Highway to Hoeftland

A Road Trip to Zion National Park, Utah, Reveals Stunning Beauty

Kristin, Highway to Hoeftland

February 15, 2015

Driving past the gates into the Zion National Park in Utah had us stunned. Zion, with various rich colors in the soaring, abundant mountains that tower over everything and everyone, a rushing river along the clay colored roads, and the beautiful starry sky above—is truly spectacular. It’s no wonder that this is one of the most visited national parks in the United States.

“Could this even be real, I wondered in awe?”

We had not planned to visit Zion National Park. It was a Saturday, around 11:30am and we were trying to figure out something new to do for fun. We often get ants in our pants, and this weekend was no exception.

Mike turned to me and said, “We haven’t been to Utah yet, why don’t we take a short road trip and see what Zion National Park is like.” I gladly replied, “OK, sounds like a plan!” Therefore, we quickly packed a small bag of overnight items, grabbed our dog Jet, and headed out on our road trip.

A winding road inside Zion National Park -

Sunset at Zion National Park

We arrived just before sunset, as the golden hue from the light of the sun was setting over the park. We paid the twenty-five dollar fee per vehicle to get into the park and drove to the visitor center, parked there, and got out to get oriented and stretch our legs.

Just as we exited the truck, and we could feel the fresh cool February air, packs of deer were crossing near the parking lot. Later, wild turkeys were pecking their way through some vegetation along the road. It became clear that this park has an abundance of wildlife, scenic nature, and enchanting sights unlike any other.

The Dog-Friendly Pa’rus Trail

Jet enjoyed himself too!

Very close to the visitor center, and within walking distance, is an easy and beautiful trail that visitors can take their dogs on. It’s called the Pa’rus trail and it receives very high reviews on sites like tripadvisor. We were not disappointed—what a pleasant trail indeed. We took a leisurely walk together beside a picturesque creek.

However, the sun was setting fast, and so, we decided to leave the park and look for a dog friendly hotel, just outside of Zion. We would return in the morning.

A Pet Friendly Hotel near Zion

We chose to stay at the La Quinta hotel. It is one of the prettiest La Quinta’s I’ve ever stayed at, as it backs up to the mountains, in the small, adorable, and charming resort town of Springdale. We paid a total of $99.00 for one night’s stay, and we didn’t have to pay any extra fee for having a dog along with us. Happily, it also had grass and doggie bag stands for their four-legged fur guests. The rate also came with free hot breakfast and Wi-Fi, so we were pleased with our night at La Quinta. It would also be a nice place to stay for any guest, not just for pet families. There appeared to be many other nice hotels in the area as well.

The Convenient and Cute Resort Town of Springdale, Utah

We had Oscar’s for a delightful dinner and we stopped by a local mart up the street for some local Utah beers. Then we settled in for the night. We were pleasantly surprised to find all of our needs met—food, shelter, groceries, and gas—all literally right outside of the gates of Zion National Park. It is a convenient set-up. What a nice surprise as we didn’t know that such a lovely little town would be right outside of the national park.

Conclusion: Zion is a Worthwhile Place to Visit

The next morning, we headed out for another remarkable drive through the national park. Because we had previously paid to get into the park the evening before, we did not have to pay a second time; the pass lasts for seven days.

Driving through the park in the crisp and beautiful morning, once again, we were in awe. Zion is one of the most majestic national parks we have ever seen. The area feels almost dreamlike. We are glad we got the chance to experience its splendor.

There are so many wonderful hiking areas with trails leading to unique sites; as well as many other activities to enjoy: backpacking, bicycling, birdwatching, camping, canyoning, climbing, horseback riding, ranger-led activities, and river trips. To learn more about Zion, their shuttle schedules, and hours, here is their website.

We look forward to visiting the park again in the near future.

Boulder is Calling: Will We Move There?

Kristin, Highway to Hoeftland

13 comments

February 9, 2015

Boulder, just twenty-eight miles northwest of Denver, Colorado, started appearing on our radar after we noticed the remarkable amount of accolades the city receives year after year. After we began researching Boulder online we got so excited about what we were learning that we started dreaming of moving there. Could Boulder really be that special, we wondered?

Before getting too far ahead of ourselves and putting the for sale sign up in the front yard, Mike and I decided to first spend a weekend exploring Boulder, to see if all the positive chatter is true, and if we could see ourselves living in this attractive town.

At the end of January, we purchased our plane tickets and headed out, our eyes wide, our hearts eager, and our minds filled with curiosity to investigate the area.

Why People Like Boulder – A little Background Information

Mike, taking a break at the Pearl Street Mall.

We’re not the only ones that seem to be falling in love with Boulder. The small, but dense city at the edge of the mountains continues to grow every year in popularity and population. As of 2013, the City of Boulder had about 101,808 residents. It’s also unique for its elevation, as it sits higher than most American cities at 5,430 feet.

