by Courtney Brown
30 April 2012

Come celebrate with us at the biggest free party in Utah Valley, the grand opening of the Utah Valley Convention Center happening on May 12, 10am to 4pm. 

Enjoy a free day full of entertainment, food, and giveaways with the entire family. Find out what’s happening in the valley this summer at the business expo featuring local businesses and hotspots, including Sundance Resort and John Hutchins Museum.  Don’t worry; there will be plenty of FREE giveaways from the venders! 

Additionally, local award-winning groups will be performing and answering all your questions about summer camps, programs, and lessons that are filling up fast! Beat the rush before school’s out, and get your kids involved. Companies attending include:

o   The Pointe Academy

o   Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company

o   Champions Karate West

o   Shelly School of Irish Dance

o   Beyond Sports Taekwondo

o   On Broadway Music Theatre

o   Viva el Folklore

Throughout the day the Utah County bomb squad, K-9 unit, and fire department will be demonstrating their skills.  A free kid’s craft corner for the little ones and an art exhibit is also set.

The party will continue the entire day with entertainment provided by a variety of local favorites that include:

o   Dave Stemmons

o   SYT Music Theatre Solos

o   Cindy Simmons

o   Brandie Frampton

o   Timpview Ballroom

o   Maddie Wilson

o   And more!

Plan your next extraordinary event with us at the Utah Valley Convention Center located in historic downtown Provo.  The state-of-art facility, equipped with eco-friendly LEED Silver Certified designs, and beautiful mountain views make the Convention Center the perfect meeting place. The three-story building offers a total of 46, 740 total square feet of available meeting space, full-service kitchen, and open garden patio. Whatever size of event space you need, we can accommodate in our versatile building.

There is something for everyone at the grand opening of the Utah Valley Convention Center.  Mark your calendars and get ready to kick-start your summer! For more information visit UtahValleyConventionCenter.com or call 888-414-UTAH (8824).

Park City
At the Canyons Resort, the latest options for fun are the two new zip lines, which are available year-round. For the faint of heart, an 800-foot line runs through the Red Pine area; for the more adventurous, a 2,100-foot line with a 10 percent grade crosses the canyon between Lookout Peak and Red Pine Lodge. For snowshoers, the resort has expanded its programs, which can be combined with a gourmet lunch at Lookout Cabin. The Cabin restaurant at the 358-room Grand Summit hotel has been converted to meeting space; the property offers a total 15,000 square feet of event space.

The 178-suite Hyatt Escala Lodge at Park City at Canyons Resort is now fully open. Modern comfort food and shared plates are the hallmarks of the new restaurant, Escala Provisions Company, while its offshoot, the Escala Pro­visions Market, is a small grocery perfect for stocking condo refrigerators. The property has 7,000 square feet of function space, including a 2,100-square-foot ballroom.

Last August, the 220-room Montage Deer Valley was awarded Silver LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Montage is the first LEED-certified hotel in Utah. The ski resort on Deer Valley’s Empire Pass features more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space and 35,000 square feet of outdoor event space.
 
The Homestead Resort in nearby Midway, Utah, closed this past December for a renovation project. When the hotel reopens in April, all 147 guest rooms will have been redone and the golf course improved. The Homestead and its neighbor, the Zermatt Resort, both entered into agreements in September to be managed by Gemstone Hotels and Resorts. New amenities at the properties will come from Soul Centers in the form of arts, education, health, well-being and recreation programs. The Homestead offers 13,000 square feet of meeting space; the 404-room Zermatt has 28,000 square feet of meeting space.

The restaurant at the 175-room Waldorf Astoria Park City is now called The Slopes by Talisker, featuring an eclectic menu and an extensive wine list. The property offers 4,200 square feet of meeting space.

Meeting Hotels
Lodging in this mountain Eden includes the 450-unit Westgate Park City Resort & Spa, 350-room Canyons Grand Summit Hotel, 227-room Lodges at Deer Valley, 220-room Montage Deer Valley, 199-room Park City Marriott, 185-room Newpark Resort, 181-room St. Regis Deer Valley, 181-room Yarrow Resort Hotel & Conference Center, 180-room Stein Eriksen Lodge, 178-room Hyatt Escala Lodge and 175-room Waldorf Astoria Park City. For a complete listing of area properties, visit mcvenues.com.

Airport Transit
Salt Lake City International Airport, about a 35-minute drive from downtown Park City. Transfer to Park City, $74 roundtrip Taxes
Room tax, 3%; sales tax, 7.45%; total tax on hotel rooms, 10.45%. At the St. Regis Deer Crest (in Wasatch County), room tax is 11.6%.

Group Venues
While the technical definition of a yurt (Merriam-Websters: “a circular domed tent of skins or felt stretched over a collapsible lattice framework and used by pastoral peoples of inner Asia”) makes dining in one sound like a cold evening of rusticity, many resorts have gussied up the concept to offer fun events on the slopes. At Park City Mountain, the Viking Dinner Yurt hosts up to 40 for a six-course meal, complete with piano entertainment. Guests arrive by Sno-Cat-pulled sleigh. (435) 615-9878

Host an elegant reception at one of Park City’s sleek art galleries. Moving to new space on Main Street is the Gallery MAR, featuring contemporary artists and hosting receptions for about 100. (435) 649-3001

Outdoor Activities
For those who would rather stroll than slide, Park City offers a plethora of snowshoeing (and hiking) options. Among the outfitters who organize tours are All Seasons Adventures (435-649-9619), Exclusive Excursions (435-640-2907) and Mountain Vista Touring (435-640-2979).

Golf
Golfers love playing in high altitudes, where the ball flies at the first swing. Among the layouts available for tournaments are the Homestead Resort (888-327-7220), Jeremy Golf and Country Club (435-649-2700), Park City Golf Club (435-615-5800), Park Meadows Country Club (435-649-2460) and Victory Ranch Club (435-785-5000).

Contact Park City Convention & Visitors Bu­reau, (800) 453-1360

Salt Lake City
Next month, a 23-acre, multibillion-dollar project called the City Creek Cen­ter opens downtown. The Silver LEED-certified, mixed-use development covers three blocks and features retail stores and restaurants (as well as residences and offices). One end starts at the Salt Palace Convention Center, where attendees can slip easily into Nordstrom’s for a quick shopping spree.

To take advantage of Utah’s 300-plus days of sunshine each year, a project installing almost 200,000 square feet of solar panels at the Salt Palace Convention Center finishes up this spring. The 6,006 panels are expected to generate about 17 percent of the annual energy used by the facility.

The Natural History Museum of Utah at the University of Utah reopened last November in a new building overlooking the city. The 163,000-square-foot Rio Tinto Center houses the museum’s 1.2 million specimens and objects. More than 41,300 square feet of space features displays from the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau, as well as nine themed exhibitions. A number of rooms with great views welcome events, including the Canyon, which seats 375 for a dinner and holds 700 for a reception.

Construction on a new 162-room Embassy Suites in West Valley City, just southwest of Salt Lake, starts this year. The hotel will open in 2014.

Meeting Hotels
Salt Lake’s center offers the 515-room Marriott Salt Lake City Downtown, 499-room Hilton Salt Lake City Center and 381-room Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown.Nearby are the 850-room Little Amer­ica Hotel, 775-room Grand America Hotel, 362-room Sheraton City Centre Hotel Salt Lake City and 359-room Marriott Salt Lake City Center.

Convention Center
Salt Palace Convention Center; exhibit space, 515,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 67; (801) 534-4777

Airport Transit
Salt Lake City International Airport, about six miles from downtown. Transfer cost by taxi, $20 Taxes
Room tax, 6.85%; sales tax, 5.75%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.67%

Group Venues
Reminiscent of the indoor gardens in Europe of bygone days, the Orangerie at the University of Utah’s Red Butte Gardens is filled with Mediterranean and exotic plants in full flower. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out on the outdoor plantings and the city in the valley below, and large doors open onto patios offering extra space during the warmer months. The Orangerie hosts up to 150 for dinner or 400 for a reception. (801) 585-9563

Built to inspire innovation in budding Da Vincis, the Leonardo Museum features a variety of interactive exhibits pertaining to science, technology and art. The third-floor auditorium seats 194, and after-hours events are welcomed for up to 2,000. (801) 531-9800

Contact Visit Salt Lake, (801) 534-4900 or (800) 541-4955

Read more: http://www.meetings-conventions.com/articles/utah/a46186.aspx

Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort is one of Utah Valley’s most sought after meeting facilities. Renowned for its secluded, yet accessible location, Sundance is an inviting setting nestled at the base of 12,000 ft. Mt. Timpanogas. Featuring 95 luxurious guest cottages, 10 mountain homes, 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and 5,000 acres of pristine mountain wilderness to explore, Sundance caters to both small groups and the masses. Just 20 minutes from Provo, 45 minutes from Park City and 60 minutes from Salt Lake International Airport, Sundance is an ideal spot to host company workshops, group retreats and seminars and business meetings and conferences.

Plan your next meeting around winter activities at Sundance Resort! Ski and snowboard Sundance’s majestic terrain suitable for any skill level. With 42 runs spread over 450 acres of pristine back country terrain and wide groomed trails, experts can enjoy the steep and deep in wide, open bowls and narrow chutes, while all can enjoy the immaculately groomed slopes. Skiing and snowboarding are available Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Full day passes are $49 per adult and $39 for half day. Night skiing is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 4:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. and each adult pass is $30. For additional pricing information, visit sundanceresort.com.

Don’t miss out on Sundance’s signature night owling and full moon snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Whether you engage in snowshoeing or cross country skiing under a full moon or searching for owls, your meeting is sure to be memorable. Sundance’s night owling adventure allows guests to experience the solitude of a Mount Timpanogos winter landscape on a professionally-guided Snowshoe tour. Guides call for owls on the trail and wildlife experts use live owls in teaching about wildlife in winter. The cost is $30 per person and includes the snowshoe rental, guided tour and use of the trails. Choose between Dec. 30, Jan. 20, Feb. 17 or March 9 & 30. Each tour begins at 6:30 p.m. The location is the Nordic Center, two miles up Hwy. 92 from Sundance Resort. Call 801.223.4170 for advanced reservations as space is limited.

If cross country skiing and snowshoeing by the light of a full moon is more your style, explore Sundance’s wooded trails at night on one of the following dates: Dec. 10 & 17, Jan. 7 & 9, Feb. 6 & 7, March 7 & 8. This is an unguided experience so you are free to roam the trials at your leisure from dusk until 9 p.m. Meet at the Nordic Center, two miles up Hwy. 92 from Sundance Resort. Bringing a headlamp is recommended. At $15 per person, which includes the cost of equipment and use of the trails, your experience is sure to please. For more information, call 801.223.4170.

