Heber City, Utah
Heber City is located in Utah’s Heber Valley, an area just far enough from popular Utah destinations such as Salt Lake City and Park City to have its own distinct flavor but close enough that a drive to Heber City from the Salt Lake International Airport still only hits one stop light. The adventure-packed destination presents the opportunity to ride snowboards and wakeboards, horses and zip lines, dune buggies, trains, golf carts and everything in between.
Visitors may feel that Heber Valley never stops moving, and there are plenty of ways to get in on the action.
“One of the coolest things to do in Heber is Homestead Crater,” said Ryan Starks, executive director of the Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a huge geothermal dome formed by mineral water. You walk in and it looks like a cave, but there is a huge pool in the middle with an opening overhead.”
Starks said visitors do everything from scuba diving to paddleboarding in the cave’s clear waters.
Another way to experience Heber Valley is aboard the Heber Valley Railroad. This historic 16-mile stretch of railway was built in 1899 to transport produce, sheep and cattle across the valley to Vivian Park. The train is still operated by steam engines as it would have been in the early 1900s. Guests can choose from scenic trips or even adventure-themed excursions such as Reins ’n’ Trains.
“On that particular trip, there is a mock robbery of the train, where actors board the passenger cars pretending to be bandits,” said Starks. “It’s very entertaining.”
Groups can refuel from adventure-packed days at the Coffee Station, Heber City’s own railway-themed coffee shop to which locals and visitors flock in droves. Once re-energized, they can try an adrenaline-pumping ride on Adventure Zipline, a forest-canopy-level thrill ride where “zippers” see mountains, creeks and local wildlife while zooming through acres of wild land.
Alamosa, Colorado
Colorado is the land of snowy peaks and majestic mountains, right? Well, not if you ask the residents of Alamosa, a small town in south-central Colorado — unless, of course, the mountains referred to are mountains of sand. Alamosa is known as the Gateway to the Great Sand Dunes, as the town sits just 35 miles from the tallest sand dunes in North America at Great Sand Dunes National Park.
“The great thing about the Sand Dunes is that they are very DIY,” said Jamie Greeman, executive director of the Alamosa Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You can drive there, park your car and then explore them on foot yourself.”
Greeman said there are also guided tours to the dunes and even companies that offer a new type of adventure sport called sandboarding that is similar to snowboarding.
To rinse off after a trek through the dunes, pay a visit to Splashland Hot Springs in Alamosa, a public geothermal pool that has been around since the 1950s.
“There is also a creek by the dunes that many people like to swim in; it’s almost like going to the beach, or at least our version of it,” said Greeman.
For an outdoor excursion that won’t result in sandy shoes, groups can venture to the famous Zapata Falls, a stunning 30-foot-high waterfall, or hike or bike through the Alamosa ranch, which has trails made for all skill levels.
Despite the sandy topography, the area is also well known for its many surrounding farms in the San Luis Valley. “Agriculture is our No. 1 industry,” said Greeman, “followed shortly by tourism, of course.” Crops such as potatoes, alfalfa, lettuce, carrots and quinoa are plentiful in the region.
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is located in a region of Idaho bordering Washington state known as Palouse County. If the name sounds familiar, it might be because it is the root word in the horse breed that hails from the same area: the Appaloosa. These beautiful spotted equines are one of the many things on which Moscow prides itself; guests can visit the Appaloosa Museum in Moscow to learn about the horse’s origin and modern-day uses.
For another “wild ride,” groups can book a whitewater-rafting trip with one of the local outdoor outfitters, such as Salmon River Experience. Moscow boasts Class III and IV rapids on the nearby Salmon and Snake rivers. A short drive from downtown Moscow, the journey to a river tour company provides visitors an opportunity to take in the county’s rolling prairie landscape as well.
Gina Terusio, the executive director of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce, recommends visitors plan multiple days to stay in Moscow in order to travel to other small towns in the region.
“There’s just so much to see,” she said. “There’s Troy, Julietta, Palouse — the whole county is just beautiful.”
Besides being an adventure destination, Moscow is also a foodie paradise, largely because of the area’s six local vineyards, four microbreweries and very own cider house. Guided tours and tastings are available at each. Many of these craft beverage destinations have also encouraged a crop of foodie restaurants to spring up in conjunction, so if libations aren’t on the menu for groups, there are plenty of food options from which to choose at each destination.
