Two Days in PARK CITY

October 29, 2019 — Leave a comment

Okay people, we’re about to talk about one of my favorite places on the planet–a tiny mountain enclave of rustic luxury tucked just 2,774 feet above and to the east of Salt Lake City.

I’ve skied here a few times in middle and high school, but kept coming back for the CULTURE and the VIEWS and my COUSIN who, it just so happens, moved there a few years ago.

I’ve been there 4 times this year you guys. A minor obsession maybe? IDK I mean look how pretty though!!!

Anyway, below is a short list of my fave things to experience/do/see/instagram in Park City.

(duh) MAIN STREET PARK CITY:

Main Street is the old hub of this picturesque town, with shopping and restaurants galore, not to mention some hotels, trails, coffee shops, art galleries, fur traders, *free clean public restrooms*, I mean you name it and if it seems a little mountainy, a lot Western, and casually luxe, it’s probably here.

Atticus–The best coffee shop / book store / stop at the bottom of Main Street. Whimsical and fresh, Atticus has fun gifts, gr8 coffee (and matcha!), chill vibes, and I think they’ve already worked through the 7 years of bad luck for opening that umbrella indoors so that’s a plus.

Egyptian Theater–Hit up the Egyptian on Main for a show during your stay–comedians, musical acts, plays, musicals, movie screenings and more!

Banksy attacks Park City: The infamous Banksy made his mark on Park City thrice, though only two of those graffiti graphics are on display in the alleys they were born in. The third is actually on a former stage storage door for the Egyptian, but has been moved for safe keeping bc vandals are trying to destroy the vandalism!!! What monsters, tbh.

Daly Hike–So if you just keep walking up Main Street past like Grappa and stuff and just keep on trucking, you’ll eventually end up on a street called Daly. If you take that up some more, you run into this trailhead for this fun lil trail that takes you past some abandoned mine buildings and houses and stuff and then spits you out at the top for some pretty okay views.

Check out this site for other hiking with prettier views but less spooky cabins so idk take your pick i guess.

SUNDANCE RESORT:

So it’s pretty much non-stop-views from every angle in Park City HOWEVER, you simply must head to Robert Redford’s place of respite near the sky, Sundance Mountain Resort.

It’s insanely beautiful, incredibly rustic, immensely instagrammable (r.e. this gorgeous fuqqin babbling ass brook I saw in real life), AND only 40ish minutes from Main Street.

You can walk the grounds, hike the trails, chill out by the fire pit, go on a full moon ski lift ride, AND check out the famous Owl Bar. It opens at 4 and not a minute earlier, and ALL photography is banned.

I know this first hand because i was ACCOSTED by a waitress for taking this shot of my cousin when we went there for her birthday last January. Turned out to be a dope pic though, so you know.

They also have all kinds of seasonal activities going on for the whole family. They had this haunted playhouse area that led to the lifts for a Halloween-themed haunted lift ride. We didn’t go up (heights, as well as a world with no mirrors, are my biggest fear). But I did make my dad conquer one of his biggest fears (clowns) and take a photo next to one of the bizarre statues.

Check out the restaurants and the lodging here if you’re trying to truly immerse yourself in all that Sundance has to offer.

Mr. Redford says of his mountain top escape: “Sundance is an arts community, a recreational community, a community of people who appreciate the beauty of nature and feel the responsibility to preserve it.”

And let me tell you something, I am all about that shit.

OLYMPIC VILLAGE:

In case you’ve forgotten, Utah hosted the only profitable Olympic games in recent history (Mitt Romney’s main claim to fame). Many of the events were held in and around Park City, leaving a great amount equipment behind and available for non-Olympiads to give it their all.

There’s an Winter Sports Center with a lil museum and gift shop, a bobsled ride, a Nordic Jump for tubing, Discovery Zone for youngins, a place to watch professional skiers practice, and a zip line! All of these are seasonal, so make sure to double check that what you want to do is open!

SKIER?

Of course if you visit during ski season, you simply must take at least one spin on one slope! In addition to the aforementioned Sundance Mountain Resort, here are the other Park City options:

Park City Mountain: I’ve never skied this mountain but i think there is night skiing and that would be dope–definitely on my list for when I’m in a skiing mood.

Deer Valley I have skied this one in the past, and though it’s been a minute I do remember it was fun and pretty and the lodge had pizza that was good, so do what you will with all that info.

YOU HUNGRY?

Maxwell’s pizza– It’s been voted the best pizza in Park City several years in a row and let me tell you something, I know why. It’s good.

Squatters Roadhouse Grill– Gr8 breakfast and drinks!

Washatch Brew Pub– A legit brewery so they’ve got all kinds of exciting beers (bonus points if you try the jalapeno one–it’s v good) and great burgers, sandwiches, etc.

Grappa– For something a little fancy and a lot italian, try this beaut at nearly the top of Main St.

JavaCow– Seriously good ice cream, people!

