Southwest USA is home to a number of national parks, including Zion, Bryce, Arches, and the Grand Canyon. Pack the family car and explore the splendor of the Southwest.
Before embarking on a tour of the U.S. National Parks, log onto their Web site purchase an annual pass for only $80. Also, at the first park, stop by the Visitors Center and pick up a National Park Passport for the kids. They can collect stamps for each park they visit.
Stop One, Arches National Park, Utah
With a flight into Grand Junction, Colorado, it's about a two-hour drive to Moab, Utah. Spend a couple of days (or more) exploring Moab and all its active fun. With Sorrel River Ranch as a home base, guests are treated to breathtaking beauty and luxury accommodations that cater to family needs.
The resort offers an on-site restaurant that makes mealtime easy, a playground for kids to enjoy, and horseback riding on the property. The concierge is happy to plan and book several activities that are family friendly. Spend the day rafting down the Colorado River or mountain biking one of the many trails of Moab.
For those wanting to hit the hiking trails, nearby Arches National Park has trails fit for kids. Try the 0.3-mile Balanced Rock loop trail or the longer 1.6-mile round-trip hike to Landscape Arch, one of the most photographed areas of the park.
For those who have the time, Canyonlands National Park is also nearby.
For evening fun, don’t miss the Canyonlands by Night tour that starts with a cowboy dinner. Guests then hop on an open-air boat for a 2-hour ride with a light and music show featuring the red rock scenery lit by 40,000-watt bulbs.
Stop Two, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
From Moab, it's about a five-hour drive to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Enjoy the in-park Bryce Canyon Lodge for quick access to hiking trails and scenic drives. Be sure to book a room well in advance, as it does fill up quickly.
The park is easily seen in one day by the 17-mile scenic drive. Make several stops along the way to take photos at various viewpoints. A popular lookout is Natural Bridge with an arch that is 85-feet long and 125-feet high. A good excursion for kids is the mile-long Bristlecone Loop Trail. Keep in mind, the trail is at 9,115 feet elevation. If there is snow, the trail could be closed.
Stop Three, Zion National Park, Utah
From Bryce, it takes about two hours to travel to Zion National Park, Utah. A fun place for families to get a feel for ranch lifestyle is at the Zion Mountain Ranch Resort. Located just three miles to the entrance to Zion National Park, this resort has a family cabin suite that sleeps up to ten people and includes a full kitchen and washer/dryer.
Kids will enjoy watching the large herd of buffalo that roam the 2,700-acre property. For some western fun, the resort offers on-site horseback rides for all ages. Nightly campfires take place if the weather is not windy.
For families wanting to explore Zion National Park, enter at the East Entrance and take the 18-mile drive through the park to the South Entrance.The drive is one of great natural beauty and features a mile-long tunnel cut into the rock. At the Visitors Center, catch the hop aboard a free shuttle bus to take in the rest of the scenery Zion has to offer. The 6.6-mile drive stops at several spots that are appropriate hiking for kids, such as Weeping Rock (half-mile round-trip, steep but worth it), Emerald Pools, and the stroller-friendly Riverside Walk (2-mile round-trip).
Stop Four, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The drive from Zion to the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona takes about five hours. The Grand Finale is the Grand Canyon National Park. There are several in-park accommodations, but they fill up fast. Reservations should be made six months in advance.
A good start to the park with little ones is to do the Rim Trail. It’s a paved trail that journeys along the rim of the canyon with several outlooks offering million dollar views.
A must-see for older kids is the adventurous Ooh Ahh Point on the Kaibab Trail. This steep 1.8-mile round-trip trail is a series of switchbacks carved right into the side of the cliff.
At the end of the park, there is a shuttle bus that is about 75-minutes round-trip and stops at ten lookout points along the way.
The Village has a fairly large market to pick up essentials like diapers, snacks and sunscreen and sandwiches.
