Spring Break: Local Adventures Abound in Eagle Mountain
Posted by Misty Liu | Apr 5, 2016 Can’t get away for spring break? Don’t worry! Greater Eagle Mountain is a great place to have fun! The Summit talked to Utah Adventures Unplugged about some of the wonderful activities available to area residents. Jed and Wendy Terry are a couple committed to building memories with their children. So, when they began to notice a disturbing trend of weekends that seemed to pass all to quickly due to the fact that each member of the family was preoccupied and distracted with tablets and iPads, they decided to unplug. What started as a one day hike to a waterfall in just plain old tennis shoes turned into a family tradition. The family had so much fun that they made a commitment to go on an adventure every weekend. They have not only met that goal, but have influenced others to unplug as well. Drawing on their experience and desire to share the joy of unplugging with others, Jed and Wendy have lots of ideas for fun around the Greater Eagle Mountain area. If you want to have some great outdoor adventures, you need look no further than the mountain close to our city. While the trails by Hidden Hollow Elementary school are well known and close, Jed said his family prefers to head south down Lake Mountain Road and go up the canyons to hike up the trails there. “There are a lot more trees and rock faces that make the hike more interesting. The kids always love to find different kinds of cool rocks. We love to build a fire pit out and make s’mores while we are up there.” Another fun and close adventure they recommend is Inlet Park in Saratoga Springs. There, you can walk or bike ride down the Jordan River Parkway or walk over to the hot springs to relax. Heading out a little further, they recommend playing at Tibble Fork Reservoir or heading over to Pleasant Grove to hike up to Battle Creek Falls. But the family’s favorite place to go outside of the neighborhood? American Fork Canyon. “We love American Fork Canyon. There are so many trails we can hike and never get bored. They range from easy walks that you could take little kids on to longer, difficult hikes that would be recommended for experienced adults. The scenery is breath taking all year round, too!” Some people can be nervous when trying something new. We asked Jed and Wendy if they had any suggestions for families who may be thinking about going outside for their first hiking adventure. The most important thing they wanted to get across is that you don’t have to wait to have cool hiking gear. Just put down the video games and smart phones and go outside with your family. “When we started,” Jed said, “we were going in regular tennis shoes and used the backpack we normally packed our laptop in.” He clarified his statement with another important suggestion, “We made sure to start out small, too. That was really important so it was always fun for the kids and never turned into work.” Another important thing to keep in mind is that it can get pretty hot when you are in the sun. Jed and Wendy suggest bringing twice as much water as you think you’ll need. And always check the weather! “You don’t want to get caught out in a thunderstorm.” If you, like the Terry family, are interested in getting unplugged this spring break and you will be in town, try setting out on a fun hike close to home. It may lead to a wonderful family tradition. “Building memories with our family is really what keeps us going. We want our kids to be able to look back when they’re older and remember all the cool places they went. It might not be easy at first, especially if the kids are hooked on iPads. That’s how it was for us, but after we went they started looking forward to getting outdoors and getting dirty every weekend. Now they are able to go on much longer hikes.” Jed and Wendy and their kids have a blog you can follow, and you can even join them on budget friendly, fun hiking clinics where you can enjoy the adventure with an experienced family of hikers. If you are interested in joining them, just “Like” their Facebook page, Unplugged Utah Adventures. Author: Misty Liu Misty Liu moved to Eagle Mountain in 2008. she spent one of the best decades of her life living in Eagle Mountain and now resides in Orlando, Florida. She was first published in high school, and continues to be published in magazines, textbooks, online journals and blogs, and has been featured in Utah’s Deseret News. She currently chronicles her life at her blog, “When She Wakes“.
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.