This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here.
This hotel stay was hosted as part of the Zion National Park  WITS FAM trip who did not review or approve this story. 
All images by Kateryna Topol.

The vibe & Shared spaces

Located a 20-minute from Zion National Park, the resort is set near the Virgin River and Zion’s towering red rocks. The accommodations are set in a circle around an open green space. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed at the check-in desk, which shares space with a common area and restaurant. Tall windows, turn sliding doors, open on the campsite with a large pool tucked to the side of the Clubhouse. 

To the side of the shared lawn is a kids’ playground structure with swings and lawn games that guests can take advantage of. The airstreams are staggered to one side, while campsites and cottages are lined against the mountain ranges. While some guests might choose to find a nearby restaurant for dinner, most spend their evenings on-site by the firepit, grilling hot dogs and cracking beers.

Conceptualised by Narrative Design Studio, the property is nature’s oasis, seamlessly blending nature and elegance. The Clubhouse design, in particular, takes from natural hues and mid-century design, embracing wood and stone elements. The property is pet-friendly and has EV charging stations.

Note: AutoCamp Zion is a Hilton property, so make sure to collect those points. 

Above and below: AutoCamp Zion, Classic Cabin.

AutoCamp accommodations range 

Virgin is known locally as the glamping capital of Utah, and AutoCamp is certainly here to step things up with luxury accommodation. The interiors have warm neutral palettes and mixed textures that echo the desert landscape. All spaces offer a sense of tranquillity and blissfully comfortable sleep.

The range of accommodations includes three types of Airstreams (Suite, Premium Suite, and Explorer), each of which sleeps three adults or two adults and two children. Bigger options include a Classic Cabin with a full kitchen and a private dining area, and a BaseCamp Suite, which pairs an Airstream and a canvas tent to accommodate six guests. 

All suites and cabins have a TV, Bluetooth audio system, heating and AC, spa-inspired bathrooms, well-equipped kitchenettes, and luxury bath products. ​​Cast-iron skillets and basic cookware are stored in every kitchenette. Every suite has access to a firepit and an outdoor dining area, some more private then other, all shaded and comfortable. 

On-site amenities 

The Clubhouse and terrace are the main hub at the resort, where you find games and come to enjoy your complimentary breakfast granola. The kitchen serves all-American classics and gourmet comfort food (7 AM -10 PM). Kitchen dishes can be enjoyed in the Clubhouse or in the comfort of your campsite. Here, guests will also find a general store, selling camping supplies, blankets, branded clothing, and camping snacks.

Free seasonal activities range from bike rentals to kids’ arts and crafts, game nights, morning yoga, and even live music. 

What to do nearby

Explore the Zion National Park and its many hiking routes; some parts of the park require advanced reservations. Closer to the campsite is Virgina River and the town of Springdale, with a charming historic centre, shops, and restaurants. This region also offers a wide array of adventure excursions for mixed activity levels.

Orderville: East Zion Park White Mountain Horseback Tour

A short hike followed by horseback riding experiences in the backcountry of East Zion.

Book with GetYourGuide

Greater Zion: Sunset UTV Tour & Views of Zion National Park

Take an off-road vehicle across Zion’s red rock formations and across dunes.

Book with GetYourGuide

Zion National Park: 10- or 20-Minute Scenic Helicopter Tour

See Zion National Park from a bird ‘s-eye view with informative pilot commentary.

Book with GetYourGuide

AutoCamp Zion
Prices starting at $186 USD for an airstream
1322 UT-9, Virgin, UT 84779, United States
Book directly on autocamp.com or compare rates to Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

The post Glamping at its best at AutoCamp Zion, Utah appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Compass Rose Lodge in many ways is a reflection of that. This custom-built 15-room hotel is owned by the Hyde family – Jeff, Bonnie, and their sons Dakota and River. This land used to be a major trading post and the summer hunting grounds for the Shoshone tribes. This particular building was originally a schoolhouse. The Hyde family wanted to keep a lot of the heritage intact and acknowledge the agricultural roots of the community which led them to build a haystack tower. For a while, they could not decide on the best functional use for the tower but eventually, Dakota pitched the astronomy tower which is now a major attraction in the region.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
This hotel stay was hosted as a part of the Ogden Valley WITS FAM trip; they did not review or approve this story. 

