Ghost Towns In Utah That You Can Visit For Yourself

We have all heard stories about historical museums, historical mansions, and even historical towns. We here at American Southwest are aware that many people find historical areas and even ghost towns to be quite interesting. Here is an overview of some of the most amazing ghost towns in Utah, some which you might want to visit in order to see for yourself.

Frisco

This once bustling little town was known for residents that mined for a living and who visited saloons, brothels and even gambling halls. After a massive cave-in that occurred in 1885, the town was eventually abandoned. Now, all that exists are multiple mining structures that are still relatively intact.

Grafton

Although it was abandoned in the early 1900’s, the town of Grafton is well-known for being one of the most preserved ghost towns in existence. It is so preserved and beautiful that several movies have been filmed in Grafton. Massive flooding caused those who lived in this town to vacate the area. Flooding occurred once in 1862, but years later some residents returned to attempt to live in the area. However, massive flooding occurred again in the early 1900’s, when a majority of the town relocated for good.

Widtsoe

Most of this town was destroyed in the 1930’s due to drought conditions which made farming impossible. The area had previously thrived, and farming was how a majority of the townspeople made their living. However, once the drought set in, not much could be salvaged. One especially interesting thing about this ghost town is the fact that a solitary schoolhouse still exists. Many visitors find this to be fascinating, since it is one of the few building that remains in Widtsoe.

So as you can see, all the stories about aren’t merely myths. These stories exist because there are entire towns that have been abandoned for years. If you find ghost towns interesting, then you might want to visit some of the ghost towns in Utah, which you might find to be more thrilling than any adventure you’ve ever experienced before. Follow us for more adventures in the American Southwest.

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Finding The Best Ski Resorts Near Salt Lake City In Utah

Utah is and always has been a favorite destination for skiers. Favorable weather conditions in the mountainous regions provide ample amounts of light, dry snow ideal for skiers and snowboarders. With so many great options in such a concentrated area, it can be challenging for winter sports enthusiasts to decide where to go. The following is a list of some of the best ski resorts near Salt Lake City.

Other ski resorts in the state are bigger than Deer Valley but none is more luxurious. In fact, SKI Magazine readers voted this resort number one for three consecutive years beginning in 2008. Deer Valley operates the most lifts and offers terrain suitable for skiers of all skill levels.

With no less than eight mountains to explore, Canyons Resort is the largest in Utah. The resort has renovated the condos and lodges over the past several years and offers superb dining options, including Slopes by Talisker and The Farm.

Founded by legendary actor Robert Redford, Sundance is at the opposite end of the spectrum from Canyons Resort when compared in size. The fact that the crowds are smaller is exactly what makes this resort appealing to so many skiers. Located in Provo Canyon, Sundance offers a relaxing environment and first-rate lodging and dining.

Park City Mountain Resort rivals Canyons Resort in size and offers skiers the most intermediate terrain. Beginners can sign up for classes with some of the most talented instructors in the world. The resort is home to large terrain and halfpipe parks with a variety of ramps and jumps for snowboarders and skiers who want to do more than just glide downhill.

Snowbird is located in Little Cottonwood Canyon and receives more snow than most of the other Utah resorts. This often allows skiers to enjoy an extended season until May or sometimes June. With so many challenging runs, Snowbird is a great option for advanced athletes.

Skiers of all ages and skill levels can find a suitable resort in Salt Lake City. All of the ones listed here are within a one-hour drive making it possible for skiers and snowboarders to mountain hop to different locations quickly and easily.

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Tips For Growing Vegetables In Arizona

Growing vegetables yourself does not just help you save money with groceries but it also ensures that you have access to fresh and good quality food. If you want to successfuly grow vegetables in your garden in Arizona then you need to educate yourself about the ABCs of cultivating vegetables. The four factors that play a primary role in this process are soil, timing, water and of course sunlight. If you reside in Arizona then the best time to plant seeds would be from November to March. For smaller gardens, squash, cucumbers, watermelons, etc will not be a good choice. Instead, you can opt for vegetables that don’t take up so much space, like carrots, onions, peppers, herbs, tomatoes, radishes, green beans, sugar snap peas and so on.

To grow vegetables in Arizona it is would best to use the raised garden system. This way, you will be able to enjoy more control over the soil and the growing conditions. Growing vegetables is just like tending a garden, you need to maintain it well. For instance, if you grew herbs like parsley and they are growing too fast for your needs, thereby overpowering the other plants in the garden then you should pull some out of the soil. If you are a beginner then you should opt for seeds that come with quick gestation times. In other words, vegetables that would produce in two months’ time are the easiest to grow.

If you want to grow vegetables in Arizona successfully then it is advisable to select the vegetables that are easy to grow like zucchini, red onion, basil, radishes, green beans, tomatoes, etc. It is also advisable to start with baby steps, this way you won’t be overwhelmed by the task of growing vegetables. The afternoon sun in Arizona tends to be very hot, therefore make sure that your plants are under a shade so that they are not exposed to the sun all the time. Also, you can plant trees to offer a filtered shade to the vegetables.

You also need to prepare the soil well because it is the base and it strongly affects the quality of vegetables produced. Also, getting a standard spade, shovel and other basic gardening tools would also help.

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The Beautiful Caves Of Arizona

 

Arizona is home to the most pristine caves in North America.  Extraordinary effort is required to maintain the pristine nature of the caverns and viewing them is an exciting, unique experience.

Kartchner Caverns is a living cave. Visitors will find delicate streams glistening inside the caverns. The cavern is still growing, with stalactites and stalagmites still forming within the caverns. The cavern itself is brilliantly colored and is home to the longest Soda Straw Stalactite formation in the world. It is considered one of the top 10 most beautiful caves in the world, and welcomes visitors to its delicate systems throughout the year. Along with the caverns the park also has a campground, museum, hiking trails, and more amenities.

The Grand Canyon Caverns are the largest dry caverns in the United States. An elevator is required to travel the approximately 300 feet down to the caverns. These caverns do not support a delicate ecosystem like the Kartchner Caverns, but still offer beauty with gorgeous rock formations. The Grand Canyon Caverns are close to any amenities that may be needed, and located just off Route 66. Guests have the opportunity to spend the night in the Cavern Suite, hotel suite complete with all amenities, located inside the cavern. They are just two and a half hours from Phoenix or Las Vegas, and only about an hour and a half from Laughlin, Lake Havasu, or Williams.

Colossal Cave is located in Colossal Cave Mountain Park, and may just be the world’s largest dry cavern. The caves have stopped growing since their original source of water has dried over several million years, which is what makes it now a “dry” cave. The Hohokam Indians lived in the valley below the caves, and used the caves for shelter and as a religious shrine. The caves were discovered by Solomon Lick in 1879, who was also the first tour guide for the Colossal Caves. During the 1890’s bank robbers often used the cases to hide out from the local sheriff. There are plenty of rumors about cash from bank robbers stored within the cave. To this date, no stash of cash has been located in the Colossal Cave.

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