How have I changed This Year?

Well first off, my blog has changed tremendously this year. I started off blogging about strictly travel related topics. Such as travel destinations mostly. I would throw in some music or video to change it up, but it was mostly about places I recommended you readers to travel to. All of the posts were in the same format with two pictures that were large sized with the same format of titling. I'm not really much of a cookie-cutter, in-the-box writer, but my earliest blogs seemed to reflect my personality as organized and straight forward person and writer, which I'm not really.

Later on throughout the year, my blogs started to become more spontaneous and random. I would tend to swerve off track with my theme and experiment more with other styles, tones, and topics. My blogs since that turn, have been the same yet different. They aren't very travel related, but they are revolved around me and my life as it goes. I like my blog as of now a bit better. It expresses me more and shows my values and beliefs. I feel as if my readers now can picture who I am and what I'm about now better then before.

As a person, I have most definitely changed this year concerning many things. My thought process has been altered a little. At the beginning of the year I was all about "starting fresh!" I would give 120% on every assignment there was even the littlest one. I even carried myself more presentably. Now, I have slightly changed. My grades have about remained the same, but I'm managing to just get by. I don't take myself as seriously now. Is that a good thing? It's not. You should never just "get by." You should always put forth effort in everything. I feel like I almost got lazier as the school year went on and now concludes.

Confidence is Key!
Source: forbes.com

My mind set has also changed, but for the good. Instead of caring what my peers think of me at school, I have started to do things for myself now, not others; which I feel is good. I would dress for other people, opposed to now, I wear what ever I want to school, because I feel confident enough to do so.

Everyone at school is always trying to fit in and be the coolest most popular, but honestly I have started to care less about all that pointless drama and hassle. I have found my true friends this year and I have started to find qualities in people that I like, and strive to possess. I realized its not about how many friends you have, but the quality of the true friends you have. Many people this year have forced their friendships with others to boost their ego and image. But friends are supposed to make you feel good, not look good.

I have also discovered that my maturity level is well above the majority of my grade. There are only a few people who truly understand how I feel concerning how immature people are. I am most definitely ready for the transition to the high school! I'm excited to start over at a new school with a different crowd, so I can hangout with my older friends and taste a new scene for a while.

My biggest goal for next you is to be happy! I can't complain about everything that's bad, but only cherish the good things that I'm blessed with. I'm read to take on a new school year. Hopefully I can't get through this one safely.

FRIENDS
Source: journey mart.com

Simple Pleasures

My friends and family have been receiving a bit of a negative attitude from me lately. I know from experience that being around gloomy people isn't always uplifting, it honestly  brings you down. You can waste so much energy trying to be negative when it's so simple to just be happy. You will run into so many people in life that try to bring you down, because the world is a rat race; so be nice to the people who aren't. Don't be like the rest of the people in the world. Its so heartbreaking to see someone who was once always happy change to being sad and somber. Being pleasant shouldn't be a burden. It's so simple to be happy! I wanted to brainstorm things that I love, that make me happy and not so pessimistic, to remind myself to be happier with things that I love.

1. Music- Music always relieves my stress. I constantly have my "buds" in. Music is a good way to express feelings. It helps you shut out the world for five minutes or an hour depending on what you want or need. Music is a necessity on my life. If I couldn't come home and listen to my favorite rock bands or indie singer/songwriters, life would be much harder than it already needs to be. Music is a source of relief that is much needed in my life.



2. The smell of sunscreen- The original scent of sunscreen never fails to make me smile. It reminds me of family trips to Tampa bay in the summer with my godparents, aunts, and uncles. When you open a bottle, it screams summer! There is only a few things that I like more than summer. I simply love the sweet scent of sunscreen.



3. Rainy days- Most people feel sad or depressed when it rains outside, but it makes me feel alive! I live in a desert so every ounce of rain we get, I cherish. Rain helps the earth and plants grow and be "green." Plants are basically happy little babies that live grounded  in soil. When the plants are happy, I'm happy!



4. Sailing at sunset- Every experience I have with sailing, I absolutely adore. Whether its 420 sailing, which is more physical and fast moving, or a big sail boat that I don't even rig or control, I love sunsets on lakes. Being on the water during a radiant sunset makes the sailing experience much more satisfying.



5. Meeting new people- When you meet a new person, you expand your possibility of friendships. Also, you start with a clean new slate to make a first good impression!



6. Conversation- Conversing with a person is so worked up nowadays. So, whenever I get the chance to have a sincere talk with a person, I value that time spent conversing.

8. Ocean hair- After a long day at the beach, tossing and twirling in the saltwater, my hair starts to soak up the salt, sand, and sun! After all, saltwater soothes the soul.





Spa Days
Source: retallackresort.co.uk

9. Spa days- A day at the spa with any friend or family member can never be regretted. A nice facial or mani-petti always feels so glamorous!



10. Friday night lacrosse games- No words can explain the love I have for my high school lacrosse team. On Friday nights we would have home games and they were always a blast! mostly, because we would always come out with the win, and my team is so lovable and supportive. The Friday night "vibe" I get from lacrosse games make me truly happy.



