Local Travel Tip

One locale that offers the both the excitement of exploring an ancient monument and the relaxation of beautiful views resides in Cuzco, Peru.

The mountain ruins of Machu Picchu are some of the oldest surviving traces of the ancient Inca civilization. Its construction began in approximately 1400 AD, but it was never finished, because of the Spanish conquest of the empire.

Visiting the site is no easy feat; most trips to the ruins require at least three days of uphill hiking. You can get there quicker on horseback or by purchasing a helicopter ride.

All of the tours to Machu Picchu begin in the town of Cuzco, so that is the place to find information on expeditions. However you choose to get there, this is one place that cannot be overlooked as a travel destination.

The most celebrated time of a long drive is when the parents finally say, “Time to get out of the car!” After a long drive, why drive some more when there are beautiful hikes and horse riding opportunities at some of the most beautiful places in the world? Arches and Zion’s National Parks located in Utah, offer just this opportunity.

With over 2,000 arches, Arches National Park is the largest collection natural stone arches in the world. The same awe that is felt as people marvel at the man-made Colosseum, is felt with these natural wonders. The wind swept red stone is majestic in any landscape photograph.

The 73,000 acre national park in Moab, Utah, has four main sections that attract tourism: The Windows Section, Fiery Furnace, Devils Garden, and Delicate Arch. Delicate Arch is the park’s most famous feature and is used as a symbol for the state of Utah quite often. There are several different hiking trails to accommodate visitors, but be sure to bring enough water! This site is an arid, red desert and very hot.

Delicate Arch

Another must see is Utah’s first and most popular national park, Zion’s. Located by Springdale, Utah, there are endless hiking possibilities through Zion’s breath taking red canyons. The park is open year round for visitors, and it is a completely different experience during different seasons of the year, although this epic scenery is just as beautiful in the summer, with the sun emphasizing the red, as in the winter with snow.

Zion's National Park

One of my favorite places to visit in Utah county are the Spanish Fork Hot Springs or Fifth Water Hot Springs.  I have done this trip in the winter and summer. Both seasons make it a very different experience.  During the summer, the hike is about 2 and a half miles (about an hour), its an enjoyable hike that does not much in elevation and follows a rolling stream.

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