TRACY SEES STUFF 👀

Author: Tracy Blowers

Hi, My Name Is Tracy

Hi, I’m Tracy, the face behind What Stirs Your Soul Media.

The question, “What stirs my soul?” kept popping in my head after a chronic illness diagnosis due to a brain injury. I felt an urgency to find my happiness. For the first time, I realized doctors can’t fix everything that is broken and it reminded me how quickly life can change.

Have you ever asked yourself, what stirs your soul?

My “short” answer is photography, writing, nature, and traveling, especially with my dog. It took time to figure that out and I still work on it. Because of that, I want to inspire and help others to live life on their own terms.

I started my first blog in 2010. That blog opened up a new world when Guthrie Theater accepted me into their blogging program to review and write about the shows. Since then, I’ve continued working on my writing and photography skills. In 2011, I quit my corporate job and started a photography business. Over time my business changed as social media continued to grow and become such a big part of our lives.

Now, I’m a content creator. I bring a human voice to digital media by creating moments, sparking emotion, and showcasing the people and community behind the business. Freelancing has allowed me to fulfill my dream of traveling alongside my freelancing husband and our rescue dog. We share our experiences here, offering inspiration for life and travel.

Now, back to the chronic illness. I’ve had a hard time over the years articulating what it’s like living with chronic pain. The way it affects my daily life, my plans, and my dreams. I’m in a better place and hope to start writing more about it…sharing my journey and tips.

We are also very passionate about helping animals. I am a volunteer for Best Friends Animal Society, writing stories and helping wherever needed when visiting the sanctuary. We commit to give back 5% of our blog’s earnings to Best Friends Animal Society.

Follow along with us from our backyard in Minnesota to road tripping the U.S.! ✌️

May 19, 2021
Dog-Friendly Hotel In Southern Utah

The most pet-friendly hotel in Southern Utah

Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile is an awesome pet-friendly hotel in Kanab, Utah. It’s the perfect complement to a Best Friends Animal Sanctuary volunteer trip or the ideal place to stay with pets while traveling in Southern Utah.

Pet amenities with no high extra fees

It truly is the most pet-friendly hotel! Our dog, Allen, gives it 5 stars. He loved sleeping on the pullout bed. He also was impressed with the small touches like his personalized nameplate, welcome treats from the staff, and his very own drinking fountain. His favorite is the fenced pet park for running, playing ball, and meeting new friends. All of this and the pets stay free.

Look at that smile at the Best Friends Roadhouse pet park.

The pet park is spacious with plenty of running room and has a splash zone for hot summer days. There is also a small run area. Other pet amenities include a pet washing station, pet walking service, or pet visits from the staff. There is a fee for the walking service and visits.

This is the walk back to the pet park area. The mural is so beautiful and there’s a great spot to sit and enjoy a bonfire.

Allen enjoyed shopping at the mercantile and visiting with the staff.

Best Friends Roadhouse has a stage for upcoming community events and entertainment.

We were also super impressed with the technology. The internet worked great and these iPads were so nice with all the information about the Roadhouse and surrounding area.

Another added benefit is that you can walk to restaurants from Best Friends Roadhouse. You can read about our Top 5 Restaurants in Kanab by clicking HERE. This time we checked out Jakey Leigh’s Coffee Shop and the fresh-baked bagels lived up to the hype.

Our February 2020 stay was unexpected. Our dog, Utah, passed away while we were traveling in Arizona. We brought her back to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to lay her to rest at Angels Rest within the sanctuary.

The staff at the Roadhouse went above and beyond to help us through this hard time. I can’t say enough about their warmth and hospitality. We are incredibly thankful for them and everyone at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Sunset view from our room…

Please message me with any questions about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Roadhouse, or Kanab. It’s a magical place!

