Utah has always been one of our favorite vacation spots during winter AND summer! (Fun fact, we used to go in the summer as well and go do fun lake things!) Located only a short 30ish miles away from Salt Lake City, Park City has created some amazing memories for us!

The best months to go to Park City are March and April since there is still snow but the sun is coming out, but we usually go during winter (since jack loves to snowboard) and a few times in July.

Jack and I always find great rental homes in Utah to stay with a few friends. We always love to rent a big spacious house, with a kitchen, usually with a Jacuzzi and fireplace, and that is central to all the activities (be it ski mountains or the lake!). Being able to check the morning conditions from one of the decks, then get your gear from the ski locker and head for the slopes, is one of the best feelings. How else do you do Utah with all your closest buddies?

Here are a few of our favorite things to do in winter AND in summer!

Winter:

The most obvious one is to ski and snowboard in a world class location.

Park City offers world-famous slopes, so take advantage of learning to ski or snowboard. Park city Mountain Resort has the largest ski area in the whole US. Fun fact: There are more than 420 downhill trails across 9,300 acres of land.

I am the skier and Jack loves to snowboard, but if you head over to Deer Valley, it is a just a ski mountain. It is worth going to both and exploring the mountains. They are just such stunning landscapes and the freshest air to ever reach into your lungs.

Can’t ski? There are plenty of adventurous ways to get down a mountain

Maybe even go luging, tobogganing or tubing down some mountains. Why not try bobsledding down one of the longest slides in the world at the Utah Olympic Park? You can also zipline (but I think that’s a more Springtime activity). Thrill seekers, Park City is the place for you!

Apres-ski time

After a day well spent skimming the powder, we like to do two things.

1. Park City’s world-class resorts has some amazing ski lodges right off the slopes to knock your boots off and grab a beer and pretzel with dip. Yep, pretzels and beer are our favorites after a long day in the snow! Usually, resorts are pumping music and everyone is in there having a good time reminiscing about their epic snow time over a nice cold beer.
2. When it’s time for apres-ski, we go back home turn on the sound system, head into the jacuzzi and light a fire in the wood-burning fireplace (hence the need for a jacuzzi and fireplace when searching for a place to stay). I love to drink some hot cocoa in the jacuzzi and Jack loves his red wine.

I like to say this is probably one of my favorite activities in the snow. The relaxation. The after ski boat foot soak in a jacuzzi. The hot cocoa. Oh, ya, that’s the life.

Check out one of the biggest names in film: The Sundance Festival in January

Each year, Park City hosts the Sundance Film Festiva with over 45,000 attendees. The festival showcases thousands of independent films from all across the world. These films span nearly every language known to man, broach any and all topics one could imagine, feature documentaries, feature films, short films, and represent all kinds of different genres.

Summer:

Go for a scenic hike.

When the snow has melted, get your hiking boots on and explore the trails of Park City. In and around Park City and Deer Valley, you will find an abundance of lakes and rivers, twisty woundy roads, and spectacular views of the mountains. Anyone can access the resorts’ trail systems–and the miles and miles of connecting trails–for absolutely free.

A few of our favorite hikes include Summit Park, Wasatch Crest Trail, Park City Base Area, and Deer Valley Silver Lake Trails.

Take advantage of all the water Park City has to offer!

As mentioned above, there are lots of lakes and rivers where you can go river rafting, water skiing, sailing, kayaking, paddle boating, tubing and many more. There are tons of companies that will help you with equipment rentals at the lakes to find that water adventure you desire.

BBQ at home with friends.

When it’s warm out, a Jacuzzi might not be your first choice, but bring out some meats and veg to the BBQ and cook your hearts out. With a good view of all the mountains, go to the patio and BBQ with friends. Of course, with a beer in hand.

Enjoy the music at the summer outdoor concerts.

During the summertime, Park City has a ton of concerts at the magnificent Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater. Sit on the grassy hillside and enjoy a bit of a picnic with some great tunes and even better company.

There is the Mountain Town Music features local and regional acts on a weekly basis, free of charge. The city also hosts The Deer Valley Music Festival and Kimball Arts Festival throughout the warmer months.

