Last week we set out on a Griswold-worthy family vacation of National Parks… a trip I’ve been dying to take for years, but we waited until both kids were old enough to remember and enjoy it, and be able to handle the physicality. And it was absolute perfection! We hiked, we laughed, we ate, we talked…we reconnected in a way that’s difficult to do at home, surrounded by life’s demands.
The entire trip had just enough downtime to really relax, but also a heavy amount of activity and adventure to keep everyone engaged (and worn out every night! #bonus). And from the social media response I had last week on our travels, there’s a hefty number of you anxious to take a similar trip with your own families!
There is just way too much info to include everything in a single post, so I’m planning a stand-alone post for each park, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Grand Canyon South Rim, plus a comprehensive post outlining the full itinerary, drive times, excursions, etc! We did a ton of research for our trip, and I’m happy to pass it along to you, in hopes that it’s helpful when planning your own family adventure!
Today we’re starting out with our favorite of the three, Zion National Park…so buckle up, friends, it’s photo overload!
Zion National Park is a southwest Utah nature preserve, distinguished by Zion Canyon’s steep red, rocky cliffs. The scenic drive in cuts through the base of the canyon, with towering cliffs rising up all around. Forest trails branch out along the Virgin River, taking you either to the top of the cliffs, or down to the Emerald Pools, which have waterfalls and a hanging garden. One of Zion’s biggest draws is the Narrows…a hike down the actual river (sometimes in chest-deep water), through a narrow gorge of sandstone walls thousands of feet tall.
Oversized Hoodie | Bootcut Leggings with Pockets | Long Sleeve Layering Tee
Fleece Pullover |Â Velcro Tennis Shoes
My pictures don’t come anywhere close to showing the true beauty of the park, but even harder to capture is the massive scale of the mountains and cliffs. All three parks have done an excellent job of marking and maintaining trails, and providing excellent, comprehensive trail maps…all while keeping the true rugged nature of the parks in tact. There are levels of trails for every type of hiker, but everything is at your own risk. There are few railings and barriers, so we were sure to set really firm ground rules with our kids before setting out! #nervousmom
Our Spring Break fell really early in the year…which meant we had minimal crowds, but fairly cool weather. It was chilly at the base of the canyon, but we quickly shed our layers as we climbed higher.
Sugarplum Travel Tip: The sun seems to shine extra bright at Zion, and paired with the reflection off the red rocks, it was positively technicolor! So sunglasses and hats are a must!
Faux-Fur Hooded Coat | Leggings | Hiking Shoes
The single most important thing I brought were these shoes! Every pair of hiking/trail shoes I’ve ever owned were heavy, uncomfortable and clunky…so needless to say, I wasn’t looking forward to packing them! But that stereotype was wiped clean when I found this pair, and I ended up wearing them every single day…even when we weren’t doing any real hiking!
They are lightweight (like a sneaker), and extremely comfortable to wear for hours and hours at a time. I wore them out of the box, and never once had any rubbing or blisters. They’re even water resistant, so I was able to tromp through puddles, and mud rinsed right off. Plus, I had plenty of grip for all the slick and uneven surfaces. I love them so much, I’ve taken to walking the dog in them every morning now that we’re home.
Fit Tip: I tried no fewer than 10 pairs of trail shoes (thank goodness for Nordstrom free shipping and returns!), and these were the hands-down winner! I also tried them in three different sizes, and even when worn with good wool socks, I needed to size down half (I’m normally a 7.5, and wear a 7 in these).
As for the rest of my wardrobe, I packed my favorite athletic pants and leggings, and a stack of sweatshirts, a windbreaker, and my heavy coat. And of course my Uggs, for all the times we weren’t hiking!
Sweatshirt | Pants | Shoes | Sunglasses
Being the outdoorsy type, Mr. SP jumped at the chance to add to his outdoorsy wardrobe, and hot-footed to Nordstrom for updated performance wear. Their selection is so big, he got a little carried away, but I’m in no position to object! He packed climbing pants, joggers, his favorite athletic pullovers, and a North Face jacket. The Style Police are still out regarding his camo boots though. 😉 #pickyourbattlesgirls
Twill Pants | Pullover | Similar Boots | Sunglasses
Sweatshirt | Pants | Shoes | Twill Pants | Pullover | Similar Boots | Sunglasses
The kids blew us away, with their adoration of the parks and Mother Nature, and energy to keep at it! They always wanted to hit another trail, or push forward to the next level. They stayed warm and comfortable with cozy layers, but we could have done a better job with their shoes. They managed with their everyday athletic sneakers, but hiking shoes would have been best.