With numerous indoor activities in the area, you’ll be sure to exceed your group’s expectations. Whether you catch a BYU hockey game, BYU or UVU basketball game, performance at a performing arts venue such as at the Covey Center, Hale Theater, Scera or BYU and UVU theaters, entertainment is abundant in Utah Valley. Indoor ice skating at Peaks Ice Arena or dancing at the swanky, new 21 and older club, The Madison also make for interactive activities.

For more information on activities, lodging and more visit MeetInUtahValley.com or call 888-414-UTAH (8824)

Utah’s geological treasures and spectrum of terrain beguile visitors. Its snowcapped mountains beckon skiers. Its canyons and rivers were made for hiking and rafting. Golf on its award-winning greens presents jaw-dropping views. Its wonders can scarcely be captured on film, but it’s impossible not to try photographing them.

In the south, the state boasts five stunning national parks and a bevy of challenging mountain biking trails. In the north, Utah has some of the country’s best and most accessible skiing. For those who prefer to take nature in without taking it on, there are plentiful Jeep, ATV, horseback riding and helicopter tours. (more…)

Utah’s picturesque beauty inspires meetings amid the great outdoors

By Julie Keller, Smart Meetings, May 2011

A longtime destination for outdoor aficionados, Utah offers a breathtaking display of natural bounty, ranging from arid sandstone deserts to verdant forests and majestic mountains.

This 85,000-square-mile state is home to five national parks, two national recreation areas and six national forests. From the amazingly colorful rock formations of southern Utah to the elegant ski towns in the north, this tourism-friendly escape truly provides something for every nature lover. As such, planners who want to blend their meetings with exciting outdoor endeavors find it to be a perfect place for incomparable events. (more…)

The airport offers all private and commercial services you would expect including regional jet flights. Five daily flights from Salt Lake City and one daily flight to Los Angeles (LAX) make getting to and from St. George a breeze. With a thriving arts scene, a temperate climate, ribbons of emerald green fairways and the incredible scenery of Zion National Park, Washington County is a haven you’ll wish you discovered long ago. Plan your next trip to southern Utah today and fly SGUFor flights and airport amenities visit www.flysgu.com

Salt Lake City/Park City

The Busy Beehive State
by Jeff Heilman 

Salt Lake City and Park City are eventful destinations that are creating a buzz about Utah.

Situated near the southeast corner of the Great Salt Lake beneath the majestic Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City often appears heavenly, as when its lights start sparkling as the setting sun paints the snow-brushed Wasatch peaks pink. Remarkably, this was empty desert when Brigham Young and his fellow Mormon pioneers first encamped here in 1847, but trusting his vision, Young declared, “This is the place,” and the rest is history.

Today, arrival and transformation continue to define this uniquely blended metropolitan city and the quaint mountain town as “The Crossroads of the West.” Eight years after Salt Lake City and nearby Park City hosted one of the most successful Winter Olympics ever, few destinations—let alone entire states—have reaped such sustained post-Olympic economic rewards. Talk about six-ringed ROI: As of 2008 figures, Utah’s tourism industry is now valued at $7.1 billion, compared to the 2000 pre-Olympic estimate of $4.25 billion. Salt Lake CVB President and CEO Scott Beck puts it best when he says, “Our brand as a legitimate world-class convention destination was born out of the Olympic experience.”

The buzz keeps growing among corporate and independent planners, especially after the city’s smash success hosting MPI’s 2009 World Education Congress. (more…)

“Receiving recognition from the readers of this esteemed industry publication is truly an honor,” commented Scott Beck, SLCVB president and CEO. “Having been honored with this award in both good years and challenging years truly demonstrates the level of service our Bureau and our hospitality partners are committed to offering all incoming meeting and convention groups.”

Service remains the cornerstone of the SLCVB, offering a truly superior level of customer and client satisfaction within the industry. Post-convention surveys consistently rate the Bureau’s Services Department very high, receiving rave reviews from meeting planners.

“Salt Lake’s convention services team deserves every award they’ve won-they are on top of everything throughout the entire meeting process,” said Linda Hines, Convention Manager for the American Military Surgeons of the U.S. “Not only are they incredibly helpful with all the logistical issues of producing a great event, they’re also truly focused on increasing meeting attendance and have great attendance promotion programs ready to implement.”

The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. The SLCVB’s mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors. Salt Lake is a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains that embrace Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown. For more information on all that Salt Lake has to offer, go to www.VisitSaltLake.com.

Salt Palace Convention Center to Host Nation’s Largest Rooftop Solar Panel Installation

SALT LAKE CITY (September 2010) - Salt Lake County, owner of the Salt Palace Convention Center, recently announced a project guaranteed to set a new standard for hosting sustainable meetings and conventions: the installation of the nation’s largest rooftop solar array atop the Salt Palace Convention Center in the heart of downtown Salt Lake, scheduled to be completed and online by January 2011.

The 600,000 square-foot project ─ larger than six football fields, including 11,319 solar panels ─ will more than double the current solar capacity of the state of Utah and generate approximately 25 percent of the annual energy consumed at the Salt Palace Convention Center, and re-defines what it means to hold a “green meeting” in Salt Lake. Salt Lake County is also installing additional energy efficient equipment in the Salt Palace that will result in utility savings of more than $175,000 annually.

“This project reflects Salt Lake County’s commitment to the natural environment that makes Salt Lake such a spectacular destination and shows its strong commitment to the convention industry in Utah,” said Scott Beck, President & CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. “A project of this scope and scale, combined with our current commitment to sustainable practices, helps move Salt Lake well down the path of being one of the nation’s top locations for sustainable conventions and meetings.”

Due to Utah’s 300-plus average annual days of sunshine, its favorable climate and the fact that Salt Lake’s 4,500-foot elevation means less atmosphere to diffuse the power of the sun, the Salt Palace solar project is sure to pay great dividends immediately and over the years, leveraging Salt Lake’s ‘bright’ future for both the citizens of Salt Lake and visitors to Utah’s capitol city.

Salt Lake’s solar project is a public-private partnership utilizing Utah’s recently passed House Bill 145 which enables innovative third-party financing options for government entities and certain non-profit entities, thus reducing the up-front cost barrier to solar energy development.

The Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit corporation responsible for the promotion of Salt Lake as a convention and travel destination. Its mission is to improve the area economy by attracting and providing support to conventions, leisure travelers and visitors. Salt Lake, a unique fusion of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town, is leading the way in sustainability for meetings as well as development. The towering Wasatch Mountains embracing Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown.

Click here to read more…

By Kathy Chin Leong, Smart Meetings — Slogging through the snow, frozen snowshoers finally arrive to their destination, a Mongolian yurt hidden among powdery mounds. It’s not exactly a reenactment of the historic Donner Party, for these trekkers immediately cast off their bulky layers, uncork their wine and descend unrelentingly on a five-course meal. This is Solitude Resort near Salt Lake City, a hip spot for skiing and a gourmet dinner, which includes a one-mile snowshoe hike into the woods to an authentic, round tent framed with wood beams and stretched canvas.

And in the spring in Utah Valley, with brushes in hand, novice artists come face-to-face with Mt. Timpanogos, Utah’s second-highest mountain in the Wasatch Mountain Range. Discovering their inner Monet, they recreate the scene before them on easeled canvases during a corporate retreat at Sundance Resort.

This statewide patchwork of landscapes, from snow-capped mountains to magnificent bowl valleys, is a catch-all for groups of every interest level. With such variety, you can tackle a fresh adventure every time you bring your entourage to the Greater Salt Lake area.

THE LAYOUT
Meeting planners can turn their sights to these five thriving regions: Salt Lake City, Park City, Utah Valley, Davis County and Ogden. Each locale delivers on convenient trade-show venues, widespread lodging, memorable restaurants and activities that will challenge the mind as well as the body. For additional information on where to host meetings in Utah, you can go to meetinutah.com. (more…)

BYU

• LaVell Edwards Stadium—home to the BYU Cougars football team
• Clarence F. Robison Track—nine-lane track that has hosted the NCAA Western Regional Championships
• Marriott Center Basketball Arena—holds over 22,000 people and has several entry points for easy access
• George Albert Smith Fieldhouse—venue for BYU men’s and women’s volleyball that has held the NCAA Men’s Volleyball championship games
• Larry H. Miller Baseball Field
• Stephen L. Richards Building Swimming Arena—three Olympic-size, heated pools

UVU

• McKay Events Center—large facility that is ideal for sports, concerts and other events
• Brent Brown Ballpark—home to the Orem Owlz, Utah’s minor league baseball team
• Outdoor track and field coming fall 2010

McKay Events Center-UVU

 LaVell Edwards Stadium-BYU

In addition to the venues offered by the universities, Utah Valley has several other sports locales:

• Peaks Ice Arena (Provo)—one of the Olympic hockey venues used in the 2002 Winter games
• Ivory Ridge Swim and Tennis Club (Lehi)—11 indoor and outdoor courts and a 4-lane pool
• The Quarry Indoor Climbing Center (Provo)—90 top rope and lead climbing routes
• The Factory (Lehi)—open court ideal for basketball, volleyball, and more and also contains meeting rooms
• 6 rodeo arenas
• 11 well-groomed, beautiful golf courses. As varied as their players, each course has something different to offer. Whether you are looking to play at the Thanksgiving Point Johnny Miller Signature Golf Club, Utah’s largest course, or another, you’ll find one to suit your needs.

(From top to bottom: Ivory Ridge Swim and Tennis Club, The Quarry Indoor Climbing Center, Hobble Creek Golf Course)

With the beautiful Wasatch Mountains lining Utah Valley to the east, all of our venues have a breathtaking, Western backdrop. You’ll enjoy the views wherever you play in Utah Valley. 

Utah Valley’s natural landscape is also conducive to outdoor sports whether it’s summer or winter. Fishermen can enjoy blue-ribbon trout fishing on the Provo River. The mountains provide opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, repelling and more. Those who have an inclination for water sports can indulge in their activity at Utah Lake. Also located in Utah Valley is Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort which offers mountain biking and more in the summer and day/night skiing in the winter.

In addition to the perfect venue, no destination is complete without good entertainment and food nearby. Utah Valley has several local options for unique ethnic restaurants, fine dining and popular chains. As far as entertainment goes, you’re in luck whether it’s winter or summer. During the hot months, enjoy floating down the Provo River, attending one of dozens of festivals that occur almost weekly, or exploring Timpanogos Cave. During the winter, there are winter sports, museums, and historical sites to visit.

The Utah Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau is here to help you. To score group rates on hotels, transportation, and selecting the right venue, visit PlayinUtahValley.com or call 888-355-8824. Let us offer our free services to help you plan the perfect sporting event.

Well mannered and family-friendly, Utah represents a kinder, gentler Wild West. It is home to some of the most extravagantly beautiful terrain in the U.S., much of which can be hiked, climbed, skied, biked and golfed, and it is a proud curator of its rich pioneer heritage.

