Passports from the Heart

Three Unique Things to See and Do in Tooele County, Utah

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*This post is sponsored by Tooele County however all opinions are my own.

I have visited Utah a few times over the years. Each trip was for work so I never had the opportunity to truly experience the area. This is really a shame because there’s some incredible things to see and do just a short drive from the state capital Salt Lake City. Twenty five minutes from the Salt Lake City airport is Tooele ( too-will-uh) County which is located in the north western part of the state. The first settlement in the area was in the 1800s which means there’s a great deal of historical landmarks to stop and see. There’s also hiking, biking, camping, hunting, and even scuba diving!

Tooele also has some other pretty unique things to enjoy. Here’s three things to see and do in Tooele County that I think you and your family will love.

Bonneville Salt Flats

I have always wanted to visit the Salar de Uyuni  in Bolivia. This is high on my Travel Bucket List. But, did you know that you can see something just as beautiful right in Utah? The Bonneville Salt Flats is the largest salt flat located west of the Great Salt Lake. These salt flats are known for the car racing that take place in the flats at the Bonneville Speedway. It’s said that if you believe what your eyes see then you’d be looking at water that goes on forever. The ancient Lake Bonneville filled most of the Great Basin. When it began to dry up, the water became salty. This left salt deposits in areas which formed the Salt Flats.

The Bonneville Salt Flats stretches across 30,000 acres. I find it interesting that car racing has been taking place here since the late 1800s with drivers returning year after year to break land speed records. Many drivers have hit record speeds between 400-600 mph! I honestly could not even imagine being in one of those cars.

Each year the World of Speed event is held at the salt flats where you can of course enjoy watching cars and motorcycles speed by but do you know what else you may catch a glimpse of? Bar stool racing! Can’t make this up friends. The bar stools are limited to electric power and some records indicate that these bar stools have hit over 50mph! There’s truly something for everyone.

 

 

Pony Express National Historic Trail

“Men Wanted” The undersigned wishes to hire ten or a dozen men, familiar with the management of horses, as hostlers, or riders on the Overland Express Route via Salt Lake City. Wages $50 per month and found.” – Ad in Sacramento Union, March 19, 1860.

Operating for only 18 months beginning in April 1860, the Pony Express was the mail delivery service from Missouri to California. These original mailmen traveled 1,800 miles in 10 days, by horse of course.  Pretty impressive! You can actually retrace the steps of history in Utah by visiting a variety of museums and camps along the route. There’s also plenty of opportunities for horse back riding.

I think this is a great way for parents to teach their children about life before digital communication!

Wild Horses

Track the wild horses of Utah. Think of it as a safari right here in the United States. Tooele County is home to the largest herd of free-roaming wild horses in the state of Utah. The herd is also one of the largest in the country. My daughters, especially my oldest who was an equestrian, would love this. I can only imagine the feeling of seeing these wild horses, one of the most beautiful animals, in their natural habitat. This is something not found just anywhere. The Pony Express Road is actually a great place for viewing access of the herd plus many other historical stops along the way. It’s important to mention that you should not approach these horses. They are wild animals. Keep your distance and enjoy them from afar.

Looking for other cool things to do in Tooele County? Check out these upcoming events.

May 20th – Lantern Festival

Apr-Jun – Salt Flats Racing Association Test & Tune

July 27th-30th – Country Fan Fest

July 4th Weekend – Bit N Spur Rodeo

Myrtle Beach Safari Tours

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“In the end…

We will conserve only what we love,

We will love only what we understand

We will understand only what

we are taught.”

Did you know that a 50 acre animal preserve is tucked away quietly in small town Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?

I’ve been to Myrtle Beach a handful of times and had no idea. In fact, during my recent trip  I asked many locals about this place that is home to over 100 animals. 98% of the Myrtle Beach locals I spoke to had never heard of it. This made my trip to Myrtle Beach Safari Tours even more of an adventure.

I admit it. As I arrived to the large bamboo gates outside of the preserve I was a bit nervous. For the next four hours, I had to give up my phone and camera as neither were allowed. This is so there are no distractions for you or the animals and so that you can truly enjoy the experience. I’m the first to admit that my phone is in hand pretty much at all times. It controls work, family, and anything else going on in my life. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to have to close it away in the glove compartment of my car.

After signing a few waivers stating we understood the rules including the fact that there’s always a risk that injury could occur,  we were allowed to enter. I was under no illusion that I was going to come face to face with predators. After returning home I was called ‘brave’ and asked the question over and over “weren’t you scared?” No. I wasn’t. I didn’t really think twice about that after driving through those gates.

There is no glass between us!

After an explanation of what to expect, we had our first encounter. A liger named Hercules weighing in at over 900lbs and standing at 11 feet tall when on his hind legs! Now, that’s a big cat. I should also mention that Hercules is a Guinness Book of World Records three time winner.

Throughout the tour, we were not allowed to come in contact with any adult animals (with the exception of Bubbles the elephant)  for good reason. While they are trained, they are still predators and are capable of causing harm to someone in certain circumstances. Education is important but so is safety!

Play Time!

One of my favorite parts of the tours was the opportunity to interact with the baby tigers and wolf pups. One question I’ve received a few times  is “are these animals sedated?” The answer is no. Not at any time during my visit to the preserve did I feel the animals were being harmed. The cubs and pups were playful and loved chasing their stuffed animals. The preserve is beautiful, it’s clean, the animals seem very happy, and they were not caged as you would see at a zoo.