I’m not sure what was happening here, but I loved finding it on my camera! This guy makes my heart explode. But when did he get so freaking big!?!
As does this precious Little Miss.
{Where We Stayed}
Zion National Park Lodge
Located inside the actual park, lodge guests have full and first-access to the trails, and parking lots, making it an extremely convenient choice, and maximizes your time in the park. More hotels are located outside the park, in Springdale, but that mostly requires the use of the park’s shuttle bus system to come and go, and get around.
Our room was basic and clean, but very comfortable, and had a beautiful canyon view off the porch. There’s a restaurant on-property that serves all meals, and packs a mean sack lunch for taking with you! We spotted deer and wild turkeys everyday, too. And don’t get me started on the starry sky!
{Where We Ate}
Zion Park Lodge – Red Rock Grill
A traditional mountain lodge setting, with views of the canyon…they have full menu service, plus a huge breakfast buffet. The food is average, and a little pricey, but you can’t beat being steps away from the canyon (and your room, if you decide to stay on-property). They do have excellent hot chocolate, and pack an impressive sack lunch for the trails (just give them a 1-hour heads up)!
You won’t find a McDonalds or Starbucks in Springdale (the closest town to Zion, about 15 minutes by car), but you’ll find a nice selection of quant, locally-owned restaurants and cafes. Oscars was lively with a great heated patio, and unbelievable hamburgers.
Faux-Fur Hooded Coat | Long Sleeve Layering Tee | Similar Joggers | Boots | Sunglasses
{Trails We Hiked}
We spent about a day-and-a-half in Zion, with a full day dedicated to hiking and exploring.
Scout’s Lookout ~ start at the Grotto Trailhead, and follow the West Rim Trail, up to Scout’s Lookout for an exhilarating view of the canyon below. If you’re feeling adventurous (and brave), go another half-mile to Angel’s Landing. We skipped that last leg for safety reasons with the kids, but everyone raved about it. 4 miles round-trip, 1500-feet elevation change
Emerald Pools ~ starting at the Grotto Trailhead (also a good spot for a picnic lunch), head in the opposite direction on the Kayenta Trail, a fairly flat hike to the Middle and Lower Pools. Another half-mile takes you up a steep, chilly path to the Upper Pools. 3 miles round-trip, 400-feet elevation change
Riverside Walk ~ from the Temple of the Sinawava stop, wander the paved trail along the Virgin River to the narrowing slot canyon. No special water gear is needed for this trail. We’d love to go back in warmer weather and hike the Narrows Trail (an 8-hour trek through the river, surrounded by towering narrow canyon walls).
We spend a lot of time together as a family, but nothing compares to the closeness that comes from getting away together (and sharing a single hotel room!). What travel plans do you have for your family this year? Have you been to Zion National Park?
{Shop the Post}
Mr. SP loves creating videos of our trips, so here’s another peek at Zion National Park!
See more of our Travel Adventures here.
[More National Parks Posts]
National Parks Road Trip | The Itinerary
Trip Report | The Grand Canyon
Trip Report | Bryce Canyon
Trip Report | Zion National Park
Trip Report | Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend
Trip Report | Big Bend National Park
Trip Report | West Texas Road Trip
Our Favorite Hiking Spots in the United States
Road Trip Essentials
*This post is created in collaboration with Nordstrom, but all opinions, travels, and burning legs are my own.*
My goodness these pictures are GORGEOUS. It’s all so majestic!!!! Looks like a great family trip. I too am impressed with Sloan’s attitude. I’m afraid Carter would have been like 1/2 a mile in before he started complaining about his feet hurting. I mean, he’s said as much when we’ve had to park really far away from a store before. 😉
Your pics are just amazing!!! The colors are brilliant. I have enjoyed your instastories of your fun trip, and your daughter is just the cutest! She should seriously be on TV.