11. Sweet tea- Drinking sweet iced tea always can put a smile on my face, reminding me of the summers I spent in the south with my grandparents.




 Just remember to always be happy


Smile:)
Source: clipartpanda.com

My Indecisive Future

Part 1...

College is in the Future

Recently, in my mind I have been planning out my future. I have been really trying hard, and putting forth my best work and effort in school, and lacrosse. I understand that school and education comes first, and that is my number one priority. With going to school every week, comes with getting good grades. But what's the point? Many teenagers are probably contemplating that question in their developing minds right now. Some follow the wrong path and/or get caught up in stupid stuff that only matters in the moment, "the trend of the day." But, I'm starting to care about other things greater then social image in school, or how I'm going to get the most attention. I'm starting to care about how my decisions now will reflect later on in life, my future.

College is definitely something that I want to pursue. I want to go to a school that majors in a topic that I'm specifically interested in, that will show and reflect my interests when applying for jobs later down the road. 

I'm debating if I would like to shoot high, for more of a conservative lifestyle in college. Specifically a private or D3 school. Or, do I want to attend a large D1 college; generally a state school, or a big university. I have two sides of my personality and I can't come to consensus with the two and decide what I want. But, either way, hard work will play a huge role in what I end up choosing. 

Lacrosse is kind off a different story. There are really good lacrosse schools preferably on the east. But, I shouldn't be interested in a school because I like their lacrosse program. What happens after college lacrosse? The chances of a thirty year old lady trying out for the U.S. team and making the team. is pretty slim. I want a secure future, and to receive that, I will need to look at a school for their academics that meet my standards and interests.

 There are a lot of kids now days that are committing to a school just for the sport and thats generally not a very intelligent decision. I love the "broken leg test." Im sure you have heard it...if you go to a school for a sport and you break your leg, you obviously can't play. Will you like the school still? Just like a said earlier, you like a school for its schooling not its sports team. 

Lastly, is the school in an physical environment that I generally appreciate? Thats a big factor. For an example, a little Utah girl going to school in Long Island, New York, with all locals probably won't be very pleasurable. Location is something that I have been planning too.

College!

Source: vhhscougars.org

Part 2...

I Just Don't Know

Every time I visit a different part of the country, I fall in love with the different behavior and style there. When I'm chilling at home, I often find myself thinking about the beach and how awesome it would be to go to a school in California right on the water. Each time I spend in California the greater my appreciation grows. Just thinking about how fabulous my tan would be if I basked in the sun on my free time. Or, how fun it would be to play lacrosse in sunny weather. So, once I get my heart set on California, I visit the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, and I just get infatuated with Washington, and I start to cherish the rain! The small towns surrounding Seattle are so cute.  I start to yearn the petite little cottages and rain boots,  the idea of pale skin isn't too horrible anymore.  Attending the University of Washington would be so exciting! I return home eccentric about Washington. Then, what do you know, we vacation in New York and my buzz for Washington is completely wiped from my mind and I just become obsessed with the city. I start to want the total opposite, the wish for material things cross my mind, and I start to absolutely love the lifestyle New York brings. Going to class at NYU, and  meeting brand new strangers everyday while sipping your overpriced coffee! I begin to think the city life is the dream.

A Washington Road
Source: wallpedes.com

I'm so indecisive of what I want for my future, yet I keep planning and thinking about what I want to do. I'm causing my own grief! I just need step back, and relax. I chose to hope that everything will fall into place. Give myself time and I might come to conclusion on what I want, I can't be deciding now, I'm too young. But, I guess I'm never too young to care and think about the future, right? 

Park City Girls Lax Ranked 42nd in the Nation!

My high school varsity lacrosse team is ranked 42nd in the whole nation right now. That's awesome! First of, Lacrosse isn't big in Utah, its growing, but it's generally not very big. The east coast is stacked with good lacrosse players because thats where lacrosse originated. So, for a western team coming out of Utah, man we are killing it! Last year we were ranked in the 300's, and look where we've come. I didn't play on the high school team last year because I'm a little freshie. But, we have come a long way. Every girl on the field contributes to our wins in any way, shape, or form. Everyone is so supportive of each other, and I love the atmosphere of it. It kinda stinks being the youngest, but I'll get through it. At least I have my other freshman friends. 

My super cool team!
Source: Me

Our coaches are awesome and I give them the credit. Our coaches are new this year and man, they have they been doing a fabulous job. They are introducing us to a new way of playing. They really like us to take risks and do the right thing on the field. We value assisted goals rather then non-assisted goals. And, we don't just score as many goals as possible because we respect our opponents. 

Every single girls on the varsity team is really talented. You could put anyone in at any position and we still would kill it! As of now we are undefeated, and we beat each team by a significant amount and not many goals against. But another great thing about our coaches are, once we are up by a lot, we stop shooting and just simply move the ball around. We don't want to be that jerk team that just racks up the points. We try to be nice too. One game against Viewmont, we were winning by a lot at halftime, and we heard the other team say "well at east they're nice about it." How completely awesome is that! Thats probably the best thing you could hear as a lacrosse player. 