Weather wise, Boulder receives tons of sunshine throughout the year, but they also experience short bursts of ‘winter wonderland’ days as well. The climate in Boulder varies enough that you’ll never be bored with the seasons.

One of Boulder’s greatest attributes is its beautifully preserved, classically renovated, and charming buildings. Architecture full of character dominates the style of most of the streets because they care for and keep up the old brick buildings that you will see all over downtown.

A mural in Boulder.

The high level of educational attainment of its residents is also impressive —due to Boulder being a college town that features the University of Colorado Boulder.

What’s most impressive about the city is the outstanding data on the overall greater well-being and healthiness of people who call this area home. Because of these attributes and more, Boulder definitely materializes as an idyllic place.

Our Trip to Boulder and Our Decision About the Move

Old Historic Boulder Theater.

We spent a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday experiencing what Boulder has to offer. We had a joyful and enlightening trip!

However, did we decide to move there, you might be wondering.

Well, we were seriously considering a move there, but after visiting the region, it just didn’t feel like a long-term “home” for us. It might have been because it felt a bit geographically isolated, away from all of our family members and almost all of our friends.

Additionally, it did not help that the places we’d be interested in moving to were extremely expensive, as the housing market is quite steep in Boulder.

Alas, we truly enjoyed our short stay in Boulder and we still feel that the scores of accolades are well deserved; it’s a lovely place. We will definitely be back for a visit (hopefully soon).

Below are the places we enjoyed the most during our trip.

Where We Stayed

Room ten at Bradley Boulder Inn.

The Bradley Boulder Inn is the ideal place to stay in Boulder because it’s very walkable to downtown and next to the impressive pedestrian Pearl Street Mall. Everything that you want is at your fingertips. According to walkscore.com, the Inn is located in a “walker’s paradise.”

Moreover, the Inn is charming, cozy, clean, and comfortable, with excellent customer service. Our hotel room—number ten—had a Juliette balcony, a gas fireplace that you can conveniently turn on or off with a flip of a switch, and a large and relaxing Jacuzzi tub to soak in each night.

The Bradley Boulder Inn.

The Bradley Boulder Inn

2040 16th Street, Boulder, CO 80302

http://www.thebradleyboulder.com/

A Delicious Eatery And a Coffee Shop

Mike and I were ecstatic about the food in Boulder. There are plentiful amounts of excellent restaurants and coffee shops to try; if you’re a foodie, you will not be disappointed. For those looking for high quality, mouth-watering meals, in a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere, below are a couple of options that we personally loved.

The West End Tavern

926 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

http://www.thewestendtavern.com/

One of the tastiest Veggie burgers can be found at the West End Tavern in Boulder. Everything here is excellent.

One of the tastiest veggie burgers at the West End Tavern in Boulder. Everything here is excellent.

The Laughing Goat

1709 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

http://thelaughinggoat.com/

Sipping cappuccinos at the Laughing Goat. Cozy ambiance.

Sipping a cappuccino at the Laughing Goat. Cozy ambiance.

What to Do For Fun in Boulder

Depending on your unique interests, you can find all sorts of varied activities to enjoy while in Boulder.

The charming Boulder Bookstore.

We spent a lot of our time checking out the many locally operated shops lining the prominent Pearl Street Mall, including a marvelous three-story independently owned bookstore that’s been in business since the 70’s.

In many cities and towns across the United States, charming old stores have given way to modern strip malls and large warehouse looking buildings that lack any character or romanticism. This is not the case in Boulder, and especially not at their beloved Boulder Bookstore. The Boulder Bookstore is worth checking out, and if you get the opportunity, they also hold writers’ workshops and local novelists’ meets and greets at this store.

Boulder Bookstore

1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

http://www.boulderbookstore.net/

Another Fun Activity in Boulder

The Boulder Creek Path and a rented bikes from University Bikes.

The Boulder Creek Path and a rented bike from University Bikes.

Another great activity to enjoy while in Boulder is the Boulder Creek Path, a paved and easy trail, about 5.5 miles that goes through the town.

Since Boulder is an especially bike friendly town, we rented bikes for $20.00 per day from University Bikes, and rode along a beautiful creek. Our route was a car-free path that took us over quaint bridges, with views of mountains, trees, and wildlife—all while staying near the downtown. There were many diverse people utilizing the path. It appears to be a local favorite. We even saw musicians sitting on a bench, playing the harmonica, creek-side. By riding along the Boulder Creek path, you get lots of exercise, fresh air, beautiful scenery, and a unique experience.

Boulder Creek Path

Between Boulder Canyon and Stazio Ball Fields
Boulder, CO

https://bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/boulder-creek-path

What We Appreciate About Boulder Overall

There are bike rentals available all over town. These are bikes for rent from B-Cycle Bikes, a non-profit.

