1. No Jimmer Hangover
Warm up by sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of basketball enthusiasts. Make plans now to attend a heated BYU or UVU basketball game. Feel the fire in the Marriott Center for BYU’s first home game on Nov. 4. Then wear green, but don’t be a grinch, for the UVU season home-game opener on Nov. 11. Bounce through our basketball section starting on page 47 and swoosh through our community calendar on page 100 for a listing of home games.

2. Taking Take-Out
Delicious holiday food doesn’t only come from mom’s kitchen. Try a made-from-scratch meal at one of Utah Valley’s delectable restaurants. Kneaders’ Christmas treats and Harvest Restaurant’s homey skillets are perfect after an ice skating outing or an afternoon sled. Check out our dining guide starting on page 78 for mouth-watering choices.

3. Rudolph Ceramics
Whether you need a creative present or want to find your inner artist this holiday season, Creativity Art Studio in Orem offers a colorful time — pots and paints included. The studio offers a wide selection of ceramics for you to paint: cups, plates and figurines, even santa cookie jars, ornaments and snowman plates.

4. Piece Together
Nothing brings a family closer than hot chocolate, chestnuts over an open fire and a puzzle. Piece your family together this holiday season by puzzling. Enjoy a meditative or chat-promoting time that results with a beautiful finished piece of art. Try a folk art puzzle by Utah Valley artist Eric Dowdle. Read more about this issue’s cover boy on page 22.

5. Waltz of the Snowflakes
Sugar plum fairies dancing in your head? What about dancing candy canes or Danish marzipan shepherdesses? See them all live in the Utah Regional Ballet’s rendition of The Nutcracker at The Covey Center this holiday season. See our holiday calendar starting on page 94 for this event and other holiday festivities.

6. Home Cooking
Head to the kitchen and try the recipes from our three cookoff winners or take a cooking class. Our “In Good Taste” feature staring on page 30 gives you all the ingredients.

7. Learn to Surf
If you’re at least 4-foot-4, have four friends and $20, head to the Shops at Riverwoods and catch a wave. Provo Beach Resort’s Flowrider is an indoor wave machine that pumps out 30,000 gallons of realistic surf experience per minute. Surf’s up!

8. Warm Up Your Inside
A steaming hot chocolate and a crackling fireplace should be mandatory at the holidays. Loosen your shoes and watch the first snowflakes float down.

9. Black Friday
While this may not be the safest indoor activity, you’ll need to get up early if you’re feeling hungry for a deal. Serious bargain shoppers begin to line up shortly after Thanksgiving dinner, but it you’re not up for the elbow-throwing experience, do your shopping with our holiday gift guide starting on page 59.

10. Movie Magic
No locally-produced movie will produce more thankful feelings than “17 Miracles.” The movie, which chronicles the expedition of the handcart companies to Salt Lake City, is recently available on DVD.

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1. SCERA Park
600 S. State, Orem
Just off of busy State Street in Orem is everything a lazy afternoon should include. Mature trees, walking paths and vast open space will have you breathing deep. After you’ve enjoyed the 25+ acres of park, your family can take in an evening performance at the outdoor SCERA Shell or swim at the pool.

2. Bridal Veil Falls Park
Provo Canyon
The world-famous, 607-foot waterfall for which the park gets its name cascades down to the Provo River below. After you’ve finished using one of the eight picnic tables, allow your children to explore the trails leading up and around the most beautiful spot in Utah Valley.
3. Rock Canyon Park
2620 N. 1200 East, Provo
Rock Canyon Park is known for three things: proximity to Rock Canyon trail head, great views of Utah Valley (especially the Provo LDS Temple), and grassy hills perfect for kids (and adults!) to roll, slide, sled or “iceblock” down. The 55-acre park is also home to four pavilions, two playgrounds and picnic tables with grills.

4. Moyle Park
770 N. 600 East, Alpine
The historical qualities of the park will make your time in the car worth the trip. John Rowe Moyle is a legend to LDS faithful, as he walked 22 miles to the Salt Lake Temple weekly on a hand-made prosthetic leg to work as a stone mason.
Eat your picnic and then tour the Moyle home, built in 1858 by John Moyle. Call (801) 756-1194 for tour reservations.