During the tour we were also introduced to Ahren, the African Fish Eagle that was rescued from Tanzania, Ramses the Cheetah, Siberian and Bengal Tigers, Wolves, Gibbons, and Chimpanzees. Throughout the tour you are educated on each animal and what Myrtle Beach Safari is doing to help them. I was impressed at the relationship the trainers had with these animals. You could tell they spend an incredible amount of time with them. In fact, their entire lives are surrounded around the lives of them. They are all treated as family. Many of the animals are hand raised from the time they are very young which allows the trainers to build a strong bond with them.

I really loved the story of Bubbles. You may have seen her on social media or even t.v. She’s quite famous! Bubbles was rescued by Doc Antle, the founder of Myrtle Beach Safari Tours, over 30 years ago! Her family were all killed by poachers and Doc has raised her since. This 5,000lb big baby has a funny and sweet personality.

I’ve traveled a great deal and had some incredible moments in life. This was by far one of those moments that will be with me forever. Something I heard a few times during my time at Myrtle Beach Safari was that this experience is a bucket list item being checked off. Many travel from far away just to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures. I met a couple of people that came from New Jersey but I heard people have traveled from as far away as Japan, England, and Canada.

Your visit to Myrtle Beach Safari Tours helps support the work being done by the Rare Species Fund which provides funding to international wildlife conservation programs.

If you are in Myrtle Beach, I highly recommend visiting the preserve. It’s a trip you will never forget. http://myrtlebeachsafari.com

FTC Disclosure *I was offered a complimentary visit to Myrtle Beach Safari Tours however all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.*

Travel Guide: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is only a short drive away from me however I had never spent much time there until recently. I was impressed at how much the city has to offer other than the beach. There’s truly something for all ages and interests.

Where to Stay?

Hampton Inn & Suites Oceanfront 1801 S Ocean Blvd,  Myrtle Beach, SC

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I love all Hiltons (hello Hilton Honors!!). When we travel , even internationally, we usually book a Hilton. The Hampton Inn & Suites Oceanfront is right on the beach but just a short drive away from Broadway at the Beach, the new Sky Wheel, and Market Common. You don’t have to leave the hotel to enjoy yourself or to keep your little ones occupied. There’s two lazy rivers, three outdoor and four indoor pools. It was a bit chilly during my visit so I didn’t take advantage of this. That certainly didn’t stop the children visiting during their Spring Break! My favorite thing about this hotel is the view. I love looking out at the sea. I spent a lot of time on my balcony writing during the day and then walking on the beach in the evenings.

Where to Eat?

Breakfast/Lunch:

Croissants Bistro and Bakery 3751 Robert M. Grissom Parkway, Myrtle Beach, SC

I’ve heard so much about this place. It actually comes highly recommended and rightfully so. This bistro and bakery has been a favorite of locals and out of town visitors since 1995.  It was difficult deciding what to order as the menu has an array of meals to choose from. You can have anything from  Bananas Foster French Toast (which I hear is amazing) to Shrimp and Grits. I went along with the suggestion of my lovely waitress and had the Crab Cake Benedict. So good!! Make sure to stop at the bakery for goodies to go. My children really loved the fruit tarts. They didn’t save me any!

Lunch/Dinner:

Art Burger Sushi Bar 706 N Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC

I heard about about this restaurant a few months ago and couldn’t wait to visit. Liquid nitrogen cocktails, gourmet burgers, and sushi. It really doesn’t get better than that! The story behind this resturant has to be my favorite part though. When Ms. Linda Weatherspoon had a near-death experience due to a brain aneurysm and stroke she wanted a place to paint. Her son gave her just that. A place to paint right on the sea. You can often find Ms. Linda interacting with the customers at Art Burger while doing what she loves. Painting. You will also find pieces of art work hanging on the walls by local artists. Each piece is displayed and sold. There’s never a charge to the artist. Ever. Pretty amazing. Interested in reading more about Ms. Linda and her inspiring recovery? I highly recommend her book Can I Paint in Heaven?

Photo Credit: Art Burger Sushi Bar

Photo Credit: Art Burger Sushi Bar

What to do?

Brookgreen Gardens 1931 Brookgreen Garden Dr., Murrells Inlet, SC

We know the biggest attraction of the area is of course the BEACH but there’s actually a lot of other great things to experience in Myrtle Beach. Just a short drive from the beach is Brookgreen Gardens which is full of art, history, and even a zoo! During my visit to Myrtle Beach, I was a solo traveler and I spent several hours walking the grounds of the gardens. It was beautiful and quite peaceful. One of my favorite moments was spending time talking to one of the staff members, Louise. Louise is 90 years old and has worked at the gardens for the last 23 years. She spent a great deal of time with me discussing the history of the area and even showing me her pin she proudly wears from her time as an archaeologist. I loved her spirit and even after all these years you could still see the love she holds for the place she calls home.

The Carolina Opry 8901 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC

There’s truly something for everyone at the Calvin Gilmore Theater. I decided to visit the TCO show which is a bit of a variety show that has been entertaining guests for over 30 years . It was full of modern music, classic country (I may have sung along to every single song. Can’t take the country out of the girl), comedy, and even hip hop clogging. I was excited to see the dance group ‘All That’ perform as I was a big fan during their time on America’s Got Talent. The entire show is family friendly so your little ones can come along. I would definitely attend this show again!

Photo Credit: The Carolina Opry

Photo Credit: The Carolina Opry

Photo Credit: The Carolina Opry

*This trip was sponsored by Visit Myrtle Beach in partnership with the above businesses. No other compensation was received. As always, all opinions are my own.*

This post contains an affiliate link which can result in me receiving a small commission. 

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