Champs!
Source: Me 

If you have nothing to do, check the PC lax schedule and catch on of our home games at Dozier field. 
Watch out for PC girls lax. We are making a great name for ourself this year. Im proud to say that I'm apart of the Park City Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team...Lookout!

You Always Want What You Can't Have...

Wise words from Brianna PART 1:


As my fellow readers you all are probably pretty interested in travel, am I right? If not, then you're reading the wrong blog. As travelers you see many other places around the world and many different lifestyles you might chose. 

Travel
Source:http://devonluggage.com

You chose to live and reside where you do for a some pretty valid reasons. Such as, your job, the landscape, the location etc. As a traveller you have to remember where you come from and why you live where you do, because you can get lost in your mind and thoughts. You wan't to live somewhere else, and you always want constant change in your life. What you already have isn't satisfying or good enough for you. Everybody gets fixated on change. And don't get me wrong change is always good. But sometimes you have to remember your reasons why you choose to stay put and planted where you are. With seeing many places and different towns you could live in, your mind probably jumps around and you can't focus on the good you are blessed to have. 

I personally have problems with wanting the better, bigger, and greater thing all the time. I need to remember how lucky I am to live in the beautiful town that I do, and the abilities I am so lucky to have. When I start to complain about how small my town is, and how everyone knows what goes on 24/7, I need to riming myself...at least I live in a house, and I have teachers, parents, and an awesome community who loves me. At least, everyone in my town looks out for me. Yeah it can get annoying, but someone or another always has my back, and that's something I may need to capture, learn and remember. In the now, right now I'm living an awesome life and I need to live to the fullest, and do the best I can do, but have fun doing it! Enjoy the little things. Have fun walking through the hallways at school even though you hate everyone there. Have fun taking a test because you should be happy your enrolled in a school, and you have a pretty good shot making it in the world. Everyones definition of being successful is different. My definition probably polar opposite then my own friend or brother. 

Cool pic!
Source: http://motivationgrid.com/44-of-the-best-motivational-picture-quotes/

While in the midst of life you need to remind yourself that what you have IS GOOD ENOUGH, and you are lucky to be living where and how you are. It might not be what you want, but hey, it probably isn't that bad. Theres always someone living worse and having to fight harder than you right now. 

Tree of life painting by Klimt
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Klimt_Tree_of_Life_1909.jpg

Ive just personally have had a hard week this week and maybe you have too. This blog is about travel but I kinda fell like spilling my guts about controversies, problems, and just life. Are you in?!

PART 2: 

Motivation is key in life. You have to have a spark in your step and a reason for doing something. If you don't you'll find yourself not really living for anything so stay motivated all the time. Have you ver heard the expression "stay on your toes?" If so, its totally a saying to live by! Never relax or settle into anything! Keep on your toes and expect the worst to receive the best. All ways do something for a reason. 

Cool Quote
Source: http://motivationgrid.com/44-of-the-best-motivational-picture-quotes/

Have you ever found you self living for the weekend? Or looking forward to future plans? We all do, yes it's very common, but I search for a different perspective. Going through the motions isn't going to get you anywhere. You need to live in the present and embrace the "now." If your struggling in something, don't look forward for future things to make yourself feel better, work hard and stay motivated to get back up to go out even harder. You should never excuse yourself to failure now, and just look forward to the future. Do your best all the time. There are times I go to sports practice and say to myself "I'm going to give it 100% today" which is great. But you should always give it all you got, put in 110% of your effort. But, don't just put in work and effort to just be a good person, the harder you work and push yourself the more good things will end in your favor. You should half-ass it. 

Sports for me is a good stress relief, and a good way to find my center and my morals. I believe in hard work and karma. You put in what you get out. I love team sports so much! The teach me about being a teammate and they give me good character. Previously this year on halloween, after school I wanted to go to main street with my friends but I had swim practice. I obviously didn't want to go and I almost bagged it, which isn't that big of a deal, but I decided to go because I'm apart of a team. Also, it wan't like my nigh was over. At the end of the season I ended up overall doing pretty well. I give all the credit for my successes that season to the practice I went to on halloween. Sounds corny but whatever! I was on a team and I was motivated to do well for me. Not well for anyone else but myself. Anyway, I like to think of motivation putting a spring in my step and an urge to succeed. Im not saying that I succeed in everything I do, because trust me, I most definitely do not. Im not perfect either and I don't do all the things listed above 100% of the time, but it's good to be motivated! 


