June 30, 2009

Creating Memories in Weber County

Posted to Brian Morris, Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions, Ogden

During the years of ‘87 through ‘89, my friends and I took up the sport of skateboarding. We were a crazy bunch of kids with lots of ambitions and dreams. We idolized the likes of the Bones Brigade and other famous pro skaters. Our days were either spent skating at the local high school, making the three mile trip to Village Fair (local skateboard shop), watching skate videos or spending hours at the magazine stand looking at Transworld and Thrasher Magazines. Ours was a world formed around our Ogden neighborhood and everything outside of that area was foreign. I still consider those the best days of my childhood.

Why would you want to know about a bunch of bratty kids and their skateboarding adventures? Well, it’s not that what we did was significant or important (it really was to us), as much as it was that our neighborhood created memories. It was an area of safety for us; an area where friendships were formed and still remain strong today.

My feeling is that Ogden, North Ogden, Pleasant View, Harrisville, Plain City, Roy, West Haven and other Weber County cities still provide these neighborhoods of memories. These are communities that offer many activities throughout the year, including Independence and Pioneer Day activities. These are communities that have swimming pools and community centers; many of which have been built in recent years. These are communities that are close to recreational areas that offer biking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, boating and camping. These are communities with great educational and higher educational institutions. In short, these are communities that offer opportunities to create memories.

I have been fortunate enough to live my entire life in this area and love it abundantly. Many of my friends who have moved out of state yearn to be back in this area which helped form our lives. I know life changes; however, I never let an opportunity to create a memory in this area pass by. In fact, almost every Saturday, my children and I make it to the North Ogden Skate Park to create our memories.

Posted By: Brian Morris


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March 18, 2009

Community Information - Kaysville City

Posted to Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions, Steve Randall

Barnes Park is a great family place and heavily used during the summer. It has baseball parks, volleyball sand pits, BBQ grills and a large bowery for seating of larger family groups. At Barnes park, Kaysville City is sponsoring an Easter Egg hunt on April 11, 2009 (Saturday) at 10:00 am. For more information you can contact Cristin Smith (444-1068).

Here is the April 2009 Kaysville City Newsletter with other community information.

To find all the new listings in Kaysville try this link on my website. Just click on Kaysville and the number of days back you want to look for new listings.

Posted By: Steve Randall


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January 16, 2009

Connecting Miles & Miles of Trails for Bikers, Hikers, and Equestrians

Posted to Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions, Steve Randall

One of the recent City Council topics in Kaysville was a proposed trail to connect Farmington and Kaysville. Residents of the Monte Bella Subdivision hope that the Council will extend the path of that trial through their subdivision and give them easy access to this great new amenity. As new development occurs along the trail, the easement for the trail needs to be defined so that projects can begin construction. More details of the meeting can be found in the City Council Minutes. The Shoreline trails run along the east range of the Wasatch Mountains and is well known for horseback riding and mountain biking. The newly completed Legacy Highway trail is great for runners, road bikers, joggers, and those who walk who just want to exercise in the beauty of that trail.

Kaysville Listing Spot Light: Finding new Patio Homes in Kaysville for sale is not always easy. Our friends at Keller Williams have a home priced at $189,000 that is in a good location and good condition. We feature this home because it is newly listed and could be a good starter home or great investment property. It has 3 bedrooms all on one floor with 1 ¾ baths and 1380 s.f.. One of the nice amenities is that it is close to the freeway and also close to some great road bike riding terrain. If you would like a list of homes similar to this that have recently sold to verify the asking price please send us an e-mail. We hope to represent the buyer in any transaction with this home.

Posted By: Steve Randall


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January 15, 2009

Stay Involved in Northern Utah!

Posted to Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions

Many people in today’s economy are not willing or able to spend money the way they could a couple of years ago. Therefore people feel like they cannot give to the less fortunate in the same way they did in the past, and charitable donations have markedly decreased in 2008, according to one report in Newsweek.