Stoked Roasters + Coffeehouse– Cool coffee shop, great coffee. During Sundance Festival I was stationed there for a panel event and saw Ava Duvernay, Octavia Spencer, Sandra Oh and others speak (so that was cool).

AND LITERALLY SO MANY MORE ALL THE WAY UP & DOWN MAIN STREET, IN THE KIMBALL JUNCTION/PARK CITY AREA, AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.

YOU TIRED?

Anyway, I think you may get the picture by now that I definitely recommend Park City as the next adventure for legit anyone. Bring an appreciation for the beauty of nature, a rustic-chic wardrobe, a couple pairs of cool sunglasses, and a spirit of adventure and you’ll get everything and MORE out of this gorgeous mountain town–and that’s a promise.

-chasertheprince

***Note–I own some of the images above but definitely not all of them and I’m okay with that***

TWO DAYS ON THE MONTEREY PENINSULA

July 24, 2019 — Leave a comment

I just got back from a lil jaunt up the coast to the Monterey Peninsula and let me tell you, I. was. mesmerized. By everything. There is so much to see it’s crazy so I have compiled a lil list of some things you simply have to do when you visit this magical place, okay?!

Of course, the first stop one needs to make on the journey around the peninsula is Bixby Bridge:

From there you can drive south to Big Sur (highly recommend–it’s nuts beautiful) or back around the peninsula, but no matter where you are, everything is beautiful, like literally everything:

For the purposes of this post, we are starting at the bridge and working our way north around the peninsula.

GOING NORTH: CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

Downtown Carmel-By-The-Sea –

Hang out in downtown Carmel-By-The-Sea for a few hours: walk up and down really, seriously charming streets with lil shops and restaurants of all kinds:

((A fun game is taking a hit off of your vape pen every time you see a picture of or reference to Clint Eastwood throughout downtown Carmel)) (((He is kind of like a town elder?))) ((((remember his ex-wife’s show on E! a few years ago? It was based here….they ate at Forge in the Forest on the show and you can eat there in real life!!))))

ANYWAY

At the top of the series of hills that is Downtown Carmel, you may notice the police station where {SPOILER ALERT} The Monterey Five go to purge themselves of the lie:

Stop by Carmel Bakery for something delicious to snack on while perusing downtown. Founded in 1899, it’s the oldest running retail business in Carmel and the cookies are excellent, ok.

Carmel City Beach –

Walk all the way down to Carmel City Beach at the bottom of downtown and chill out as you watch the waves crash on the white sands of Carmel-By-The-Sea:

GOING NORTH: PEBBLE BEACH

If you’re a golfer, chances are Pebble Beach has been in a few of your more suggestive dreams. There are plenty of golf courses laid out around the north-western part of the peninsula. The best way to see it all? The 17-Mile Scenic Drive:

****bonus points if you roll the windows down, open the sunroof, and que up “No Bad Days” it’ll cure your blues!! ******but also bonus points if you’d like to wallow in some blues but also pretend like you’re a recent widow closing one chapter of your life and about to open a new one and blare “Ride” –or really Lana Del Rey’s entire discography–it’s powerful*********

From there, head around to–

GOING AROUND: LOVER’S POINT

Technically in Pacific Grove (“PG”), Lovers Point Park has walking/biking trails, park benches to chill and take in the scenery, coastal access, easy parking–I mean, what more can you ask for?!

MONTEREY:

Cannery Row –

It’s a little too touristy for my taste, but it’s an easy 20 minute walk around and see it all, check it off the list type of stop. Honestly, the hotels on the Row are the best part–they’re mostly all very pretty and have great dining.

City Hall –

It’s a nice stroll!

Friendly Plaza –

The corner of the block that city hall is on has been made into a little park commemorating the relationship between the Spanish, Mexicans, and Americans in the town since the 1800s. Plus, it has this tree that went to the moon once:

Downtown Monterey –

It’s your cute little by-the-bay kind of downtown. There are a bunch of shops and restaurants and a theatre and all the things, you know? Head from Downtown toward the Fisherman’s Wharf, and you’ll pass State Historic Landmark #1, the Custom House. Built around 1827 by the Mexican government to preside over their port on the Alta California coast, it’s the oldest government building in California.

Commodore John Drake Sloat of the US Navy came along a lil later and raised the American flag over the Custom House in 1846, claiming over 600,000 square miles of territory including what is now California, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

so that’s kind of interesting! You can go in it but I did not, so you know. Walking through Custom House Plaza does it justice though I think.

Fisherman’s wharf –

If you like clam chowder you are in for a treat! Nearly 79% of the restaurants on the pier specialize in clam chowder which seems weird to me but I am not a clam chowder fan and also how can you eat something named clam chowder don’t you get grossed out when you hear the name? It sounds like Plankton served it at the Chum Bucket. But anyway, it’s pretty AND has a bunch of italian restaurants because Monterey was a hub for those Roman Reelers (there are bunches of statues commemorating them as well–the backbone of the community if you will):

There’s a great path that runs all along here connecting it all, so if you have some time and just want to stroll by the harbor I highly recommend it!! The views are so, so good.