I hope you enjoyed my wise words for the week! LOL

In My Hometown

I live in the gorgeous state of Utah and the spectacular town called Park City. Maybe you've heard of it, you know... the one with three world class ski resorts, awesome dry powder, and a killer school district. Yeah thats it! Another big plus, PC isn’t just a fun town in the winter. In the summer we have so many activities to do. Mountainbiking is huge! so is rowing, sailing, and boating on our precious lake, the Jordanelle. Many runners and hikers are active during the summer time. Salt Lake City, Utah’s capital isn’t too far either. Maybe a twenty minute drive up through the canyon. Easy access.  Out of all the places iv'e traveled there is nothing like the sweet smell of the fresh air in my hometown. I love Park City with all my heart. Its so humbling and refreshing. And the best part about it, is the community and the nature loving people who live in PC. 

Picture I took @ The Canyons 

Lets start withe the background of Park City. It started of as a small mining town with nothing but miners, a few bars and shops on main street, and mines. Once the mining industry failed, skiing started to magically grow. It got bigger and more popular every minute. All the skiers wanted to shred our awesome pow! Things just grew from there, but not too big. I't was still a pretty small town filled with healthy active families residing in the mountain town. Then the 2002 winter olympics took place in Park City. People started to move here frequently ever since then. 

It’s different then Vail and Aspen Colorado. We aren’t as big and commercial as they are. Its pretty “on the low” compared to there ski resorts. Which is all the better! We also, aren’t surrounded by national forests. All the land that surrounds us is owned by private developers. Which brings us to our big problem…

Park City's population is growing rapidly, everyone wants to live here, and call this place their own. Developers are wanting to develop so much of our land and make Park City a big suburb. But that not what we need. The community likes the open hills where the deer and elk roam about. Neighborhoods filled with thousands of houses are being put in many sports around town. And with those new neighborhoods, more families and tourists will be moving in and trafficking up all the local roads. Depressing right. What ever happened to the small humble town called Park City Utah. We definitely haven't lost all hope, PC is still as beautiful as ever. But we are facing a big problem right now. 

Me and Sophia on the mountain! 

I just thought you all should know my roots. If you haven't ever been to Park City, defiantly come! It's a trip worth while. 

Top T.V. Shows

1.The Vampire Diaries 

2. 90210

3. Gossip Girl 

4. Bobs Burgers 

5.The black List 

6. American Horror Story 

7. Saturday Night Live 

*I'm taking a break from strictly travel and kinda introducing my life*

Anyways...

Whenever Im traveling or doing school I am stressed and tired. Netflix is a big stress reliever for me. When I want to just duck through and hide from all the homework I have to do, I go downstairs, or in my bed, turn on Netflix and watch one of these seven shows, which are my favorite. But, the one I'm currently hooked on right now is The Vampire Diaries. I'm in love that show, it excites me! Im also really into 90210. All the drama in the characters lives are just so fun to indulge in. I sometimes wish my problems consisted of living Beverly Hills, attending West Bev High School, my dad cutting me of my trust fund, then guiltily giving it back. But there are definitely more deep stuff than that...that is what makes the show irresistible.

Bobs Burgers is a hilarious animated comedy series that is also included on Netflix. My favorite character is Tina because she is a strong, smart, sensual women. I think I just found my next year's halloween costume! I have spent countless hours on school nights procrastinating and watching Bobs Burgers. I guess you could say I'm pretty talented because I can multi-task like a pro.

Tina
Source: My Cellular Device 

If you don't have a Netflix account your either a really depressed person, a hobo, or you've been living under a rock. Netflix is how I cope with a loot of my modern day problems. Or if I'm feeling active I''l go on a run around my neighborhood, but generally I enjoy my downtime. Netflix doesn't have the best movies out there but their T.V. shows are the best! They have almost all the shows and all their season except for all the ones that still have seasons to go. But they're normally up to date. It's great because you don't have to record anything and you can skip to and through certain episodes and seasons no problem. I can't remember the last time I watched actual television, like cable. Just kidding... When the last Pretty Little Liars episode was on, that was the last time I watched real T.V. But to give credit, I was introduced to Pretty Little Liars by Netflix. Whenever I'm having friends over, we end up watching Netflix, it kinda helps you move through awkward situations with family and relatives that randomly decide to come in town. If you still don't have a Netflix account after reading this short paragraph, I highly advise you do so because it will end greatly in your favor. In conclusion, Netflix is just simply awesome. 

My life saver
Source: http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

Top Ten Best States

Have you ever took the time and thought about your favorite and least favorite state in the US? Yeah neither did I until I had to think of a new blog topic. Anyway, It took me a while to conclude my thoughts and decide of my favorite.

1. My favorite state in the United States of America is...COLORADO! I love colorado so much and I have spent lots of time there and I have explored almost every large and petite town.  Everything about Colorado pleases me, nothing ever bad happens in Colorado! The rest on this list go in order from my top ten favorites. 

Telluride!
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/12/24/western.ski.towns/

2. Vermont- How can you not absolutely love Vermont? Well, if you have never visited Vermont then I can understand. Any destination in Vermont is just purely beautiful with it's green trees and crystal clear waters. One awesome fun fact is that in 1968, the star of Vermont banned billboards! I love that law because ugly, obnoxious billboards can really distract from Vermont's nature. 