Economic times may be tough, but that should not stop any of us from serving others. Community involvement is critical to those in need, and essential for those of us who may not feel like we can give monetarily to our local charities. I am a firm believer that you have to be grateful in this world for all that you have right now, even if it was less then last year. Through your gratitude and service to others, the universal law of cause and effect, or reap what you sow, or whatever you want to call it, will work for you. All the service you give away to others will come back to you in other ways, tenfold. Plus, it just FEELS GOOD!

So, don’t let our hard economic times squelch your generous spirit. There are plenty of organizations out there that need your service as much, if not more, than they need your money. There is a great website called VolunteerSolutions.org. When I typed in my zip code of 84067, and asked them to show me opportunities within a 10 miles radius, there were 69 ways for me to volunteer! Here are some examples from that site on the many opportunities the Red Cross alone had to offer:

  • Ogden, UT - Like working with young people 14 to 21? Like being involved in something new? Then consider being an adviser to Red Cross Youth and Young Adult Clubs.
  • Cache County, UT - Cache County volunteers especially are needed to help the American Red Cross of Northern Utah furnish food, clothing, shelter and more during local disasters as members of a Disaster Action Team (DAT).
  • Ogden, UT - Like data entry? The American Red Cross of Northern Utah needs someone to enter class records, volunteer hours and more for about eight hours a month at its Ogden headquarters.

Keep in mind that is just what’s on that website and does not even include the dozens of opportunities no one advertises in your local church or neighborhood to help someone in need out. Maybe it’s just driving an elderly neighbor to church every Sunday, or shoveling someone’s driveway as a special surprise after a long day of work. Do not stop giving just because our economic outlook is glum, for it is in the giving that we shall all begin to receive again!

Posted By: Laura Wardrop


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January 09, 2009

Come and Snowmobile Utah!

Posted to Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions, Steve Randall

One of the great things about living in Northern Utah in January is the opportunity of not only skiing on some of the best snow in the world, but there is also opportunity for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. Many residents located in the rural areas of northern Utah use the same flat land fields their crops grow on in the summer as places to snowmobile in the winter. The more venturous prefer mountain snowmobile locations that can be reached in as little as a half hour to an hour and a half from our Ogden, Utah office. Over the holidays, many were out on the newly laid powder in the High Uintah Mountains or roaming the miles of groomed trails maintained by the State of Utah.

One of the great places to snowmobile Utah is in the Smith & Morehouse area just east of Kamas and Oakley. There are great snow bowls to climb and race through as well as several cabin communities like Pine Mountains where access to cabins is limited in the winter months to snowmobiles. Pine Mountains grooms trails to make sure it is easier for residents to reach their cabins. The miles of groomed trails are good for family snowmobile activities and they have a wide open area where one can test how fast they can get their machine to go! It is not uncommon to see fathers pulling their children on sleds around the roads of the community.

One of the great places to get started with snowmobiling is at Weller Recreation in Kamas (435.783.4781). They not only sell the sleds (snowmobiles) but have all the winter gear to purchase as well. Members of the various communities in the area have used them for years and many can verify that Weller’s service is hard to match. There have been several times when Weller has rescued residents when machines have broken down along the trail.

Owners in the Pine Mountains area buy properties there because of the year-round activities they are able to participate in. Activities include road biking in the spring, summer, and fall, where one can plan various rides for miles into Heber City, Park City, and then back. Boating, fishing, tubing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing venues are all very close. Cabins and homes in the Kama area come in various sizes, shapes, and ages with prices ranging from $179,000 for 1,066 s.f. 2 bedroom, 1 bath cabin to plush 5,000 s.f., 5 bedroom, 5.5 bathroom cabin with year around access. Most cabins in the Pine Mountain area would sell from $275,000 to $750,000. Asking price for 1/2 lots to build on would be $65,000 to $75,000.