The Vibe & Shared Spaces 

The architecture and design of the lodge are very intentional. Wood and metal decor detailing are everywhere, industrial and ski-themed decor touches are seen throughout the space and inside the rooms. The common area has a fireplace and a few comfortable sitting areas including a slightly enclosed spot in the tower. There are blankets, rugs, and adventure books stacked on the shelves setting up that homey cottage feel. The exterior has a few benches, an open circle fire pit, and two tipis which you can rent (more on that below).

Inside the Suite 

Each room is a bit unique when it comes to decor and layout. The large bathroom has a custom-made industrial metal vanity and a comfortable shower. A white sliding barn door is a really fun touch. The 15 rooms include suites with king beds, double-queen bunks (4 beds total), and an accessible Queen room. I had the pleasure of staying in Compass King 7 which shares a corner wall with the observatory tower. This additional wood panelling adds lovely character to the space. I had enough space for all my things, a place to sit and work, and a large TV to be lazy in front of. This was a cosy, comfortable stay and I could’ve easily spent a few days here, exploring the region. 

Dining & Coffee

The corner of the hotel is a local coffee shop, First Lift Coffee. It’s a fairly small space with a street side door, popular for takeout. The sitting area is are two tables designed around a ski lift bench, on track with the rest of the hotel theme. Your stay at the Compass Rose Lodge includes a complimentary breakfast (warm croissant, sausage, egg and cheese) from First Lift Coffee. At the cafe, you can also purchase other items, including alcoholic beverages to enjoy in the lounge. 

On the property you will notice two large Tipis, acknowledging the strong Native American heritage of the region. Historically, “Huntsville Square was one of the traditional gathering places for tribes to trade with trappers and early settlers of the area” so these tipis are honouring the tradition of gathering. Guests can rent them in increments of two hours daily after 4 PM. 

The tipis have slightly different decor and are both equipped with sitting space, an area to dine, and heating for those cold evenings. Our group dined in the Chasing Horses tipi and it was a really comfortable, unique experience.  The hotel team handles the water, set up, and clean up of the tipi; you can bring in your own food.

On-site observatory 

The custom-built onsite Huntsville Astronomic and Lunar Observatory (HALO) is open to the public and guests for Starwalk Tours hosted by the Hyde family. On a clear night, you can see the rings of Saturn, Jupiter’s Galilean Moons, galaxies, nebulae, and globular clusters. The 16” telescope is from the same family as Hubble and James Web with a prime scope which weighs roughly 80lb. The dome opens and rotates for optimal viewing experience. Jeff and Dakota assembled the telescope from nuts and bolts by hand and have been improving on this set-up since the opening, adding a smaller, more portable telescope to their collection. 

What to do nearby

Staying in this area offers a range of outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, biking, paddle boarding, pickleball and golfing. The hotel is located close to a few restaurants and Huntsville Park (driving), but the closest walking spot is The Shooting Star Saloon. It’s the oldest working bar on this side of the Mississippi with a fun, casual vibe. The decor is loose and casual, with paper money taped to the wall, there is also a jukebox and a pool table. They only serve beer and the locals told us you should ask for Star Burger if food challenges are your thing. 

Compass Rose Lodge
Starting at $279 USD for King 
198 S 7400 E, Huntsville, UT 84317, United States
Book directly on compassroselodge.com or your favourite booking website: Expedia | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

The post See a different side of Utah from Compass Rose Lodge, Ogden appeared first on Paths to Travel.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 
One of the stays was hosted by Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City, which did not review or approve the story.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City

Elegant luxury hotel located in the heart of Salt Lake City Downtown, a ten-minute walk from Temple Square. The 15-story building is chic and elegantly decorated with historic lines and details. I had the pleasure of staying in the King Suite on the top floor with a view of the mountains. 