Home of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream!
Source: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/may/25/healthcare-vermont

3. Oregon- In Oregon you can get the best of both worlds; the city nightlife, and the outdoors, ski bum life. Also, there are amazing food options surrounding Portland. 

4. Washington- I have already expressed to you my love for Washington. I think that I just really like Douglas fir tress and they surround the area. And the crisp clean Pacific Northwest air really is refreshing. 

5. California- What can't you do in California? Thats right basically nothing! You can ski, surf, swim, sunbathe, shop, rome the city, star search, and play every recreational sport known to man. The palm trees that cover California are some site to see. 

6. New York- New York City just really excites me and most likely many others too. There no city like it. It's so big and uniform, pretty much a human rat-race.  

7. Hawaii- Oh Hawaii! Hawaii is the dream vacation for anyone because of the super chill, natural, healthy lifestyle. All the islands are magnificent because of the white beaches, blue water, and green rolling hills.  

8. North Carolina- North Carolina is much like California in which you can do everything. The outer-banks are a big attraction, but also the agricultural lifestyle and pastures and beautiful as well. It's also home to UNC, the best women's college lacrosse team known to women! 

9. Rhode Island- Rhode Island is where I'm planning on raising my family. The coast is very charming and sailing is big. I can never really find places that are into sailing, so woo!

10. Montana- Montana has a low population so it makes an awesome get away. The lakes that occupy Montana are breathtaking. You can also see one of the last standing glaciers in the U.S. at Glacier National Park. 

Sadly, my list doesn't contain Utah because, to be honest...I don't really love it here, if you know what I mean. But you always want what you can't have. 

*Tricks and Tips to Travel*

You always want to travel like you've been traveling your whole life, smart and experienced. But, have you ever flew to a destination or driven anywhere and just felt completely discombobulated? It used to happen to me often but not anymore because of these small tips...

1. First of, packing. Packing can be super hard. You want to pack every thing you'll ever need but you can't over pack. Arriving to the start of your vacation and realizing you forgot underwear or a toothbrush isn't always fun. Make a list of the stuff you need to bring on pen and paper. Review that list and collect all the items on that list. After that, roll your clothes into mini-burritos instead of folding them. It will create more room in your suitcase, and less wrinkles on your clothing. Then simply pack all of your necessities.

White Shirt is Rolled vs. Black Shirt is Folded 

2. While in the midst of packing, you should place a dryer sheet inside of you suitcase. It will keep your clothes smelling nice and fresh, and it reduces static built up on your fabric. You can purchase dryer sheets at any drug store, but you might have them laying around the house.

3. In your carry on, your phone chargers and headphones probably get very tangled and lost in the endless pit you call your bag. Well, store them in a glasses case for easy storage.

Handy Dandy!

4. For a short quick trip, instead of lugging around big bottles of shampoo, condition, lotion, or sunscreen, use straws to carry some small portions of your toiletries and pinch them of at the top with a staple then tape.

5. Nothings worse then having to pack grimy shoes in a suitcase full of clothes. If you are ever worried about your spare pare of shoes getting your clothes dirty, put your shoes in a shower cap to separate them from clothing and other items.

6. Hydrate or dye-dryate! Bring an empty water bottle in your carry on, then fill it once you pass security to save plastic and money.

7. If you forget the head of your charger/ wall charger and your stuck with just the usb chord, you can plug the usb into the hotel's Television usb port. Probably never thought of that one did you!

8. If you are in a foreign country and its the end of your trip, collect all your leftover coins and give them to the homeless. It's not like they're going to be very useful in the United States.


These little tricks may help a great deal on your next trip, long or short. If your ever in need of travel tip assistance look back at this post and I'm sure you will leave knowing one helpful trick tip! Always travel smoothly.

Washington- The Emerald State

Washington is such a beautiful and diverse state, I couldn't narrow down to just one town to focus and write on. So I'll just write about all the places I have visited and what really wowed me!

With all the rain that Washington gets, the greener every living plant becomes, hence the "Emerald State." But the greenery isn't all that excites, the majestic coast and captivating skyline of Seattle is really something to see.

Personally I love the rain and big lush forests, so my time spent in Washington is always spent well.

Exploring Washington: First off, If you go a little bit outside of Seattle you can find yourself in a little cute town named Woodenville. Pretty neighborhoods and douglas fir trees fill up the area. Over the past ten years, woodenville has become famous for its winery.  If you travel a little bit more northeastern you'll pass through the Olympic National Park and come upon a town called Forks. Forks, doesn't that sound familiar? Well only if you have seen the famous vampire drama series Twilight. Forks is the town that the books and filming of the movies took place. The petite cabin like houses and numerous cafes are very comforting and relaxing. The coast isn't too far from Forks, you can maybe catch a wave or two at La Push (a nearby beach). If you travel down the coast, you may see the beautiful, tree filled coastlines and swells that occur, maybe even spot some grey whales that annually pass through the Pacific Northwest.

