Budget Fun for the Whole Family in Heber Valley

When you travel as a family, it can be hard to find a destination that has something that everyone likes. If you have this issue, or are just looking for a cool new place to add to your travel list, then check out Heber Valley. It’s just 50 minutes from Salt Lake City and 15 minutes from Park City, so you can combine a city escape with an outdoor getaway if you can’t choose one over the other. The fact is, you can find family fun on a budget just a short drive from a major airport.

Where to Stay

If you’re really on a budget and want to get closer to nature, you can pitch a tent or park your RV at campgrounds around the Valley. If you like a little more luxury, there are several great affordable hotels and resorts. I’d recommend checking out Homestead Resort, Holiday Inn Express, Midway Nightly Cottages or the Swiss Alps Inn for comfortable rooms at an affordable rate.

Swiss Alps Inn is a cute little motel with a Swiss look and feel, recreational activities for the family (like basketball courts) and they even allow your furry children. They are AAA-approved, which means you also get a discount on the already low rates. Heber Valley is actually called the Switzerland of Utah because of the scenery and the large population of Swiss.

What to Do

Heber Valley in Utah has activities all year-round, including hiking and biking, skiing and fishing and is great for all budgets. Here are just a few ways to spend your time there:

Even if you don’t like outdoor activities, because I know that may not be a draw for some, you can soak up the culture of the area and do cool things indoors. Prohibition never took hold in the Valley, so you’re free to enjoy a glass of wine or beer at your leisure.

•  Try some delicious cheeses at the Heber Valley Creamery.
• Learn about the pioneer times in the Valley through artifacts and exhibits at the Daughters of Utah Pioneer Museum.
• Take the Heber Valley Railroad to see the landscape in style along the 16 miles between Heber Valley and Provo Canyon.
• See locals perform at the Timpanogos Valley Theater. They put on two different productions and a children’s show each year.
• Get pampered at the Spa at Zermatt or Rejuvenate Day Spa.

If getting back to nature is important to you, pack your good walking/hiking shoes and sunscreen and check out some of these fun things:

●    Bundle up in the winter and hit the slopes for skiing or Soldier Hollow Tubing where you take a lift up and then tube down 1200-foot sliding lanes.

●    Fly through the trees on ziplines with Zipline Utah or Adventure Zipline.

●   The Sons of Utah Pioneers built Heber Fort of red sandstone and you can still see the original four corners here.

●     Pack your suit and visit the 90-degree geothermal pool inside Homestead Crater.

●    If you’re visiting during winter, pile on the layers, grab your camera and check out Ice Castle in Midway. It’s a castle made of ice!

●     Want to see some of Utah’s wildlife? Head to Rock Cliff Recreation Area and you’re likely to see many and also relax in the quiet, so pack a picnic and kick back.

●     Pack your clubs or rent some at one of the five golf courses in the Valley.

If you have kids, there are lots of fun things to keep them occupied in the Valley year-round. ATVs and snowmobiling is available for all ages and there are over 200 miles of trails to tire them out.

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Where to Eat

I’m all about food when I travel. Heber Valley is full of delicious places to eat, no matter if you’re looking to splurge or save. To save and still eat yummy stuff, get a table at one of these awesome eateries:

●     Backerie & Eis at Zermatt serves Starbucks coffee and filling breakfasts and lunch. You can also come in for house-made gelatos.

●     Indulge in authentic Chinese cuisine at Canton City.

●     Chow down on a burger or get breakfast all day at Chick’s Café.

●     Daniels Summit Lodge Pole Grill serves up Western food at affordable prices and large portions.

●     Dine along the shores of the Deer Creek Reservoir at Dock of the Bay.

●     Fill your tummy with good food at Hub Café. It’s a local favorite.

●     Get your Mexican fix at Tony’s Tacos.

●     Order from a large menu that satisfies all tastes at Wasatch Back Grill & Deli.

Whatever your family or other travel companions like to see, do and eat, Heber Valley has something for everyone. You can plan a weekend getaway or a longer trip and have plenty to keep you busy. From museums to horseback riding, Heber Valley has it all.

Want to learn more about Heber Valley? Click on the link above or check them out on social media:

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Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Heber Valley.

