TRACY SEES STUFF 👀

Author: Tracy Blowers

  • Holidays in Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Holidays in Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Things To Do for the Holidays in Santa Fe New Mexico

    The cool Minnesota air has me thinking about winter travels.

    Santa Fe, New Mexico is magical over the holidays. We had a blast celebrating the new year in this unique and historic city! Imagine seeing twinkling lights adorning the trees on Santa Fe Plaza, the comforting aroma of local cuisine in the air, creamy hot chocolate to warm your hands, and the sound of live local music on the streets.

    Before the New Year celebration, we enjoyed walking around town, learning about Santa Fe history, shopping, and eating. The historic buildings and churches are absolutely gorgeous.

    I toured the Loretto Chapel which was built in 1873 and learned about the legend of the “miraculous” spiral staircase. The chapel is a peaceful, special, place. It’s a must-visit.

    We stayed at The Sage Hotel, a dreamy bohemian retreat. It’s a spacious, comfortable, dog-friendly hotel. There is a park right across the street which was perfect for quick walks and dog potty breaks. Our girl, Utah, gave the bed two paws up. 🙂 She was a little tired after the long drive.

    Where to Eat in Santa Fe, New Mexico

    For authentic Northern Mexican cuisine, we went to Tomasita’s for lunch before walking around the Santa Fe Railyard (see more about the Railyard below). This was the best Mexican food that I’ve had in a long time. Hit the spot!

    For breakfast and coffee, you have to stop at The French Pastry Shop. Amazing French food! The quiche serving is huge and melts in your mouth. The service was above and beyond and we enjoyed the cozy atmosphere.

    For dinner, we loved the romantic Luminaria located at the Inn & Spa at Loretto. Delicious, innovative, Southwestern food with impeccable service.

    The Santa Fe Railyard is such a cool urban space. There are restaurants, shopping, art, events, and we loved watching the trains. What a fantastic idea to transform this historic area into an inviting space for the public to enjoy!

    If you’re REI addicts like us, you’ll love the REI in Santa Fe. 🙂

    We spent New Year’s Eve at the La Fonda on the Plaza. It was decorated with tons of balloons and looked so festive. One of the best things about traveling is the people that you meet. On this night, we met new friends and celebrated bringing in a new year with them. The following day, there was a snowstorm and all of us were getting back on the road. We had exchanged phone numbers, so as we all traveled, we texted each other giving weather updates. It was very helpful knowing we were there to help each other.

    Happy holidays and cheers to the new year!

    If you’re in the southwest, make sure to visit Sedona. Read more HERE and use the search bar to find all of our Sedona blog posts.

    ©What Stirs Your Soul Media

  • Explore Montezuma Well

    Explore Montezuma Well

    No Fee Days at the National Parks

    There are five no-fee days at National Parks and Monuments throughout the year. On one of these special days, we made the trip to visit Montezuma Well! It was so cool to see this much water in the middle of the desert.

    montezuma well in arizona

    The Story of Montezuma Well

    1.5 million gallons of  74-degree water run through the well every day! The water enters through an underground stream and flows through 150 feet of limestone before exiting the other side into an irrigation ditch.

    ducks swimming at montezuma well

    You can feel the Sinagua culture as you walk around looking at the cliff dwellings and reading about the history. I kept imagining what life was like 1000 years ago. This site is still considered sacred by many local tribes.

    tourists at montezuma well

    The trails are nice and easy to walk and the site is pet-friendly. If you want a little bit more of a challenge, there is a rocky area to climb down towards the well.

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    In every direction, there is a beautiful view…

    views from montezuma well

    Montezuma Castle National Monument is only 11 miles away from Montezuma Well. The castle is one of the most well-preserved cliff dwellings in North America. We didn’t make it over there due to time constraints but I would definitely add it to your itinerary if you make the trip to the well.

    Grand Teton National Park is another one of our favorite parks. Read more about hiking the park here.

    To see all five no-fee days at the National Parks, click HERE.

    Keep searching for what stirs your soul and #FindYourPark.

    ©What Stirs Your Soul Media

  • Bryant Lake Regional Park – Minnesota

    Bryant Lake Regional Park – Minnesota

    Bryant Lake Regional Park is part of the Three Rivers Park District and is located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. 170 beautiful acres including a fenced 9-acre off-leash dog park. As you hike, you’re surrounded by rolling hills, woodlands, and the lovely Bryant Lake.

    There are a lot of activities to enjoy at the park; Dog Trails, Biking, Hiking, Boating, Fishing, Disc Golf, Geocaching, Paddling, Swimming, Play Areas, and Picnicking. Can you guess Allen’s favorite activity?

    We enjoyed the quiet while walking the trails, the wonderful wildflowers, and the songbirds. All the trails are very well-kept. There is a nice combination of paved trails (specifically for the dogs) and unpaved trails. You can find pdf maps HERE.

    Lots of acorns right now. Watch your step. 🙂

    The stairs in the picture below are awesome for an extra workout. 👌

    They are doing a great job with reminding people to respect each other’s space during the pandemic. ❤️

    Late summer and fall is the best time of the year in Minnesota. Enjoy!