It is fantastic!

Take a stroll on Park City’s Main Street.

With the sun shining, why not take a stroll down main street? With fairy lights along the streets, and bustling bars, shops and restaurants, there will never be a dull moment in the streets of Park City. Not that it’s native only to Park City, but I love grabbing an oreo apple at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and eating them at the park.

Also, every Sunday, from June through September, the Park Silly market fills the streets of Main Street with buzzing vibes, great live music, locally crafted goods and of course delicious food. It is definitely worth a visit, and fun to shop local.

What is your favorite thing to do in Park City?

Flying is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of some downtime. We all know flying isn’t the most fun thing to do (especially coming back from a vacation) but rather than complain and be miserable, there are some great ways to keep distracted.

Sometimes flights offer movies and games (and even trivia to win prizes … try flying Air Asia), but they don’t always have em and they don’t always work!

Whether you are flying for an hour or 12, it’s always nice to keep yourself entertained. I mean, you could sleep, but let’s try to maximize this down time with some entertaining and fun ideas.

Here are a few ways to occupy yourself for hours on your next flight!

1. Reading is the best way to fill time on a flight:

Reading is the best to fill the time on a flight. You are away from technology and wifi (unless you are on a Kindle, but still you are reading) so it makes it the perfect time to catch up on all those books you have been meaning to read. Trust me, I have a long queue of books I have been meaning to get to and my plane (and beach) time are prime to flip through pages.

Just because you are traveling, doesn’t mean it has to be a travel-themed book! You can always keep learning, keep dreaming, and most of all, enjoy your flight!

– First-time traveler? The Rough Guide to First Time Around the World by Rough Guides

– Wanderlusting on destinations? Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (or even any Lonely Planet book ever).

– On a budget? The Best Things in Life are Free by Lonely Planet or How to Travel the World on $50 a Day by Matt Kepnes

– Trying to find yourself? Travel as a Transformation by Gregory Diehl

– Hoping to have a gap year? The Beach by Alex Garland

– Care too much about what people think? (and one of my personal favorites): The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F$*k by Mark Manson

– What about a bit of Romance? Romance is My Day Job by Patience Bloom

– Want to find out why people succeed? Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

You might not be a big reader, I am sure once you open up a book of interest on that long flight you will end up on page 45 without even knowing it.

2. Coloring books are totally a thing:

Adult coloring books are like my favorite way to keep myself occupied. I feel like the modern day Picasso coloring within the lines and all! Coloring could be a hobby, but it is so therapeutic and fun, especially on a long haul.

They can be travel themed, or self motivation ones, or vulgar doodlies, or even badass breakup coloring books. They are so fun and I am so sure everyone would be super jealous of your artistic talent.

3. Podcasts are a great way to stay entertained and informed:

I personally love crime podcasts and Jack loves to learn about his industry (Digital Marketing, entrepreneurship…). Podcasts are great because they teach you something, they tell you stories, and it’s almost like they are talking to you (and with you!).

And we both get something different out of them – story telling and a new skill. They are great to kill some time while in transit and there is seriously a podcast for EVERYONE.

Travel? Try Extra Pack Of Peanuts or Travelogue.

Food? Try A Time and a Plate or Gastropod.

Finance? Try Freakonomics

Politics? Try NPR

Comedy? Try 2 Dope Queens

Crime? Try Criminal

Love & Sex? Try Dear Sugars

Just make sure you download enough for your flight while you are online so you can use them when you are offline!

4. Phone game apps are always a great go-to:

I love playing games on my phone when I am flying. I prefer to play card games or like IQ/idiot test games (just because there are endless levels and it’s a great way to keep you occupied and proving how smart you are).

Sometimes, Jack and I try to play against each other in some games, which gives the flight a bit of a competitive spirit. Although, the addicting games like Candy Crush can definitely help pass the time.

Again, download the games before the flight and also make sure they are games that don’t require wifi (Like Words with Friends), otherwise, you can’t play and it’s just no fun.

5. If you want to work your brain, game booklets are fun!

As much as I love playing on my phone, I usually try to conserve battery for when I arrive so I end up buying books that are full of word puzzles, games, and problem solving. I love logic problems, word searches and Sudoku (I’ve even conquered a 24×24!).

