Utah - Zion/Bryce/Moab
FC said:
Zion, Bryce, and Moab are places, or people you're thinking of traveling with?
If I find people with those names - I'll have no choice but to take them with me. ;-)
TigerLilly said:
FC said:
Zion, Bryce, and Moab are places, or people you're thinking of traveling with?
If I find people with those names - I'll have no choice but to take them with me. ;-)
Watch out for Moab, though, I happen to know that Mr Tiger and Moab can't be in a car together for two minutes without snapping at each other.
We were traveling on our own, so can't advise re tour companies. Lots of ranger-led activities within the parks. I think someone mentioned nighttime hikes at certains times of the year, but only during times when the moon is full - something else you might want to check on if you'd like that.
The colors, the sky and the topography in southern Utah are fantastic! I know you'll have a wonderful time.
However depending on when you go - you could get lucky. We snagged 2 nights on the rim of the Grand Canyon in a cabin with a fireplace for an upcoming trip. Just keep calling and be flexible.
I built the rest of the trip around that booking.
Planing a Yellowstone trip for a milestone birthday - have 2 years to go - but 18 months in I'll be booking all the rooms.
Also - it's cheaper to fly in and out of LAS than Salt Lake - its also 2 hours closer.
Oh, and you can most definitely find people with those names in Utah.
teneciah said:
Oh, and you can most definitely find people with those names in Utah.
Between this post and FC's, I'm starting to think that I may need to make that part of the trip. ;-)
If you like driving in unbelievably scenic territory, you should also consider Monument Valley. It's Indian land, and you'll recognize it from the many car commercials that have been filmed there. Not really a place to hike around, but an awesome place to spend a couple hours driving and gawking. If you intend to drive from Zion/Bryce to the Grand Canyon, it's sort of vaguely on your way.
I definitely recommend flying into and out of Vegas. Cheap(er), easy, and the drive to Zion from Vegas is awesome. You can also priceline yourself a hotel room at the end of your trip if you want to spend a night undoing all the healthy living you just did. We did this the last three years, and by doing a same-day booking, have stayed on a Saturday night at the Bellagio or Venetian for < $200. (And you could easily stay at somewhere nice but not so ulta-plush for $100. If it's midweek, cut those rates in half.)
Have a great trip!
Www.stonecanyoninn.com
Not cheap, but amazing. The hottub on the deck was welcomed relief after the 8+ mile hike into Bryce.
We preferred Bryce to Zion, however it was 103f when we went to Zion and the crowds were cazy.
Check out my newest album on Facebook. It was from my Zion/Antelope Canyon/Kanab/The Wave with a snowy day in Bryce trip.
Zion is my favorite park. I think though it's because it was also my very first National Park. I've been back three times since my first trip.
We've stayed in the cabins right in the park and it's nice to wake in the morning and be right in the park but I enjoyed staying right outside the park in Springdale Utah. We stayed at http://flanigans.com last time we were there. I liked it a lot. They had a buffet breakfast for I think $10 or so.
Springdale has many places to stay and they have lots of places to eat with many cute little shops too.
My favorite hikes in Zion are Observation Point, Angels Landing (although I go up to scouts peak not to the end because I'm too afraid of heights). The Emerald Pools are really nice too. All the hikes are great but those are my top three. I've never done the Narrows but that is supposed to be fantastic but it is closed at certain times when flooding could possibly occur.
I've been there in March, April and May and mid-May is my favorite time in the park. All the flowers are blooming and the contrast between the green and the red of the cliffs is really cool.
MH - will check your FB photos out.
I would suggest a few days each in Zion and Bryce, with a few days seeing some off-the-beaten-path sights that lie outside the parks- there are some spectacular things to see in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. Also consider spending a day or two in Page, AZ to take in Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell.
While I've never been there, Grand Staircase was recommended as a easy day trip from the Bryce area.
I know this is an old thread, but we're thinking about combining a trip to Bryce and Zion and visiting my father-in-law who is about 2 hours east of Vegas, during April break. Are 12 and 8 year olds the right age to appreciate those national parks? Does anyone have hotel recommendations, in addition to Stone Canyon Inn, which looks great.