Weekend Getaway Light Packing Tips

Most travelers aren’t content never taking a vacation or even slaving away all year to wait for their annual trip. In fact, aside from the usual two weeks, it’s hard to make it through day-to-day without getting away a few other times throughout the year. We tend to take a few days here and there a couple times a year. You might not think you have the funds to do it, but if you step back and take a look at your travel style you can find ways you can cut corners, meaning you’ll need a smaller budget to fund these long weekends. There are plenty of ways to save money, no matter where you go or how you get there. If you’ll be road tripping on your getaways, like I did on my trip to Bend, Oregon, then you can find tips for saving on drives here and here.

Inspo on Polyvore

When you fly to your destination, one of the easiest ways to save – time and money – is by traveling carry-on only. You don’t need much for a few days, which means you can pack quickly, skip the airline counter check-in and ignore the baggage carousel upon arrival. I always have a packing list to help me keep the number of items down and also to make sure I don’t forget any of the essentials. I know when I get to my destination I can probably buy whatever I missed packing, since a weekend getaway isn’t going to take me that far from home (like, I probably am not going to Bali or Columbia), but I’m adamantly against spending money for things I already have. Here’s how to build your packing list:

Instead of even travel-size shampoo/conditioner, these samples can work for a weekend getaway

Normally, I take this 3oz hand cream, but these two sample packs are more than enough for 3 days

Save those samples

I know I’m not the only one that has a bag full of samples and trial-size health and beauty items. Every purchase I make from Sephora or other department store makeup counters comes with mini sizes of beauty products. I also sign up for many freebies online. When I travel, I go through and see what I can use and then pack it in my 3-1-1 or toiletry bag. I’m never going to use a full-size thing on a two-week trip, much less just a few days, so there’s no point bringing a whole container of anything, be it toothpaste, moisturizer or shampoo.

Pare down your beauty routine

Even with all your travel-size items, it still smart to take less. If you have an extensive morning routine at home, see what you can just get away with. I don’t load up on the makeup normally, so I figure there’s no point in taking a bunch of unnecessary items that I’ll probably not use. I know when I wake up I’m going to do the bare minimum so I can hurry up and get on with my day. Four or five products are all I need: moisturizer, foundation, powder, blush and mascara (optional). See what things you can do without. If you are an eye makeup kinda girl, look for makeup palettes that have everything you need in a neat little package, so you don’t have to pack everything separately.

Decant, decant, decant

Sometimes you can't find samples of your fave products, but you don't need to waste space by bringing even a large travel-size container. In this case, I say decant. Eric has a fantastic shave cream from Kiehl's, but it takes very little for each use, so I put some in a travel pot and kept the actual container at home. This makes it doubly perfect for traveling.

Pack multipurpose items

I love it when things do more than one thing. Cheek tint that is also a lip stain. Tinted moisturizer with SPF instead of sunscreen, moisturizer and foundation. A maxi skirt that can also be worn as a dress. A tablet for games, books, email and internet. All these things are perfect companions for your carry-on bag, because they take up less space.

My Vegas attire: shorts, capris, dress, 3 tops, fancy sandals and a
pair of  ballet flats (to be worn on the plane)

Mix and match

As always, when you coordinate all your clothing, it’s super easy to pack in a carry-on. Two bottoms and three tops can mix and match to make SIX outfits. That’s way more than you’ll need for a long weekend. Don’t forget that what you wear in transit can also be rotated in as needed. And shoes! You should take two pair – max. Make sure they are both comfortable enough to walk in all day. I had a coworker who told me that she had 16 pairs of shoes she wanted to take with her to Mexico on a four day trip. Sixteen! I don’t even think that many shoes would fit in my carry-on and if they did, there would be no room for anything else, except maybe socks and underwear. Her trip was for a wedding, so aside from what she needed for the ceremony, she could have survived with a sun dress, a pair of shorts, her bathing suit and some flip flops. Learning to pack efficiently is important and can save you a ton.

That’s it. Think about what you truly need with you for three or four days and be realistic. Don’t play the “what if” game. What if I go out to a fancy dinner? What if it gets really cold? What if I want to go clubbin’? Did you plan for those things? Do you normally just change plans at the last minute? Sometimes it seems like it might be harder to pack for a short trip than a long one, but with some practice, it can be super simple. Just think, if you don’t bring something that you thought you could live without, by the time you miss it, you’ll probably already be back home.

Yup, that's my actual packing list!

This trip we’re taking two bottoms, three tops, a pair of sandals/flip flops and a pair of walking shoes (my sandals are walking shoes, so I’m also taking a pair of ballet flats) each and our packable jackets. I threw in a travel dress to wear to dinner with family. All that and our toiletries fit into our rolling carry-on, so I’ll be taking a the new Travelon Signature Messenger to carry my regular purse stuff, important documents, laptop and snacks, and Eric will be carrying the Travelon Urban Tour Bag for the iPad, his 3DS and bottle of water. That’s it. We are traveling light. Staying at two places in three nights requires us to be able to throw everything in our bags and go quickly.