Oh geez, I won’t tell her that! She’s always begging for a You Tube channel!! 😉
What a beautiful place! Its going on a list of places to go someday! Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful! There is nothing that I treasure more than our family trips…. we have so much fun, create memories that will last a lifetime and all unplug from our regular lives. It does a soul good!
What a wonderful family time! Thanks for sharing–I will live vicariously through your travels… Also, tell Mr. SP I enjoyed his video, and especially enjoyed his choice of background music!!
That’s his music!! I’ll be sure to let him know you enjoyed it!! 🙂 xo
I have to admit that I am strongly considering packing my family up and heading to the Grand Canyon after watching your Instastories and reading this post. The only thing holding me back is that for my entire life I equate the Southwest with snakes which I’m deathly afraid of. How many did you see? Were you worried about them at all?
I hear you, I hate snakes, too!! But we didn’t see a single snake the entire week. Not sure if it’s because it was still fairly chilly, or because we stuck to the trails that have too much action for snakes. But either way, the only wildlife we saw was the cute and furry kind! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. This is on our bucket list too. Your photos are unreal and so beautiful. Can’t wait to plan a trip like this in the near future!
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled you like the recaps!
How far in advance did you plan your trip? Thank you for sharing!
We planned the whole thing mid-January…but some people plan a year or more in advance! Some events, like taking the mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and staying at Phantom Ranch, fill up a year or more in advance…but those weren’t things we were interested in doing. It also helped that we were traveling towards the end of off-season, so the parks weren’t crowded yet. Summer obviously fills up faster, plus the parks are HOT then…so if you can go in Spring or Fall, you’ll enjoy the experience more.
This kind of trip is on my bucket list too, but I’ll have to wait about ten years for my kids to be old enough. Hope I’m not too old for it by then!
We waited several years, too. A little harder since our kids are 5 years apart, but I think 10 is a great minimum age for what we did.
My husband and I are looking to do a trip like this over the summer, so I have very much enjoyed your instagram updates, and I look forward to all of your recaps and tips! Amazing trip!
Amazing! I’d love to know what kind of ground rules you laid with your kids as we are looking to do a similar trip within the next few years and have never done anything like this.
We just talked really seriously about the dangers, and told them how people fall to their deaths every year! Scary, I know, but we wanted them to understand the real risk. They are old enough that they don’t run amok anyway, but we wanted them close and within site at all times. Also, to walk slowly, no running…and if someone wants to pass, to move to the mountain side and ‘hug it.’ We were also careful about which trails we chose. It was helpful, too, that it’s off-season, so the trails weren’t crowded.
There are some beautiful pictures of your family to be cherished forever. Looks absolutely breath taking.
Looks like an amazing trip! Seems like you and the family had such fun! Also, love your joggers.
Your Zion pictures are stunning!! I’m so excited for the trip recaps, it was so fun to follow along on Instagram while you were there. I’ve said it before, but I really admire that you make time to take your kids on these adventures. I’m sure they’re memories they’ll treasure forever.
I hope so! I know Mr. SP and I will! xo
So jealous. We planned on going to Zion on a road trip last year. But we ended up having car trouble and ended up spending the day in the dealership instead. We had to hit the road the next day to make our next reserved hotel room. But we were able to go to Arches National Park on the way back home, so it wasn’t a total loss. Hopefully someday we will get back there. You mentioned you went on Spring break, but what month exactly were you there?
Arches is on our list!! We were actually there last week…first week of March. xo
Our family did Zion & Bryce just a few summers ago and it was a “memory burner” as my husband calls them. A trip of a lifetime…one we’ll never forget. Our kids were 8, 11, & 14. We spent three full days in Zion. We hiked to the Emerald Pools too, although in the hot, hot summer there were no pools until the final pool and even that pool was a murky pond. I remember my 11 year old’s reaction, “That’s it?!?!” Ha! We were able to hike the Narrows with the kids and it was the most amazing hike I’ve ever done. At some points my 8 year old was swimming from one end of the canyon to the other (just a few feet). The water was up to her shoulders. But the canyons were breathtaking. Bryce was amazing too. I always felt we should have started there and ended with Zion as anything after Zion suffers from comparison, IMO. I followed along on your journey and it brought back such great memories! Thanks for sharing.