From the populous Wasatch Front in the north, where 80 percent of Utahns live in and around the cities of Salt Lake, Provo and Ogden, to the bucolic south, studded with picturesque national parks and forests, Utah possesses a strong year-round draw. Nature lovers, adventure sports enthusiasts, golfers and those who appreciate spas and top-drawer luxury will all be thrilled to have a reason to visit the Beehive State. (more…)

The Redford Conference Center has replaced what was previously an employee parking lot. A cabinesque building set against a backdrop of rolling hills in the Wasatch Mountains, the conference center fits right in with its natural surroundings.

The Redford Conference Center, anticipated to open in September, is an ideal location to hold your next meeting. The facility offers nearly 3,500 square feet of meeting space with reception areas, a wrapping patio, a large fireplace and a full-service catering kitchen. This makes it a great place for corporate meetings, wedding receptions and other gatherings.

Ever since his purchase of the land that comprises Sundance Resort, Robert Redford has remained dedicated to preserving nature and using eco-friendly practices. The new conference center is no different. Redford made a few revisions to the conference center’s original plans because they called for a line of trees to be cut down to accommodate for the meeting space. Similar to Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy of creating organic architecture, Redford’s vision is to preserve the pristine beauty of nature. In this green spirit, the Redford Conference Center will use geothermal heating and cooling.

Sundance Resort is a must-visit for those spending time in Utah. The artistic resort brings work and leisure together. Why not accommodate for both needs at once? Experience the fine restaurants, spa, theater, festivals, art workshops and other events that Sundance Resort has to offer.

In addition to the Redford Conference Center, Sundance has several other meeting rooms with a total of 12,826 square feet of meeting space. Lodging is available in 95 guest cottages.

Visit Sundance Resort at sundanceresort.com or call 1-877-831-6224 to reserve a venue.

Read the press release about the new Redford Conference Center.

Utah Valley is excited to announce the new Utah Valley Convention Center in historic downtown Provo. Construction will begin in the summer of 2010, and the Convention Center is anticipated to open March 2012.

The facility will complement the ambiance of downtown Provo while providing top-notch functional meeting and event space. Event attendees will be amazed at the scenic backdrop with beautiful views of the Wasatch Mountains.

The Convention Center will have approximately 62,000 square feet of sellable meeting space.

The first floor of the Convention Center will include a Visitors Center as well as an Exhibit Hall (~20,000 square feet).

The second floor will have a full-service kitchen and ballroom (~20,000 square feet). The ballroom, which will be about 18,000 square feet, will be the largest in the county.

The third floor will have a divisible junior ballroom (~8,000 square feet) as well as several smaller meeting rooms. Additionally, there will be an open garden patio to accommodate various functions.

For more information on the Convention Center and additional meeting and event space in Utah Valley, contact Julia Currey, Sales Manager at 801-851-2106 or julia@utahvalley.com or visit MeetInUtahValley.com.

1. Singing and Stars- Attend one of our two outdoor amphitheaters located in Utah Valley, the SCERA OutdoorTheater and the Sundance Summer Theater. You’ll love being outside under the stars, barefoot in the grass, while watching these musical productions.

2. Experience Your Own Jurassic Park- The Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point is the world’s largest dinosaur museum. You’re imaginations will go wild picturing these giant creatures roaming the earth.

3. To Golf or not to Golf- Enjoy summer in full swing. The Utah Valley ParPass provides access to 11 of our local public golf courses at a valued packaged rate.4. Soar Above it All- Scenic ski lift rides are held at Sundance all spring and summer long during the day or under the moonlight.

5. American’s Freedom Festival- Join the 4^th of July excitement as we celebrate with activities all week including one of the biggest firework productions in the country featuring Carrie Underwood.

6. Cowboy Up- Whether you’re a little bit country or a little bit rock and roll, attending a rodeo this summer is a must. Popular local rodeos include Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days and Lehi Round-Up.

7. Real Men Wear Skirts- Scot or not, all are welcome at the 36^th Annual Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Join 12,000 friends for Scottish dancing, athletics, ethnic food, vendors, pipe bands, games and more set amid Utah’s own Highlands at Thanksgiving Point’s Electric Park.

8. Savor the Flavor- Your mouth will water at this unique event. The Payson Salmon Supper involves thousands of pounds of fresh Alaskan salmon that is fire-grilled by local fireman. Musicians and singers serenade the crowd while in line, which with years of tradition is quick and efficient.

Bringing everyone together for any business meeting or event takes a lot of planning and forethought. So how do you decide where to hold your next meeting or event? You most likely consider the venue location, ease of transportation and accommodations, venue amenities, dining and overall convenience so that you can focus on the details of your meeting or event.

Well if you need access to an inspiring meeting place, then we have a variety of options from traditional to full service, from mountain lodges to resorts, we are bound to have a unique meeting place for you.

The Utah Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau recently introduced a new logo and brand tag-line, Bring everyone together, to emphasize the position that Utah Valley is the perfect place to gather.

As we were researching people’s feelings about, and the reasons for visiting Utah Valley we found five major themes that support why visitors find Utah Valley the perfect place to gather.

 First, nearly all visitors have some type of previous connection to the Valley, whether that is friends, family, reunions, meetings or conventions.

Second, visitors frequently described Utah Valley as the ideal gathering place because of its central location in the state along the I-15 corridor, as well as the wide variety of activities and events.

Third, visitors appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery. This stunningly scenic valley at the mouth of two major canyons provides an ideal meeting place for all seasons. Year round recreation is minutes away at Sundance Resort, Thanksgiving Point and Timpanogos Cave National Monument. The Provo River offers a world-class fly-fishing and Bridal Veil Falls has breathtaking scenery just a few steps off the beaten path.

Fourth, although many visitors recreate in the outdoors during their stay, few come for the sole purpose of outdoor recreation and adventure. The purpose of your stay may be a business meeting or event, but the Valley provides more reasons to move through the agenda quickly, so you can also enjoy recreation and adventure, or extend your stay beyond the meetings.

Lastly, visitors describe Utah Valley as fun, youthful, happy, friendly and accommodating.

One visitor said, “I’ve arranged family reunions and business meetings here and haven’t had any problems finding accommodations. And it was so affordable. Everyone was satisfied no matter what it was.”

Plan your next meeting or event in Utah Valley’s magnetic environment and enjoy the ease, convenience and affordability of bringing everyone together.

The Davis Conference Center is a meeting planner’s dream, with attentive CVB and Conference Center staff to coordinate all of your needs from transportation to dine-arounds - - and Wi-Fi to Green Rooms. You can get a glimpse about how nice it is by viewing our video on YouTube - but you have to see it to appreciate all that Davis County has to offer. Give our sales staff a call, and we’ll get you all of the information that you need for a carefree meeting! 888.777.9771

The DACVB and DCC staff took small groups on tours of the guest rooms at the adjoining Hilton Garden Inn, and through the DCC itself. “I had no idea”, “Beautiful”, “What a great facility” were some of the comments overheard during the tours. The Utah Society for Respiratory Care was holding a conference at the same time, so our LinkedIn guests got to see the DCC in action - with Expo Space, break-out rooms and the main ballroom all in use.

 Call or write the Davis Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for more information about holding your next meeting or conference in Davis County - Where Business Meets Adventure! 888.777.9771

Don’t look to Scott Beck, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, to diminish the claim, not after the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) announced that its 2016 meeting will take place in Utah’s capital city.

Comparing this convention to last July’s prestigious gathering of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Beck said, “If MPI were the Winter Olympics, ASAE would be the Summer Olympics. It’s twice as big.”

So what’s the difference?

As its name suggests, MPI is made up of the people who plan annual meetings and other get-togethers for associations and companies. Because they’re the people who have a lot of say about where future meetings are held, the Salt Lake CVB made every effort to impress them when 2,200 showed up for last summer’s convention.

ASAE and The Center for Association Leadership includes many of those same meeting planners. More importantly, it features the executive directors of those associations. In addition, it includes the people who oversee the associations’ continuing education efforts for their membership.

Projected attendance is almost 6,000.

“It’s the flagship education and exposition opportunity for associations and nonprofit organizations in the United States, the must-attend event for all association professionals whether they represent trade associations, professional societies or philanthropic organizations,” said ASAE spokesman Jakubcq Konyszcq.

He estimated 20 percent of the meeting planners who attend the convention select the host city as the site of one of their own organization’s meetings or events within five years of the ASAE gathering.

“So the event is also a major economic boost for the host city,” added ASAE president and CEO John Graham.

Beck concurred.

“When the trade association of associations picks your city as host, it tells the market that you are a legitimate site for consideration,” he said. “Just the announcement that ASAE is coming is impactful.”

It also doesn’t hurt, Beck added, that associations tend to put convention centers to full use even more than other groups, who can stage their sessions at area hotels.

Salt Lake City’s selection as the 2016 host city was announced in conjunction with ASAE’s granting of conventions to Atlanta, Nashville, Detroit and Toronto in the years 2013 through 2017. Neither Salt Lake City nor Detroit has staged ASAE meetings before.

“People are often shocked when they hear about Detroit winning bids like this, but Detroit is a strong convention city,” Beck said.

“Detroit and Salt Lake City have similar battles. We have perceptions that people have to get over, but when they do, they recognize that our convention packages are greater than those perceptions.”

American Society of Association Executives

Membership in the Washington, D.C-based organization is made up of more than 22,000 association executives representing upward of 11,000 organizations nationally and in 50 foreign countries. Projected attendance is almost 6,000.

Upcoming ASAE meetings

2010 Los Angeles

2011 St. Louis

2012 Dallas

2013 Atlanta

2014 Nashville

2015 Detroit

2016 Salt Lake City

2017 Toronto

Each award was voted on by the readers of the respective publications, meeting professionals responsible for booking hundreds of thousands of meetings and conventions nationwide.

“Receiving recognition from the readers of these esteemed industry publications is truly an honor,” commented Scott Beck, SLCVB president and CEO. “Having been honored with these awards in both good years and challenging years truly demonstrates the level of service our Bureau and our hospitality partners are committed to offering all incoming meeting and convention groups.”

Service remains the cornerstone of the SLCVB, offering a truly superior level of customer and client satisfaction within the industry. Post-convention surveys consistently rate the Bureau’s Services Department very high, receiving rave reviews from meeting planners.

“Salt Lake’s convention services team deserves every award they’ve won-they are on top of everything throughout the entire meeting process,” said Linda Hines, Convention Manager for the American Military Surgeons of the U.S. “Not only are they incredible helpful with all the logistical issues of producing a great event, they’re also truly focused on increasing meeting attendance and have great attendance promotion programs ready to implement.”