©What Stirs Your Soul Media

May 2, 2021
Black Rock Mountain Resort – Park City, Utah

New dog-friendly resort in Park City, Utah

Black Rock Mountain Resort is a brand new four-season (dog-friendly) resort in Park City, Utah. I highly recommend driving up U.S. Route 189 from Provo, Utah when you visit. The towering mountain and deep canyon views are striking! A few miles before arriving at the resort, you pass Jordanelle State Park and Reservoir, the vast deep blue water resting under the Wasatch Mountain Range is breathtaking. Then, as you come around a corner, Black Rock Mountain Resort is standing tall on the edge of the Uintas Wilderness with the best views of the whole region.

We love this location because it is so close (literally minutes) to Park City but not right in the middle of town. Park City is really busy so I appreciate the easy access to the resort, parking, and use of the resort’s shuttle service. Because the resort is so new, we wondered if they had worked out the kinks and they definitely have. We were impressed and appreciated all the help we received from check-in to check-out. We were greeted at the door and asked if we needed assistance with our bags. Every staff member went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and answered questions about the area. One team member even gave a welcome treat to our dog, Allen. That’s all it took for him, he gives Black Rock five stars.

The best mountain views

The entrance to the resort is beautiful with wide-open space, plenty of seating, a fireplace, and The Market with locally sourced coffee. You can also pick up a quick breakfast, sandwiches, smoothies, tea, and whole fruit at the market.

The On The Rocks bar is gorgeous with more incredible views of the mountains. I could have relaxed here all day. There is also a full-service restaurant. The Overlook Restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Chef is passionate about buying locally and is inspired by Utah’s unique environments from the mountains to the desert. The restaurant wasn’t quite open when we stayed but is open now and the food looks delicious (click the restaurant name to see all the mouth-watering pictures – I can’t wait to go back).

Another reason this is an awesome travel destination is all the adventuring. It’s easy to only think of skiing. The area offers hiking, fly-fishing, golfing, mountain biking, kayaking, paddle-boarding, Utah’s Olympic Park, and so much more. It’s nice because there really is something for everyone and something for all skill levels.

The resort offers so many activities, you might not even want to adventure out. 😉 You can relax in the outdoor heated pool or hot tubs, take a temperature-controlled sauna or unwind in the steam room. There are the cutest outdoor fire-pits to cozy up and stargaze at that big beautiful Utah sky. They also have a huge lounge with big-screen TVs, pool tables, foosball, ping-pong, and gaming.

Because we always need more Allen…

Here’s a view from the other direction.

Cheers to traveling and experiencing new places!

Learn more about Black Rock Mountain Resort: www.blackrockmountainresort.com

Another very cool pet-friendly hotel in Utah is Best Friends Roadhouse in Kanab, Utah.

Find more amazing places to explore in Utah by using my search feature on the home page.

©What Stirs Your Soul Media

April 29, 2021
Lake Powell Southern Utah

What an incredible find while traveling in Southern Utah! Our home base was Kanab, Utah because it’s perfectly situated for exploring Southern Utah and while volunteering at Best Friends Animal Society. We wanted to take a short trip to Lake Powell. I did some research but wasn’t finding an ideal location for our dog and to make it a quick trip.

I visited the Kane County Office of Tourism. It’s my go-to information spot in Kanab. They are always so helpful, friendly and have the best advice for your unique situation. They told me about Lone Rock Beach. It was so worth stopping in and asking questions, we would have never come across this spot and it was amazing!

Kane County Office of Tourism

Here are photos from our incredible morning at Lone Rock Beach.

Beach RVing and Camping

I added camping here to my bucket list! I mean…how perfect does that look?

Utah LOVED cooling off in Lake Powell. It was so fun to cruise down to the beach in our car. The fee for a 7-day pass is $30.

Goodbye Lone Rock Beach. Can’t wait to see you again!

Don’t forget…

Take only pictures and leave only footprints. ❤️

©What Stirs Your Soul Media

March 1, 2021
Horseshoe Bend Arizona

Horseshoe Bend Arizona

This is what you see as you walk the 3/4 mile from the parking lot to the overlook of Horseshoe Bend. It’s so flat that it’s hard to believe you will see an awe-inspiring deep canyon. I kept imagining what the first people must have thought as they traveled this flat land and then to come to the edge of this incredible site.