For those who love to get away and live in a winter wonderland or enjoy the summer outdoor sports, Northern Utah and especially the Kamas Valley area are hard to beat! To search for properties in Summit County go to WelchAgency.com and click on Search Properties for Free, and then enter Summit County.

Posted By: Steve Randall


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January 06, 2009

Skiing for Everyone!

Posted to Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions

This past week I have been skiing three times. Not remarkable, you may say, but I am not in the greatest shape in the world. I live in Utah, a winter wonderland where the greatest snow on earth exists. When you picture skiing, especially if you have never done it before, you may have visions of some Olympic gold medalist racing down the hill and doing fancy tricks off a jump. That is not this girl. I am a fairly good skier, and manage to hold my own without falling over most terrain, but quick and beautifully graceful to watch come down the hillside, I am not.

You know what though? I do not care! Skiing is one of those amazing sports that allows you to experience so many things. It gets you out in the fresh air communing with nature, and when you live in Utah, the views that Mother Nature provides are second to none. It is also a sport that allows you to be with others and at the same time you are alone. You can ride up on the lifts and chat with others and you can start down the hill with those you just rode with up that lift. However, when you begin the act of skiing, there is no one on those skis but you, which gives you a lot of time for reflection and just being in touch with your own spirit. Skiing is truly good for the soul!

So no matter what shape you are in or how old you may be, give skiing a try. I would also recommend trying it on the amazing snow in Utah. I cannot tell you how many times I have rode up on the lift with a visitor from another part of the country or world, who have told me how lucky I am to have the greatest snow and skiing terrain practically right in my backyard. Ski Utah, I say, but if that is not immediately possible, just ski!

Posted By: Laura Wardrop


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January 05, 2009

Keep Your Kids Active!

Posted to Brad Sears, Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions

Winter is such a wonderful season, especially when it snows. Building snowmen, sledding, snowball fights and skiing are a few of the fun things children and adults love to do. However, before long the cold seeps in and children start to want to hibernate in front of the television watching cartoons or playing video games all day.

I wanted to get my children into an activity during winter where they could expel their energy and get some exercise. I went to Layton city’s web site and pulled up youth sports. I found a wrestling program kindergarten through 9th grade and signed up my 3rd and 4th grade boys. I can’t believe how much they’ve enjoyed it! They had a lot of fun doing the warm ups, learning different moves and interacting with other children.

Children that stay active and get regular exercise tend to have higher self esteem, feel less stressed, keep a healthy weight and sleep better at night. These benefits also are proven to decrease the chance of getting sick! There are many different activities available for children during winter months, just go to your city’s web site and look for recreation and youth sports.

Posted By: Brad Sears


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December 31, 2008

Lift Rates

Posted to Adam Stuart, Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions

I don’t consider myself a diehard snowboarder but I do enjoy shredding up the slopes as often as I can. I am a little picky about where I ski and how much money I like to spend. I really enjoy the “locals only” feel of the Northern Utah Ski resorts. Park City is great and I love the atmosphere but only once or twice a season. The rest of the time you can count on me nightskiing at Powder Mountain or Wolf Creek Ski Resort after work. I really hate to publish this information anywhere as it might bring in more people to crowd up the lift lines.

Here are the links to see lift rates for my favorite resorts: Powder Mountain & Wolf Creek Snowbasin. If you notice Wolf Creek costs about half the price of a day pass for either of the other two resorts and you can ski/ride from 9am to 9pm. Earlier this year I purchased a season pass for $125. How could you go wrong for that price? The way the snow has been falling lately it won’t matter where you go because there’s enough white stuff anywhere to have a blast! It’s supposed to snow Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. That’s 7 out of 8 days! Hopefully we’ll see you up there. But if you do decide to stay home and stay warm that’s fine with me… More mountain to myself!