Aside from shopping and my favorite eats at California Pizza Kitchen in the D concourse is the Squatters Pub located in the C concourse. It’s open from 7:30am to 8:00pm.

Now before you think yet another airport bar think again.

Squatters made the grade in late April in an article written by Forbes Travel about the top airport bars in the country. Yea, who would have thought Salt Lake could make the tops list for bars?

For most locals who have been to Squatters downtown it’s not hard to believe with all their award winning beers and a great atmosphere. Transfer those two elements to the airport and you’re set.

Next time you pass through the airport weather here for a convention or a vacation, stop by concourse C and relax at Squatters, one of Americas best airport bars.

–read the rest of the story from Forbes Travel.

Well, after reading a recent review of Grand America’s Sunday Brunch Buffet by Heather King of the Salt Lake City Lunch Examiner, I’m certainly leaning in the direction of 555 South Main Street.

From the review:

Like everything at the Grand America, brunch is beyond your wildest dreams. Enjoy made-to-order crepes with fresh fruits and creams and omelets with fresh veggies and other goodies; hand-rolled sushi; fresh king crab legs, shrimp and green-lipped mussels; smoked salmon; hand-carved prime rib and leg of lamb; a fresh juice bar and even a kid-level buffet area. Finally, don’t forget the chocolate fountain where you can dip fresh pineapple, strawberries and pound cake under flowing chocolate for the perfect end to your Sunday brunch.

Am I the only one hungry at this point? Look at the menu and it’ll seal the deal.

If it’s only half as good as it sounds (trust me, nothing at the Grand America is “half”) then the Sunday Brunch Buffet is sure to satisfy. See you this Sunday.

– Check out some details about the Grand America Hotel and the rest of Heather’s review.

I grew up enjoying the tradition of going to a game with friends and family - the energy of the ballpark, the crowd antics, the vendors selling cotton candy and hot dogs. Coming from New England, the Red Sox were our team, and while I love ‘em, getting tickets *at all* had become difficult, not to mention expensive. (more…)

Cast your line in one of America’s Blue Ribbon fly fishing rivers. The Provo River provides more than 3,000 fish-per-mile with a variety of hatches of mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, and midges, are available so there’s always active-feeding fish. Brown Trout is the most popular fish found in the Provo River. Rainbow and cutthroat trout and whitefish also roam the waters. Catches include fish more than 24 inches long.

Fly fishing isn’t just an activity during the summer at the Provo River. It can be done at any time of the day or year. In fact, some of the best fishing occurs when ice brims along the creek banks. Fly fishing is available throughout three sections of the Provo River.

The lower section provides the most fish out of the whole river and is easily accessed through the mouth of the Provo Canyon on Hwy 189. It’s easy to spend a day out fly fishing and then drive only a few minutes to get back to town for the night.

Equipment and full or half-day trips are offered by local professional guides from the Rocky Mountain Outfitters. Prices vary for this service so call ahead at (435) 654-1655 or visit rockymountainoutfitters.com for more information and to make reservations.

A Utah State Fishing License is required for those over 12 years old and can be bought at any fishing or sporting goods store such as Big 5 Sports, Sportsmans Warehouse, Cabela’s, or even at Walmart. You can also buy your license on-line. Most fishing in the area is catch-and-release or has a two-fish limit catch.

For more information on regulations, look in a Utah Fishing Proclamation & Information Guide.

Where to start? Eva’s menu items - an assortment of small plates in the $5-9 range - as well as wood-fired pizzas and pasta dishes, all sounded incredibly mouth-watering, to the point where my friend and I called up a third friend (who wasn’t able to join us), just to *read* her the list. Really.

And they tasted just as good as they sounded. We tried the spanacopita with spicy feta and balsamic, wood-fired flatbread with white bean puree and truffle oil, and a salad with arugala, watermelon, cherries, goat cheese, and balsamic. All three were incredible. I actually took notes on the salad, in the futile hope of re-creating it at home.

Not only are the plates delicious and reasonably priced, Eva seems to also be focused on using local ingredients when possible. Our server mentioned a Sunday fixed-price meal featuring several courses, all with ingredients from the SLC Farmers Market, accompanied by wine.

Ambience is cozy inside the restaurant and out, where Eva’s brick patio is lit up with colorful lanterns. All told, this was a fantastic dining experience, and I will most certainly be coming back!

Details: 317 South Main St, Salt Lake City, (801) 359 - 8447.

One of Salt Lake City’s favorite traditions, the Twilight Concert Series, is in the midst of celebrating its twenty-second season which began at the first of July. The second month of this two month series begins tomorrow night (Thursday, August 6) with hip-hop artist Q-Tip and B.o.B. Next week is going to feature Toots and the Maytals, a classic Reggae band with plenty of roots and soul.

Get into the groove with a little teaser of what’s in store with Q-Tip tonight:

Truth of the matter is that all of the musicians for the month of August represent a wide variety of music styles but are all quite talented. Put on and hosted by the Salt Lake Arts Council, the Twilight Concert Series is all about bringing quality music representing various styles and mixes.

Details:

- Admission is FREE (yes, I shouted that)
- Venue is The Gallivan Center at 239 South Main Street
- For the rest of this month’s lineup check out NowPlayingUtah.com

About the Arts Council:

Through the arts, the Salt Lake City Arts Council ensures that Utah’s capital city is a vibrant, creative and active community, supporting a comprehensive menu of arts activities for people in every age group and from every background, recognizing that the arts in one form or another provide excitement, challenge and satisfaction to people with a wide variety of interests.

– image credit the Twilight Series Website

After realizing that both of us favor sushi and our spouses don’t really care for it I was in a bit of a quandry as to where. I do enjoy Happy Sumo, especially on a nice afternoon when you can sit on the patio but it was a bit warm and I was thinking of trying somewhere else. So I texted a SLC foodie friend and simply asked:

Got a good Sushi recommendation in Salt Lake?

Her reply was this:

“Takashi is my fave. Otherwise Tsunami in Sugar House or Ginza by the Salt Palace. I’ve always wanted to try Wasabi at 7th E and 21 S”

It had been 5 years or so since I was last in Ginza and since we were already downtown that sealed the deal.

About Ginza

Ginza was started 14 years ago and enjoys a location that makes it both a local’s favorite as well as a convenient location for Jazz fans, business travelers and meeting/convention attendees as it’s just kiddy-corner from the Southwest corner of the Salt Lake Convention Center.

Lucky for us we stopped by on a quiet afternoon but after chatting with the sushi chefs they said it was a packed house last week at this time during the Outdoor Retailer Show, stating that “locals know better than to come here during OR”.

The Food and Atmosphere

One of the things that is enjoyable about Ginza is the simple atmosphere that is casual and pretty chill. Adding to that are the sushi chefs who were enjoyable to chat with. We found out that Marlene who has been rolling sushi for 13 years at Ginza and whose parents started one of the first Japanese Restaurants in Salt Lake City called the “Hibachi” was on her second to last day. She was very pleasant to chat with and after some prodding talked about the thousands of interesting and enjoyable people she’s known over the years.

It seems that her skill of rolling sushi is well honed over those 13 years as the rolls were artful as well as extremely tasteful. I got the Rainbow Roll along with the Spicy Yellow Tail (left below) while my mom chose the Spicy Scallop roll (below right).

The fish was quite fresh and the special touch of the radish sprouts and greens on the rainbow roll added to the presentation. The price for lunch with tip was under $40 so that was agreeable. It’s not flashy but it’s good sushi in a chill atmosphere that will have most locals and visitors coming back to Ginza time and time again.

Details:
Ginza is located on the corner of 2nd South and 2nd West.

With 13 locations on the Connect Pass, it’s very possible to take in 4-5 in one day. But what about all 13?

Laura from Visit Salt Lake set out with a couple of her close friends to see if all 13 could be visited in one day. In part 1 of the video below, she starts off at the Olympic Park in Park City, hits the Zoo, This is the Place, Red Butte Gardens and then the Museum of Fine Art.

If you’re not sure about the Connect Pass, visit the details page to find out more about the locations and the pricing. With summer in full swing the Connect Pass is the only way to see Salt Lake.

Well, after my most recent visit to Mountain Dell’s Canyon Course this past week I think I now know how to answer that question - they’re not all from Salt Lake.

In fact, I was quite surprised that of the groups of golfers I spoke with almost all of them were not from Salt Lake but from spots like Houston, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada. The couple from Houston said that each summer they’ve been coming to Salt Lake to golf for nearly 25 years! My perspective of golf here in Salt Lake has indeed been changed.

If you’ve not golfed Mountain Dell’s Canyon Course now’s the time to do so. Using the Golf Salt Lake Super Pass you can lock in a tee time well in advance but more importantly you’ll save money on your round of golf if you’ve got a foursome, in addition to getting into the mountains where the air is a bit cooler and the views speak for themselves.

The front 9 of the Canyon Course aren’t too exciting, mimicking many municipal courses around the country with fairways that are back to back, often sharing the same “rough” where an errant ball is easily played back into the correct fairway. But the back 9 is where the course gets it’s name and really makes itself unique and challenging.

Starting with the 11th tee (right), you start a journey up Parley’s Canyon that with the 14th turns and starts to wind it’s way back down canyon. With the exception of the 13th par 3, the holes are long and more narrow than the front 9. A ball lost in the scrub oak is just that, lost. The views back down valley are breathtaking and although sometimes you’ll hear the traffic of I-80, for the most part you feel a world away from it all.

Coming up to the clubhouse on the 18th fairway (top left image) you emerge from the mature cottonwood trees to the final green. The Canyon course won’t be a PGA tour stop but it’s a journey that I can’t wait to do again and hope to see you there.

If you’ve golfed the Canyon Course at Mountain Dell, spend your 2 cents and let us know how it was for you by commenting below.

Featured speakers were actor and author Ben Stein, Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman, and Betsy Myers who was the COO of the Obama Inauguration. You could feel the excitement coming out of the main hall and the attendees commented on how well executed the opening session was.

After all, when you put together a meeting for meeting planners you’re sure to have an audience who is going to look at the event through a microscope.

We caught up with a number of attendees to find out their thoughts on opening session. Take a look:

Congrats MPI on a great opening session. We’re glad to have played host to it.

Tree Planting at The Canyons

The group headed to the Wingate by Wyndham to check in and relax a bit before our evening out.

The next stop was a reception at Red Mountain Spa hosted by the St. George Area Tourism and Convention Bureau. What can you say about Red Mountain Spa…perfection! Aside from a little wind, it was a wonderful evening. The food was impressive, the wine flowed freely, the atmosphere was lovely and the company was divine. Kristen Wilson gave us a tour of the spa and the accommodations. It was difficult for Kristen to convince us to leave, but finally we called it a night. Thanks Kristen, Carolyn, Jessica and Tami…we had a great time!

