Month: July 2012

If you are looking for a unique, and absolutely unforgettable way to experience Zion National Park, consider doing so on horseback! Canyon Trail Rides takes you on a sightseeing excursion like no other!

We are frequently asked which National Park is our favorite. Out of the larger NPS Units, Zion, is, by far, my personal favorite. It is stunning. My heart is happiest amongst the Red Rocks… As the person who is always driving on our journeys, I especially enjoy being able to take advantage of the Shuttle Bus through Zion Canyon, so I can sit back, relax, enjoy the scenery, and snap some fun photos!

In Zion National Park, the Riverside Walk offers a pleasant stroll along the Virgin River, as it meanders through jaw-dropping red sandstone cliffs… You can walk along easy, well-maintained paths; and at any point, the kids can play in the shallow, bubbling river that parallels the trail. The trail starts at the Temple of Sinawava, which is the last Shuttle Bus Stop at the end of the road into Zion Canyon. For about 2 miles, things remain easily accessible. If you want to continue farther into the Narrows, make sure you do your homework on that, and come prepared with…

Weeping Rock is a lovely trail, with a magnificent destination! It is definitely a trail that I highly recommend to families visiting Zion National Park with kids of any age. It is uphill on the way to Weeping Rock, but it’s not unbearable. And then, it’s all downhill on the way back! But, the unique rock formation; the hanging gardens of moss and greenery; and the wildlife and wildflowers along the way, are well worth the time and effort! I also highly recommend the Emerald Pools Trail, and any length of distance you are up for on the Virgin River…

From Springdale, along Utah 9, east into the Western Entrance of Zion National Park. It’s Independence Day! No better way to celebrate freedom, then inside such a breathtakingly majestic National Park! America, the beautiful, indeed!

Of all the things we do, hiking volcanoes generally tops my list of absolute all-time favorites. And Snow Canyon State Park is my absolute all-time favorite State Park! Red Sandstone, Slot Canyons, Lava Fields… So much is happening here, and its all hands-on easily accessible fun for the kids! Going to be in or passing through Southern Utah in the vicinity of St. George, or Zion National Park? Definitely leave some time in your schedule to explore Snow Canyon State Park! It might just become YOUR favorite Utah State Park as well!

Snow Canyon State Park is our all-time FAVORITE State Park in the entire United States! Just west of St. George, Utah, you’ll find everything from Red Rock Slot Canyons, to Sandstone Cliffs, Fields of Ancient Lava Formations, Pioneer Writing, and tons of desert plants and wildlife! If you are passing through Southern Utah, perhaps heading to our from Zion National Park or Bryce Canyon National Park, be sure to add Snow Canyon State Park to your itinerary!

Ah, Snow Canyon State Park in St. George, Utah. Truly one of our favorite places on this planet. Most people come through this area headed for Zion National Park. But, I always urge them to consider some time in St. George to check out the awesomeness that Snow Canyon has to offer! This particular hike to Jenny’s Canyon is a short walk to a petite slot canyon. Hiking, rock climbing, and just hanging out in the desert amidst the glorious grandeur of all the red rock formations! Life doesn’t get much better in my book!

The reflective properties of the heavily salinated water of the Great Salt Lake make for some FABULOUS sunset views and photos! This truly is one of the more stunning spots I have ever watched the sun sink into the horizon below. Do you try to catch sunrises and sunsets on your vacations? The other-worldly ambiance of watching such a brilliantly hued celestial event right before your very eyes is the stuff of which family memories are made! And sunsets at Antelope Island State Park are some of the most magical, indeed! Check out ALL of Our Adventures on Antelope Island!…

After a day of hiking, rock scrambling, birding, wildlife viewing, and Junior Rangering throughout Antelope Island State Park, we’re finally here, along the sandy shores of the Great Salt Lake! If you know anything about the Great Salt Lake, I’m not going to sugarcoat it and tell you it’s a lovely day at the beach. Because, well, it might LOOK absolutely stunning…. But, the “noseeums” are a rather pesky species of insect that resides in the sand, thus making your time on the beach more of a wild safari experience, instead of a quaint time to relax and unwind. And,…

Bison, Coyotes, Antelope, and Mule Deer, oh my! Wildlife is everywhere on Antelope Island! And Buffalo Point Trail is an excellent choice to see it all! Check out ALL of Our Adventures on Antelope Island! Or, better yet, check out Everything We’ve Done in the Gorgeous State of Utah! Looking for travel inspiration for your own vacation planning? Check out our Utah QUIKLISTS! If you need Utah travel books, CLICK HERE, or on any photo below!

Even to the day you are reading this post, rock scrambling along Lady Finger Point Trail at Antelope Island State Park remains one of our favorite things we have ever done together as a family. My kids absolutely LOVED every second of climbing, scrambling, scooting, and hiking through these fun rock formations along the coast of the Great Salt Lake. If your kids love to rock climb, consider a trip to Antelope Island State Park, and take some time to play along the Lady Finger Point Trail! I hope you love it as much as my crew did! Lady Finger…

The Utah State Park System has a great Junior Ranger Program, just like those in the National Park System, that allows the kids to explore each park, and earn a REAL badge when they complete a book of awesome activities! Antelope Island State Park has a beautiful, state-of-the-art Visitor Center, full of hands-on exhibits and unique learning opportunities. And the park itself is loaded with plants, wildlife, birding, hiking, rock scrambling, and beach exploration along the shores of the Great Salt Lake! After you arrive at Antelope Island State Park, make sure you grab a Junior Ranger Book for each…

If you’ll be in Northern Utah, in or near the Salt Lake City vicinity, Antelope Island State Park is a MUST! Grand vistas of the Utah landscape await your family! A beautiful visitor center offers a fun Antelope Island Junior Ranger Program from the Utah State Park System. And, once you set off to explore, you will find hiking, rock scrambling, the beaches of the Great Salt Lake, Bison herds, and other unique local wildlife! If you’ll be visiting multiple Utah State Parks, which I’d highly encourage you to consider, I’d recommend the purchase of a Utah State Park Annual…

With the little green dinosaur as their mascot, I come predisposed as a Sinclair gas station fangirl. But, this is no regular gas station! The Little America Wyoming Fuel Center is a full-on tourist attraction in and of itself! Fill up the car’s tank with Sinclair fuel. And fill up YOUR tank with vast menu options, and of course, Little America’s famous ICE CREAM! Check out the infinite section of souvenirs, and then be sure to burn some energy on the Little America Wyoming Playground! West of Rock Springs, Wyoming, and east of the Wyoming / Utah border, Little America…

From Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado, we headed North out of the state, along I-25, across the Wyoming State Line, and then eventually hit I-80, to continue our westward trip into Northern Utah. We did this route in 2002, heading eastbound out of Utah, and back towards Georgia; but this was our first time taking this portion of 80 westbound. I love how the Wyoming grassland prairies of the Great Plains, start flat, and then subtly start giving way to more elevation change. Your eyes spread across the grasslands, beyond the Great Divide Basin, and the vistas…