What are some of your favorite ways to travel light?

My New Orleans Wish List

This Fall I'll be traveling to New Orleans for the first time and I'm super excited. We had originally planned a two-week trip, but have cut it in half so we can also go to LA in December to check out the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. Being our first trip to Nola, there are a lot of things we want to do. Number one is to not rent a car, except to take a day trip. So, let's look at our must-dos and must-eats and then you can tell me your suggestions, whether it's what I should add or what I should skip.

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When I travel, I love to find great little places that make for beautiful photos, since that's the majority of what I bring back when we go anywhere. The historic Court of the Five Sisters looks like one of those places and I can't wait to grab a table, have a great meal and then take a ton of photos of this vibrant little courtyard.

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I know that people think that Bourbon Street is a tourist trap, but there's no way I'm visiting the city and not going there. I won't be taking a horse-drawn carriage, but I will be taking a bunch of pics, because I gotta!

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I'll not be renting a car for the most part, so we'll be relying on our feet and the streetcar. It'll be fun to ride around on this historic mode of transportation. And I love that it's all open.  

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Okay, you know I love a farmers' market and open-air market. They're the perfect place to learn about your destination and the foods the locals eat. Plus, you can pick up wonderfully fresh fruits, breads and pastries for breakfasts and snacks. I absolutely need to hit up the French Market.

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If I leave New Orleans without at least one visit to Cafe Du Monde, I think I may never be allowed back. Beignets and a really good coffee sounds like heaven to me. And also like it may keep me going for much of the day between the caffeine and sugar. I love that it's open 24/7, too.

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I'm super into old cemeteries and love when there are interesting headstones and tombs. You may remember my visit to Pere Lechaise Cemetarie in Paris.  I've been dying (ha!) to go to St. Louis Cemetery #1 for years. I expect to take a lot of pics to write a big blog post on it, so if you're also into learning more about it, stay tuned. I think we'll be taking a ghost tour that includes this final resting place as well.

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I just learned about this not too long ago, but New Orleans has a wall called the Before I Die Wall, where you can write the thing(s) you want to see/do/eat/achieve before you die and get inspiration from others' wishes as well. It's like inspirational (and legal) graffiti. 

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When you're in the place where voodoo was invented, you can't ignore that. I love a good museum that's also unique, so I'll be headed to the Voodoo Museum to check out how Marie Laveau and others harnessed the power of voodoo and what they hoped to achieve with it as well. 

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So, something you may not know about me is that I love a good absinthe. The taste and the process is fantastic to me and I am really interested to visit the Original Absinthe Bar where folks like Mark Twain and Andrew Jackson drank. 

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Okay. It seems irresponsible of me to wander the streets of New Orleans without soaking up some French influence. I may not be into getting a bowl of gumbo, but I am excited about French pastries and picking up some sweets, like macarons, at Sucre Bakery.

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The South has a controversial history of slavery and such. Evergreen Plantation is one of the places where I plan to learn more and maybe even catch a glimpse of a ghost. If you're lucky, I can catch it on film and share it in a future post.

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Here's where I'll be renting a car for the day and heading to Avery Island. There's no place else you can see Tabasco hot sauce being made and it sounds pretty awesome. We can buy a bunch of bottles to send home, plus wander the gorgeous grounds and check out the Jungle Gardens before heading back to the city.

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I have never really wanted to visit the madness of New Orleans during Mardi Gras, but I do want to check out the cool floats and props. Fortunately, for me, Mardi Gras World is the place where a lot of that stuff is stored and I can take a tour to see previous floats, costumes and more.

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There's always a splurge meal on my trips and brunch at the Commander's Palace is going to be the one in New Orleans for us. I'm going to dress up a little, listen to live jazz and dig into delicious food. They serve unique dishes like Braised Rabbit & Carrot Cake Flapjacks, Turtle Soup and Tabasco & Sugarcane Smoked Salmon. 

Okay, I have other stuff on my list as well, like a swamp tour, some specific happy hours, a ride on the ferry, possibly the aquarium and of course that ghost tour I was talking about. If you've been to New Orleans, where should I go, not go or eat? Keep in mind that neither of us will eat jambalaya and probably not crawfish.