By the way, did you know playing one game of Sudoku per day helps your memory? Yep, might as well work on that noggin while you are on the plane!

6. Take on a new skill.

Flights are a great opportunity to learn something new. I like to learn a new program or read up on a skill, or even a new language (but we will get to that next). I try to brush up on my photoshop skills, or video editing.

It is something I would love to get better at so working on these things on a flight gives prime hours to practice these skills (without any wifi!).

As previously mentioned, podcasts are also a great tool to get some knowledge into that brain. Just find a podcast topic on something you would like to learn more about. Also, books! Of course, there are a tons of great books out there that can teach you a completely new skill within a few hours. (Ever heard of the Dummies series?)

You would be surprised with how much you can learn when you are in transit.

7. Yep, you can even learn a new language while one a flight.

Heading to Spain and scared that you won’t understand the language? Why not brush up on some of the basics on your flight over? You can get a pocket phrase book or better yet, try using Rosetta Stone or Duolingo. Attempting to learn a few phrases in a different language shows the locals you care and that you are trying to accommodate. You don’t know how far a simple thank you can go.

You can now download them digitally! Bonjourno, new language!

8. If you just want to sit back and relax, listen to music.

As someone who is in the music industry, music is something that is pretty important to me. I love to make playlists that are feelers for my trips. So I have made roadtrip playlists, music festival playlists, Eurotrip playlists and more.

Music gets me in the mood (and super excited) for my destination. And since I travel so often, all my music playlists varies per places. Again, make sure you download your playlist on Spotify before you go on your adventure so you can listen to it offline!

What are your favorite ways to entertain yourself on your flight?

We love to use fun travel accessories in all our travels! Some are purely for the Instagrams and some are actually for convenience (and we just think “How did we not think of that?”). We get everything from a cute towel, to a cord roll, to a cocktail kit. Here are a few fun travel accessories to make your trips easier, more organized or simply more enjoyable.

Travel Cord Roll: Jack is the tech head in between the two of us, and he swears by his cord organizer. Everything is in one place, easily accessible, and packed tightly to fit in all bags. No more untangling a messy handful of cords! Jack likes to snoop around these other great travel accessories for men.  

Cocktail Kit: A Margarita carry-on cocktail kit. That is all we need to say.

Anti-Theft Backpack wants to get their stuff stolen? No one. This backpack uses clever design to defy theft on your travels. You will feel more safe with this high-security backpack protecting your valuables.

Anywhere Travel Guide: Tired of reading through a Lonely Planet book for advice on what to do? Anywhere Travel Guide features a deck of cards with interactive prompts to force you to do something different. Go to the highest peak of the city, buy a coffee for a stranger, go to a café and order the 12^th item on the menu. It is a really great way to get to know a city.

Phone Charging Water Bottle and Stand: Ever looked at your water bottle and wished it could charge your phone at the same time? Well, now you can! It can provide you with the two biggest essentials of your life: water and phone charge. You can find many more great gadgets here.

Spa Experience:

Rather than paying for an expensive spa day, why not bring the spa to you? The farm fresh spa experience brings the products for a nice relaxing day after all your travels right to you. Goat’s milk, lavender, and shea butter team up in the aromatic milk bath tea, moisturizing bath truffle, and whipped shea cream is nothing short of a nice relaxing time in your very own bath. Seriously the perfect item for her – or the romantic time on your travels!

This post contains sponsored links from Uncommon Goods. But as always, all our opinions are ours.

What are some cool and fun travel accessories you like to bring on your travels?

I’ve been meaning to write a post about this for ages. It is something that has changed me, changed our relationship and the way how we travel.

I started showing symptoms when I was 24 years old, just 5 months after I came back from backpacking Southeast Asia. After about a year and a half of terrible stomach pains and ulcers, going back and forth from doctors who poked and prodded, scanned and starved me, the Doctor’s finally gave me a diagnosis. Crohn’s Disease.

