help you find your peeps.

+What To Wear-

  • Shoes-I cannot stress enough how important it is to pack closed toed shoes, boots or sneakers. I know, I know, so many people plan their perfect outfit, and want their shoes to match, but reality is, you’re are going to be walking, a lot! The grounds mostly consist of dirt and some small areas of grass, but for the most part you are walking in the dirt all day. Closed toed shoes help so much. Your feet will literally be covered in dirt at the end of each day. Not to mention not having to worry about getting your toes stepped on during packed performances, and trust me it happens.
  • Blanket– I highly recommend taking a blanket with you to the festival. The days get long and often times you are waiting for the next performance to start and having a blanket to throw on the ground to sit on comes in handy. Yes, lots of people sit or lay on the ground but having a blanket helps to not be covered in dirt by the end of the day. You can also use it to keep warm during the evening when the sun is down if you need.
  • Backpack-Taking a small back pack to carry your blanket, jacket, sunscreen and other necessities comes in handy during the festival. It is so much easier than lugging everything around in your arms and when you need something you have what you need.
  • Light jacket- Yes, the festival starts in the heat of the day, but by midnight it can get chilly. Pack a light jacket, sweater, hoodie, whatever will come in handy when the sun goes down and the desert wind starts to blow, you’ll be happy you did.
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Travel

Weekend in San Francisco- Travel Guide

Hi, everyone! I’m back!! February turned into a crazy month and I just couldn’t find the time to get everything I needed to done. After a few weeks of getting everything together, I am back on track, and planning some exciting, upcoming travel for the year. I’m so excited to share with you all a little bit of my time in San Francisco! This is one city I had wanted to travel to for a while and was so happy I was able to make a girls weekend out of it and explore the City by the Bay.

+ Golden Gate Bridge- I’ll start off with the biggest attraction in San Francisco, The Golden Gate Bridge. You certainly will not be disappointed when checking out this incredible structure on the bay. There are several different ways to view the bridge. There are several parks around the bridge you can walk, bike, drive to, and will get a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. You can also, drive, walk or bike across. We opted for biking across the bridge. Let’s just say, this wasn’t a part of the plan, and we didn’t realize until after biking across the bridge, you either have to bike back to the bicycle shop or bike all the way to Sausalito Island and ride the ferry back!! Although, we thought it was crazy, biking to Sausalito was so worth it. It is such a cute area, with lots of shops and restaurants to explore. A complete change and feel from the city itself. We got a bite to eat and caught the last ferry of the evening back into town, with a peaceful ride on the bay, a glimpse of Alcatraz and back into the city.

+Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39-Another area to explore when visiting San Francisco is Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. Located on the bay, you can walk along the board walk, check out shops, restaurants, and the home of the world famous, Ghiradelli Chocolate. Not to mention, some great seafood, and a great location to sit and enjoy your meal by the water.

+China Town-China Town in San Francisco is also worth checking out and very popular in San Francisco. We were able to make our way over, walking, after some shopping at Union Square. You can easily walk the area in a short amount of time. There are many shops to buy trinkets, fresh groceries if you are staying in an Airbnb, or just enjoy the lively atmosphere .

+Painted Ladies & Lombard Street- One of the best things you can do in San Francisco is get lost walking around or riding cable cars. Pin point places you would like to see such as the famous Painted Ladies and Lombard Street. Along the way you will run into lots of great parks, places to eat, great views of the city and some awesome street art and murals. Trust me, there is not shortage of things to do in San Francisco and even 3 days may not be enough time to see everything this city has to offer, but if you plan it well you can cross everything I mentioned off your list.

Safe travels, everyone, and I’ll be back on the blog soon!!

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Travel

Traveling Mesa Verde National Park

One of my favorite neighboring states to visit for a quick weekend or road trip has to be Colorado. I’ve explored Colorado from North to South, and there are so many beautiful cities, big and small, I will have to share with you all over the next few months. One of my favorite places to visit when I’m craving a weekend away is Southwestern Colorado, about a 3 hour drive from Albuquerque. Durango, Pagosa Springs, Telluride, Ouray are all some of my favorite places to visit in the Southwestern area. Quaint towns, filled with tons of natural beauty, outdoor activities, food, shopping and events. You name it, you can find it anywhere in Colorado!

Mesa Verde National Park is located in Montezuma County, Colorado. Just between Durango and Cortez, Colorado. I, myself, had never heard of Mesa Verde until I spent an extended time visiting and exploring the area. Ever since the park has been placed on my recommendation list for anyone visiting the area. The park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Pueblo archaeological sites in the United States. The cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park, suspected to have begun construction at the end of the 12th century, are reported to be one of the largest protected areas in the United States, home to over 600 cliff dwellings. Trust me, it is an amazing site to see in real life and if you are in the area, is a place you definitely should visit.