Saturday morning the education began. Michelle Thompson’s presentation, “Fundamentals of Corporate Social Responsibility for the Meetings Industry” was very interesting and educational. I personally learned some small changes that can be made at home and at the office that make a huge difference. Also, I will always pay the $10.00 for carbon offsets when offered. Michelle should know that the Wingate has already provided me with a list of steps they are taking to “Go Green.”

We left the Wingate and headed to the Dixie Center for a tour and lunch. Jo Ann Gordon, Marketing Director for the Dixie Center, gave us the grand tour of the facility. We finished up with a scrumptious lunch prepared by Fairway Catering and hosted by the Dixie Center. Thanks for your hospitality Jo Ann!

The group hopped on the Motor Coach and headed back to Salt Lake City.

All Aboard

Thanks to all of you for making the trip to St. George. I hope you had a great time, and will come back to St. George in the future. I look forward to seeing all of you in July at WEC in Salt Lake City.

There’s something about clinging to a sheer cliff face with nothing but your fingers and toes that really lights some people’s fires. Rock climbing is a popular activity in Utah because the natural landscape provides the perfect environment for climbing. Utah Valley offers indoor and outdoor climbing locations for climbers of any ability.

If defying gravity is your personal interest, check out these Utah Valley climbing locations:

Rock Canyon is a local favorite and good climbing spot for less-experienced climbers, offering routes that are top roped. The rocks are not far from the parking lot so you don’t have to hike in. This location is the most convenient location in the Provo/Orem area.

American Fork Canyon is a sport-climber’s paradise. Many of the limestone cliffs here have been bolted and top-roped.  At this location it takes longer to get the actual climb because you have to hike a trail into the canyon. As route ratings go, 5.5, 5.6 is as easy as it gets, so amateurs should stick to 5.6, 5.7, 5.8. More experienced climbers will be in the 5.11, 5.12 range.

If you don’t know anything about rock climbing, but would like to give it a try, start at an indoor climbing gym. Instructors at the gym will teach you the basics. Plus they provide all the equipment you will need to climb around the gym. The Quarry in Provo is a big gym with a lot of different routes.  Hansen Mountaineering is another option located in Orem with a smaller gym . The indoor climbing gyms are also ideal if you don’t have your own equipment or if you’d rather not drive to the canyon.

If you are looking for climbing gear, Mountainworks is a climbing gear store located right next to The Quarry in Provo. Out-N-Back Adventure Specialists in Orem also provides gear for all types of wilderness activities.

Before you head out, stop by one of the local climbing shops for up-to-date route info, and to stock-up on a few necessities.  ”Climber’s Guide to American Fork Canyon, Rock Canyon” by Stuart and Bret Ruckman is a must-have for anyone who is serious about climbing in the area.  It offers descriptions of routes and good climbing information.

Wilderness adventure is what you get when you combine Utah’s mountains and canyons with outdoor enthusiasts. If this is you, check out the rock climbing options in Utah Valley on your next trip here.

Rich in natural beauty and wilderness activities, Utah Valley is a treasure chest for nature enthusiasts, but don’t be discouraged by the rugged landscape if hiking isn’t your idea of recreation. Treat yourself instead to the premier performances of internationally touring, world renowned, dance performance groups of BYU and UVU. Exclusive to Utah Valley, these universities have achieved a reputation of excellence in their cultural and performing arts programs.

The BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies in Salt Lake City and is one of the most sought-after ensembles to represent American folk culture at international folk festivals around the world. The UVU Ballroom Dance Company has performed and competed throughout the word and received many honors and awards.

Utah Valley is also home to at least 11 community theaters and play houses that provide a well rounded selection of family-oriented and well-known musicals and plays. Playwrights, actors, directors, choreographers and others involved in these productions are mostly local community members dedicated to keeping the magic of the stage alive with song, dance, and drama.

If watching a play, concert or show is your activity of choice, you’ll be happy to know that the Valley boasts a buffet of performing arts venues to choose from for visitors who prefer more leisurely recreation. Don’t miss an opportunity to experience one-of-a-kind performances by these distinctive groups.

Popular venues:

• Showtime Utah!: Features music and comedy in a lively dinner theater experience with an Old West theme, specifically designed for the Utah audience.
• Hale Center Theater: An intimate theatre-in-the-round, usually featuring classic comedies and musicals.
• SCERA Center for the Arts: Showcases local and regional talent in concerts and musicals under the stars at the Shell Outdoor Theater.
• BYU: Home to the university’s internationally renowned performing groups.
• UVU: Presents the highly awarded Ballroom Dance Company.
• Sundance Resort Summer Theater: Keeping with the tradition of promoting the arts, Sundance partners with UVU to present productions at their outdoor amphitheater.

Complete Listing of Utah Valley Theaters

Specifically the aviary is a part of Liberty Park and with all the trees surrounding it unless you’ve known it’s there you’ve probably missed it while driving by. But it’s been there for a long time…71 years to be exact.

From the Tracy Aviary website:

Tracy Aviary is located on eight acres of land in the heart of Salt Lake City. A charitable act by Salt Lake City banker Russell Lord Tracy founded Tracy Aviary when he donated his private bird collection to Salt Lake City and its children. Open to the public since 1938, Tracy Aviary maintains a collection of approximately 400 birds representing about 135 species. Many of these birds are considered rare or endangered…(read more history here)

Laura was at the Tracy Aviary this past month and shot this video showcasing the variety of birds to be seen. Grab the kids, your friends, spouse, whatever but don’t forget the Connect Pass and check out the Tracy Aviary this summer.

–image courtesy of the Tracy Aviaryv

Beginning June 29th and running through August, these free concerts feature local artists and are held every weekday from 12:15 to 1:00pm in public parks and plazas around Salt Lake City. This year’s program schedule (available soon) has an great line-up including:

Check the schedule, grab some lunch, and head out to enjoy some great music and the gorgeous Salt Lake summer weather.

And don’t forget to stay until the end to participate in the drawing for a free lunch certificate at one of Salt Lake’s local restaurants.

The Brown Bag Series is sponsored by the Salt Lake City Arts Council.

It’s been a longtime tradition of many locals and visitors alike who come in the spring time months of March, April and May to ski in the mornings and then finish off the day with a round of 18 holes in the afternoon. There are certainly few places in the country where you can pull that off with ease.

Old Mill golf course just off 6200 South and Wasatch Blvd often sees golfers in early March and well into May who have just come from the slopes 15 minutes away.

Additionally the courses play very well all summer long and into the fall. Even despite the summer heat the mature and newer courses in Salt Lake offer great vistas, plenty of trees and variety of play that keep locals and visitors coming back and looking for deals along the way.

To exploit celebrate the secret that is Salt Lake golfing, we’ve launched the Golf Salt Lake Super Pass.

What’s the Golf Salt Lake Super Pass?

The Golf Salt Lake Super Pass allows you access to the best tee times at any one of Salt Lake’s 10 top golf courses. With the pass you get:

• 18 holes of play
• Golf cart rental
• Access to tee times 60 days in advance of play
• A small bucket of range balls
• A 10-20% discount on Golf club rentals at any of the participating courses

This is especially convenient if you’re coming to Salt Lake and want to be certain that you’ll not get stuck with a left over tee time. The 60 days in advance tee time reservation is almost as good as a hole in one. (almost)

Check out the prices and the course information then grab your bag, a sleeve of balls and your Golf Salt Lake Super Pass and you’re set.

Call ahead, schedule a time, and find out.

That’s exactly what I did this week, and received a tour from the brewmaster himself, Kevin Ely. Kevin knows his beer. He also knows his biochemistry, which makes him both an excellent beer maker and a fascinating tour guide for a science geek like me.

We (a friend and her baby came along) started off outside, where Kevin pointed out the silos containing malt and told us about the pub, where you can sample, for a nominal fee, Uinta’s beverages, as well as buy full size beers to go with your meal.Note: liquor laws require you to be 21 in order to enter the pub itself, but tours of the brewery are open to all ages.

Once inside the brewery, we were walked through the science of beer-making step by step. We tasted and smelled different kinds of malt and hops as Kevin explained the process (from boiling to fermenting, and everything in between)that turns water, malt (barley and/or wheat), hops and yeast into beer, “the most drinkable beverage in the world.”

Our last stop was the lab, where various factors (such as pH) are closely monitored using a machine called, I kid you not, a Beer Analyzer. Genius. The whole brewing process was enough to make me want to break out my old bio books.

Touring Uinta is also unique in that every step is done on site - from brewing (about 2,000 barrels per month), to bottling or kegging and loading it onto trucks, it all happens in one big building here on the west side of SLC.

Kevin also told me that Uinta uses 100% windpower (purchased) to make its beer, as well as a nifty heat exchanger that captures about 90% of the heat from boiled beer, simultaneously cooling each batch before it heads off to ferment and heating up water for the next batch waiting to be boiled. Eco-friendly and local: two more reasons to smile the next time you enjoy a Cutthroat.

Details: 1722 Fremont Drive, (801) 467-0909, call ahead to schedule a tour. Pub open M-F 11-7, serving lunch 11-3. Outdoor patio.

The overall “Best Restaurant” for SLC went to Fresco, who also took home best Italian. A couple years ago I had a very enjoyable dinner at Fresco and it’s time for a return visit.

Joining the Hall of Fame, and rightly so, were Log Haven and Cucina Tuscana, both icons in the the Salt Lake restaurant scene. (more…)

However, if you went to the boat show put on by Greenband Enterprises, the weather outside had little effect on the attendees and especially those looking to get into the action. Exhibitors and dealers packed the South Towne Expo Center in Salt Lake City, February 4-8. But the boats were only half of the action and there is video to prove it!

The indoor rail jam was set up by Pat Panakos and it turned the event into a Who’s Who of wakeboarding. Pro riders JD Webb, Jeff Mckee, Nick Ennen, and Keith Lyman showed up to put on a show while other industry names like Ben Greenwood and Parks Bonifay hung out and signed autographs. All of this indoors here in Salt Lake at the South Towne Expo Center.

One lucky fan even went home with JD Webb’s board and bindings after putting on a little show for the crowd!

A mountain forest at the height of autumn is a pretty impressive sight from any vantage point.  But for Dave Toumisto, owner of Timpanogos Harley-Davidson, the view is best from the seat of a motorcycle.  The Alpine Loop, a 20-mile paved road through American Fork Canyon in Utah’s Wasatch Mountain range, and Tuomisto and his fellow riders say it’s one of the best motorcycle rides around. 

“The Loop offers lots of different types of riding, from slow, sweeping curves to cliffs to fast-paced straightaways.  And fall, when the maples are red and the aspens are yellow, is the best season of all,” Toumisto said.