Agreed…wish we’d seen the actual ’emerald’ part of the pools, but hard to complain with the scenery! 🙂
looks like you had the place to yourself! we are doing a national park road trip this summer to even out my usual love for europe travels. i can’t wait to see some of america’s beauty and some major stars…like, actual stars. not celebrities. you went to bryce, i had read they have ranger led telescope looking…i hope to do that. thanks for the tip about oscars.
b
Zion is definitely on my bucket list, and the other 4 big parks in Utah are too. Your family is so cute. Thanks for all the great information! Love your blog.
I’ve been to all three of the parks you visited and a few more. Keep returning to Zion and Bryce as we live in Vegas. When family and friends visit that’s where we head. Did Angel’s Landing and have to say I’m proud of myself. I’m sure your children will forever remember the trip.
We did a similar trip 2 years ago with our then 13-year old daughter. Our favorite hike in Zion was the narrows- we were there in early summer, and the cool water and the awesome canyons were the best combo. We hit 7 national parks on that trip including Bryce, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Craters of the Moon National Monument on our way home (in Idaho). No snakes, but lots of family time together!
That sounds amazing! Many of those places are still on our list!
Love it! Absolutely gorgeous. On my bucket list. Last year we took at 16 day road trip in my convertible Camaro to include the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Beartooth Highway, Black Hills, Badlands & back South through the Pig Trail in Arkansas. It was all breathtaking. Those are the trips that you come away with the best stories…making memories. For your photos did you use your phone or camera. If camera what ISO & Aperture setting did you use?
I used a combo of my iPhone and camera…honestly, sometimes my phone captures it better! I did upgrade my camera for Christmas this past year, and use this Canon: http://bit.ly/2mag1aC It takes beautiful pictures, and often times on the trip, I just set it to ‘landscape’ and let it do the work for me!! xo
What a fantastic trip! I’ve always wanted to do Zion. May I ask which airport you flew into?
From Dallas, we flew to Vegas…drove to each of the parks…and flew home from Phoenix.
Okay… I HAVE to ask… The pictures are stunning! What camera do you use? Do you have special lenses too? I just hate returning from a fantastic vacation and being disappointed that my pictures don’t come close to capturing the memories.
Thank you!! Funny, because I actually thought this batch wasn’t great…didn’t come close to capturing the park. I used a combo of my iPhone and camera. I did upgrade my camera this Christmas to this one: http://bit.ly/2mag1aC I just use the lens it comes with, and most the time on this trip, I just set it to ‘landscape’ and let it do the work for me.
Another big part is the editing. I don’t have the photography skills to get it right directly in the camera, so I usually increase the contrast and up the saturation a bit! I just use PicMonkey for that, and it makes a huge difference! Hope this helps! xo
Zion is my childhood stomping ground. One of the wonders of the world. I have been on all the hikes several times and never tire of them. Fall and Spring are the best times to visit. Desert Pearl in Springdale is a wonderful place to stay.
Keep the travel posts coming! 🙂 I’m seriously in awe just looking at your pictures. Look how tiny those trees {TREES!} look on those canyon walls. I’m just blown away!
yay, thanks Amy! I’m thrilled you like them! xo
Just beautiful Cassie and more great video talent from your husband. I’m looking forward to the rest of the trip report. I’m definitely pinning for the future.
I loved following along with your insta-stories! Such a fun trip.
Wow, what an adventure! Loved your family journey, blessings!
We hiked in Angel’s Landing and The Narrows in March 2016. The Narrows is by far my favorite hike of my entire life and actually just overall one of the best life experiences! I hope you and your family get to go back and do it! I would suggest renting the equipment to make the hike most enjoyable (dry suit (as needed based on the weather when we go), the ugly moon like water shoes, and most importantly the wooden walking stick they give you. The walking stick allows you to feel around for where to take your next step when you can’t see the bottom and all the different rocks you will walk over. Again, truly magical!