There are several options for exploring the park. You can begin by stopping by the visitors center, where you can purchase tickets, usually running $15-$20, grab a map to take along with you, speak with park rangers and park employees, and explore artifacts located at the the center. To best explore the park you can decide what option is best for you and your group. You can purchase a guided tour or just drive around to different looking points off the map and explore on your own, which is what I prefer. There are also park employees at most of the dwelling locations to answer questions and give you more information about the site.

The cliff dwellings are amazing!! With different view points marked off, you can park and easily hike to the nearest cliff dwelling. Along the way you will get a glimpse of some of Colorado’s stunning views. It is a great experience. If you love history, national parks, the outdoors or just adventures in general, this is an adventure for you!

For more information about Mesa Verde National Park please visit the following website: https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

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Travel

Sandia Peak Tram, Albuquerque, NM

There are so many things to do up and around Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico, many of which involve getting outside and admiring the beauty of the state of New Mexico. If you are visiting Albuquerque, road tripping through New Mexico, spending a weekend at the Balloon Fiesta, new to the area, or are just in town to experience what Albuquerque has to offer, the Sandia Tram is a must do in the city!

Sandia Peak Tram

Located at the feet of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, the tram runs year round and is the longest tram in the United States and the third longest in the world. Ascending from 3,000 ft. to just over 10,000 feet, the tram provides the most spectacular areal view not only of the city of Albuquerque but the gorgeous Sandia Mountains. With a quick 15 minute ascent you can enjoy the view, explore the mountain trails up above, eat  at the High Finance restaurant, reopening in Spring of 2019.

During the winter months the Sandia Tram Ski Basin is open for skiing and snowboarding. If you own your equipment, you can purchase a lift ticket, take your equipment with you, ride the tram up and ski/snow board down. If you do not, you will need a vehicle to drive around the mountain, through the town of Edgewood, up to the Sandia Tram area. There are also several hiking trails, such as the La Luz Trail, which I will be writing about a little later, you can hike from the base of the Sandia Mountains to the top and ride the tram back down. Along with hiking trails there are many mountain bike trails open during the spring and summer months. You cannot take you bike and equipment on the tram so you will have to have a vehicle to access the mountain bike trails. 

However you choose to experience this amazing site in the Albuquerque area, riding, biking, hiking or skiing, it will be worth your time and an experience you will not forget. 

For more ideas about things to do in and around the Albuquerque Area, check out my blog posts on https://thecharmingjay.com/2018/11/20/hiking-the-kasha-katuwe-tent-rocks-national-monument-in-new-mexico/ or the https://thecharmingjay.com/2018/09/05/sunrise-springs-resort-and-spa/.

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Travel

Hiking the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico

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As a New Mexico native, I have to admit, I had never made the time to hike Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, until recently. I know, it is almost embarrassing, but I am so glad I made the time to explore my home state and see this beautiful national land mark for myself.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks is located on the Indian reservation of Cochiti Pueblo, and is about an hour northeast from the city of Albuquerque and a 50-minute drive west from the city of Santa Fe. Created 6-7 million years ago from volcanic rock and ash deposits, which with erosion and weathering have created these tent rocks and slot canyons.

The hike up to the mesa, up above the tent rocks is not very difficult and is often busy with hikers, families and kids. Two trails are available to hikers. The Tent Rocks Canyon Trail is slightly longer of the two hikes, a total of 3 miles out-and-back, accompanied with beautiful views along the way. The Cave Loop trail is an easier, flatter mile with similar rocks but with less scenic views.  As the trail progresses, you will make your way through narrow slot canyons, with a final 630-foot ascent up to a mesa, where you are rewarded with panoramic views of Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia mountains, and the Rio Grande Valley. It’s spectacular, truly, a must see in New Mexico.

img_7165Arrive at the park early, as it is visited frequently and you can end up waiting in line to enter the park as cars are leaving and parking. It is also a good idea to arrive early as the park allows entry between 8 am-4 pm, and often begin closing procedures at 3:30 pm daily or based . A bottle of water may be a good idea depending on the season and time of day of your hike. During the summer months temperatures in New Mexico are known to rise well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and you will definitely need water.

For more info on the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks Canyon Trail, visit the official site of the Bureau of Land Management.

If you are looking for more things to enjoy in New Mexico check out Giggling Springs Mineral Water Pools, in Jemez, New Mexico or Sunrise Springs Resort and Spa both very close to tent rocks and doable within a day.