1. Y Mountain
Y Mountain has such a great legacy, and for me, it has been a symbol of what my BYU experience should embody. My Grandpa attended BYU in the 40's, and has often shared what the Y meant to him: freshmen hazing. Every year students would haul lime up the side of the mountain, bucket-brigade style, to paint the giant Y. When my Mom attend BYU, they would take mattress batting up the mountain to line the Y, douse with kersoene and set on fire. These traditions no longer exist, but Rory and I make it a point to hike Y Mountain once a year to take in the view.2. J Dawg's
As any true Chicagoan, I am a self-proclaimed hot dog snob. If my hot dog is lacking in celery salt or is coated in ketchup, I am not a happy camper. Although J Dawg's does not serve up Chicago hot dogs, they do serve up some delectable dawgs, and the only hot dog that rivals the deliciousness of the Chi-town treat. Their BBQ sauce is out of this world. If you haven't visited this lovely shack, you probably should. It's for your own good.3. L. Tom Perry Special Collections @ the HBLL
So I'm going to be honest with you... neither Rory nor I have actually been brave enough to enter the Special Collections section of the library. From what I understand, you have to wear a protective suit, much like this one, to protect the books from damage. Okay, not really, but I do know that you have to sit in silence and that you are locked in until you return the book through a small glass window. So if it's that intense, whatever is in there must be good, right?
4. Bridal Veil Falls
With the magnificence of outdoor beauty that Utah has to offer, it is fitting that one of the 7 wonders of Provo is a waterfall. Being a short jaunt from the parking lot increases its appeal to people of all ages. For those more daring and experienced outdoorsmen a small hike will even take you to the upper levels of the falls, to peer down and admire its beauty. Perhaps the most obvious reason this has made our list is due simply to its name. How fitting that, in a city in which people get engaged after only a few weeks of meeting each other, the most attractive natural wonder is called Bridal Veil Falls. Another reason we decided to put this on the list is because of its historical import. How many other places in Provo can boast that at its top the famous Rosemary Potter graced its dance floor with her swanky disco moves.
5. Sammy's
Something has to be said for a place that is open past 6 pm is Provo. For that reason alone Sammy's has earned a place on our seven wonders of Provo. What's truly great is that there is so much more to this place than just its college town-esque hours. The pie shakes are to die for. Out of control. Wonderfully delicious. Despite Lauren's sworn hatred for sweet potatoes, she finds their scrumptious sweet potato fries not only bearable, but actually desirable. This is not the place for romantic anniversary meals or marriage proposals, but it is a great place for first dates and hang outs. The atmosphere is laid back and friendly and if you play your cards right you might even get the honor of having your picture join the polaroids that line the walls.6. Ulmus Americana
Now you might be asking yourself what's so cool about a tree. Wait until you see this one. It is the ideal tree house tree. If it weren't the only one of its kind in all of the U.S. we might try and build one overnight just to show you how sweet it is, but since it's a rare hybrid, they won't let us. It was a gift to Provo in 1927, and was an experimental cross tree. They haven't been able to duplicate it since and it's seeds don't grow, so unfortunately we can't try to grow one of our own. It's so large that every Fall seven dumptruck loads of leaves are carried away, and it has several beams that support it's horizontal-growing branches.
7. LaVell Edwards Stadium
Few things bring a tingle to the spine quite like a full, jam-packed, rowdy Lavell Edwards Stadium. If BYU is the identity of Provo, it can be argued that amongst social circles across the nation, Cougar Football is the identity of BYU. I could go on and on about the majestic beauty of this place, but will end with one invitation. If you want to experience Provo at its finest, go to a game for yourself and you will never be the same. Promise.*LADIES AND GENTLEMEN Rory Hekking is back, and we can resume calling this "The Hekking's Blog"