A big attraction of the Alpine Loop ride is the variety of things to see and do along the way.  The American Fork Canyon side of the Loop features Timpanogos Cave National Monument, a series of breathtaking caves with unique formations and clear underground pools.  Near the top of the Loop, riders can take a short side trip to Cascade Springs and stroll the quarter-mile boardwalk among the pools of water.  And on the Provo Canyon side is Robert Redford’s famed Sundance Resort.  It’s a perfect place to hop off the bike for some world-class food or the 45-minute roundtrip chair lift ride to the top of Mount Timpanogos.

Among the 11 golf courses, Thanksgiving Point was ranked number one by Utah Business magazine among the top 25 golf courses in the area. The Golf Digest in 1997 ranked Thanksgiving Point as the number one golf destination in Utah. With 7,714 yards of beautiful terrain, Thanksgiving Point golf course is one of the largest in the state. Designed by PGA champion Johnny Miller, this course offers spectacular views of the snow capped mountains, flower gardens and other scenic landscape to make your golf experience unique.

Don’t forget about the other 10 courses located throughout Utah Valley that offer great scenic views and other distinct features. Hobble Creek Golf Course in Springville has also been rated 4.5 stars by Golf Digest Magazine. Talons Cove Golf club in Saratoga Springs was the site of the Utah Open in 2005 and 2006. For more information.

Denver has the Nuggets and Coors while Salt Lake has the Jazz and Squatters. Our mountains are…well, I could go on and on with the comparisons but I doubt it’ll mean much. Each city across the country and around the world has it’s pros, cons, quirks and those things that make it special.

I had the chance to chat with the president of Mountain Hardware, Mike Wallenfells who talked about Salt Lake (its quirks and its noteworthy aspects), the Outdoor Retailer show, and how Salt Lake makes for a great location to hold a convention.

Of note was his mention of La Caille, an award winning French restaurant near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. The food is memorable and the 32 wines by the glass, 455 wines by the bottle that range in price from 15 to 3000 dollars, 113 liquors & spirits, and 29 beers & ales certainly is worth mention.

In this clip I had the chance to talk with Chuck Toal who works for Wigwam, a century old company located in Wisconson who to this day is still making socks and owned by the same family. Chuck said that he enjoyed coming to Salt Lake twice a year for the Outdoor Retailer Show and that he felt like it was “Coming Home” each time he arrives.

With fly fishing and skiing close by and restaurants like Log Haven and PF Changs, Chuck said that Salt Lake is tops on his list of cities, a list that included locations like Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Minneapolis. Thanks for your time Chuck!

As I was filtering through things still available this Holiday Season I saw that there are still tickets available and performances through Dec. 27 for Ballet West’s The Nutcracker. The play is performed at the Capital Theater at 50 West 200 South.

Written in 1844 by Alexandre Dumas and with music later created by Tchaikovsky, the story was adapted from the original classic German story written in 1816,The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The Nutcracker we know today as a holiday tradition wasn’t really adopted as such until the New York City Ballet performed a revised choreographed version in 1954.

Utah’s own Ballet West has added a couple traditions to it’s performances of this classic as well. But it’s not so much about the performance but more about the participation from the audience.

From Ballet West’s website is this note about the Christmas Eve performance:

And for those who choose to attend the Christmas Eve performance, Dec 24 at noon, come ready for some subtle Christmas-Eve- only surprises that are sure to sweeten this holiday treat. Every year is a new year for this all-time Utah holiday favorite.

Also unique about these showings is a special blanket and coat drive at each performance that the Artists of Ballet West are hosting. Visit the Ballet West’s website for more info and if you know someone that is headed to a performance, feel free to have them donated a blanket or coat on your behalf.

One street in particular called Boones Ferry Road travels about 15 miles through southwest Portland starting west, then going north, turns east, north again, then west after a little stream crossing then….you get the picture.

Compare that to Salt Lake’s 7th east for example. Active street, touches may parts of the community. It starts heading south and, here’s the punchline, heads south until it ends unceremoniously at the southern end of the Salt Lake Valley. Nothing too exciting. But it’s simple and relatively easy to figure out once you realize a couple of things:

1. The mountains are to the east of the city
2. Street names originate at the Salt Lake Temple in downtown

So finding a neighborhood like Sugarhouse or Canyon Rim doesn’t require a local, but just some local knowledge.

Without delving into the grid system explanation, I was reading Salt Lake Magazine about their take on the grid system. Check it out.

One of only six Golden Door Spas in the world, The Spa at the Dakota Mountain Lodge is 15,000 square feet and includes 15 treatment rooms.

Dakota Mountain Lodge also offers 15,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 6,000 square foot ballroom.

There are 202 luxury condominiums in Phase 1 of this new resort. Amenities and decor include:  Viking stainless steel appliances; European glass steam showers; separate jet tubs; 42″ HD flat screen TVs in each room; high-speed Internet access and custom designed furniture to name a few.

Visit www.dakotamountainlodge.com or call 435-647-5500 for more information.

Luckily for me, our office is closed on powder days in Ogden. You can find and the entire office crew hitting slopes of either mountain when they report more than six inches of new powder!!

Scott Beck, president and CEO of the Salt Lake City Convention and Visitors Bureau said of the video that “a lot of it was over the top and flamboyant” while also stating that “a lot of it was spot on“.

Using the TV series “The Office”, the video features the “pin Lady” who in a witty and funny way gives answers to a desperate and road ragged meeting planner. Ever felt like this when trying to find a venue for your convention?

MeetingsReview.com’s James Latham caught up with Scott Beck in a video interview that was posted to their site last week. It’s worth seeing the conversation between Scott and James and hearing about the reaction from MPI.

Check out the video interview at MeetingsReview.com.

Despite this, the Spaniards often called the Gitanos “Mestizo”, meaning that they were a mix of cultures and nationalities rather than “true” Spaniards. For the most part it didn’t ruin their spirits.

In this same open attitude and one of acceptance, Utah artist Ruby Chacon along with her husband, Terry Hurst have opened Mestizo Coffee House, embracing the diversity and yes, the mixing of cultures that exists in the Salt Lake Valley and in particular, the West side.

Salt Lake Magazine had a nice write up about Ruby and Terry’s vision. It’s worth checking out as is Mestizo located at 631 W. North Temple.

–via Salt Lake Magazine

After a long loop of downtown were were passing by Thai Lotus on 212 East 500 South and after a couple of glances we knew it was time to pull in to check it out. Neither of us had been there before so we went into it with no real expectation.

Arriving just shy of 1:30 the place was packed (even though the photo below shows it empty), including a couple who were dining out front! Glancing around at the decor, perusing the menu to kill some time a table opened up and we were seated quickly.

I immediately had the impression that Thai Lotus was all about business. Our server immediately served us salad with a peanut sauce as she took our order. I ordered one of entree items and was asked to choose a second, somehow missing the fact that each lunch came with two entree came with 2 menu items.

We ate our salads at a casual pace and immediately as we finished our meals were on the table. I was impressed so far.

The Food

So how was the food? I loved it. I chose the Chicken Red Curry and the Chicken Panang Curry and both were delicious. The red curry had some heat to it but not enough to make it uncomfortable. Serving size at Thai Lotus was spot on for a couple of hungry guys.

Perhaps the best part of the meal came with the bill - under $20 including tip for both of us! On price alone it’s worth checking out but the food quality and the service we experienced speaks volumes for Thai Lotus.

Happy Halloween, folks. Don’t forget to stop by Park City’s ever popular “Howl O Ween” where Main Street caters to costumed dogs, kiddos and more. The trick-or-treating goes from 3-5, and a photo-op for you and your pooch will be at the post office from 4-5.

Don’t forget to stick around for the “doggy parade” where costumed dogs and their owners will procede from the post office on down Main Street.

 Chalk another one up for Ogden, Utah. TEAM Unlimited, owners and producers of the XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series and the Utah Sports Commission have announced Ogden and Snowbasin will be hosts to XTERRA USA Championship event. 

Ogden has been host to the XTERRA Mountain Championships and the XTERRA Winter Worlds, but will now host the grand finale race of the XTERRA America Tour! Ogden, Snowbasin and the entire state of Utah will welcome athletes from every state in the union and over twelve countries! Dates have been set tentatively for Sept. 25th-26th, 2009 in conjunction with Ogden’s long running Mountain to Metro games.
If you are looking to swim one mile in open water, bike 20 miles up a 3,000 foot ascent to Snowbasin and then top it off with a 6 mile trail run, this may be something you have been missing! Otherwise, it makes for a great spectator sport and an unbelievable after party in downtown Ogden!

La Quinta Inn & Suites
91 E 2680 S
St. George, UT 84790
1-888-788-2457
www.laquintastgeorge.com

Wingate by Wyndham- As one of the top hotels in its class, this St. George property is in the perfect setting for leisure and corporate travelers alike. With 77 rooms, including 11 suites, the superb architecture has created rooms that are on average 17% larger than comparable properties. Built for business, state of the art technology is available throughout the building. Complimentary fax, copier, computer and printer service, along with a complimentary local shuttle facilitate the needs of all travelers. The interior design, privacy, individualized service and attention to detail all create an atmosphere that is warm and welcoming.
With pre-event planning services, the staff offers the promise to fulfill all requirements specified in meeting contracts. With 1,900 square feet of flexible meeting space, the Wingate can accommodate everything from a business conference to a wedding reception. The Windham’s catering services can accommodate everything from break items like coffee and scones to a formal dinner banquet.
Other amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, heated outdoor pool and whirlpool, 24-hour business center, and a complimentary expanded continental breakfast. These services and amenities will truly make a guest feel like they have found a “home away from home”. Located just off of I-15, the Windham offers easy access to golf, theater, hiking trails and shopping.

The Wingate by Wyndham
144 West Brigham Road, Bldg. G
St. George, Utah 84790
1-800-228-1000
www.wingatestgeorge.com

The award takes note of hotels with “location-inspired architecture, ambience and amenities, ecostewardship, and an ethic of giving back to community,” according to National Geographic Traveler. More than 600 properties were nominated for the award by travel experts. Upon further research, editors narrowed the list to 150 properties.

“It’s thrilling to see how many folks in the accommodations business truly care about offering guests a sense-of-place experience,” says Traveler Senior Editor Sheila Feldman Buckmaster. “The hotels and inns that made it onto the list give back to the community, work to conserve and sustain, and day in and day out celebrate the very best that their destinations have to offer.”

Sundance, the picturesque destination resort, founded by Robert Redford in 1969, is a year round resort at the base of 12,000-foot Mt. Timpanogos offering an array of mountain activities including snow sports, hiking, mountain biking, fly-fishing, and horseback riding as well as unique offerings such as art classes, exhibits and periodic film screenings.

“Sundance appreciates being included in this list that recognizes and validates our commitment to authenticity, community, a stewardship of the land and a sense of place,” commented Chad Linebaugh, Co General Manager, Sundance Resort. “The fact that this award is presented to properties that represents these values makes it especially meaningful.”