Horseshoe Bend has been on my bucket list for awhile. We’ve driven by many times but haven’t stopped due to overcrowding. This site has become quite the social media sensation. It’s best to go early morning or evening. We didn’t have that opportunity so there were a lot of tour buses and people (see video below). Luckily because we visited in February, we were still able to park in the lot and walk to the overlook to capture this beautiful view.

Horseshoe Bend is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The Colorado River carves its way through the sandstone on its way to the sea. The Glen Canyon area covers 1.25 million acres. There is so much to see and do that I don’t think we could do it all in a lifetime (Goals!). The nearby Lake Powell offers tons of water activities including houseboat rentals. Plus there is endless hiking, camping, and backcountry recreation.

Even though it is a relatively easy hike to the overlook, make sure to be prepared with plenty of water and hiking shoes. One of the girls playing on the rock in the video almost slid off. Her friends were quick enough to catch her but it was terrifying. Please respect the land, Mother Nature and the rules.

Horseshoe Bend and this whole area is pet-friendly. They even gave Allen a dog treat as we entered. He loved stretching his legs and the view. 🙂

Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile is an amazing pet-friendly hotel in the area, and while exploring this area, make sure to check out Lone Rock Beach!

© What Stirs Your Soul Media

February 19, 2021
Glamping – Yellowstone National Park

Glamping Yellowstone National Park

We turned off Highway 20 in West Yellowstone onto a dirt road and drove under the log archway for Bar N Ranch. We could see the canvas tents in the distance of this beautiful, secluded, wide-open space. There were pops of colorful wildflowers, horses running in the pasture and the mountains layering the horizon. From that moment, we knew we were in for a unique camping experience.

The Under Canvas Yellowstone safari-inspired glamping accommodations are located on the Bar N Ranch property and are only 10 minutes from the West entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Luxury Camping Experience at Under Canvas Yellowstone

We checked in at the lobby tent which is open 24 hours a day and offers coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and a happy hour in the evening. This is a high-end camping experience so our service expectations were high and were exceeded from check-in to check-out. The lobby tent is also filled with cozy couches and blankets, fun oversized swings, board games, albums and a record player, plus a little store. There is an awesome patio with beautiful lights to enjoy the views.

Parking from the individual tents is a good distance so the staff meets you at your parking location with a golf cart to bring all your belongings to your tent. We stayed in the Safari tent which comes with a king-size bed and wood-burning stove. The community bathrooms (with private stalls, hot showers, flushing toilets, and sinks) are very nice and clean. There are plenty of stalls so there was no waiting.

The Deluxe, Stargazer, and Suite tents have their own ensuite bathrooms plus private decks. They also offer tents for larger families that include an adjacent hive for extra beds and space.

We arrived just as a storm was moving through and we were fortunate to see a rainbow. The sunsets in West Yellowstone, Montana are incredible and when the sky turns dark, the milky way lights up the big sky.

Where to Eat and Things to Do while Glamping Yellowstone National Park

Dinner is served at the Bar N Ranch restaurant with a nice variety of options. We had the Fries with Trio of Dips, Pan-Roasted Trout, and Bruschetta Grilled Chicken.

After dinner, you can enjoy s’mores around the campfire or relax in a hammock. There’s also volleyball, horseshoes, and badminton. You can rest, play, or plan your adventures at Yellowstone National Park.

The resident fox greeted us early in the morning as we walked over to the lobby tent for coffee!

The breakfast buffet is included in the rate and also served at the Bar N Ranch. It was a lovely chilly morning and all the smoke from the wood-burning stoves created a fantastic view.

Ranch reflections…

After breakfast, we walked down to the other hammock hangout by the river.

Thank you, Under Canvas, for such an easy and unique camping experience! And for all of the small touches and customer service. We look forward to seeing you again!

Learn more at Under Canvas Yellowstone. Enjoy the road!

If you’re a fellow Minnesotan or visiting, here is one of our favorite unique camping experiences locally – Whitetail Woods Regional Park.

Originally posted on September 3, 2019.

© What Stirs Your Soul Media

February 19, 2021

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