Amazing Mountain Resort in Utah

On my way to Arizona, my dad and I stopped at Hotel Park City for the night. We drove 16 hours from Seattle to Park City (near Salt Lake City) and arrived around midnight. The view that greeted me as I opened the blinds the following morning was absolutely amazing.

I'm not a skiier/snowboarder, so I've never really been this close to mountains with ski trails. (And I have no idea if "ski trails" makes any sense at all. Ha!) The emerald green hills were breathtaking and I can only imagine how pretty they would be under a blanket of snow.

We stayed in one of the cottage rooms, which is basically like a small furnished apartment. There is a master bedroom/bathroom, living room, kitchen stocked with dishes, utenstils, and a blender, a second bathroom, two TVs, a washer and dryer, and a private patio with a hot tub. There is a spa, fitness room (group fitness classes included), a couple restaurants, and a golf course. If I ever make it back to Utah, this is where I'd want to stay.

This article was not sponsored by Hotel Park City. All opinions are my own.

The Ultimate Travel Guide For Seattle

This is your ultimate guide to the must-see attractions you'll need to check off your Seattle bucket list. If you're headed to Seattle soon, you've probably taken note of the typical sites to see, like the Space Needle or the original Starbucks. Already been to the city or want to get away from the tourists? Scroll down halfway to hit off-the-beaten-path gems I recommend as a Seattle native. The Main Attractions:

Space Needle

The Space Needle is the most iconic Seattle landmark and is nestled just a smidge off the downtown skyline in order to make it stand out from the crowd. You'll notice it driving south along I-5 on your way into the city, or peeking out from the buildings as you wind around the exit leaving I-90. Ride up to the top of the Space Needle to get the best panorama view of the whole city.

The Original StarbucksAny Starbucks fan must make a pilgrimage to the original shop that started it all. Right in Pike Place Market you'll find the original Starbucks, in all its glory, back from when it first opened in 1971. Though it's often crowded with tourists, you'll get to be at the original shop that spawned the 23,000+ locations worldwide. (Know what's crazy? I get Starbucks every single day, though I haven't been to the original shop, ever, in my 17 years of living in the Seattle area. Why? Well...there literally is a Starbucks everywhere you turn, so I don't really need to. I know, shame on me for not being a better Starbucks fan.)

Pike Place Market

Now if you're headed to the original Starbucks, you're already in Pike Place Market, so you might as well explore the rest of it. Pike Place is the downtown farmer's market with local produce, inexpensive but beautiful flower bouquets, and lots of fish. The fish even fly. Locals often wander around playing music on saxophones or guitars, which adds to the overall ambiance of the market.

Seahawks, Mariners, and Sounders Games

If it's sports season, find yourself rooting for the pro teams of Seattle. Cheer on the Hawks (2014 Super Bowl champs, I might add) and the Sounders at Century Link Field, or for the Mariners at Safeco Field. Lining the streets by Safeco are snack stands with hot dogs and kettle corn, but inside holds the true fan favorite: garlic fries. Just make sure to bring a breath mint - or three.

Experience Music Project

EMP is the museum of every music buff's fantasies. I've been a few times and it's pretty cool. Some of the current exhibits include Nirvana and Jimmy Hendrix.

Sculpture Garden & Seattle Art Museum

For the modern artists. Personally, I haven't been to the SAM but have heard great things about it. I have been to the Sculpture Garden a few times though. One of those times included a school field trip in the pouring rain. Needless to say, I did not enjoy it at all. However, the sculptures are unique and if you're into it, then it might be a place to add to your list.

For a More Local Feel:

Local Coffee Shops

Seattle is known for its coffee, but not just because of Starbucks. Find one of the many indie coffee shops around town and you're sure to not be disappointed.

San Juan Islands

The San Juans may not be "lesser-known," but not as many people venture out to the islands in the Puget Sound since they're only accessible by ferry. However, Bainbridge Island is so close that you can still see the skyline from it. Whidbey Island, Friday Harbor, and Roche Harbor are popular summer spots for all kinds of summer activities.

Lake Washington

Take a boat out on Lake Washington in the summer when it's sunny and I guarantee you'll have a good time. On a clear day you'll get the best view of Mt. Rainier. Your Instagram uploads will be so #nofilter they'll rival any others in the feed. You can also rent canoes by the hour through the University of Washington.

Snoqualmie/Cascade Mountains

Drive a little east to the mountains and you'll have plenty of skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing options in the winter. Hiking or camping in the summer is great too with spectacular views from the top.

Dick's Drive-In RestaurantHow could I not include Dick's Drive-In on this list?! Dick's is THE iconic, local fast food restaurant of Seattle where you can get a greasy (and delicious) cheeseburger for only $1.65 all day/night until 2am. (We stopped by for late night food after my high school prom, so you know it's good. Oh, the memories.) There are five locations throughout the Seattle area. Burgers, fries, and milkshakes await as you sit in your car like a classic drive-in, or eat on a bench outside. (Oh, and it is way different than the Dick's in Spokane, WA which is owned by a different person.)