These are bike rentals available all over town via B-Cycle Bikes, a non-profit.

We admire Boulder for its charm and character. We also appreciate the community efforts around preserving nature and proactively increasing and maintaining the health of its people. Boulder strives to help bicyclists and walkers in the city feel valued and safe—something that is clearly seen all over town. We are impressed with the large array of high quality, local food in the area. We respect Boulder’s ability to enter the modern age with a focus on quality over quantity, while still maintaining its economic vitality. The community has accomplished so much, and all of it with a nod to the beauty of the architecture of the past.

The citizens of Boulder sure are lucky. So too are the people who get to visit and explore it.

Who knows, maybe someday we’ll move there; never say never!

Highway to Hoeftland Receives the Cute Blog Award

Kristin, Highway to Hoeftland

4 comments

February 4, 2015

We would like to thank the marvelous travel blog, Tiny Expats, for appointing Highway to Hoeftland as a receiver of the Cute Blog Award. We are very appreciative and humbled, as this is our blog’s very first award of recognition.

The Rules

Per the previous recipients, the Cute Blog Award rules are as follows:

Publicly thank the person or website that nominated you
Answer the provided questions via a blog post
Tell the readers something new about yourself
Select your favorite blogs for the Cute Blog Award and tell them

So without further ado, let’s get started.

Below are Kristin’s answers to the provided questions:

What is your go to brand of makeup?

I try to buy makeup that is cruelty free, has sunscreen, and is as natural as possible. When I’m home or running errands, I don’t worry about wearing makeup anymore. I only wear it when I’m doing something special, such as going to a party, or a professional appointment of some type.

What is your favorite fashion trend?

I must say, I am very pleased that so many good-looking people wear eyeglasses these days; it seems like a popular trend for the past couple of years. I could never bring myself to wear contacts, due to being squeamish, and my eyesight is getting worse with age. Therefore, chunky bold eyeglasses are a trend that I’ve fully embraced. Thank goodness for cute and fun eyeglasses!

What is your favorite dessert?

I love anything chocolate—brownies, chocolate chip cookies, ice-cream, peanut M&M’s, fudge, etc. If it’s chocolate, I’ll take some.

What is your favorite color?

My favorite color has always been green. It’s a soothing and pretty color. In fact, I’d like to paint the walls in my house a sage green and tan.

What is your middle name?

My middle name is Celeste. I like my middle name because it’s more unique than my first name.

The last song you listened to?

I can’t remember the title of the song I last listened to, but the singer was Nora Jones. I adore her music.

Dogs or Cats?

We have two cats and one dog. I love them all very much.

Tell your readers something you have not told them before.

-I refuse to watch violent or scary movies anymore. I prefer romantic comedies and documentaries.

-I have one younger sister, Kimberly, who still lives in our hometown in Oregon.

-My parents both passed away at a young age. My dad was 50 years old when he died and my mom was 57 when she passed on. I miss them every day.

More Cute Blogs

The top three blogs that Highway to Hoeftland nominates for the Cute and Interesting Blog Award are listed below.

Sharron Grodzinsky Author

Sharron is a writer, who is currently working on a book titled, “Waiting on the Outside.” She and her husband are planning a very big RV adventure soon and they will be sharing those adventures on her blog. You can check out the link below to get all the details.

https://sharrongrodzinsky.wordpress.com/

Marsha’s Musings

Marsha has a very lovely blog, where she writes about her camping adventures in a Casita travel trailer, as well as blog posts about delicious recipes, unique crafts, and interesting hobbies. She also shares beautiful pictures on her blog.

http://rollingcocoon.blogspot.com/

Perelin Colors

Another very interesting travel website that we recently learned about is called http://perelincolors.com/. They have incredible travel stories, amazing photography, and a very cool “about us” section that warrants checking out.

http://perelincolors.com/

Bloggers are Wonderful

Those are Highway to Hoeftland’s top three picks for cute and interesting blogs. There are so many wonderful blogs out there though. If you get the chance, take a look at the all bloggers who have commented, liked, and followed our blog at the bottom of this page. Each blog is special and worth checking out.

Thank you again to Tiny Expats for sending us the award! We appreciate it.

Do you have any questions or comments about this process? Please feel free to contact us or leave a response in the comment section below.

I’m Happier When I’m Hiking. Here’s Why.

Kristin, Highway to Hoeftland

5 comments

January 27, 2015

Scenery at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

I should hike more—correction; I genuinely want to hike more. I was reminded of this last weekend, when my husband and I decided to hike a trail inside the Spring Mountain Ranch State Park in Nevada. It was a perfect day for getting outside. We had clear, sunny blue skies, and it was a mild, comfortable 70-degree afternoon. We agreed it would be a waste not to get outdoors and enjoy our good weather.