It didn’t happen from backpacking, or by putting my body into a new environment, but rather because I didn’t have any money upon returning, so I ended up working for this terrible company which packed on the stress. Yep, it came out with stress. Stress can be killer.

And since the diagnosis, the way I work, the way I eat, and especially the way I travel, has forever changed.

**Before you proceed below, please note there may be some graphic photos. 

Let’s start here, what is Crohn’s disease?

Well, every person is different in how they feel, the symptoms they show, the diets they are put on, the medication they use and the way the doctors diagnose the Crohn’s. Let’s start off with general symptoms and the ones I was showing.

Fortunately for me, I have a mild case of Crohn’s (no illy bag but others aren’t might not be so lucky). My symptoms include:

– Extreme pain and pressure in both my upper left quadrant (so where the stomach and intestines meet) and my lower right quadrant (my colon, and generally where most Crohnies feel the pain).

– I would have 10 – 12 mouth ulcers at any given time on my gums, my tongue and my palette for the full year of no diagnosis.

– Crippling body aching pains where just getting up out of bed was one of the hardest things to do.

– Episodes of vomiting and extreme nausea.

– Rapid weight loss and minimal appetite. Like 11 pounds on 129. I got thin and I got thin fast.

– Diarrhea (and lots of it and at the worst times).

– My hair was falling out and noticebly thinning. It looked like there were just strings on my head. It made me feel really self-conscious.

– I was so extremely fatigued and felt so useless. Everyday tasks seemed to be so hard to get up and do. With the fatigue and achiness, I almost didn’t feel human anymore.

– Night sweats that would soak up all my clothes and my bed sheets. Like totally drenched.

– And with no answers for a full year, I put myself into a slight depression, crying every night, wishing for a diagnosis. Any diagnosis, really. I would stress myself out not knowing what was happening, going through hundreds of different tests hoping for some kind of answer. This was definitely the worst part, the unknown and feeling a bit crazy.

So that’s my story. That’s what I have been feeling.

But anyways, enough about me and my symptoms, here is what Crohn’s is in a sciencey way.

Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune disease that causes severe inflammation and obstruction in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract due to swelling and scar formation.  It can cause problems like bowel perforation, abdominal swelling, severe pain, and fever.

Sounds like fun, right?

How I was Diagnosed:

I was feeling these symptoms for a year before we had a definitive answer. Through that year, I went through 2 MRI’s, 2 Biopsies, 3 Colonoscopies and Endoscopies, 16 doctors, 9 liquid diets, acupuncture and holistic therapies and a lot of shots and tests.

6 months prior, I backpacked Southeast Asia and got stitches in Vietnam, convincing my mom Vietnam nurses used unsterile needles and to be tested for HIV and aids. Yep, one of the scariest weeks of my life was waiting for that test back. So I got all these tropical disease tests too.

But finally, we got the answer through a pill camera. I swallow this pill, it goes all the way through my body, and out the other end while taking pictures on its way down. Ulcers and inflammation through all my intestines and colon.

But I got the best thing out of this test. An answer.

How Crohn’s disease affected my travels

– Since diagnosis, I have started my treatment called Humira, a biweekly immuno-suppressant injection. It comes wrapped in ice packs, packaged in a Styrofoam ice box.

Now here is the problem, I have to plan my trips thinking about how I can travel with my Humira – like when will I get my deliveries? How will I keep it cold? Where can I keep it cold? What if I go camping? What if they don’t deliver my injections in the country I am in? Where do I dispose the needles?

But that’s not all, there are a lot of things I need to think about/plan with Humira that can ultimately affect my travels.

– Humira also affects certain vaccines. We had the intentions to travel to Africa next year but I can’t take the Yellow Fever vaccine while I am on Humira. I must be off Humira for 3 months to then take the yellow fever and then start Humira once again a few weeks after. It’s unfortunate because I’ve really wanted to go to Africa, but we will figure out another way.

– Food is such an important part of exploring a countries culture for us and with Crohn’s, it becomes a bit difficult. I love to eat so to say I can’t eat something to get a taste of their country dishes, kind of sucks.

There are a lot of foods that can trigger a flare – spicy foods, dairy, gluten, steak, seeds, acids, alcohol, fried foods and the list goes on…. (unfortunately).