Olympic Forrest Has Quite a View
Source: http://seniorswalkingacrossamerica.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-10-fday-10-forks-washington-la-push.html

If your looking for more of a commercial but fun activity, take a trip the the world famous Pikes Place Market in Seattle. At the market you can find almost anything from fresh produce to clothing and bracelets! When I go to the market, I normally pick up some fruit and yummy fresh seafood. The seafood display is insane; who knew there could be so much fish? And, the fisherman catch it from the nearby saltwater bays. Fishing is very popular if you ask any local.

The city life of Seattle is one of my favorite parts of Washington. Starbucks coffee shops fill the area, every typical white girls dream. Starbucks originated in the vast city. Shopping is big; downtown you can find huge H&M, Nike, and Nordstrom stores. Nordstrom also grew from Seattle. At night the city skyline is a captivating site, you couldn't miss it.

Whataview!
Source:http://www.vagabondish.com/36-hours-seattle-washington/

There are a couple tacky characteristics to Seattle. For instance, maybe you've heard of "the gum wall" and "the troll under the bride."

This state has so much to offer, if your a city person, or even a wilderness explorer type of person. If you're looking for a quick trip within the country, Washington would completely please your needs! If you travel there you might even see the world famous rapper Mackelmore residing in his home town of Seattle. Anyways, venture off to Washington... an adventure awaits.

Park City Skiing Makes Top 25 List

Park City made the National Geographic list of top 25 ski resorts in the world. The magazine states “Best for: Cinephile families with a range of abilities.” The article contains information concerning the U.S. Ski Team, and how Park City is home to the Ski Team.  Also, it includes information about Park City’s three world class resorts in one little town!  “A tourist boomtown!” they call it.

“Better snow, dry and fluffy powder, easy access, and good restaurants” Brad Bess (a local) cheerfully reports. “Park City is easily towards the top 5 of the top 25 ski towns in the world.” Brad most frequently skis at Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley Resort. Brad loves Park City Mountain Resort for its easy access to Main Street. “Davanzas is my favorite place to eat after skiing at PCMR.” Brad also likes Deer Valley for its amazing food choices on the mountain, and the option of not skiing with snowboarders. “At Deer Valley you can ski without snowboarders around. It’s nice to have that option.” Brad states. 

“Impressively, each of Park City’s areas offer a hundred or more runs, bevies of high-speed lifts, and around 3,000 feet of base-to-summit vertical.” the article confesses. Amazing skiing happens here.

PCMR
http://skiingbusiness.com/12513/newswire/attorney-sheds-light-on-pcmr-talisker-lawsuit/

I mostly ski at the canyons but PCMR is great too! Both of the resorts have their own unique characteristics that are fabulous. 99-90 at the canyons gives you access to some of the best back country/out of bounds skiing ever known to man! PCMR gives you access to Jupiter peak, which services the best blacks and double blacks in the game! I ski frequently every weekend with my friends and I completely love it. Our snow is so dry and fresh, I'm so lucky to ski on it 24/7.  

Canyons Resort
http://www.utah.com/ski/resorts/canyons_map.htm

In conclusion, Park City easily is the best ski town in the world. Whoever has access to any of Park City’s three majestic mountains are pretty darn lucky. 

Lacrosse... and Traveling?

I am currently on the plane flying to Palm Springs California for a lacrosse tournament. I know this blog is about traveling and wonderful destination throughout the globe…but It’s also about me and lacrosse is a big part of my life. 

Me and my friends at the playoffs last year! 

This tourney is called sandstorm and it’s a biggie; teams from all over bring their “A-game” and come to compete and Im pumped! After this hard tedious week of finals, its going to be nice to let lose and play some good lacrosse with my team.

I started playing about a year and a half ago, and I already love the game. Lacrosse originated from the Indians, but recently it started on the east coast. It was more in private schools then expanded from there alway to the west. So, its fairly a new sport to the western side of the U.S. Luckily I picked it up. 

If you have never witnessed a women's lacrosse game, it is pretty interesting. It’s a totally different game from boys. There is not as much contact, but it moves much faster! We wear eye goggles and mouth guards and thats about it. Some girls wear concussion helmets or gloves, but thats not super common. There are four girls on defense, four girls on attack, three midfielders, and one goalie. We have one half time, obviously at the half of the game. Girls lacrosse is really similar to soccer… but better!Any soccer player would make a fabulous lacrosse player, and vice versa. 

The field!
http://www.greenwichyouthlacrosse.org/Page.asp?n=21820

Playing lacrosse at an elite, competitive level requires quite a bit of travel. There are definitely local tournaments, but the level of play is fairly low in Utah. If you want to “step up your game” going to a California tournament or east coast will really do the trick. The amount of contact increases the more east coast or west coast you go. In California the refs allow more contact, and the same for going to the east. The refs aren't very consistent with their calls, so you have to work with the calls they just throw at you. Exciting right?

The funny thing about lacrosse is that you can be on many teams all at once. For example, I'm on four club teams. Some people get worn out, but I like the busyness. 