But really, the views are so, so good everywhere on the peninsula so just hop in the car and find a scenic spot to pull over and stare in barefaced awe of the majesty of mother nature and the upscale elegance of the cities that dot this ridiculously pretty part of the California coast.

There’s so much more to do and see but this will get you started, ok?!

What are you waiting for?! Drop everything and head to the Monterey Peninsula today, ok?!?!

-chasertheprince

Two Days in SANTA FE

July 7, 2019 — Leave a comment

First of all, let’s start with this:

I found this incredible sweatshirt-cardigan at a thrift store years ago and have always wanted to wear it in Santa Fe. This cardigan is truly 61% of why Kennady and I went to Santa Fe in the first place, and you’ll see why:

Forgive my hair, it was a mess. But see what I mean? A total Santa Fe cardigan. I saved it for this occasion–legitimately I’ve only worn it twice in the years I’ve owned it.

And let me tell you, Santa Fe bitches loooooved it.

We Air BNB’d a cute little casita with the nicest owners super close to the Plaza so getting around was a breeze! The weather was perfect. We pulled into town late friday night, woke up Saturday morning ready to take on the town.

A couple Santa Fe Musts:

Clafoutis:

Charming French bakery and restaurant!! It’s a popular spot, so be prepared for a wait. It won’t feel like long though, as French phrases fly from the mouths of the owners and insanely delicious looking pastries pass by on trays and in hand. I had a crepe and it was great. just look at it:

Whatever you get, you legit won’t regret it.

Meow Wolf:

So, to be fair, I’m not a spend-all-day-at-the-museum type of person unless it’s a history museum. Meow Wolf is definitely not a history museum so that may give you an indication of where this is going. Don’t get me wrong, it was cool–i just don’t have the patience or the desire to figure out what happened at this place. I would definitely recommend it, but it was definitely different than I imagined.

There are a bunch of cool things to look at, though so that’s always good.

And honestly there’s not a great deal more to do in Santa Fe, so you might as well spend a few hours there.

A Spirits Tour of downtown.

I definitely recommend doing something like this, otherwise you won’t know where to drink or what to have. Our tour in particular began with a quest to meet this girl wearing all black and a grey backpack at the fountain.

She was chill. She had folders prepared for each of us with leaflets on local spirits (like booze not ghosts) and the hot late night spots. Stook us around to these bars and we had the following drinks peppered with light discussion on the rich history of the town:

Low & Slow: (a lowrider bar–lowriders are extremely popular here?) (I had to get clarification on what exactly a low rider was) (not just a jean cut)

we had ‘the last word’ which was like some kind of weird gin drink. We then dove into the first part of our New Mexican history lesson ((I sort of got in trouble with the group when i burst out laughing when she went into describing a conquistador’s ruthless ruling to cut the right foot off of the oldest male child from each family.)) (((i laughed similarly when the Pueblo Revolt came back to bite the spanish in the ass, though I did make a much more concerted effort to tone the laughter down a bit))) ((((Not because I’m heartless, because of the way she phrased it AND the reactions of those in our group who c-l-e-a-r-l-y did not know much about suppressing revolts. it’s not a humane business, people. it’s regrettable, but it’s life)))).

Tonic:

we had the ‘bliss behind your eyes’ and it wasn’t something I’d order again but I drank it because why? I’m a team fuqqing player.

Del Charro:

we had the ‘Silver Coin Margarita’ it was spicy and I was happy. Apparently, margaritas are some sort of specialty in this town, so honestly a margarita crawl would’ve been something a bit more my speed.

Cross of the Martyrs: We then rounded out our stay with a “hike” to the cross of the martyrs which is on a “hill” “overlooking” the city. The hike was paved and took ~7 minutes. The hill did overlook the city. The cross was about 1/6th of the size of Life Church’s in Edmond but you know, they tried!!

We then piled up in the car and said “see ya”.

Overall, I’m happy we stopped through there and I enjoyed the time we spent. If nothing else, Santa Fe is a chill place super easy to navigate. A weekend is the perfect amount of time here, promise.

-chasertheprince

*****I do not own most of the images above, but some of them I do*****

chasertheprince

prince of edmond / singer / performer / writer

Travel

Two Days in PARK CITY

(duh) MAIN STREET PARK CITY:

SUNDANCE RESORT:

OLYMPIC VILLAGE:

SKIER?

YOU HUNGRY?

YOU TIRED?

TWO DAYS ON THE MONTEREY PENINSULA

GOING NORTH: CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

Downtown Carmel-By-The-Sea –

Carmel City Beach –

GOING NORTH: PEBBLE BEACH

GOING AROUND: LOVER’S POINT

MONTEREY:

Cannery Row –

City Hall –

Friendly Plaza –

Downtown Monterey –

Fisherman’s wharf –

Two Days in SANTA FE

First of all, let’s start with this:

A couple Santa Fe Musts: