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GGG · 03-19-2014, 09:43 AM

I would go to Zion National Park in Utah and then hit some of the surrounding areas like Arches, Moab, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef depending on how much driving you want to do. These are the nicest national parks and so different from the Mountains you see here. Colorado I find a little bit of a let down because its like Banff/Jasper/Glacier but not as nice and without the imposing peaks.

In Zion the Narrows hike is the best day hike I have ever taken. You hike in and out of the Virign river (a creek really at this point) up a canyon until it narrows to where your arms almost touch the wall. A nine year old could do the whole thing without issues. (I took my five year old about 1/4 of the way up before being stopped by sections that were waist deep on me. But a nine year old could do it. Google pictures of it. It is amazing. Also in zion you can go tubing down the Virgin river which is a great way to spend 2 or 3 hours in the hot afternoon Sun. There are also Canyoneering trips available if your kids climb and Rapel you could go yourself or you can hire a guide to take you through. For biking in Zion you can bike the paved parkway through the main canyon which is closed to vehicle traffic in the summer. Only busses on it. It is 25k long and gradually uphill. Some of the shuttle buses have bike racks on them so you can load your bikes on the shuttle take the bus to the end and then cruise down hill for an hour or two through amazing scenery.

Then you head over to Bryce Canyon where the high elevation makes it a lot cooler (28 instead of 35). You do day hikes in the canyon there.

Moab has great biking though I haven't been in a long time and didn't have kids when I went so I don't know how kid friendly the area is.

There is also Arches, Capital Reef, and a few State and other National Parks and Monuments to visit depending on how long and how much driving. The Grand Canyon North Rim is also only about 3-4 hrs away if that is on your list to.

I love this area and it is just so different than what we have here that it makes a great vacation spot instead of going to a place like Colorado which just has not as nice mountains as we have here.

03-19-2014, 09:43 AM	#6
GGG Franchise Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Exp:	I would go to Zion National Park in Utah and then hit some of the surrounding areas like Arches, Moab, Bryce Canyon, Capital Reef depending on how much driving you want to do. These are the nicest national parks and so different from the Mountains you see here. Colorado I find a little bit of a let down because its like Banff/Jasper/Glacier but not as nice and without the imposing peaks. In Zion the Narrows hike is the best day hike I have ever taken. You hike in and out of the Virign river (a creek really at this point) up a canyon until it narrows to where your arms almost touch the wall. A nine year old could do the whole thing without issues. (I took my five year old about 1/4 of the way up before being stopped by sections that were waist deep on me. But a nine year old could do it. Google pictures of it. It is amazing. Also in zion you can go tubing down the Virgin river which is a great way to spend 2 or 3 hours in the hot afternoon Sun. There are also Canyoneering trips available if your kids climb and Rapel you could go yourself or you can hire a guide to take you through. For biking in Zion you can bike the paved parkway through the main canyon which is closed to vehicle traffic in the summer. Only busses on it. It is 25k long and gradually uphill. Some of the shuttle buses have bike racks on them so you can load your bikes on the shuttle take the bus to the end and then cruise down hill for an hour or two through amazing scenery. Then you head over to Bryce Canyon where the high elevation makes it a lot cooler (28 instead of 35). You do day hikes in the canyon there. Moab has great biking though I haven't been in a long time and didn't have kids when I went so I don't know how kid friendly the area is. There is also Arches, Capital Reef, and a few State and other National Parks and Monuments to visit depending on how long and how much driving. The Grand Canyon North Rim is also only about 3-4 hrs away if that is on your list to. I love this area and it is just so different than what we have here that it makes a great vacation spot instead of going to a place like Colorado which just has not as nice mountains as we have here. Last edited by GGG; 03-19-2014 at 09:46 AM.