American Fork Citizen | 2004-05-27 | Page 23

May 2004 ' OUT DOOR AND TRAVEL Page 5 Wail's iraaftioeia! Pant ..a. - --t iiiinmitir in Irnmirm pholo courtesy of Springville World FolkFesI A group from Spain performs during the annual Sprlngvllle World FolkFest, the largest festival of folk music and dance In the United States. This year's FolkFest will be July 10-17. SUMMER CELEBRATIONS Continued from page 2 and Romania," said Teddy Anderson, general director direc-tor of World FolkFest. She said there were 300 performers in last year's FolkFest, and this year will be just as large. Each dance group also brings their musicians, because no recorded music is allowed. . "A change to this year's festival will be the addition addi-tion of ethnic food and sale booths," Anderson said. "Each performing group's booth will sell food and products from their respective countries, so those attending will be able to have a taste of other cultures and to bring something home with them to remember the festival." The World FolkFest is run entirely by volunteers, volun-teers, and the performers stay with host families during the week of the festival. "It is a wonderful experience expe-rience for the whole community," com-munity," Anderson said. Springville is also home to the annual Art City Days Hot Air Balloon Festival and the Neways Summer Concert Series. Orem festivals The popular Timpanogos Storytelling 2004 Festival Schedule Scandinavian Days: Ephraim, May 29, www.ephraimcity.com Himalayan Fest: Spanish Fork, June 5 , www.utahkrishnas.com Summerfest: Orem, June 11-12, http:summerfest.orem.org Art City Days Hot Air Balloon Festival: Springville, June 12- 14, http:springville-utah.com Strawberry Days: Pleasant Grove, June 14-19, www.pleasantgrove.orgstraw.html Chariot Festival: Spanish Fork, June 26, www.utahkrish- nas.com America's Freedom Festival: Provo July 2-5, www.freedomfestival.org Steel Days: American Fork, July 5-10, www.afcity.com Scottish Festival: Payson, July 9-10, www.payson.orgfestivals.shtml World FolkFest: Springville, July 10-17, http:springville-utah.com Uama Fest: Spanish Fork, July 17, www.utahkrishnas.com Good Karma Fest: Spanish Fork, Aug. 7, www.utahkrish-nas.com www.utahkrish-nas.com 798-3559 Timpanogos Storytelling Festival: Orem, Aug. 26-28 . www.timpfest.org Swiss Days: Midway, Sep. 34, www.hebervalleycc.org Onion Days Celebration: Payson, Sep. 3-6, www.payson.orgfestivals.shtml Little Things Mean a Lot . ' - i ( two - ' i ii'i'j V J . i I. ,,J A Central Utah Surgical Center f 1067 North 500 West Provo, UT C2A [phone] Fax [phone] Festival in Orem will be held from Aug. 26-28. This year, nine of the nation's best storytellers will be coming to' tell "Tales Beneath Timp." More than 12,000 in attendance last year made it one of the largest storytelling festivals in the West. Leila Kauwe of Spanish Fork has volunteered volun-teered at the storytime festival for five years in a row, working in the area that sells the storyteller's products. "It is fun because we (the volunteers) get to listen lis-ten to the nation's best storytellers, too," Kauwe said. Orem also hosts Summerfest on June 11 and 12. In addition to the parade, entertainment entertain-ment and fireworks, Summerfest will include an Urban Conservation Fair to teach conservation tips and a community information infor-mation booth that will exhibit photos and provide pro-vide free booklets about historical sites in Orem. Whether you're interested inter-ested in history, culture, entertainment, food, or just getting out to enjoy your community, this summer's festivals are waiting to be discovered. discov-ered. Y ou can be assured your care is in the best hands possible at Central Utah Surgical Center. We pride ourselves in providing a cozy, home-like environment conductive to healing while paying attention to even the smallest of details. Our facility is equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art technology and staffed by devoted, skilled medical professionals. We are used by doctors who specialize in gastroenterology orthopedic surgery ophthalmology surgery hand surgery general surgery ear, nose and throat surgery urology podiatry gynecology pain management cosmetic & reconstructive surgery dental surgery and more With five national parks of its own and access, to Grand Canyon National Park, Utah is a mecca for nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts alike. Utah's national parks are located close together, allowing visitors to experience experi-ence them all in one trip. Hint: If you plan to visit three or more National Parks during a one-year period, you may want' to purchase a "National Parks Pass" good for admission to all national parks for everyone in your vehicle for one year from the time of purchase. The annual pass is $50 and is available at all National Park entrances. Zion National Park Designated in 1919, Zion National Park is Utah's oldest national park. Zion canyon features soaring towers and monoliths mono-liths that suggest a quiet grandeur. Zion is also known for its incredible slot canyons, including The Narrows, which attract hikers from around the world. With nearly 3 million visitors per year, Zion is Utah's most heavily heavi-ly used park. The Virgin River gnawed through native sandstone to create the incredible scenery found in Zion Canyon. The river itself now serves as a natural corridor for exploring the park. There are several easy, self-guiding trails along the river, along with more challenging challeng-ing hikes where the river . and its tributaries cut through narrow canyons. For those with strollers or in wheelchairs, the Gateway to the Narrows Trail is suitable for all ages. More adventurous or strenuous hikes include Angels Landing and The Narrows. One of Zion's more recent attractions is the Field Institute. Open for two years now, the Field Institute offers a broad range of workshops and UTAH'S AMUSEMENT PARK Continued from page 4 several other changes have been made to the area such as new signs, benches and new decorations. decora-tions. Lagoon's art' department and welding shop made 200 welded weld-ed flowers to decorate the area. "The kiddy land is going to be terrific," Killpack said. "It's amazing amaz-ing that welding crafted these flowers." The interactive water fountain will