Exploring Stanley, Idaho with One of My Best Friends! Part 3 of 3

I met one of my best friends, Tiffany, in Idaho for some girl time and adventures together. We had spent the last several days exploring Stanley, Idaho, and today we head to Utah so I can share my local area with her. If you missed the previous posts for this trip, catch up here:

⛰️ Exploring Stanley, Idaho with One of My Best Friends! Part 1 of 3
⛰️ Exploring Stanley, Idaho with One of My Best Friends! Part 2 of 3

Leaving Stanley, Idaho

We checked out of the Mountain Village Lodge, stopped by the super cute Peaks and Perks for coffee and a breakfast sandwich, then began our way toward Utah. We planned three stops to break up the drive and give us some additional sites to see.

Shoshone Ice Caves

Our first stop was the Shoshone Ice Caves, one of Idaho's largest known lava ice caves. There is a guided tour taking you 100 feet underground. As we waited for the tour to start, we took pictures of the 30-foot high,10-ton statue of Chief Washakie, a noted chief of the Shoshone Tribe, and a large green dinosaur, Dino, a local icon. There is also a small gift shop and rock/ artifact building.

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a great summary of the history of the people in the area throughout the years and how the land and lava cave changed with natural and human influences. This was a great stop to break up the drive, especially since you get a nice walk along the tour.

Perrine Coulee Waterfall

Our next stop was the Perrine Coulee Waterfall. We actually drove right by this waterfall and didn’t even see it.  We searched a few more miles down the road, giving up we turned around and then passed this waterfall right on the side of the road. We were shocked at how we could miss the giant waterfall only feet from the road! It was comical. Quite a few cars parked along the road and we missed the option to park so we just continued our route.

Shoshone Falls

I’d seen pictures of Shoshone Falls and I have to say that it was more impressive in person than I expected. According to the City Twin Falls website,  “At 212 feet tall and 900 feet wide, Shoshone Falls is one of the largest natural waterfalls in the United States surpassing the height of the famous Niagara Falls.” This explains why! Once again, this was the perfect stop while on a road trip. The $5.00 entry fee is incredibly affordable and it was easy to get into the park to see the falls.  This would also be a nice place for a snack or picnic to break up the day.

Some of our Favorite Places in Utah

Whenever we have new visitors to Utah, Keith and I start with a tour of the Wasatch Mountain loop. The route highlights many of our favorite places and locations where we spend the majority of our time. Keith had a summer half-day Friday so he joined us as we made the loop.

Cottonwood Canyons

The first stop would be up Little Cottonwood Canyon at our favorite ski resort, Snowbird! We always ride the tram to the summit if it’s open and we were thrilled to show Tiffany where we spend most winter weekends skiing. Then we drove to Alta to look around, but there isn’t as much to do there in the summer.

Next, we drove up Big Cottonwood Canyon to see Solitude and Brighton ski resorts. You can access Guardsman Pass here, which takes you over the mountain and into Park City. You drive through a section of Deer Valley ski resort on this route, so there is a lot to see!

Park City

By this time, we’re usually getting hungry for lunch. Downtown historic Park City, Main Street is the perfect stop since many restaurants have outdoor seating. It’s fun to watch the people walking up and down the main street, there are usually mountain bikes racing down the hill and it’s a dog-friendly area so a lot of four-legged friends strutting around.

After lunch, Utah Olympic Park is the next stop.  Salt Lake City is very proud of being the host of the 2002 Winter Olympics and recently announced, the upcoming 2034 Winter Olympics. There is always something fun to see at the park and we were able to watch some athletes practice their ski jumping skills. They can practice in the summer using a pool that has jets that soften their landing into the water. There is also a museum and other activities on site.

Heber City and Midway

Before arriving in Heber City and Midway, you get a fantastic view of Jordanelle State Park and Reservoir from the interstate. It's an impressive body of water and a great place for outdoor recreation. Heading into Heber City and Midway is a fun contrast to the larger suburbs of Salt Lake City. This area is much smaller and has a small-town feel with a lot of charm. We mainly drive around, pointing out a few points of interest. We stopped by Homestead Crater and snuck in for a peak of the natural hot spring.

Provo Canyon

We wrap up the tour with a drive through scenic Provo Canyon. Passing by Deer Creek Reservoir and State Park with Mount Timpanogos in the background is always a highlight. We often ride our bikes and hike here, but it's a local hotspot for boating, paddleboarding, swimming, etc. We were running low on time so we drove around Sundance Resort for a quick look and continued to Bridal Veil Falls. This is a large natural waterfall at the mouth of the canyon. Less than a two-minute walk and you are standing at the base of the waterfall and along the Provo River. On this particular evening, we saw several kayakers on the river. To end the day, we drove to Vineyard Beach on Utah Lake and barely made the sunset.

This was a full day of showing Tiffany some of our favorite places. We love where we live and think it's beautiful. It's special to share this with our friends and get their opinions. We try not to take the area for granted, but seeing it through someone else's eyes is always magical.

The Cliff Spa at Snowbird

On the last full day, I gave Tiffany several options of things we could do. She chose to spend a day relaxing at The Cliff Spa at Snowbird. Having eight kids and getting ready to start a new school year back in the classroom, this was the perfect way to relax before heading home!

We started the day walking around my neighborhood so I could show her where I take my walks.  Then we had an amazing breakfast at Tru Religion Pancake and Steakhouse before heading to Snowbird.

We spent hours enjoying the serenity of The Cliff Spa and the beautiful mountain views. We read books, got in the pool and hot tub, enjoyed the steam room, and the dry sauna, and then wrapped up the day with a late dinner outdoors at Seventy-One. Once again, a perfect day spent together!

Saying Goodbye

I get very grumpy when I have to say goodbye. Luckily for me, Tiffany’s flight didn’t leave until the afternoon. We decided to get breakfast from Hruska’s Kolaches and coffee from Beany’s. Beany’s is one of my favorites and I had wanted to try kolaches for a while so this was the perfect combo. We brought the food to the house to share with Keith since he was on break.

Before long, it was time to head to the airport and it never seems real to me when people have to leave.  They wake up in Utah at my house and then within hours they are back home and what can feel like a world away 🙁 This is the moment I am thankful for the time and experiences we shared during the past week. I try to replace the sadness with gratitude and appreciation. I’m extremely grateful that Tiffany was able to make this trip happen. I’m sure it’s not easy to leave your home, husband, kids, and commitments for a week away 💜

Which place in our hometown have you visited or would want to visit if in the area? Let us know in the comments section below.👇 💬