|
|
Post by aj2hall on Apr 21, 2025 23:26:38 GMT
Any recommendations? Places to see, stay or eat? Things to do? We're headed out there in a week
|
|
caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,025 
Location: So Cal
|
Post by caangel on Apr 22, 2025 2:26:23 GMT
We were in UT in Feb. We did Zion, Bryce Canyon, Brian Head Ski Resort and stayed at a VRBO in Cedar City. We loved Bryce Canyon! Unintentionally we skipped the first few view points and then worked out way down the road and then came back to the ones we skipped in the beginning. The first several are the golden tickets and by skipping them instead of starting with them we saved the best for last. Every time we thought it couldn't get any better it did! Since we were there in the winter and with Grandparents who couldn't do hikes due to distance and ice we just did all the view points. There was barely anyone there especially at the view points farther from the beginning but it was also a pretty cold day, but still gorgeous. We really want to go back and do some hikes. The visitors center was also really good. We enjoyed Zion but not as much as Bryce. But would still go again so that we could do some hikes. We did go back into the park after eating dinner outside of it. It is a Dark Sky Protection area (something like that) and the views of the night sky were beautiful. It think now you can only access the park via shuttle so make sure you look into that schedule. Hopefully the parks won't be too busy. While in UT try one of the soda shops like Swig. It was a fun stop for something we don't have near us. swigdrinks.com |
|
GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,704
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
|
Post by GiantsFan on Apr 22, 2025 2:34:07 GMT
I love the Utah parks. We camped at all the parks so I don't have any rec's on where to stay or eat. If you don't already have a park pass and you're going to a few parks, get the Annual Park Pass. It's $80 and good for 12 months. If you're over 62 then get the Senior Pass. The same $80 and is good for life.
Are you hiking, or doing the scenic drives and lookouts? We've done both. If you're not a hiker the scenic drives will still give you a good look at beautiful landscapes. You can do the scenic drives and a few shorter hikes and see a lot. At all the parks you should plan to bring in lunch, snacks and water.
Arches NP - You may need a reservation to enter. We got ours the day before we went. Although they never looked at it when we entered. It gets very crowded. We saw all the main arches and did the hikes. Parking can be an issue, so you may need to bypass an area, then come back to it.
Canyonlands NP - We actually liked this park better than Arches. It wasn't as crowded. We did both entrances, but could've saved some time and only gone to the north entrance. Unless you're camping there really is no place to stay at the southern entrance.
Capital Reef NP - Beautiful area. There are Native Am glyphs, arches and interestingly fruit trees. It's in the town of Fruta.
Zion NP - Park and use the transit bus to park stops. Go to the overlook and the Riverwalk. We did not do the narrows as rain was expected.
Bryce Canyon NP - We bussed into the park and packed in our lunches and drinks and stayed all day hiking in the hoo-doos.
Grand Canyon NP - North Entrance is less crowded and has beautiful grasslands where we saw a herd of bison. Very few amenities but we did eat at the lodge restaurant for one meal. South Entrance is has better amenities for visitors but is crowded since it's easier to get to. We did the entire Rim Trail (13 miles, IIRC) then bussed back to our campground.
I don't know where you're coming from, but if you are close, check out Monument Valley and Four Corners. These are on the reservations. If you're in the area of Monument Valley, then Mesa Verde NP is only 141 miles into Colorado. It has the ancient cliff dwelling pueblos that are amazing!
There is so much to see here in the US. If you have specific questions please ask. But as I mentioned we camped so I'll only have recs for hikes and site seeing.
|
|
|
|
Post by nlwilkins on Apr 22, 2025 3:26:28 GMT
Depending upon where you are coming from, you might look into the Snake river road that is a great route. It is the largest tributary of the Columbia river. I've been along it twice in my life time, the last time when I was a teenager and I still remember it. It runs through Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. If you look it up, you will find many intersting facts about this river
|
|
|
|
Post by aj2hall on Apr 22, 2025 11:31:51 GMT
Thank you! We are planning to do some easy, shorter hikes. DH is former military, so we’re getting the veterans pass, I’m drawing a blank on the name.