5. Salem Pond
Main Street, Salem
The natural pond dominates the park. Top off your picnic by fishing, swimming, boating or floating in the aqua-green water.

6. Vivian Park
Upper Provo Canyon, near Deercreek Reservoir
Vivian Park is a great afternoon get-a-way with historical value.
First deeded to William Ferguson in 1888, William began operating “Billy’s Place” as a convenient resting and eating place for canyon travelers.
Through the years this spot has been home to everything from dance halls featuring live bands to fine restaurants. Today the spot is home to picnics and fishing — and seeing the Heber Creeper arrive and depart.

7. Mt. Timpanogos Park
Provo Canyon
Although this newer park is not yet steeped in history, you can go back in time at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival (Sept. 1-3) where tellers come from around the world to share their culture, childhood stories and song.
When the festival isn’t under way, visit this park to enjoy pavilions, fire pits and access to the Provo River Parkway. The adjacent Canyon View Park has playgrounds and tables.

8. Memorial Park
800 E. Center, Provo
No stranger to BYU students, Memorial Park is shaded by mature trees and bordered by walking paths. Treat your family to some history with the Veterans Memorial, and then take the short jaunt to Seven Peaks just east of the park.

9. Spanish Fork River Park
Intersection of Diamond Fork and Spanish Fork rivers.
The Spanish Fork River Park offers both small picnic areas and a large pavilion that screams “family reunion.” In addition to a fantastic playground, the park also has trails and native vegetation.

10. Tibble Fork Reservoir
American Fork Canyon
Residents of northern Utah County must take at least one summer trip up American Fork Canyon with firewood and hotdogs. If you read closely, it’s in your resident contract.
A few miles past Timpanogos Cave, take a left at the fork and you’ll arrive at Tibble Fork, which is stocked with brown and rainbow trout.

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1. Louis Wong
Timpview High School
After winning five state championships in six years, there is no debating that Coach Louis Wong has been successful on the Timpview gridiron.
But what makes Louis our No. 1 high school coach has as much to do with his influence off the field.
Timpview principal George Bayles calls Louis “an outstanding teacher and builder of young men.” In addition to producing NFL-caliber talent, Louis teaches a class for struggling students.
Timpview also set a state record by winning 36 consecutive games.

2. Quincy Lewis
Lone Peak High School
What Timpview symbolizes to football (dominance) — Lone Peak has meant to basketball the past 10 years.
Boys basketball coach Quincy Lewis has coached the Knights to four of the past seven state championships.
Along the way Quincy has led a slew of talented players like Jackson Emery (BYU), Bracken Funk (Fresno State), Josh Sharp (Utah), Justin Hamilton (LSU) and Tyler Haws (BYU).

3. Craig Drury
Provo High School
Think of Provo High’s Craig Drury as the Bob Knight of Utah high school basketball.
Craig and his teams have won eight state championships in the 28 seasons he’s coached at Provo High.
During his coaching tenure, Craig has coached players like Mekeli and Tai Wesley (BYU/Utah State), Kyle and Chris Collinsworth (both BYU) and Brandon Davies (BYU).

4. Jim “Shoe” Nelson
Spanish Fork High School
Besides being the fourth winningest baseball coach in Utah state history, Jim “Shoe” Nelson is loved by past players and a community.
The Spanish Fork Recreation Department recently named the city’s baseball field after the coach.
“Shoe cares about the boys at all levels. He believes by working on the important things, winning will take care of itself,” says Doug Snell, athletic director at Spanish Fork High.

5. Kim Nelson
Timpanogos High School
Kim’s record speaks for itself: six state championships at two Utah Valley high schools in 27 years. His first two state championships came while he coached baseball at American Fork High (1984, 1985) and four at Timpanogos (2002, 2004, 2005 and 2008).