The furthest I have ever gone for a lacrosse tournament or camp is probably San Francisco. Thats not too far, but I have traveled to California roughly six times for camps and tournaments. Out of all those times, I probably have drove like once or twice. 

I always enjoy tournaments greatly. The playing/lacrosse environment is completely awesome; and the friends/social aspect is almost just as good. I love playing several tough games, and coming back to the hotel, eating good food, swimming in the pool, and bathing in the sun which we don’t see much in the winter. 

If you aren't playing lacrosse now, I highly recommend it. Lots of travel involved! 

Machu Picchu, Peru -Majestic Mountain

My expertise of a mother booked an exciting trip to Machu Picchu this spring break of 2015! I first I wasn't so excited to go, but I'm most definitely coming around! When I heard about taking a 4 day hike on the Inca trail...thats when I got hyped!Machu Picchu is an exotic Inca city on the top of the Andes mountains. The site stretches about five miles across. The little town was a secret that was only known to peasants living in the area. It is made up of about 150 stone building from houses to grand temples. 

The Top!
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu

My family and I will be hiking for 3-4ish days, sleeping in tents on the side of the trail. Donkeys carry our luggage (which consists of clothes, toiletries, and other stuff) and we hike along with a guide, and chef, and other friends. While on the big mountain, we still get breakfast, lunch, and dinner which is cooked in front of us! Since we will be "intense hiking" with not a lot of time for rest, we have to soak our feet in hot water every night. Sounds crazy right! My mom purchased my family brand new hiking boots for this trip...so it better be a good, tough hike. I find it funny that my family has never camped in a tent together, EVER! This will be interesting. We get thin mattresses so that will be a major plus! 

If you were wondering… Machu Picchu is located in the Cusco Region in Urubamba. We will fly into Lima (the capital of Peru) then explore around there for a bit! That section of the trip will be kinda short because we have to fly in to Cusco early due to "adjusting to the elevation." Lots of people when they hike the Inca trail, they suffer from elevation/mountain sickness; so to prevent that, were flying into Cusco early. I honestly think we will be just fine...we live in Park City, UT anyways. 

Lima
http://www.ccisabroad.org/program.php?link=peru_lima

After our gnarly hike, we are planning on going back to Lima and lounge on the coast. That will be a good time to practice my spanish speaking skills! 

East Coast vs. West

Some People say that "the west coast is the best coast" but is that true? But, is the east coast any better? I feel like it depends on your opinion and what pace you like to "move" and live your life, or what you want to get out of your time on earth. 

The east, is defiantly faster paced way of living. If you like people that are accountable and get their work done quickly, you might blend well on the east. I feel like big cities that are located on the east are a "rat race”, but thats not a bad thing! Straight out of college and maybe even high school, I want a a quicker paced environment to work in, so yeah, the east is great in that aspect! The only problem, (which is a stereotype) might be encountering maybe not the friendliest people in the world. Sailing in the east is very popular, the west lacks people who sail frequently. That may be a bummer for those of you who like sailing.

The Eastern Side of the U.S.
http://www.gopixpic.com/972/east-coast-they-lived-in-baltimore-and-allegany-pennsylvania-now-/http:%7C%7Cwww*1stdibs*com%7Cintrospective%7Cnot_to_be_missed%7Csteins_collect%7Chtml_images%7Csteins_collect_6*jpg/

The west. The west is arguable very laid back and pretty "chill." But, there is still fast paced mindset, just not everyone with that mindset is in sync with all other people residing in the area. The beaches on the west are friendlier to access and are warmer! You see a lot more "water goers" in California per say. The surfing on the west is more popular and maybe the Pacific Ocean stirs up better waves. Skiing is much more populous in the west, and better, dry snow.  

The Western Side of the U.S.
https://www.selectleaders.com/real-estate-jobs-west-coast

Lots of people move from the east to the west, but there are also many people who were born and raised on the east, and continue to live there. 

My family originated on the east, but my parents decided to make the move over to Utah. I sometimes envy the bone chilling cold of New York or Boston. The dry air over here sometimes gets to me. But, I can ski all the time during the winter on "the worlds best powder." During this winter break, Park City is a very big tourist attractions for people who show an interest in skiing. While I was sitting on the chairlifts, I would frequently ask many people where they were visiting from. Almost all of them came to Utah to ski from The New England area, and other places on the east. 

Both sides of the United States have many pros and cons. Don't you wish you could have the best of both? Anyways,  both coasts are incredible for different characteristics, I legitimately can't pick which one I prefer. Their both awe-inspiring! 

P.S. this post was based off of my personal opinion. 

Costa Rica- A True Beauty

In Costa Rica you may encounter some of the prettiest views and the nicest people in the world. Their gracious attitudes need to rub off on my family unit! They don't resort to war or violence. They surprisingly don't have a military. So, that shows how much they love to "spread peace." Just the people there fill my heart up with excitement, just wait till you see the sites! 