And you know what that means? Papaya salad in Thailand, or coffee at a coffee shop in Melbourne, or pineapple in Hawaii, or steak in Argentina, or wine in Tuscany. I can’t have those. Well, shouldn’t have them but sometimes I can’t help myself!

I love to try new foods when traveling, but at the end of the day, I know what my body can and can’t handle and I decide what is worth the flare (and it’s definitely not spicy food).

– Crohn’s can flare up due to stress, and when you travel, you are constantly changing your environments, finding the right foods, figuring out ways to keep your Humira cold, and always on the move. Which, yep, surprisingly can lead to stress. And you know what stress leads to? Yep, flares.

I like to call this an environmental stress, and although I love to move around and travel, Crohn’s does make me more tired and flare up more often than usual. When there are a lot of moving parts and uncertainties, travel becomes more of a burden than pleasure.

– My body hurts a lot more than it used to. Some days I can do an 8 mile hike with no issue and some days walking two blocks pains me. I now need a lot more rest and sleep between activities which I never used to.

– I can’t (and never really did in the first place) drink anymore. Alcohol has proven to be one of the worst things to trigger a flare and just 100% not worth it.

When you travel, drinking seems to be the easiest social lubricant and parties are an easy way to meet people (like the full moon party or tubing in Laos). But since I no longer drink, I don’t want it to make people think I don’t go out or that I am boring. (I know I know, I shouldn’t care about what people think. Thanks, mom…)

– My medical bills have been higher than ever. They say don’t stress or you will cause a flare up, but after $25k of medical bills of going back and forth to the doctors, how can you not stress? It could affect my credit score, I’ve had to start working paycheck to just to pay the bills, and plus $25k is a lot of travel I am missing out on. It sucks.

– Long flights and car rides haven’t been the easiest on my body. Those pooping episodes love to catch you off guard. Usually happens when there are no bathrooms anywhere close.

Also, did you know that if you have Crohn’s, you can sign up for a restroom card?  I haven’t gotten one but the Restroom Request Card makes it easier to discreetly communicate your IBD condition and request access to restricted restrooms when unexpected symptoms arise.

– Speaking of the wonderful pooping issues, you never know where the next bathroom will be. Good luck!

How will I continue to travel despite my Crohn’s?

Crohn’s does not and will not define who I am and how I will travel.

In fact, I have taken this whole thing with a new positive light. For a full year, I was in and out of the hospital with no diagnosis, constant pain, and on the brink of depression. I couldn’t hold a job (because of all the job appointments), I hated being in public because I felt frail, ugly and sick, I always cried to Jack and felt like I just pushed people away because I was just sad all the time.

I couldn’t hold a job (because of all the doctor appointments and sick days), I hated being in public because I felt frail, ugly and sick, I always cried to Jack and I thought I just pushed people away because I was miserable and negative all the time.

I started questioning my relationship with not just Jack but all my friends. Why would people want to be around someone who is so unpleasant? I felt powerless. I was annoyed and frustrated there was NO answer. I felt like a lab rat.

And worst of all, I felt alone.

But traveling gave me something to look forward to. No matter how hard it rained, or how lost we got or had things stolen, I still felt so privileged to experience traveling to a new place.

At the end of the day, I was able to go somewhere not everyone gets to. I was able to get out of bed and see something new. I get to ride in a Tuk Tuk or swim in the ocean. I got to breathe in fresh mountain air. I got to taste pieces of different cultures.

I may have some difficulties, but not everyone gets to do and see the places I do. I’ve made this my priority and I won’t let Crohn’s stop me.

That year was one of the hardest years of my life, but now I get to explore the world, with my main man by my side and I love every second of it.

I can’t let a negative experience get to me (mostly because if I stress about it, I get a flare) but shit happens (no pun intended) and you just have to push through. If you dwell, you can’t move on. There is no point of throwing myself a pity party because 1. it’s a party for 1 and 2. crying and whinging about it won’t get me anywhere.

My gameplan for how I travel in the future is to take it slow and take it positively. I know I am bigger than this whole thing and that I have come a long way since. I am really excited to see what the future of travels hold for me (us!).

