Nau speak: Road Tripping: Overlook hike in St. George, Utah

As I mentioned in my last post, St. George is located in a prime spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Not only are the somewhat mild (by Vegas standards) summer temperatures ideal for getting out and going hiking among any number of outstanding natural rock formations and national parks but the winter brings ample options not-too-far away for going skiing, snowboarding, or otherwise enjoying the outdoors. If you're not keen on snow, never fear! St. George averages only 8 inches of precipitation a year, well below the national average, and the mild winter temps mean it's unlikely you'd have to ever contend with too much snowfall, but if you're pining for the powder you won't have to travel far at all. Brianhead Ski resort is only an hour or so further north on the I-15 and has a ton of options for enjoying the snow, from tubing to ziplines, to disc golf! I have to admit that I've never gone skiing myself, but I know people who go annually as tradition and Brianhead has always been spoken of highly. This time of year, of course, it's not going to have much snow, and you're going to see a lot more mountains that look like this:

I mean, that's not a bad thing, right? That's actually quite pretty. Reminds me of some of the photos of Mars that have been sent back. I think it's absolutely fascinating how the same basic building blocks make the basis for life, the universe, and everything, just in an infinite variety of combinations. A little more heat or a dash more of one element or another and you have something else entirely, like exoplanet Cancri e, whose surface is made of graphite and diamond rather than the water and stones of our home. Nature is pretty cool in that regard. Endlessly creative. I guess you could say life, uh, finds a way. Deserts always provide proof of that statement in the virulent life that crops up despite the harsh environment, plants taking root in the most unlikely of crevices and making a life where they land. It's poetic, of course, which is why countless tomes and sonnets have expounded the merits of nature, and Japanese studies have shown the health benefits of simply strolling among the trees.

So go on, get out there and take in some nature! Do it for your health! Most cities, at least that I'm familiar with out here on the Western side of the US, have ready access to the outdoors, and even our more landlocked neighbors have endless ways to get outdoors. I'm sure our East Coast, Midwestern, Northeastern and Southern friends all have their own amazing outdoor areas to explore during the appropriate times of year, I'm just not as familiar with them. I remember loving Ohio summers as a kid when I'd get to visit, and feeling like I was going to melt into a mosquito-drained mass of goo in the humidity of central Florida during the summers, but there were still so many awesome options for going out and being among nature. Plan accordingly for the seasons and climate of your region, then have at it. The world is a big beautiful place with a lot of stunning, less-seen corners we won't get to take in if we don't make a point of going out there and trying.