We're flying into Las Vegas and planning to do a loop - starting at the Grand Canyon, then driving up to Moab to see Arches & Canyonlands. I was tempted to try to do Mesa Verde, but I'm not sure if we'll have time. We're then driving to Boulder to see Capitol Reef & maybe Grand Staircase Escalante. From there, we're planning to stay near Zion to see Zion & Bryce. Then back to Vegas (maybe the Hoover Dam along the way?) and possibly a show the night before we fly out.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlemama on Apr 22, 2025 11:54:53 GMT
Thank you! We are planning to do some easy, shorter hikes. DH is former military, so we’re getting the veterans pass, I’m drawing a blank on the name. We're flying into Las Vegas and planning to do a loop - starting at the Grand Canyon, then driving up to Moab to see Arches & Canyonlands. I was tempted to try to do Mesa Verde, but I'm not sure if we'll have time. We're then driving to Boulder to see Capitol Reef & maybe Grand Staircase Escalante. From there, we're planning to stay near Zion to see Zion & Bryce. Then back to Vegas (maybe the Hoover Dam along the way?) and possibly a show the night before we fly out. If you are flying into Las Vegas, I'd recommennd Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. We skipped the Hoover Dam and did this instead (i took a pic of the Hoover Dam from the plane and that was good enough lol). |
|
GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,704
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
|
Post by GiantsFan on Apr 22, 2025 14:51:32 GMT
|
|
FurryP
Prolific Pea
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 7,797
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
|
Post by FurryP on Apr 22, 2025 16:26:03 GMT
Don't forget that with all the staff layoffs things might be a little different.
|
|
|
|
Post by chedanemi on Apr 22, 2025 16:28:41 GMT
Use the GuideAlong app. It works via GPS, not cell service/data, so no worries about being in a remote area without service. The narrator provides a wealth of information on each tour. He's also somewhat humorous at times. He gives ample notice about where to stop for attractions, views, etc. We've used these guides on every trip we can. Google it a few times, and you'll likely start getting coupons for discounts too. |
|
dawnnikol
Prolific Pea
'A life without books is a life not lived.' Jay Kristoff
Posts: 9,460
Sept 21, 2015 18:39:25 GMT
|
Post by dawnnikol on Apr 22, 2025 16:48:52 GMT
If you are flying into Las Vegas, I'd recommennd Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. We skipped the Hoover Dam and did this instead (i took a pic of the Hoover Dam from the plane and that was good enough lol). I'd have to agree with this having done both. When we visited Las Vegas, before moving there, we did the Hoover Dam tour. That was before the clear walkway though. I've been out to Red Rock a few times though. Don't tell the authorities, but some of my Grandpa's ashes might be out there, too. :X |
|
|
|
Post by ntsf on Apr 24, 2025 15:43:39 GMT
we did a similar trip.. started at vegas, grand canyon, then monument valley, then mesa verde .. and talked to the ranger about going to bryce/zion. she recommended not going there but going to chaco canyon. that was superb!!! it was like the center of the culture 900 yrs ago.. it is in 20 miles of dirt road off highway. then we saw petrified forest, sedona and back to vegas. arches is pretty cool too.. saw that on another trip.
|
|
|
|
Post by lavawalker1 on Apr 24, 2025 19:40:32 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by supersoda on Apr 24, 2025 21:18:59 GMT
We did all of the parks @giantsfan mentions a few years ago. They were all amazing, but Bryce Canyon was my favorite. We took our Jeep Wrangler and were able to do some off-roading as well as some hiking. There were some really cool trails we could only get to with the Jeep.
I consider Moab the most beautiful place I've ever been. The landscape is just so striking and different from anywhere else.
We stayed in the park at Bryce and the Grand Canyon hoping for dark skies, but mostly just got cloudy skies. We did Airbnbs everywhere else.
I hiked Red Rock Canyon on my last trip to Vegas, and it is beautiful, but I wouldn't pass up any of the Utah parks to squeeze it in if you're short on time.
|
|
|
|
Post by laurasw on Apr 25, 2025 0:44:46 GMT
That’ll be a great trip! How long will you have(Sorry if I missed that)?
And just to throw in a couple of other options there’s Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell area. Especially if you headed towards 4 Corners or Mesa Verde.
Most of my family loved hiking through The Narrows at Zion the most but loved how different Bryce was too. We didn’t make it to Arches but hope to another time. Capitol Reef was the least crowded and you have to get a fruit pie there.
|
|
