Midway, Utah: Travel Journal #2

March 04, 2011

Midway, Utah: Travel Journal #2

Like most people, my husband and I don't get a lot of time off with our jobs. With my job, when I do get time off it's usually not paid. With my husband working full time and in graduate school, finding time to to travel together is always a little challenging. Luckily, the last couple of years we have been able to find some time in the summer around our anniversary to travel someplace for a weekend trip to relax and unwind. We've gone to Santa Barbara (for our honeymoon), Napa, Santa Fe, and last year we went camping to Capitol Reef National Park (if you love National Parks you must go to this one!). This year however, I will be in France with the company on tour. We've been trying to find time before I leave to go on a trip. This past weekend we decided to try a little Stay cation and drive up to Midway, Utah in the Heber Valley. Midway is only 28 miles from Salt Lake City and includes a very scenic drive. The town was founded in 1861 by Swiss immigrants and has lots of Swiss character with chalet style homes and shops. Each year the town hosts Midway's Swiss Days which will happen September 2-3, 2011. There are a couple of resorts and a few bed and breakfasts in the area. We decided to stay at the Blue Boar Inn and it is definitely worth checking out!

We drove up in a snow storm Saturday afternoon and arrived up in Midway just in time for lunch. I had heard good things about a Mexican restaurant on Main Street. We found it easily with our GPS but the Main St. is so small that it would be easy to find on it's own. The restaurant is called Tarahumara, which is named after a group of indigenous people living in Northern Mexico. My husband was really excited because they are the tribe that is talked about in the book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. Tarahumara is a gem in this small town. The food is fresh affordable and the service is wonderful. They also have a yummy assortment of bakery items. We tried one of the chocolate chip sandwich cookies stuffed with some tasty frosting. However, there were some cinnamon rolls that were secretly telling me to come back and try one next time!

The restaurant is located at 380 E. Main Street

The salsa bar is amazing!!

Delicious chips and salsas

Chile Rellenos

Veggie Burritos

After our bellies were a little too full we headed to The Blue Boar Inn to check in. What a beautiful setting! I felt like I had just been transported to Switzerland! Each room at the inn has a theme modeled after famous literary writers. We chose the Robert Frost room for two reasons. My favorite poem is
The Road Not Taken and we really liked the wooden snowshoes on the wall (they're just like my Dad's!).

The Blue Boar Inn is conveniently located right next to Wasatch Mountain State Park.
Here you can cross country ski, go snowmobiling, and best of all because it's free, go snowshoeing. We were two of the only people on the trails and it took us about two hours to do the Visitor Center Loop and Spring Loop trails. If you go into the visitor center they will give you an easy to read map. There was really deep snow in some areas but that's part of the fun of snowshoeing!

After the hard work of snowshoeing it was time for a glass of wine! The Blue Boar Inn has their own pub! The Truffle Hollow Pub is the place to go to enjoy a drink and pretend like you are not in Utah anymore (except for the watered down mixed drinks!).

After our aperitif, we went in to the dining room for our dinner. It's really nice to have a restaurant that is in the same location as the rooms. You don't have to worry about driving back anywhere! The dining room is cozy, intimate, and warm. We decided to both have salads and entrees. The salads were delicious and both were large servings. For our entrees, we both had meat! I was surprised my husband wanted to but he said since he was at the Blue Boar Inn, he should try the boar. I had the braised lamb shank with puy lentils. We agreed that while the meat was good, we don't miss not eating it that often. Besides, my favorite part my entree were the lentils and carrots!

Bibb Salad: Creamy Parmesan Dressing, Fines Herbes, Smoked Parmesan Crisp

Blue Boar Salad: Mixed Greens, Tomato, Parmesan, White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Braised Lamb Shank with Puy Lentils, Baby Carrots, Rosemary Demi

Dijon Rubbed Wild Boar Chops with Sautee of Red Cabbage, Apple & Walnuts,
Fingerling Potatoes, Lingonberry Sauce

Just the right thing for dessert: chocolate boars!

While you're eating in the restaurant, there is turn down service in your room. This includes robes, a beautiful red rose, chocolates, and a miniature book of poetry and writings from the famous literary writers! It had my favorite poem in it!

Finally, the best part of The Blue Boar Inn: THE BRUNCH!!! It's amazing and it's included with your overnight stay. We were there on a Sunday and it was so delicious. Almost too much food but probably because I was still full from dinner! You get coffee, juice, pastries, a fruit martini, Swedish pancake, entree and a dessert!

Fresh Berry and Melon Martini

Warm Swedish Pancake with Berry Marmalade

Mediterranean Omelet
Chopped Spinach, Roasted Pepper, Kalamata Olive, Artichoke, Red Onion, Prosciutto and Goat Cheese, With Lyonnaise Potatoes and a Light Herb sauce