Tips for future travels with Crohn’s

– Always bring some extra toilet paper. Some flares and episodes will catch you off guard – you never know when you will need to go.

– If you are on a road trip, mark all rest stops just in case you need to go. Just note that there is a rest stop in the next X amount of miles north and south. It will put your mind at ease and help plan out any needed unexpected stops.

– Traveling is already exhausting for someone without a chronic illness. But since the whole Crohn’s thing, I find myself getting tired easier. Listen to your body, YOU know YOUR body best. Make plans that are flexible in case you need to rest, try not to overschedule things, and again, listen to your body.

It’s ok to take a break and it’s ok to take a day off.

– Don’t be afraid to reach out. One thing I have learned was that I am (unfortunately/fortunately) not alone. Having a support group there for you has kept me sane. I joined a few groups on facebook before I even had my diagnosis (just a research list of webMD possibilities with my symptoms).

I was going back and forth from the doctors so often and received the same response over and over – “Your blood work came out perfect!” “Your body is in great shape!” “We’re not finding anything wrong.” I felt crazy like I was making it up. These support groups had my back and helped me understand that it does in fact take time.

I even joined a humorous Crohn’s group that makes you laugh about the shitty situation. (Get it?) You already have Crohn’s so why not laugh about it?

– Keep a list of all foods that may give you a flare up. If you know spicy foods are no good, maybe try Pad Thai instead of the spicy papaya salad or eat chicken instead of steak. Keeping a list will help you remember which foods could cause a flare up and essentially cost you a full day of your travels. And no one wants that.

– Stick to bottled water, and if you can, alkaline water. Especially when you have stomach troubles, vomitting, and diarrhea, you need to keep hydrated. When you’re dehydrated, your body can’t function properly and you can ultimately lose a full day on your travels. Keep your body at a balance.

– Stress is unavoidable, but you can take control yourself by making time to relax and enjoy yourself. There are plenty of amazing relaxation techniques that can help reduce stress on your travels like (beachside) yoga, swimming, reflecting at a beautiful view point, and listening to music.

– Make sure you take your medication. Just because you are feeling good for at the moment (maybe you just went skydiving and you are on some euphoric feeling), you should still always take your medication. That is the reason you are still feeling good. Also, along with the meds, keep your diet in check.

– Depending on where you are traveling, you may need to get a vaccination to protect yourself from certain diseases that are more common in that area (like yellow fever in Africa). You should always consult your GI before doing this and make sure to plan this well in advance as you might need to get them as far as 8 weeks before you plan to travel.

– Don’t let anyone tell you how to handle your Crohn’s (apart from your doctors). You know what you can handle, you know what works for you, “my friend has Crohn’s and he uses…” no. It’s you and your body.

**I am not a doctor, I am just telling you about my personal experiences with Crohn’s and how I have dealt with it. Please consult a doctor before doing anything.

Other inspiring travelers who travel with chronic illnesses:

– Anna Everywhere –  Reynaud’s syndrome

– Wayfaring Sarah – Fibromyalgia, Endo, IBS, GERD & Hypermobility syndrome.

– Probe Around the Globe – Crohn’s

– The Katie Show Blog – Endometriosis

If you or someone you know who has Crohn’s disease ever needs someone to talk to, please don’t ever hesitate to reach out to me.

Marrakech has a special place in my heart. You know why? I am actually Moroccan! It’s one of my favorite party facts about myself. My grandparents (from both sides) are from Morocco. My mom’s side is from Marrakech, so this trip was to see my grandma and celebrate Passover together as a big fat Moroccan family.

Marrakech is easily one of the most magical places we have been to. It’s filled with culture and history, with a charming mixture of old and new buildings. Bustling streets, incredibly tasty food (this is when I can say, it tastes like home!), and all the orangey, clay buildings. Oh, and the tea! Wow, Moroccan mint tea is THE BEST.

Anyways, apart from the family background indulgence and cultural history dive, Marrakech is one of the most beautiful cities, and we think these pictures will convince you to book your next flight there!

Have you ever been to Marrakech? Tell us about it!