ABOUT SUNDANCE

Nestled at the base of 12,000-foot Mt. Timpanogos, the Sundance Resort is a 5,000-acre destination resort, committed to maintaining the balance of art, nature and recreation. Sundance offers diverse mountain recreation experiences and encourages the cultivation of art and selfexpression, as well as the preservation of the land. Created by Robert Redford, Sundance is a haven for discovery and inspiration, featuring 100 well-appointed cottages and homes consistent with the Sundance brand. The Sundance family of companies includes the Sundance Resort, Sundance Preserve, Sundance Institute, Sundance Channel, Sundance Cinemas and Sundance Catalog.

One of those is the Scary Aerie Halloween Dinner hosted at the Aerie Restaurant which is on the 10th floor of the Cliff Lodge at Snowbird.

A week from this Friday on Halloween night, the Aerie will be hosting a ghoulishly themed dinner that looks like it could be straight up treat with little trick.

For $39 per person this looks well worth a visit to the mountains.

Check out the menu!

FIRST COURSE:
Spooky Salad
Baby Mixed Green Salad, Roma Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Creepy Red Beet and Feta Vinaigrette
or…
Thai Chicken Liver & Bloody Noodle Soup
With Fresh Mint and Spicy Ginger Creme Fraiche

SECOND COURSE:
Snail En Croute
Slow Roasted Snail in Wild Forest Mushroom Ragout
or…
Two-Sauces Lasagna Bite
House-made Pepper Pasta with Garlic Creme Sauce and Tomato Basil Ragout
or…
Inferno Shrimp
Au Gratin Chipotle Rice Pilaf and Pan-seared Tiger Shrimp with Black Mole Sauce

THIRD COURSE:
Monkfish
Prosciutto-wrapped Monkfish, Plantain Puree, and Fire-roasted Corn Salsa
or…
Ostrich Filet
Pan-seared Ostrich Filet Salsify and Boursin Mash, Crispy Sweetbreads and Pinot Noir Reduction
or…
Quail
Free-range Oven Roasted Basil Pesto Marinated Quail, Fresh Capellini with Tomato Basil Ragout, Roasted Garlic Bread and Shaved Pecorino
or…
Citrus Marinated Free Range Chicken
Coconut Jasmine Rice & Sweet Soy Glaze

FOURTH COURSE:
Death By Chocolate
Try it if you dare…

Costumes are recommended, as are reservations.

If you know of additional “treats” in Salt Lake to indulge in for Halloween night, let us know by commenting below and we’ll get it posted for the community to read about.

Located in the southern end of the Gateway Center, Happy Sumo sits among over a dozen of restaurants and eateries but comes in as the only sushi option. But just because it’s the only option on this end of the Gateway Center, doesn’t mean it doesn’t measure up as it was “Voted Best Sushi” by City Weekly Magazine.

I opted to walk to Sumo from the Salt Palace Convention Center main entrance and it took just over 10 minutes. The train ride back was not much shorter after waiting for the train to arrive so either option is available if you’re coming from downtown.

Thanks to the sunny afternoon we (all 15 of us) were able to be seated on the patio out front to enjoy the sun and the sushi.

Sumo for Lunch

Like nearly every sushi restaurant Happy Sumo has its specialty rolls. One that we sampled as a group was the Playboy Roll (pictured below) which is Tempura shrimp, avacado and cucumbers topped with tuna sashimi, Sumo sauce (it has a bit of picante to it), eel sauce and tabiko. Writing out the ingredients makes me hungry for another, it was that tasty.

I personally ordered up a trio for lunch: the Wasatch Roll, Unagi Nigiri (freshwater eel) and Kappa Maki which is cucumber roll.Read more about lunch at Happy Sumo

Mayor Becker said:

“The Convention and Visitor Bureau’s participation in the e2 program typifies the kind of message we want to send to people considering a visit to our Capital City: Salt Lake City is a place committed to the sustainability of its beautiful mountains and natural, welcoming setting,”

What’s an e2 Business? The Salt Lake Green website gives details about the e2 Citizen and e2 Business programs. It also has some insightful information including the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for Salt Lake, part of which includes the now green lanes on 200 South.

Basically, the (e2) business program is a part of a national program whose objective it is to protect the environment while building economic prosperity. Locally, it is used to recognize and support the Salt Lake City business community and economy.Read more about SLCVB’s e2 award

What you get is the “Pioneer Meal” with a value of $9.95. I recently ate at the Lion House using the Connect Pass and with the addition of a Lion House Root Beer the total was $10.50, so I ended up paying $.55 in addition to showing my Connect Pass.

Not too shabby at all. But how was the meal?

Lion House Panry Reviewed

The atmosphere at the Lion House Pantry is quaint and simple with home-style seating among many rooms and nooks. My friend Adam and I found a unique nook and claimed it as our own.

Although it feels like cafeteria style when you enter, the food is not school house fare.

I went with the Chicken and rice while Adam lined up for the BBQ Beef and mash potatoes. Each meal comes with a side salad or fruit and a home made roll. We upgraded from fountain drinks to some Lion House Old Fashioned Root Beer. Why not, right?

I guess the question to ask is would I eat here despite the Connect Pass “freebie” and I’d have to answer absolutely. For $10 this home style meal along with the enjoyable atmosphere is hard to beat.

Meetings and Conventions - If I were attending a meeting or convention at the Salt Palace Convention Center if time permitted (You’d need about 45-55 min total for lunch) I’d put the Lion House on my radar as it’s a short 5 min walk from the convention center and may be void of the heavy convention traffic.

Perhaps lesser known and visited yet impressive in its own scale is the Cathedral of the Madeleine located at 331 E. South Temple. It’s a Utah and Nationally listed historical location and if you’ve found yourself in Salt Lake and are looking to see unique architecture the Cathedral is an easy stop.

As one of the stops on the Connect Pass City Tour, the Cathedral of the Madeleine is combined of a predominantly Romanesque exterior with a Gothic interior on the structure. The stained glass is some of the finest in Utah and reminiscent of locations I’ve seen throughout Europe.

…read more about the Cathedral of the Madeleine…

Since I’m blogging about it and linking to The Leonardo’s blog, I guess that means I wasn’t VIP enough to get an invite. Perhaps some day.

Body Worlds is arguably one of the most fascinating, unique, and sometimes controversial, exhibits ever to be shown.

An impression from the evening included this:

By all accounts the exhibit is mind-blowing, and takes visitors on a journey of the human heart. The interior is extensive and dynamic, with a series of plastinated full-bodied specimens coming towards the end.

I can’t wait to see it, showing in The Leonardo at Library Square. (downtown)

The exhibit is on a “Limited Engagement” which essentially means it one day you see it, one day you don’t. But a little investigation on the Body Worlds website yielded this image:

But don’t get lulled into waiting cause it could and likely will sell out. It wouldn’t be the first time. Read the rest of the story…

It was recently that I found myself strolling by and all it took was a simple “Free Exhibit” sign to lure me in to check it out. I found the Salt Lake Art Center quiet and on this Tuesday afternoon I was the only patron. Nice, the place to myself!

The two exhibits that are currently showing at the Art Center is AFTERIMAGE: The Art of 337 and Interweave: Innovations in Contemporary Basketry. I blogged about the Project 337 back in May if you’re not familiar with it.

After first looking at 337, I checked out Interweave.

Interweave

The exhibit isn’t large in volume and may take but a short 10-25 minutes to view depending on your speed, but it’s very unique and worth checking out. From the brochure:

“Whether beginning with traditional methods and materials of basket-weaving, or originating in concepts for which a basket-maker determines the most appropriate materials, the variety in Interweave demonstrates this is a living tradition that has, since the 1970’s, experienced a revival by crafts-peaple-turned-artists and has lead to new forms of self-expression.”

Here are a couple of pieces at the exhibit.

Orange Zipper Teapot by JoAnne Russo, made from wax linen and other fibers

read the rest of this article…

Over 60,000 people are expected to show up this weekend to watch the Freestyle Motocross and BMX outdoors with the other events of BMX (park, vert) and Skateboarding (park and vert) being held inside the Energy Solutions Arena.

Our own Adam Barker went out yesterday afternoon and got the following shots. If you’ve got a chance to get to one of the events, don’t miss it! This event will blow your mind. Check out the details and the schedule on the AST website.

See more photos and get the details on the AST Dew Tour

From outdoor concerts at Deer Valley’s Snow Park Amphitheatre , miles and miles of hiking and biking, or acting like a kid on the Alpine Slide at Park City Mountain Resort–there is something for everyone.

How lucky we are to live and work in a place that has some of the most beautiful seasons around. The mountain is now turning from a lush green to fire orange and rust. Here are some pictures to commemorate the lovely summer we had. On to fall, where the air is crisp and there is a slight buzz in the air as the locals anxiously await the snow.

Answer - Salt Lake Connect Pass City Tour!

The Connect Pass City Tour runs each summer and although the Salt Lake Connect Pass is still valid any day during the year, the Connect Pass City Tour has ended for the 2008 season. Just prior to it ending I took the chance to do the City Tour and had two questions once it was done:

1. - Why did I wait all summer to do this?
2. - Why on earth would someone drive themselves instead of taking the Connect Pass City Tour?

The Connect Pass City Tour features regular transportation that accesses 15 different stop locations (including the two start locations of the Salt Palace Convention Center and the Little America Hotel) with 15 different sights to take in. Nine of these attractions require the Connect Pass to gain access. These nine include:

1. Olympic Cauldron Park
2. Utah Museum of Fine Arts
3. Red Butte Garden
4. This is the Place Heritage Park
5. Utah’s Hogle Zoo
6. Utah Museum of Natural History
7. The Lion House Pantry
8. Discovery Gateway
9. Clark Planetarium

Each stop features a little City Tour sign and is adjacent to the venue so finding your way to and from each stop is seamless. The shuttle comes around every 45 minutes and you can get on and off wherever you’d like along the way. You don’t have to get off at each stop - it’s a choose your own adventure tour.

The bonus is that the Connect Pass City Tour includes lunch at the Lion House Pantry which is well worth it!….read the rest of the article

The way to know life is to love many things

When I first moved to Utah 14 years ago, Salt Lake felt somewhat bland to me. But the more I’ve gotten out of my shell and discovered what Salt Lake has to offer including the hidden gems, I’ve come to feel that I would never want to leave. Perhaps I found the reverse to what Van Gogh was saying - I found a love for Salt Lake by knowing many things.

Despite 4 years as a student at the University of Utah, my friend Adam had never been in the Utah Museum of Fine Art. As we left the museum following a couple of hours looking over and admiring the Monet to Picasso exhibit, he could only wonder why he didn’t come here sooner.