    ©What Stirs Your Soul Media

  • Driggs, Idaho – Best Restaurants

    Driggs, Idaho – Best Restaurants

    This post was created from our 2019 August trip. Make sure to confirm what is open during the corona virus pandemic before hitting the road.

    Big Hole Bagel & Bistro was our first stop again for breakfast in Driggs, Idaho. We are always impressed with their service and their portions get us ready for a day of adventure. My favorite is the veggie omelet with the addition of avocado. The building is historic and has been part of Main Street for over 100 years. There is a full bakery in-house so the bagels are baked fresh every morning!

    A new one for us this time was the Warbirds Cafe at the the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport. This is a unique setting with gorgeous views of the Teton and Big Hole ranges. There are huge windows and a terrace to watch the planes arrive and depart while you enjoy your meal.

    The Roasted Teton Caprese with Steelhead Trout was melt in your mouth amazing! All of the food was incredible plus above and beyond service. Here’s a quote from their Chef and Manager, David Hugo…

    “I think of food as medicine,” says David Hugo, “You always want to put the best stuff in, which is usually local, fresh, and close to the source. The closer to the source you can get it, the better the flavor and the more nutritious.”

    There is also a very cool Warbird Airplane Museum to check out while you wait for your food and sip on a glass of wine.

    Another new one for us that Terry was super excited to check out (you know how he likes his local beer) was Citizen 33 Brewery. Terry loved trying the different local brews and we both loved the atmosphere.

    I tried this beautiful steak salad and Terry had the burger. Both were very good! We weren’t surprised since the owners are the same as Forage Bistro & Lounge. We look forward to hanging out here again in 2021.

    Then we had to go to our other favorites! Forage Bistro and Lounge is on the very top of our list. There is something about this little bistro. They treat you like your a local or family and the food is over the top good. It’s amazing what they put out considering the size of their kitchen. So, so, good! Literally some of the best meals we have ever tasted.

    Rise Coffee is a must! They have an awesome outdoor patio/garden area to spread out, live music on Sunday mornings and the best coffee. We love their avocado toast and fresh baked goods. Yes that is bacon. 😍

    Get there early because they get busy!

    If you’re visiting during the summer, check out Music on Main in Victor which is just 8 miles away. There are shuttles offered from Driggs. We love this event! The music is always awesome and it feels like a big family picnic. Music on Main was cancelled for 2020 but watch for the 2021 dates! It runs on Thursdays through the summer.

    Another must! A huckleberry shake from the Victor Emporium.

    View of the Teton Mountain Range from Driggs.

    ©What Stirs Your Soul Media

  • New Life – Hope in 2020

    New Life – Hope in 2020

    My beautiful neighbor is having her first baby in 2020. It’s such an uncertain time and hard to navigate risks. One day as we chatted over our fence as we often do, we talked about capturing this moment. We agreed to schedule a photo shoot because we have both limited our exposure to the virus. We also are able to be open, honest, and respect each other’s space and health. The simple magic key to all of us moving forward. ❤️

    It was a fun night in our neighborhood capturing hope for the future.

    ©What Stirs Your Soul Media

  • Zion National Park – Dog Friendly Trail

    Zion National Park – Dog Friendly Trail

    Zion National Park’s Dog-Friendly Trail

    Most National Parks are not dog-friendly and for good reason. It’s important to remember that when traveling with dogs it will be a different type of trip. We always research and get creative knowing that the trip won’t be as flexible but traveling with our dog is worth it! Learn more about our experience at the stunning dog-friendly, Pa’rus trail, at Zion National Park below.

    Zion National Park offers one hiking trail that is dog-friendly (dogs must be kept on a leash). It is an easy, flat, trail that follows the Virgin River in the lower Zion canyon and is surrounded by beautiful views. The Pa’rus Trail is a 3.5 mile out and back trail. It’s very popular so it can get crowded. To try and beat the crowds, go in the morning, and beat the heat for your dog too.

    *Make sure to bring plenty of water for you AND your dog. The dry heat can sneak up on you and it’s so important to stay hydrated.

    Zion National Park dog friendly trail

    Utah’s first National Park

    Zion National Park is Utah’s first National Park. As you walk, the rocks, colors, and sky continuously change. Every step that I took, I wanted to take another picture to capture this grand landscape.

    Zion National Park

    Tips while traveling with your dog in the National Parks

    She was so happy that we found some shade!

    A few other tips while traveling with dog to recreating responsibly:

    • Bag your pet’s waste (we always pack extra poop bags in our backpack!)
    • Always keep your pet on a leash – always
    • Stay away from the wildlife – keep a good boundary
    • Know where you can go before you go – it will save you and your pet a lot of stress
    Pa'rus Trail Zion National Park

    We were fortunate on our way out to see the bighorn sheep. How cute is that baby?!

    Bighorn sheep Zion National Park

    Happy traveling!

    ©what stirs your soul media

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