The room is bright and airy with subtle decor and bright touches like pillows, art, and the orange velvet chair. I really liked the three-tier lighting on the bedsides, switch on one for late-night ambience, or all three for reading. The bathroom is floor-to-ceiling tile with a range of shower heads, a pretty spa-like experience. Each room has a bath towel, and a yoga mat, and can be accessorized with live plants on demand. 

The lobby has a range of sitting options, all similar comfortable, and bright, generally accessorized with live plants. There is a fireplace and a range of games that I’ve noticed guests really do take advantage of. Ground-floor restaurant Bambara, led by Executive Chef Patrick LeBeau has a healthy selection of small plates and hearty mains. Bambara also serves breakfast and brunch. Pre-dinner cocktails or a nightcap are better suited for The Vault, where the dimly lit atmosphere of a cocktail bar sets the mood perfectly.

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Kimpton Hotel Monaco, Salt Lake City
15 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States
Rooms starting at $234 USD per Queen
Book directly on monaco-saltlakecity.com or with your favorite travel website: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com | Don’t forget to get those IHG points.

Land acknowledgement:
This land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes and is a crossroad of the Indigenous peoples of Utah.

Marriott Salt Lake, Downtown at City Creek

Marriott Salt Lake, Downtown at City Creek sits directly across from the Salt Palace Convention Center, a short walk away from Temple Square, and other city attractions and notable architecture. Similarly to the Kimpton, the rooms are light and spacious. Higher-floor suites have a great view of the mountains and down the city streets. The King room has quite a bit of space to work, a few decorative mirrors, a sitting area, and a comfortable bed. Some of these rooms are adjoining. 

The ground floor restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. The menu has some great salads and seafood selections in addition to the American classics. There is also a Starbucks in the building. The shared area is separated into a few mixed table-sitting corners. This hotel has quite a few conference rooms which I did get to see during the summit I attended. They come in a range of sizes, completed with stage decorations, and with full meal service.

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Marriott Salt Lake, Downtown at City Creek, Salt Lake City
75 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States
Rooms starting at $189 USD per Queen
Book directly on mattiot.com or with your favourite travel website: Expedia | booking.com |  TripAdvisor | Hotels.com | Don’t forget to collect your Marriot Convoy Points.

The Little America Hotel

This hotel is about 10min walk from the Downtown and directly on the Trax line (local transit) which is free within the Downtown boundaries of SLC so you can easily get to any city attractions. The Little America is in fact, not little, but named so because compared to the Grand America next door it does look quite modest. 

The rooms are spread out across a few buildings, some are motel-style, and some are interior suites. The first night I stayed in the Motel Courtside One King Bed. It is a standard motel-style room with a fridge, a large bed, and all the typical amenities. This room has a bathtub. My second stay was at the Garden King Suite. This room is so large I had to step out and double-check my reservations to make sure it was mine. The full-size suite has a king bed, a full-size bar, lots of cabinets, a sitting area, a large desk, and a small balcony. There is a bathroom vanity and a three-piece bathroom with a shower.

The hotel entrance is quite impressive, grand furnishings, a fireplace, shiny chandeliers, and other impressive details call immediate attention. There are a few shops a restaurant and a bar in the building, both are quite bright, in my opinion, but I do love a dimly lit space. There is a heated outdoor swimming pool enclosed by a fence and some blooming trees, I’ve seen quite a few families with kids take advantage of it.

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The Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City
500 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States
Rooms starting at $163 per Queen
Book directly on saltlake.littleamerica.com or with your favourite travel website: Expedia | Booking.com | TripAdvisor | Hotels.com

Garden King Suite above and Motel Courtside One King Bed below.

The post Where to stay in Salt Lake City, Utah appeared first on Paths to Travel.