Posted By: Adam Stuart


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November 25, 2008

Almost Heaven...Northern Utah

Posted to Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions

To steal a famous line from the much beloved John Denver, and change it to my favorite place on earth may seem incredibly cheeky of me. However, I do not think there is a better way to describe northern Utah. I do not think it is out of line to agree with the Mormon pioneers that crossed into this valley years ago and said, “This is the place!” Northern Utah is the place to be for so many reasons.

Let’s start with the weather. Many, who do not like snow may be thinking, wait just a minute, isn’t this the place that during the 2000 Winter Olympics became famous for having the “greatest snow on earth”?? That is correct, and that is no myth…Utah does have the greatest snow on earth and one only has to come and ski or snowboard on it to draw the same conclusion. However, if you do not like snow or cold…you do not care about that fact….you just want to know when it’s going to end. That is the good news about northern Utah. Seasons may vary slightly, but you can pretty much count on having four distinct seasons, which is the part I love.

I love the cold, snowy winter because it means skiing and other fun outdoor activities like sledding, building snowmen, snowball fights with my kids, riding snowmobiles, ice skating, ice fishing, etc. I also love warm toasty fires, hot chocolate and watching the snow drift slowly down outside early Christmas morning.

I also love the springtime in Utah that comes every year just like clockwork, and I have a greater appreciation for it, because it starts out small and wonderful with the first daffodils and tulips bursting up, blossoms on my apricot tree start to pop out, and the first sign of birds chirping in the tress being heard as you walk out to get the mail in the afternoon. Pretty soon after just a few warm days, the mountains and valleys, every street you drive down, every yard you pass has the glorious signs of spring in the air. Nothing compares to the feeling of renewal that spring brings…you can literally smell it in the air!

Pretty soon it warms up even more and the kids start getting antsy to get out of school. Utah has the best summers! It is nice and warm, 80 to 90 degrees during the day, but because we are considered high desert, it always cools down in the evening. There is absolutely no place better to hike, camp, or go fishing then northern Utah. The weather is just a wonderful invitation to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors in any way you see fit, whether that be hiking through the wilderness that this great state has in abundance, or just sitting out on the porch on a balmy summer evening sipping a glass of lemonade.

Now I know from pictures I have seen, the late John Denver probably could lay claim to the gorgeous fall foliage in his beloved West Virginia, but I am here to tell you that northern Utah’s autumn days are gorgeous and awe inspiring. Just imagine big majestic mountains that you look at every day ablaze with all the striking gold, red, brown and oranges of fall. There is an image that I always hold in my mind of the Wasatch Mountains that is actually in the fall, and the sun has just set out west over the Great Salt Lake. In this image, you turn from the sunset and look east at the mountains and the reflection of the sunset turns the earth of the mountains to this glorious dark purple color and seems to light up those autumn colors all over the mountainside. Add to this image standing in your yard gazing at this spectacular sight with the smell of a fire coming from the chimney of your house or your neighbor’s hearth, and leaves dancing in the breeze around your feet. Breathtaking!

Almost heaven describes northern Utah. It is truly where God took his scenic paint brush and got really creative. There is never a chance when you live here to get bored of a season, because just as you start to get restless and wish for change, it naturally occurs. Come home…to almost heaven…Northern Utah.

Posted By: Laura Wardrop


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November 07, 2008

Investing to Retire & Retiring Where You Invest

Posted to Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions, Steve Randall

Today is a travel day for my wife and I on our way to beautiful Orlando, Florida to attend the National Association of Realtors Convention. As my wife and I boarded the plane we could see lots of families with excited children who could hardly wait to arrive at Disney World. As the plane lifted off from Salt Lake International it was easy to see the first real blanket of new snow that had covered the mountains of Northern Utah. The day before, all the ski resorts with planned openings were busy moving up those opening dates as some resorts got 46 new inches of the world famous Utah powder. Even though we are life long residents, we were impressed with the beauty of the moment and experienced a fresh appreciation for how quickly the season can change in Utah. Two weeks ago I was riding with my son down the newly completed Legacy Highway bike path on our road bikes traveling from the new Farmington FrontRunner Commuter Rail Station… and ending up 14 miles down the trail in Salt Lake County. The trees were full of color and the cool Fall air was perfect for the biking activity. When we return from the convention next week, we can choose from snowboarding, skiing, or snowmobiling. What a beautiful place to live…. and to invest in real estate that will rise in value in the years to come.

