Gray Cargill of SoloFriendly graciously tagged me in the 3 Best Travel Secrets challenge, and seriously it has been a challenge to think of 3 secrets that aren’t widely known. This game was kicked off by Katie at TripBase.com as a way to unite the travel blogging community and create a list of our collective best travel tips. Hopefully my secrets will add some value!

1. Sweet Potato French Fries, Squatters, Downtown SLC. Squatters Pub and Brewery is by far my favorite restaurant in all of Salt Lake City and trust me there are quite a few good ones to choose from. I have never had one thing from their menu that I haven’t enjoyed. I’m not a drinker but if you are you will enjoy a variety of choices brewed right under their own roof. But what I enjoy the most is their perfectly crunchy sweet potato french fries… but I’ll skip the fry sauce.

2. Reindeer Sausage, Anchorage, Alaska. On Sunday mornings in the heart of Anchorage they have a market downtown with fresh produce, Alaskan souvenirs, and various other food vendors. Among those vendors they sell Reindeer Sausage that is savory and delicious. Reid loved his so much he wants to go back just for more.

3. Cheap(er) Buffets in Las Vegas. What would a visit to Las Vegas be without a trip to the buffet? The buffets on the strip are rather costly but you can get the same quality buffet at much less cost if you step away from the strip for awhile and visit one of the Station Casinos located all around Las Vegas and Henderson. My favorite is Sunset Station Casino.

And there you have it. My three best travel secrets. If you happen to agree with any of these or disagree would love to hear your feedback.

I tag:

Jaime at seatofourpants.com

Matt of nomadicmatt.com

Maribeth at bonjourcolorado.com

Erica at travelblissful.com

Kara from thevacationgals.com

Two Memorial Day weekends ago, we last minute decided to hop on a plane and head to Alaska. Anchorage, Alaska to be exact.  And what began as a last minute quick trip turned into a life changing experience. I learned a lot of things from that visit and it has changed my perspective on traveling altogether.

Normally when we visit a new city I tend to get a little antsy. There are so many sites I want to see, places I want to experience, etc. And worst of all there is so little time. I try to set a schedule to cram it all in but it never really works out. Reid has the opposite approach, where he likes to go with the flow and explore and just let the experiences present themselves. Normally I get a little upset, but because of his mindset we have been able to experience some pretty amazing sites on our various travels.

One of these times manifested itself in Alaska on the highway from Seward to Anchorage. He saw a sign for some fort or something and took a turn off the highway. I was nervous and definitely resisted. But then we turned the corner and we saw the most breathtaking view (pictured above). Reid immediately pulled the car over and rushed for his camera. I sat in the car pouting for a minute, but then I opened my eyes and was stunned. There was no one else around. It was quiet and although it was May the air was crisp and cool, enough to give you a good chill. I stepped out of the car and walked to the water’s edge. It was so quiet you could hear the ice move and it was the most beautiful sound. I took a deep breath of the salty but clean air and wished the moment would last forever.

Sometimes not having a plan is the best plan of all. And that is the lesson that has stuck with me.

Summer is on it’s way which means it will be tourist season in Alaska. People flock to Alaska each year to look for whales, go hiking, camping, fishing and much more. I now know from experience it is a gorgeous place and can’t wait to get back there and experience so much more!
You all know by now how much I enjoy a good deal, and you don’t have to break the bank to discover and enjoy all that this great city has to offer. When traveling on a budget, there are unlimited opportunities to discover and explore. Here are 20 opportunities that are just $10 or less.

1.      Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
This spectacular, paved, multi-use trail hugs the Anchorage coastline of Cook Inlet from Second Avenue in downtown Anchorage all the way to south Anchorage’s Kincaid Park, located 11 sprawling miles away. Whether walking, running, biking, or blading, keep an eye out for dramatic views of Knik Arm, Cook Inlet, six mountain ranges surrounding Anchorage and the beauty of Sleeping Lady mountain across the water, Earthquake Park and Point Woronzof. Wildlife viewing is abundant with many birds, small mammals, beluga whales, moose and even an occasional bear sighting.
Cost – FREE

2.      Anchorage Market and Festival
Held in downtown Anchorage every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, this open air market mixes one-of-a-kind arts, crafts and giant Alaska grown vegetables with live music, street performers and a selection of local and international food.
Admission – FREE

3.      Wild Salmon on Parade
Wild salmon take to the streets each summer from June through late August, when 20 wacky salmon sculptures “swim” through downtown during Wild Salmon on Parade. These aren’t your ordinary chum – the four-foot statues are original, whimsical designs by Alaska artists. Established in 2003 and modeled after Cows on Parade in Chicago, Wild Salmon on Parade is a fun way to raise awareness and appreciation for salmon habitat, history and its physical properties. As the summer ends and the salmon run slows, the sculptures are auctioned off for charity at the annual Fish Fry & Buy.
Cost – FREE
Read the rest of this entry »

I went on some pretty amazing trips last year that gave me quite a few amazing memories. The purpose of this blog post is to share those with you and let you look at some eye candy. These photographs were all done by my talented photographer husband. Enjoy!

Jefferson Memorial in Washington

Capitol Building

Rotunda in the Capitol Building

Rotunda in the Capitol

National Cathedral

Washington DC LDS Temple

Seward Alaska

Alaskan Fisherman

Alaskan Puffins

Waterfall, Anchorage Alaska

Bridge, Minneapolis Minnesota

Spoonbridge and Cherry, Minneapolis Minnesota

Hotel del Coronado, San Diego

Painted Ladies, San Francisco California

I was reading through travel news and I came across this slide show and article of 15 places every kid should see. I absolutely loved it! Even though most of these places I still have not seen and according to the government I am no longer a kid (although I still feel like one), it got me thinking about some of my favorite vacations when I was younger.

First off, you can look through the slide show (which is actually really cute) or I will just recap some of the places for you. 10 of the 15 places every kid should see are the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, Colonial Williamsburg, Lincoln Memorial, Niagra Falls, Gettysburg, Alamo, Pearl Harbor, Monitcello, and Disneyworld.

Read the rest of this entry »