Nature's Playground: Park City's Wildflower Magic

At the top of our street in Park City there is a trail head that leads to the back country and takes you on a beautiful hike throughout the trees. In the winter it's gorgeous with bare aspen trees and stunning views on the valley, but in the summer the trails are crowded with overgrown bushes and vibrant wildflowers- flowers that radiate the bluest blues and pinkest pinks I've ever witnessed. And the aspens with their leafy canopies that filter the sunlight in the most dreamlike way. It's a whole new world to explore.

Park City: Savor the Summit

Every summer Park City hosts an event called Savor the Summit, an outdoor dinner party where restaurants on Main Street serve guests seated at the Grande Table, one long table set up down the entire street. With live music, hundreds of people enjoying yummy food and drinks, and plenty of people watching to enjoy, this event was the perfect kick off to summer and has me itching to host an outdoor dinner party!

Park City: Summer Fling

It must be the way the sun filters through the windows in late afternoon, or the vibrant wildflowers that are scattered throughout every morning hike. Maybe it's the soft patter the aspen leaves make when the warm summer breeze blows through them, or how the primary colored houses dotting the hillside contrast beautifully with the green background. While Park City in the winter will always steal my heart with it's white capped mountains and ski town perfection, there's something about this town in summertime that can't be beat. With hundreds of trails for hiking and biking, countless free live music events, and festivals nearly every other day, Park City in the summer is quickly winning me over.

Jack and I are plotting about how we could live here for a summer, waiting tables and saving money while living in my parents' amazing new mountain house, and if everything works out as planned, this crush I have on Park City might turn into a full fledged summer fling.

Red Rocks: Exploring Zion National Park

We finished off our Utah trip by driving down to Zion National Park to camp and explore for a few days. I had never been to a desert-like climate- I'm used to redwoods and the coast- and I was absolutely floored by the beauty of this park. My words won't do this place justice, and unfortunately I spent most of our stay with my eyes wide open and not behind my camera lens, so these photos won't do the park justice either. So basically you are just going to have to visit Zion for yourself, and I'll tell you, it will be worth it. This place is unlike any place I've ever visited- red mountains towering hundreds of feet above you; walking through the rive between a sliver of canyons; hot, dry heat scorching your skin; watching the shadow of one mountain peak slowly creep up the other mountain front at sunset; 90 degree weather at 9pm; lounging in the river after a long days hike with the red rocks surrounding you- it felt like a dream. I can't wait to go back. 

Check out my instagram for a few photos from the day hikes we did (Angel's Landing, The Narrows): @annaemarks

Nature's Playground: Yosemite

Memorial Day weekend was spent adventuring in the great outdoors, which I think is one of the best ways to spend a long summery weekend. We went on my first backpacking trip in Yosemite and I'm still having a hard time trying to process it's beauty and serenity. Everything about the whole weekend was perfect: perfect company, perfect weather, perfect sites, and the perfect feeling of adventure, appreciation, and awe. Coming back to the bustling city after a quiet weekend was a bit of a shock and has me itching for some summer sun and unmarked trails. 

The first day's hike was a long and treacherous 10 mile trek around Hetch Hetchy reservoir, up a steep hill, and to Tiltill Valley- a lush and gorgeous valley with meadows, creeks, and views for days. Definitely worth the dead legs and broken back. 

Day two was spent venturing back down the mountain and bushwhacking our way across the river to find the perfect campsite. We splashed around in the river, soaked up some sun, and climbed one too many rocks to find the most epic sunset view I've ever seen.

Day three was a short 6 mile hike back to reality, and while it was a very tiresome and we couldn't wait to take a shower, we were all sad to leave this gorgeous place.

Until next time, Yosemite.

Find more adventures in nature here