Really depends on their attitude toward hiking and seeing natural wonders. My guess is that they would be more impressed by Bryce, but both parks are solid destinations. Bryce is especially interesting because it's different from most other parks (at least the ones I've been to), kind of other-worldy almost.
yonti23 said:
I know this is an old thread, but we're thinking about combining a trip to Bryce and Zion and visiting my father-in-law who is about 2 hours east of Vegas, during April break. Are 12 and 8 year olds the right age to appreciate those national parks? Does anyone have hotel recommendations, in addition to Stone Canyon Inn, which looks great.
You saw the Wave. I read it required a two day hike.
MelissaH said:
Hi TL,
Check out my newest album on Facebook. It was from my Zion/Antelope Canyon/Kanab/The Wave with a snowy day in Bryce trip.
Zion is my favorite park. I think though it's because it was also my very first National Park. I've been back three times since my first trip.
We've stayed in the cabins right in the park and it's nice to wake in the morning and be right in the park but I enjoyed staying right outside the park in Springdale Utah. We stayed at http://flanigans.com last time we were there. I liked it a lot. They had a buffet breakfast for I think $10 or so.
Springdale has many places to stay and they have lots of places to eat with many cute little shops too.
My favorite hikes in Zion are Observation Point, Angels Landing (although I go up to scouts peak not to the end because I'm too afraid of heights). The Emerald Pools are really nice too. All the hikes are great but those are my top three. I've never done the Narrows but that is supposed to be fantastic but it is closed at certain times when flooding could possibly occur.
Unfortunately when we went, the GOP shut the government down and they closed the national parks... But, it was still an amazing place to visit. In Bryce, we stayed at the Stone Canyon Inn, which is in Tropic, UT. There is nothing going on in Tropic - dead drive through town, but I was glad we stayed there because we really liked the accommodations. We stayed in the guest house, which is an actual house with a full kitchen, laundry, living area, grill and upstairs master bedroom and there was a murphy bed downstairs (it was just the two of us, so we didn't use that). It was nice to be able to get groceries (there's a store in town) and make our own breakfast. We even stayed in and grilled one night. They actually border Bryce Canyon so even during the shutdown, they drew out a little map for me to go behind their place and explore the canyon for the day. That area was a little rocky (tougher on the knees), but I literally had the canyon all to myself in a place that most people never see, which was really cool.
Although the national parks were closed there were still state-run parks that were open. We went mountain biking in one during the shutdown in Zion.
In Zion - we stayed at Zion Mountain Ranch - they have cabins with a little deck to watch the bison roam on by (literally - they're RIGHT in front of you). They have other animals at the ranch - horses, chickens, and a cow who thinks she's a bison. They also have a small kitchenette and bedroom. They also had bigger houses to stay in. Their restaurant was top notch. But, with kids, you may want to stay at a place that is an in-town location. There is NOTHING but a turkey farm around Zion Mountain Ranch. We liked it that way, but you may like to be in town to walk around a little and you do not want to drive through the switchbacks of Zion at night to get back to the ranch after being in town....trust me.
yonti23 said:
I know this is an old thread, but we're thinking about combining a trip to Bryce and Zion and visiting my father-in-law who is about 2 hours east of Vegas, during April break. Are 12 and 8 year olds the right age to appreciate those national parks? Does anyone have hotel recommendations, in addition to Stone Canyon Inn, which looks great.
We visited Zion and the Grand Canyon back in 2012, with our then 9 year old. He LOVED it!
At Zion we stayed in the park, in Zion Lodge (http://www.zionlodge.com/accommodations/zion-lodge). We got a "cabin" with a fireplace. It was wonderful. It's located in the park and right near the shuttle stop for the park and some hiking trails.
Those should be great ages for introducing them to the National Parks. My younger brother and I were about that age the first time we visited a National Park out West.
We've stayed at the in-park lodges every time we've visited Bryce and Zion. The biggest advantage at Bryce is that it is so close to the views--just a short walk back after you watch the sunset, for example. Also, there are fewer close by accommodations nearby at Bryce. And, if your stays are short (1 or 2 nights) you can maximize your time in the parks.
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Just looking for people's advice and experiences of places to go, stay, and any good guide/tour companies.
TIA.