Park City is a year-round destination, and according to Forbes, summer is actually better than winter. The reasons include high temperatures with low humidity and a coating of lush greenery over the mountains. One of the main draws, however, is a wide range of activities for people of all interests and fitness levels. The city is a destination you can spend weeks in, some even choose to stay and make it home. But for today’s adventure, we are just going to spend a day in Park City as a teaser.

This article might contain affiliate links. Read the disclaimer about affiliate links & PR gifting here. 

Morning:
Slow stretch in nature 

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at the hotel. The St. Regis Deer Valley* specifically caught my attention. There is a range of dining options with a view of Deer Valley, including a beautiful outdoor terrace. Plus they have a private ski beach and a split-level outdoor pool. Seems like a lovely place to wake up.

For your first activity, start slowly at Park City Yoga Adventures. Even if yoga is not a part of your regular fitness routine, you would still enjoy this excursion because there are many different ways to ‘do yoga’. For example, guests can take up paddleboard yoga in a 100-year-old hot spring. You can also do yoga by the pool, do silk yoga, and even do yoga on a hike. Here, all experiences are very unique and some will not be found anywhere else.

Note: There is a free Park City transit system, see routes and schedules here.  

Afternoon:
Find your inner Olympian or relax at a spa

Pop into the family-owned and operated Hearth and Hill for some lunch, Bartolo’s for brunch if your heart is craving poached eggs or Freshies Lobster Co for a lobster roll. There is a much longer, curated by a local, restaurant recommendation list on the Female Foodie.  

For an afternoon activity, we headed over to the Utah Olympic Park. Built for the 2002 Winter Olympics the park became a permanent attraction and a member of the Olympic Legacy Foundation. The visitors can explore two on-site museums and participate in a range of adventure courses, from zip-lining to a summer bobsled experience in a speed-controlled car, or even extreme tubing. Learn more about available activities and passes here. 

If extreme adventures are not your cup of tea, Park City is also home to a 35,000-square-foot spa sanctuary at the Montage Deer Valley* resort. Montage Spa offers a selection of alpine-inspired treatments from massages and facials to water treatments and saunas. And just look at that view! 

Fun fact: Park City is less than half a day away from anywhere in the United States but if you fly to Salt Lake City it’s only a brief 35-min drive away.

Evening:
Wind down with a cocktail 

Exhausted but energized by the day’s adventures it is time for some treats. For the treats, we will go to High West Distillery. Founded in 2006 by David Perkins and his wife Jane, High West is one of the most respectable distilleries in the US. Their newly renovated compound is set on a 3,500-acre cattle ranch called Blue Sky Utah. For a quick chat, we met with Holly Booth, lead bartender at the High West restaurant, who spoke fondly of their elevated cuisine and focus on local produce. Holly’s coworker Steve spoke about the uniqueness of their heavy-handed cocktails from behind the bar and how the higher liquor amount laws actually allow them to be more inventive with their cocktail creations. 

There are three restaurants: Distillery & Tasting Room, Refectory, at the Blue Sky Ranch location, and The Saloon and The Nelson Cottage located by Park City’s Historic Main Street. The Refectory has limited dining hours and offers a curated Thursday night supper experience. The Saloon, on the other hand, is open to in-door dining daily. The Nelson Cottage has Prix-fix dinners on select nights of the week.

Pre-book your tours ahead of time or join their team for a virtual experience from the comfort of your couch. 

If you are still bursting with energy after dinner, head over to the OP Rockwell Cocktail Lounge & Music Hall for some live music and late-night craft cocktails, or simply explore the Historic Park City on foot, bar-hopping and shopping as you wish.

All images are courtesy of Park City Tourism. 

At home:
Have a Park City-inspired cocktail party:

High West Distillery’s Holly Booth shared her favourite classic cocktail recipes which you can quite easily make at home. If you can’t get High West Bourbon use your favorite local release. The cocktails are from easiest to hardest. If you don’t have a shaker use a mason jar – super easy! To make a Simple Syrup all you need is sugar and water, it is very easy to do, here is a quick recipe on Liquor.com. 

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