6. Deanna Meyer
Lone Peak High School
Girls volleyball coach Deanna Meyer has led Lone Peak High School to five of the past eight volleyball state championships.
Principal Koop says Deanna is “a great motivator and clinical coach.”

7. Nancy Warner
Springville High School
Just a couple months ago, Nancy and the girls basketball team at Springville High won a second straight state championship in girl’s basketball. Principal Mike Brown describes Nancy as “an excellent teacher and role model.”

8. Dan Lunt
Payson High School
Dan is a builder of boys and a competitive basketball program.
“Dan consistently turns out not only fine basketball teams but excellent young men who go on to contribute to our society in many ways,” says Ben Ford, Payson High principal.

9. Chris Chilcoat
Provo High School
Not only has Chris accepted a heavy coaching load at Provo (girls soccer and girls golf) but works diligently with ESL and at-risk students.
“Chris is willing to do whatever he’s asked and has a great attitude about teaching and coaching today’s youth,” says Kyle Bates, assistant principal.

10. Dennis Meyring
Lehi & Westlake High School
Dennis not only does double-duty (coaches swim teams at Lehi and Westlake), but he also mentors all athletes at the school, according to Lehi principal Jess Christian.

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Nicholas Anderson, Houston Bodily, Kati Briggs, Hunter Buxton, Tanner Eastmond, B.J. Ford, Lauren Heperi, Mitch Howell, Benjamin Jacob, Glade Johnson, Flavia Lima, Maddie McGrath, Tori Nielsen, Karlie Roland, Lisa Soffe, Zach Stay, McKell Steele, Spencer Vernon

1. On the rocks
Utah is home to challenging rockclimbing expeditions. Life is elevated in our canyons, cliffs and boulders.
Get ready to “belay on” by practicing at The Quarry in Provo or getting equipped at Out N Back.

2. Cowboy up
If you don’t trust yourself to go “2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu,” you can still get your spurs on.
Cowboy Leaders uses ranch life to overcome leadership strife. This ranch in Birdseye, Utah, offers more than a bird’s eye view of cowboy life while helping participants get tough on the inside, too.
Rodeos from Pleasant Grove to Spanish Fork can also up your tough quota, especially if you pull on your Wranglers.

3. Mix and match
Mixed Martial Arts now generates more revenue than any other pay-per-view event.
Throwdown in Orem is a great place to start your own tough MMA career. Need inspiration? Meet Court McGee and Tandi Schaeffer, two of our Fab 50 (page 55).

4. Turn the page
Some would argue the best defense against life’s challenges is to be mentally tough. And tough can be found on the shelves of your local library.
Our every-issue department dubbed Made in UV (page 14) highlights pages written by Utah County wordsmiths. See our back issues at uvmag.com for more reading material.

5. What gives?
Help someone in tougher circumstances than your own. The Food & Care Coalition (foodandcare.org) has ideas for service including donating produce, serving hot meals or doing an Eagle Scout project. This Provo organization has opportunities for individuals and families.

6. Raise your glass
Blowing glass at The Art Institute at Thanksgiving Point is in a glass of its own. Learning to deal with hazardous, near 1,000-degree liquefied glass will make anyone a diamond in the tough.
Exercise your creative side and sure-up your grit by signing up for a class.

7. Hot stuff
Toughen your tastebuds by requesting the hottest sauce at one of Utah Valley’s Mexican restaurants. Read about Milagro’s, Orem’s newest chips-and-salsa mecca, on page 96.

8. In the long run
To finish a race is to prove your toughness. Visit www.run13.com to choose the pain you’ll enjoy. The Provo City Half Marathon, for example, brought 1,400 runners to get their tough fix for 2010. Our Fab 50 (page 49) includes a husband-wife combo who have both won the St. George Marathon. Tough twosome!

9. Take a bike
Feel the ideal summer temps in Utah Valley while gliding down the Sundance slopes on your two-wheeler.

10. On call
Need one last way to get tough? Can you take it? Apply for a job at one of Utah Valley’s call centers.
But before your first day on the job, get tips on staying calm in our “tough jobs” story on page 26.

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