The Monet to Picasso

The Monet to Picasso exhibit from the Cleavland Museum of Art has been at the Utah Museum of Fine Art on the University of Utah campus since June 23. With two weeks left to catch this amazing exhibit I would recommend it for anyone, art aficionado or not.

The museum offers,,, Read more of this article…

A couple of weeks ago a number of people from Salt Lake were in Vegas at this year’s MPI annual convention to give a prelude of what MPI can expect in 2009.

Hunter Holcombe, managing editor of SmartMeetings.com caught up with Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Scott Beck in Vegas to get the inside scoop on MPI coming to Salt Lake.

We are looking forward to bringing you more MPI SLC 2009 updates as we get closer to next July.

But burgers and fries? How could a restaurant pull this type of menu off? I mean, what’s more common than burgers and fries here in the United States? And while I’ve got my personal list of favorites when it comes to burgers joints, I’m always interested in checking out the new and different.

Located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake’s “dining district” (2nd west, 3rd south) ACME is hard to miss. Big, blue and…different. Parking is made easier with their own lot but if you’re staying downtown it’s an easy walk from just about anywhere….Read the entire article

Advertised as “America’s Toughest Stage Race”, it will attract top pro cyclists from around the country and even the world.

It’s a 336 mile, 5-day race which takes cyclists up over 30,000 feet during the various stages - all within 100 mile radius of Salt Lake City. Whether you’re visiting Salt Lake or a seasoned local, this event is not to be missed and will be unlike any other event in the area, perhaps in the country.

Cyclists will compete for a $75,000 purse including a brand new automobile - surely enough to inspire intense competition.

Here is a rundown of the various stages: Read More

“Six years ago when we opened Toasters I could count the people walking by on any given day. While it’s not like New York, there are certainly more people walking in downtown Salt Lake these days. It’s more alive.”

When walking downtown opportunities to discover shops, eats and other businesses that add to the flavor of Salt Lake are plentiful. One location I recently discovered is Toasters.

Toasters is a great little sandwich shop on 2nd South across from the Salt Lake Convention Center. A favorite of the Visitors Center staffers, it’s also a big hit with convention attendees, in particilar the Outdoor Retailer Show. And the feeling is mutual.

“They [Outdoor Retailer Show attendees] are very easy people, easy to please. Plus they are quite pleasant,” says Mubera.

Originally from Bosnia, Mubera and her husband Enes who co-own Toasters moved to the United States seven years ago. Mubera originally… Read the entire article

I’m talking about the at the passenger pick up area of the Salt Lake Airport. We’ve all been there, 5mph, no parking, no leaving your vehicle, no, no, no.

On my most recent visit to the airport to pick up a friend my experience was so much more pleasant. This was in thanks to the new (it’s new to me) park and wait lot.

This lot is an easy exit from the main airport road opposite the long term parking entrance. Large digital signs are simple to read and give you expected time arrivals and delay/on time status updates for flights. Simply put, it’s awesome… –Read the entire article

The Sundance Resort, located in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, was listed in Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List for January 2008.

The Gold List is a comprehensive list of the world’s best places to stay. In addition, the Sundance Resort received special culinary recognition for 2008 Best by Food with a score of 96.8.

These awards come on the heels of the Sundance receiving the esteemed Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award, ranking second for the Top 50 United States Resorts with a score of 4.6 and 34th in the world.

Sundance, the picturesque destination resort, founded by Robert Redford in 1969, is a year round resort at the base of 12,000-foot Mt. Timpanogos offering an array of mountain activities including snow sports, hiking, mountain biking, fly-fishing on Provo River, and horseback riding as well as unique offerings such as art classes, exhibits and periodic film screenings.

After a long winter, the snow is finally melting off the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. This is good news for the golfers who’ve been anxiously waiting for spring to come so they can tee off on the finest mountain courses in Utah – if not the Mountain West.

Soldier Hollow’s Silver Course opens today, April 17, followed by the opening of The Homestead on Saturday, April 19. Wasatch Mountain State Park’s Lake Course is tentatively scheduled to open on Thursday April 24. There is a good hope that the higher courses – Soldier Hollow’s Gold and the Mountain Course at Wasatch Mountain State Park will both open before the end of the month but at the moment there are still snow deposits in shaded areas.

Wasatch Mountain State Park and Soldier Hollow golf courses are state owned. Both are in the Wasatch Mountain State Park system which encompasses 22,000 acres. Soldier Hollow is also the home of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. It was the venue for all Nordic competitions. Across the street from the golf club house you can still watch elite athletes training year round for biathlon and cross country competitions.

The public status of these four 18-hole courses is a huge bonus to golfers because rates are unbelievably reasonable. For 2008, golfers can expect to pay $40 for 18 holes plus cart. Do I really need to point out what a massive bargain this is for these four extraordinary courses?

Considering the course at the Homestead is attached to the resort but open for public play, you might think golf fees would be high. However, rates at the Homestead typically run only about $10 higher than at the other four state courses.

The beauty of golfing in Heber Valley is, well, the beauty. Even completely focused golfers notice the breathtakingly scenic views offered from every course.  And, those who take on the challenge of the Mountain rarely walk off the course without having spotted wildlife – deer, elk, wild turkeys, sometimes even moose.

Golfers unfamiliar with the five courses will appreciate the fact you can play five courses and have a unique experience with each one – and they are all located only minutes from each other.

Soldier Hollow is a links course. Designed by Gene Bates, this championship 36-hole complex boasts of being one of the longest courses in the United States, and as noted above, is the only golf course built on an Olympic venue.  Bates used only the area’s natural vegetation to landscape the two courses.

Wasatch Mountain State Park is probably Utah’s most popular public golf course. A cart is required on the Mountain Course because of its challenging terrain. The 18-hole track was designed by William Neff and is carved from the mountain’s natural contours with spectacular views of Heber Valley. The Lake Course is a gentler course, sitting lower of the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. Because of its tree-lined fairways and eight lakes, golfers should always take time to do a couple of rounds here in the fall — the beauty is picture-perfect.

The Homestead is a Bruce Summerhays course and has a solid reputation for delivering a good game. The front nine takes you up a mountain slope and the back nine meanders through the Snake Creek Valley. There is plenty to see from splendid views of Heber Valley to pastoral farms to vacation homes. There are plenty of creeks, ponds and fences to keep things interesting.

These three golf complexes are not lacking in awards or accolades. The most recent honors include:

•    Soldier Hollow – 2007/2008 Golf Digest Best Architecture Award
•   Wasatch Mountain State Park – 2006/2007 Golf Digest Best Places to Play Award
•   Homestead Resort – Best of State for 2004 and 2005.

Reservations for tee times can only be made seven days out, unless you are staying at one of Heber Valley’s lodging properties then you can make a premiere tee time up to 60 days out through the Golf Wasatch program. Here’s how:

•   Soldier Hollow – call 435-654-7442
•  Wasatch Mountain State Park – call 435-654-0532
•  Homestead Resort – call 435-654-1102
•  Golf Wasatch – call 1-888-WASATCH (7-888-927-2824) or go to www.golfwasatch.com to make hotel reservations and tee times
•  Make online reservations seven days out at Soldier Hollow or Wasatch Mountain State Park  by going to www.stateparkgolf.utah.gov.com

  Spring is one of the better seasons for golfing in Heber Valley — fewer crowds, easier to schedule your prefered tee times and you don’t scorch in the sun. Time to tee up! See you there! 

Visitors are offered a unique experience at Antelope Island, which is the best place to experience the Great Salt Lake.  Enjoy the beach, float in salt water or cruise aboard the Majestic Islander.  Bring binoculars for the best viewing of antelope, mule deer, big horn sheep, coyotes and a herd of over 500 roaming bison.  Nine pristine golf courses offer every level of play for attendees, who can relax with a massage at one of the local spas after a day on the links.  Winter is also a great time to experience Davis County and the “Greatest Snow on Earth”.  Come experience the excitement of Davis County, Utah, where business meets adventure. 

For more inspiration contact the Davis Area CVB www.davisareacvb.com 888-777-9771

One of the favorite team building activities in Heber Valley happens to be linked with one of the most famous team competitions in the world – the Olympics. In 2002, Soldier Hollow was the venue for all of the Nordic competitions for the Salt Lake Winter Olympics. More medals were awarded here than at all the other venues sites combined.  At Soldier Hollow, it is truly possible to ski in the tracks of legends. Think on Ole Einar Bjoernadalen, of Norway, who won gold in four events in 2002.  

There are sports that require great feats of strength, speed and stamina. However, none test an athlete’s discipline like the biathlon. This event combines skiing with precision target shooting. The biathlon pairs these two seemingly unlikely events — one is an aerobic activity which requires strength, speed, and endurance; the other is a passive activity which requires concentration and a steady hand.  But when combined, the physical and mental discipline required for either sport is magnified many times. 

 As incompatible as the two events may appear, they have a long history together — both in hunting and winter warfare. Biathlon, which means dual event, has its roots in Scandinavia and Finland. Four thousand year old rock paintings found in Norway depict hunters on skis. The sport, itself, evolved from training games used for military patrols. The earliest recorded biathlon competition took place in 1767 between “ski-runner companies” which guarded the Swedish-Norwegian border.  

The Soldier Hollow website describes a biathlon competition: “In a typical winter race, a biathlete is required to ski with his or her rifle over a set distance to a shooting range, where five shots at five knockdown targets 50 meters down range are taken from prone position. Depending on the format, either a time penalty or penalty laps are assessed for missed shots. The racer then skis another loop, and comes back to the shooting range for another set of shots — this time from a standing stance. Again penalties are assessed for missed shots. The biathlete then skis a final loop to complete the race.”

The Olympic sport of biathlon is a year around activity at Soldier Hollow. The Olympic Biathlon Experience at Soldier Hollow is a fun and challenging test. In the winter, participants can use either skis or snowshoes. The warm weather variant called, Summer Biathlon, replaces skiing with running or biking.Each participant is provided with four clips of five shots each, so there is plenty of opportunity to learn and improve. Only highly accurate rifles, the very same rifles used during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, are used. Plus participants are provided with a bib to wear that was actually used during the 2002 Olympic Games. All participants receive a certificate suitable for framing.

 Soldier Hollow offers three programs Bonze, Silver and Gold.

• Participation fees vary from level to level but begin at $20 and goes up to $120 per person.  Youth and group rates are available.
• Sessions vary from one to two hours.
• No experience is necessary. 

The biathlon is a one-of-a-kind team building activity. It has an overall appeal from business professionals to family parties. Because of its Olympic legacy and status in the world of Nordic competition, Soldier Hollow offers its guests an opportunity to test themselves along side of the world’s greatest athletes. 

Find Soldier Hollow:

•  435-654-2002
• www.soldierhollow.com
• 2002 Soldier Hollow Dr., Midway, Utah  84049