To make the most of the Southwest road trip, be sure to take plenty of potty breaks, snack breaks and get a good nights sleep.
Before embarking on a tour of the U.S. National Parks, log onto their Web site purchase an annual pass for only $80. Also, at the first park, stop by the Visitors Center and pick up a National Park Passport for the kids. They can collect stamps for each park they visit.
Stop One, Arches National Park, Utah
With a flight into Grand Junction, Colorado, it's about a two-hour drive to Moab, Utah. Spend a couple of days (or more) exploring Moab and all its active fun. With Sorrel River Ranch as a home base, guests are treated to breathtaking beauty and luxury accommodations that cater to family needs.
The resort offers an on-site restaurant that makes mealtime easy, a playground for kids to enjoy, and horseback riding on the property. The concierge is happy to plan and book several activities that are family friendly. Spend the day rafting down the Colorado River or mountain biking one of the many trails of Moab.
For those wanting to hit the hiking trails, nearby Arches National Park has trails fit for kids. Try the 0.3-mile Balanced Rock loop trail or the longer 1.6-mile round-trip hike to Landscape Arch, one of the most photographed areas of the park.
For those who have the time, Canyonlands National Park is also nearby.
For evening fun, don’t miss the Canyonlands by Night tour that starts with a cowboy dinner. Guests then hop on an open-air boat for a 2-hour ride with a light and music show featuring the red rock scenery lit by 40,000-watt bulbs.
Stop Two, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
From Moab, it's about a five-hour drive to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Enjoy the in-park Bryce Canyon Lodge for quick access to hiking trails and scenic drives. Be sure to book a room well in advance, as it does fill up quickly.
The park is easily seen in one day by the 17-mile scenic drive. Make several stops along the way to take photos at various viewpoints. A popular lookout is Natural Bridge with an arch that is 85-feet long and 125-feet high. A good excursion for kids is the mile-long Bristlecone Loop Trail. Keep in mind, the trail is at 9,115 feet elevation. If there is snow, the trail could be closed.
Stop Three, Zion National Park, Utah
From Bryce, it takes about two hours to travel to Zion National Park, Utah. A fun place for families to get a feel for ranch lifestyle is at the Zion Mountain Ranch Resort. Located just three miles to the entrance to Zion National Park, this resort has a family cabin suite that sleeps up to ten people and includes a full kitchen and washer/dryer.
Kids will enjoy watching the large herd of buffalo that roam the 2,700-acre property. For some western fun, the resort offers on-site horseback rides for all ages. Nightly campfires take place if the weather is not windy.
For families wanting to explore Zion National Park, enter at the East Entrance and take the 18-mile drive through the park to the South Entrance.The drive is one of great natural beauty and features a mile-long tunnel cut into the rock. At the Visitors Center, catch the hop aboard a free shuttle bus to take in the rest of the scenery Zion has to offer. The 6.6-mile drive stops at several spots that are appropriate hiking for kids, such as Weeping Rock (half-mile round-trip, steep but worth it), Emerald Pools, and the stroller-friendly Riverside Walk (2-mile round-trip).
Stop Four, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The drive from Zion to the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona takes about five hours. The Grand Finale is the Grand Canyon National Park. There are several in-park accommodations, but they fill up fast. Reservations should be made six months in advance.
A good start to the park with little ones is to do the Rim Trail. It’s a paved trail that journeys along the rim of the canyon with several outlooks offering million dollar views.
A must-see for older kids is the adventurous Ooh Ahh Point on the Kaibab Trail. This steep 1.8-mile round-trip trail is a series of switchbacks carved right into the side of the cliff.
At the end of the park, there is a shuttle bus that is about 75-minutes round-trip and stops at ten lookout points along the way.
The Village has a fairly large market to pick up essentials like diapers, snacks and sunscreen and sandwiches.
To make the most of the Southwest road trip, be sure to take plenty of potty breaks, snack breaks and get a good nights sleep.
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