Zion National Park
Since we have been in Utah I have struggled to be adventurous. I have let all the sadness and stress of Ava's condition bring me down. After her last scans I made a goal to not give into the sadness anymore but to live in the moment. So, last weekend we took a last minute road trip to Zion National Park. I've been to Zion a ton so I know this park very well but honestly, February is the best time to visit! It's not hot, crowded and the best part is you get to drive into the park instead of taking the shuttle! Game changer when you have impatient little kids! Zion has hiking for all ages and we even took our stroller on one of the hikes. Our favorite hikes with small kids are:
Emerald Pools: This hike takes you to the lower and upper pools with gorgeous waterfalls. We just went to the lower pools as the hike to the upper pool is a bit more strenuous and Tay isn't a huge fan of hiking.
Zion River Walk: This is a paved path along the Virgin river that leads you to the entrance to the Narrows. I love the Narrows hike but it's not suitable for small kids so we just walked along the river. It's a very easy walk.
Weeping Wall: This is also a paved hike and is VERY short. I think it's about 100 feet long but it leads you to a wall that drips water. This hike is especially good in the summer when it's so hot.
Walk Zion Canyon: There is a trail that basically follows the river along most of Zion Canyon. It's an easy dirt trail but very good for small kids.
Make sure you visit the Zion Lodge in Zion Canyon. The history behind the lodge is so interesting. It's also a great place to eat lunch.
Lodging can sometimes be tough in smaller towns. I have stayed in a lot of places in Springdale and near Zion but the Cliffrose Lodge is my new favorite. Located just outside the entrance to the park, this hotel has it all. We stayed in the 2 bedroom suite which has a full kitchen, dining and living areas, two full bathrooms, one bedroom with a king bed and one bedroom with 2 queen beds, a balcony with a grill and outdoor seating. There is also a heated pool and hot tub for the winter months. It was literally a home away from home! But our favorite part about the hotel was the view! The hotel looks out over the Virgin river and The Watchman mountain and is absolutely stunning! I could have stayed on the balcony all day.
Utah is filled with outdoor adventures. Zion is definitely one of my favorite! Take your kids! They will love it too.