On the plane I was able to read my emails and noticed another wonderful project being built by Nilson Homes in the hills of Mountain Green, just minutes away from the 2002 Olympic downhill event at Snow Basin. This development is also only 20 minutes from Powder Mountain, another excellent ski resort that many Utahans want to keep quiet about in order to enjoy it themselves! Having learned to ski at Beaver Creek in Colorado and being somewhat acquainted with the resort pricing in those areas, I could appreciate how comparatively inexpensive real estate was in Northern Utah, even though it lies so close to some of the greatest skiing and winter activities in the world.

The Townhomes built at Aspen Meadows start at about $250,000 with the following luxury amenities: granite countertops, tile, rock fireplace, two-tone paint, raised panel knotty alder staggered cabinets, wrought iron railing, jetted tub (great for skiers), pre-wired for surround sound, faux wood blinds, 1500 sq.ft. rock and hardy plan exteriors, and 9’ main floor ceilings. What a great value to invest in now and rent for a number of years to those who come to enjoy the beauties of Northern Utah. Over the years, as one’s mortgage is reduced and retirement approaches, you have an investment that has appreciated in value, the mortgage paid down or paid off, and a place you can retire to with a whole host of activities to be enjoyed during the retirement years. One aspect that I love about being a real estate broker in Utah is helping families buy investment properties that they can use now, assist them in renting the properties for a portion of the time, and then retire to that property in the future. How could it be any better than that!

Posted By: Steve Randall


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October 27, 2008

Northern Utah Ski Resorts

Posted to Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions

Ranked high on the list of Northern Utah attractions is the region’s world-class ski resorts. Those enjoying life in Salt Lake City and other Northern Utah communities have total access to more than 10 local resorts; the only question is, which is your favorite? From the luxurious Deer Valley Resort in Park City to Ogden Canyon’s internationally-known Snowbasin, there is a Northern Utah ski resort that is perfect for every skill and every mood. Here is a list of Northern Utah’s top ski destinations, many of which have been ranked by SKI Magazine as some of the best ski resorts in North America:

- Logan Canyon: Beaver Mountain
- Ogden Canyon:Powder Mountain, Wolf Mountain, Snowbasin
- Salt Lake City:Alta, Snowbird Ski & Summer, Solitude, Brighton
- Park City: Deer Valley, Park City Mountain, The Canyons
- Provo Canyon: Sundance


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October 27, 2008

Recreation in Northern Utah

Posted to Northern Utah Recreation & Attractions

Through media coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympics, the whole world became aware of what the locals have known for years; that Northern Utah is the place to be. Not only is the region full of energetic and diverse communities, but it is jam-packed with stunning scenery that begs to be photographed. From the craggy snowcapped mountain peaks to caverns, rock formations, and crystal clear lakes and streams, Northern Utah boasts beautiful sights and natural wonders at every turn. The sky is the limit with Northern Utah recreation, and even that seems questionable as sky diving, Wasatch Mountain climbing, and other extreme sports have come to the forefront in recent years. Northern Utah’s varied terrain holds an abundance of opportunities for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and every water sport imaginable. The region is home to more than five national forests and state parks surrounding Salt Lake City, including the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Ashley National Forest, and the Uinta National Forest. Antelope Island—the largest island in the Great Salt Lake—is a state park in its entirety, and offers the unique opportunity of viewing over 600 bison, plus deer, antelope, waterfowl and other local wildlife. But what the region is most famous for is its downhill slopes and 100% natural, powdery white snow that make winter sports in Northern Utah a favorite world-wide.


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