 Lake Chelan

Drive east past the mountains to Lake Chelan in Central Washington, a popular summer spot. Great for lounging in the summer sun, spending some time on the lake, or wine tasting at the vineyards. It's a small town so if you're not there in the summer, there's really not much to do.

Craft Breweries

For beer fans, check out the craft breweries and alehouses from the northwest. There are plenty to choose from, and the Seattle Alehouse (home to Pyramid) is right across from Safeco Field, giving you a great opportunity to cheer on the Mariners game from their beer garden.

Alki Beach

For the BEST views of the Seattle skyline, head to Alki Beach on Lake Washington. It's sandy so it's great for the summer, but sunsets and city views are stunning all year round.

Playlist: Memorial Day in the USA

Today is Memorial Day in the USA, and with the holiday off of work/school to honor those who fight for our country, I thought I'd share a fun playlist. Complete with American-themed songs, a little country, and a few other catchy tunes, this will be sure to liven up any Memorial Day BBQ. A "USA" chant is optional.

Photo of Newport, RI found on Tumblr

8 Majestic Time Lapse Videos of the USA

These amazing time lapse videos capture a whimsical sense of a place by compressing hours worth of footage into a short video. From New York to LA, Chicago to San Francisco, here are eight of America's favorite cities shown through majestic time lapses.

1. Portland, OR

1:23 has got to be the coolest shot, ever.

2. San Francisco, CA (and Dubai, UAE)

The clouds in this video are insane.

3. New York City, NY

Manhattan at night.

4. Dallas, TX

The place where everything is bigger and better.

5. Los Angeles, CA

Beautiful city lights.

6. Chicago, IL

A sunrise in the windy city.

7. Seattle, WA

Beyond gorgeous views, plus cool footage from a Sounders game.

8. Washington, DC

Nighttime in the nation's capital.

8 Seattle Stereotypes That Are Actually True

Seattle is the thriving city of the Pacific Northwest and home to the Seattle Seahawks as well as Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, and other big name brands. Since it's slightly hidden all the way up there on the most northwestern corner of the United States, there are plenty of assumptions about what goes on - or doesn't - in the city surrounded by mountains, sea, and evergreen trees. While every city has its stereotypes, here are eight of them that are actually true.

Seattle view - go seek explore blog

1. No one uses umbrellas, even when it's raining

If you're a true Seattleite, you don't use an umbrella. I've lived in the Seattle area for over 17 years and have never owned one. It's probably one of the weirdest quirks about Seattle - no one uses them. Maybe it's because people are used to the almost constant light mist of rain, or maybe it's a city pride thing. I've never quite figured it out, but I sure won't go near holding an umbrella anytime soon to avoid looking like a tourist. The key to keeping dry? Rain jackets:

2. It's one of the most "hipster" cities in America

With the hipster trend still alive and well, you'll find 'em all over here, spotted easily by doing everything "before it becomes cool." While I want to add that the hipster scene only adds to the coolness of Seattle, I don't want to make "hipster" un-cool...or mainstream...or whatever true hipsters call it these days. I'm going to leave it at that before I accidentally walk into the conundrum of the unwritten rules of being a hipster and just say that it often tops the list for being the most hipster city in the country.

3. The music scene is alive and thriving

Indie artists cover the city and quite a few have had their big break. Artists like Nirvana, Death Cab For Cutie, Foo Fighters, Modest Mouse, Macklemore, and Pearl Jam all hail from Seattle.

4. Function trumps fashion

While the department store Nordstrom is headquartered in Seattle and you will find some fashion-forward people walking around, function often trumps fashion in many cases. You will see plenty of North Face windbreakers in every color under the sun (cloud?), Birkenstocks with socks, and hiking shoes.

5. The seafood is amazing

You've never had salmon until you've tried smoked salmon from Seattle. Since the city is surrounded by water, there are plenty of great seafood restaurants serving the highest quality fish. There are also plenty of opportunities for fishing for those that like to explore the outdoors, which many Seattleites do.

6. There literally is a Starbucks on every corner

No matter what part of Seattle you're in, you'll find Starbucks everywhere. Whether it's the original Starbucks in Pike's Place Market or the ubiquitous amount scattered around the city, you are bound to find one everywhere you turn.

7. The city names in the surrounding area are hard to pronounce

Unless you grew up in the Pacific Northwest, saying Puyallap, Enumclaw, Issaquah, or Sequim out loud is definitely a tongue twister. For those that grew up in the 'burbs, answering the question "Where in the Seattle area did you grow up?" to non-Washingtonians often elicits a conversation like, "I'm from Sammamish" with a response like, "Wait, there's a city called Sandwich, Washington?"

8. It is rainy or overcast most of the year

Seattle gets 58 days of sunshine per year, on average. From October-June it is either raining or overcast almost daily, casting a dark, grey ambiance throughout the area. Seattleites can look up the weather forecast and truly recognize the difference between "showers," "rain," "light rain," "heavy rain," and "t-storms" because they've really seen it all. However, the rain keeps the grass green and air clean - which contribute to the beautiful nature of the city and surrounding area. On the rare occasion it's sunny? It is absolutely gorgeous.

Photos: top photo by Ally Archer.