Arenal Volcano
http://www.arenal.net/arenal-volcano-overview.htm

The ginormous volcano of Arenal is a super pretty site to see. The green rain forests all around are majestic. The beaches on the coast are sunny and thrilling. Surprisingly, the water stirs up some pretty big waves!

On our trip to Costa Rica, I had a pleasant time looking at all different aspects of the glorious country. First, we flew into San Jose, the capital, which I didn’t really get to examine. Then we drove on up to the Four Seasons Resort in Papagayo; which is just up north. While we stayed there, we enjoyed a nice secluded beach, which we paddle boarded and watched beautiful yet frightening stingrays. After about 3 days spent relaxing or “chillin”there, we drove to the the Springs Resort by Arenal. The Springs Resort, hints the name, is surrounded by hot springs. Different pools everywhere we turn! My brother and I had a good time "pool hopping" around.  One of the bachelor  episodes was filmed there. After all the "commercial" resorts, (don't get me wrong, their supper fun) my family wanted to taste the sweet dirt of Costa Rica's jungles. We took a long night drive up to the high altitude of Mt.Arenal, or as I should say volcano Arenal! Arenal is a volcano that lies on the northern side of Costa Rica. We trekked out on a long hike into the rainforest and our eyes had the pleasure of observing exotic frogs, birds, and much more tropical animals. We stayed about two nights at a hotel that was perched in the jungle. The overall trip to Costa Rica was one well spent. I returned back to Park City with wonderful memories, and not to flatter myself… but a pretty nice, golden tan. The only thing about the trip I regret is not exploring southern Costa Rica, but mothers are hard to persuade. 

Some free time between traveling, we found time to drive out to a beached called Playa Grande which was located up north and over west. Playa Grande means “big beach” in Spanish. We surfed a bit there and just body surfed the rolling waves. They say that "salt water soothes the soul" and that is completely correct. Looking back and thinking, “what a truly splendid time!”

Playa Grande
http://www.costaricastyle.com/2010/11/playa-grande-beach-costa-rica.html

If your thinking about traveling to central America, keep Costa Rica high on your travel priority list, a natural beauty!

Songs to Listen to While Traveling?

Kauai, HI- Adventurous Paradise

"What island or part Hawaii should I plan a trip to?" the famous words of a confused traveler. There is Maui, Oahu, Hawaii, Niihau, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, or Kauai? I would honestly recommend Kauai in a heartbeat.The cliché activities such as surfing and sunbathing wont disappoint, but also the hippie lifestyle is fun to adjust to. 

Hanalei Bay
http://car-memes.com/kauai-helicopter-hanalei-bay-wallpaper/hdwallpappers.com*images*wallpapers*kauai_helicopter_Hanalei-Bay-Wallpaper.jpg/hdwallpappers.com*kauaihelicopterhanaleibaywallpaper/

In the northern upper most tip of Kauai, you may find a cute little town known as Hanalei. In Hanalei there is a bay that is home to many of world renown surfers such as Laird Hamilton, Bethany Hamilton, Alana Blanchard, and many more. 

One trip my family and I planned in 2013, was to Hanalei Bay. We stayed in a condo with close access to the beach. My brother and I are somewhat experienced surfers, so we gave it a go at the worlds famous bay of waves. I guess you could say we surfed okay. As we were walking out of the water in conclusion of our "surf day" we just happened to run into Rob Hamilton, the man who caught the shark that bit Bethany Hamilton's arm off! Your probably a bit frightened by reading this, but at the time it was super cool. 

We decided to go on a long hike up Hanakapiai's Falls on the Na Pali Coast. On our ascending part of the hike, views our eyes could capture were quite extraordinary. As we kept hiking, we had to cross a few streams which wasn't too bad, then we crossed a bunch of rocks which wasn't completely joyful, until we came across a mini secluded beach. We couldn't swim of course because the rip curls were too strong at the time. We were enjoying our lunch, planning to head forward onto the hike to reach the waterfalls, until a major rainstorm came upon us! We had to leave the site before floods could initiate through the beach and the small trails. As the waves grew larger and started crashing down on our feet, we scurried up to the trail, and quickly out of the beach area. The hike back we didn't worry ourselves that much because, you know... we're troopers! Our shoes were soaked by the time we reached the trailhead, but it was totally worth it! 

Hanakapiai Falls Hike
http://www.alohafrom808.com/2013/01/hanakapiai-falls-na-pali-coast-kauai-trip-2013/

Im completely sure that there are other exciting places to visit in other parts of Kauai, maybe in the southern parts. But, I had the pleasure to visit the lovable community of Hanalei.  The major bonus to Kauai is it's not very touristy compared to the big island. I found my self blending in with the locals. The situation of where I live, I get super annoyed with tourists taking over MY town! So its nice to not run into people from your home town, even though we live in a "small world."  

All the beaches surrounding Kauai are spectacular for all purposes. So if your still conflicted on where to venture off to in Hawaii, take my word and scrutinize Kauai.