To be honest, Mike and I are not big hikers, fitness buffs, or people who exercise all the time. Rather, we go in phases. However, we are trying very hard to increase our activity levels. We are a work in progress.

This last weekend, we passed up the casino, we said no to movies and dinner out, and we turned off our laptops. Instead, we went on a wonderful and happy hike together in the beautiful desert of Southern Nevada.

Mike, on the Spring Mountain Ranch Trail in Southern NV.

Increased Happiness

At Spring Mountain Ranch, we hiked along the dirt path for about an hour or so, gazing at all the striking desert landscapes, including the rugged and colorful mountains, the small green plants and spiky cacti, as well as the light blue sky above.

Hiking the beautiful trail at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

We felt happy on the hike—both of us. We were smiling, tranquil, and content. We walked, talked, and took-in nature together. On our hike, we felt ‘present.’ We were not worried or anxious. We were not thinking about the past, or about the future. We were just enjoying the day.

We then remembered how we felt two weekends ago when we went on a hike at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area; you know what—we felt great after that hike as well.

We wondered: Why did we feel better from a hike outdoors, more so than relaxing in our living room at home? I mean, hiking is exercise after all, and exercise is hard and annoying! Or so we thought.

Could it be the sunshine and vitamin D we soaked up that made us feel happier? Alternatively, perhaps the exercise helped us naturally feel better. Was it because we made a conscious choice to let go of most technological distractions during our hike? Was it the sound of the birds chirping, or the gentle rustling of the breeze? Was it an instinctive connection to nature?

The Answers

It could be all these things, and more, according to scientific research. Many noteworthy studies continue to publish all the varied benefits of hiking and walking. This Huffington Post article discusses the many excellent benefits of hiking. The article is a worthwhile read about the correlation between happiness, health, and hiking. It ‘s an eye-opener just how great hikes are for us. There are many other articles explaining the vast benefits of hiking, including this article, this, and this.

I should know hikes are good for me. I know from personal experience that they are enjoyable. However, sometimes despite all this, I fail to remember how much I love being outside and I forget about the great benefits of hiking in the sunshine.

I no longer want to overlook the good feelings and improved healthiness I get from hikes, as I have done in the past. Therefore, I wrote down eight reasons why I’d like to go on more hikes in the future. They will serve as reminders for me. Perhaps they are good reminders for us all.

Why Hiking Improves Happiness

Hiking (even light hikes) can help us feel happier.
Hiking helps free ourselves from distractions, which in turn helps center us again.
Getting exercise always makes us feel better afterwards.
Getting vitamin D and sunshine is good for overall health.
Engaging in physical activity reduces anxiety.
Hiking is another form of exploring, which is always rewarding.
Connecting with nature (seeing it, experiencing it) feels peaceful.
Hiking is a good tool to help us better connect and enjoy quality time with loved ones.

Any activity that increases our happiness is one to pursue and engage in further. Thus, more hiking is in the works for me!

Question for Readers

Mike, sitting on the bench and taking in the beautiful scenery after enjoying a hike at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, Nevada.

What form of exercise, specific activity, or simple pleasure, makes you feel the best?

Please feel free leave your advice and feedback in the comment section.

Thank you for your readership!

Sincerely,

Kristin

Fun, Active, and Healthy Things to do in a Las Vegas Weekend

Kristin, Highway to Hoeftland

6 comments

January 22, 2015

This last weekend, Mike and I were determined to have a healthy, active, and fun weekend outdoors. We spent time at Red Rock Canyon, the LYFE Kitchen, and the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

On Saturday, we headed out to the gorgeous Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for a hike. It is a wonderful oasis of stunning mountains, nature galore, and plentiful trails to enjoy. It’s an easy and short drive from the city center.

The pictures I’ve posted here are just a few of my favorites that I took from our afternoon trip to the Red Rock Canyon.

For more information about the Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas, this website from the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association is a great resource.

Mike, enjoying the food at the LYFE Kitchen.

LYFE Kitchen

After completing an hour hike and a drive through the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop, we headed out to the delicious and healthy LYFE Kitchen in Henderson (a suburb of Las Vegas).

The LYFE Kitchen is a casual eatery, and one of my new favorite places to eat out.

There is no guilt when eating here, because all the meals are less than 600 calories and less than 1,000 milligrams of salt. The restaurant serves healthy, delicious, conscientious food.

I must tell you, I am blown away by how tasty each meal is at LYFE Kitchen. If you get the chance to try it out, I highly recommend it.

You can read more about LYFE Kitchen, their story, and their locations here.

Riding Bikes at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas

Then, on Sunday, we decided to rent bicycles at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas. What a delightful experience that was! My bike was some sort of cute Trek Cruiser. I’d like to get one just like it (see the Trek Cruiser below).

The bike path at the Springs Preserve was paved and easy, so it was not a moderate or difficult bike ride. We rode the bikes for an hour, eight miles around the loop.