be at the center of the park near the front entrance. Jet sprays will create a water cage and tapping a button from the outside will create a door in the cage. The button must be pressed again from the outside to get out or else be prepared to get wet, Killpack said. At night, the fountain foun-tain also will have lights and music, he said. Besides the attractions that If I, photo courtesy of Arches National Park seminars dealing with the ecology of the canyon, "the wide range of topics covered cov-ered includes mountain lions, geology, horticulture and botanical illustration," illustra-tion," said Eileen Smith, Field Institute director. "Some of the popular classes have been dutch oven history, pioneer history, histo-ry, and archaeology." For more information on the Field Institute, or to reserve a workshop, call [phone]. Arches National Park Arches National Park contains the world's largest concentration of natural stone arches. A 40-mile 40-mile round-trip paved road in Arches National Park leads visitors to the major sights, including Balanced Rock, Skyline Arch, Double Arch, Fiery Furnace and the park's most famous geologic feature fea-ture Delicate Arch. Camping is available at Devil's Garden inside the park. Recreational activities activi-ties within the park include backpacking, technical tech-nical rock climbing, horseback horse-back riding and biking. Guided walks into the Fiery Furnace, a labyrinth of sandstone canyons, are available to the public. Reservations are required and may be made at the visitors center. The entrance to the park is found 5 miles north of the are new each year, the park also has many treasures that have been delighting visitors for decades. The Victorian carousel features 45 hand-carved animals to ride and has been at the park since 1906. It even survived a fire in 1953 that destroyed most of the park. It is one of only 150 hand-carved hand-carved carousels still operating in the country. Most are dismantled to sell the carvings individually. The wooden roller coaster has been at the park since 1921 and was designed by the creator of many Coney Island coasters. It was only partially destroyed in the fire. But there's nothing old or outdated out-dated about ' the Lagoon experience. experi-ence. Cliffhanger, The Rocket, Samurai and Wildmouse are just a few of the rides added in recent Best Rafting Value Come join us for an exciting rafting adventure! Kids 7 & under go Free Free use of two-main inflatable kayaks (with trip purchase - based on availability) Half Day trips $30Adults & $25 Youth (ages 8 to 17) Multi-Day trips available In Moab Call: 259-7515 or 1 [phone] 625 Riversands Rd. Moab www.wdrldwideriver.com if I Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau town of Moab via US 191. Bryce Canyon National Park Millions of years of wind, water and geologic mayhem have shaped and etched the pink cliffs of Bryce Canyon National Park, which isn't actually a canyon, but the eastern slope of the Paunsaguant Plateau. Visitors may take a 37-mile round-trip drive to Bryce's most famous viewpoints, dizzying in scope, including Sunrise, Sunset, Rainbow, Yovimpa, and Inspiration points. There are more than 50 miles of hiking trails, ranging in difficulty from beginner-level through advanced backpacking trails. Special activities unique to Bryce Canyon include "star talks" during the new moon, and moonlight moon-light walks when the moon is full. Canyonlands National Park As Utah's largest national park, Canyonlands National Park has been naturally sliced into three distinctive distinc-tive districts: The Island in the Sky, The Needles, and The Maze. To the north between the rivers, and serving as an observation observa-tion tower, The Island in the Sky district allows visitors vis-itors to view hundreds of miles across Utah terrain. Densely-concentrated arches, rock spires, gar ohld'Wxde I&iveii SZPCDXTXONO dens, canyons, potholes, Native American ruins and pictographs surround the area known as The Needles. Lying to the west, in the remotest region of the park (and only accessible accessi-ble via off-road vehicles) The Maze contains a maze-like canyon of tall standing rocks and fins of colorful sandstones. World-renowned for its four-wheel driving, mountain moun-tain biking, Whitewater rafting and hiking, this rugged national park caters to outdoor activities. activi-ties. Canyonlands also offers stargazing, camping, camp-ing, boating and horseback riding. Capitol Reef National Park Capitol Reef National Park is characterized by sandstone formations and cliffs and a 100-mile-long bulge in the earth's crust. The beauty that has been formed by the erosion reaches its pinnacle in Capitol Reef National Park. From deep narrow gorges to a bird's eye view on the top of a peak, Capitol Reef National Park offers an assortment of activities to visitors. The beauty of Capitol Reef can be experienced on foot or bicycle. Cathedral Valley, the backcountry section of the park, is accessible along dirt roads with high-clearance high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles. Lake Powell Though not a national park, Lake Powell, bordering border-ing Utah and Arizona, is another popular stop on the Utah national park circuit. Boating and water-sports water-sports are paramount, and renting a houseboat to navigate the lake on your own is a popular way to experience this national treasure. Houseboats can be booked up to a year in advance, so plan ahead on this vacation. Sources: www.utah.com, www.visitsaltlake.org, www.powellguide.com years. Popular with many park visitors visi-tors are the Bounceback Days, where guests can return to the park a second time for a fraction of the price. These days are from June 21 through July 4 and July 11 through July 25. Adjacent to the park is a camping camp-ing and RV area to accommodate overnighters. A paved trail accessible acces-sible from the campground winds around the park following a creek and is perfect for walking and biking. Other camping facilities are available a mile and a half up Highway 89 at Cherry Hill Camping Resort. This park features fea-tures a water park with tube slides and play areas, a miniature minia-ture gold course, batting cages, rock climbing area, group pavilions pavil-ions and the Pie Pantry Restaurant. in Moab!" M$29.00 )m