Vacation at Zion National Park: Five tips for families
Vacationing with your children and trying to find just the right spot to visit can be a challenge in these monetary crunch times. Zion National Park near Springdale Utah can be an entertaining and exciting adventure for your young and older children, whether you camp or stay in one of the Zion Park lodgings or Zions Park hotels. Here are five ideas to keep in mind when planning your Zion Park trip.
1. Plan early, make reservations today. The best time to visit Zion Park is in the spring and fall when the weather is at its best, but most visitors to the park come during the summer months, so if you’re planning a summer vacation, it’s not too early to find a camp site or other Zion Park lodging and get your reservations now. Remember over 2.7 million visitors enjoy the beauty and natural wonders at Zions each year. Do you like planned tours? There are all kinds of lodging packages with jeep tours, rafting and wagon rides? Do you like to explore on your own? The scenic road view is only by bus, but you can drive through mile after mile of natural wonders, stop and explore. How about hiking? Zions Park has a variety of trails for the youngest to the advanced hiker.
2. What does Zion Park have to offer? Plenty. Zions is in the Great Basin Desert, with rock formations, 150 million year old sedimentation and breath taking plateaus. Families can explore over 229 square miles of Navajo Sandstone, enjoy spotting as many of the 75 kinds of mammals as they can, try your hand at fishing (there are 8 types of fish), and search the skies for 271 different species of birds. There are also 32 varieties of reptiles and Amphibians located in the park. If you love plant nature, be sure and take your list and try to locate as many of the 800 different plants as you can. The Visitor’s Center, Museum, and Nature Center provide classes, historical and geological lectures, interactive tours and much much more for the visitor.
3. Are there any special events? Yes. Each year visitors of all interests come to Zion Park and plan a visit around a specific event or activity. There are many “photography” trips where the camera enthusiast can take pictures of sunrises and sunsets, lighting, the park animals, the river and waterfalls. If you love photography, Zions is a dream come true setting. Each year people come from all over the U.S. to participate in many entertainment activities in the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater in Springdale, Utah. Even though the amphitheater seats 2500 visitors, tickets are a premium, so make your entertainment reservations early. Each year in June and July is the Astronomy Festival where stargazers watch the most beautiful of U.S. skies through large telescopes provided or bring your own and learn. Stargazing in the park has been a loved activity since 1969, when the first “formal” astronomy programs began. For you geologists, Bryce Canyon plans on hosting a Geology Festival from July 28—30 in 2011. Check on line for more information and about this unique adventure.
4. Is there more? If you and your children enjoy 4×4 tours, ATV trails, rock climbing, biking, horseback riding, photography workshops, or canyoneering, many Zion Park lodging areas offer these and other exciting experiences. Some offer kids camps, golfing, rafting, wagon rides, and more. If you’re thinking of outdoor fun experiences, Zion Park is the place to go.
5. How can I bring our trip to my children’s level? It might be simplistic, but children enjoy simple activities, adventure and change. Everyone in your family will have a different attention span, the younger the child, the shorter the attention, so plan your hikes, driving, and activities around rest stops and change in activities. Changing from one activity to another is almost as good as a new adventure. But be sure and take time to rest, the fresh canyon air can make you tired and a tired visitor doesn’t enjoy the park. If the outdoors is a new experience for you and your family, be sure and plan ahead by understanding what you will find at your destination, safety concerns for both you and your children, and how to stay within your budget.
Here’s hoping you and your children will enjoy the many wonders and activities at Zion National Park, and find your trip to Zions one you’ll never forget. Plan your Zion National Park travel early.
About the Author
As the owner of Brent & Susan Holmes Materials LLC I have been writing, editing, training, designing and working for various business firms and news agencies for the last 32 years. I have written thousands of articles, developed corporate newspapers and newsletters, designed media kits, public relations focus to achieve success. In addition to writing for various companies, I served in local government as a City Councilmember and presently serve as the Board Chair of a $2.9 million Sewer District. I can be reached at http://susantannerholmes.com/