Road Trip! Help Smooth Harold pick new weekend getaways, look well-traveled (and cool) doing it

Starting two years ago with a trip to Arches/Dead Horse Point , Lindsey and I took an interest in exploring our own backyard (aka Utah and its neighboring states). We’ve since visited and enjoyed a handful of other nearby parks on weekend getaways with the kids and are already itching for more.

So I ask you kind reader: which of the below places (listed in order of personal interest) would you see first and why? I’ve yet to see any with my own eyes—so sell me, why don’t cha!? NOTE: If you’re favorite area park is not listed, chances are we’ve already visited it or deemed it too far as a “weekend getaway.”

So in which order would you visit the above and why?

—August 10, 2009

4 Comments

Joshua Steimle

Aug 10, 2009 at 2:42 pm

Out of all those I think the only one I’ve been to is Zion, although Brynn has relatives in Blanding, so who knows, maybe I’ve driven through others and I didn’t know it. Zion is pretty ok, but it is a bit of a drive. But do be careful if you go on Angel’s Landing.

Melissa Prince

Aug 10, 2009 at 5:22 pm

Well, Zion’s isn’t as much fun now that there are so many more restrictions but is still good. This is the Place is cool but not quite as exciting. Flaming Gorge is also nice but it is better if you have someone who has real water equipment 😉 Canyonlands, Capitol Reef are great. Never been to the Salt Flats or Mesa Verde but I think Bryce is tops on this list for me. Try to go when it isn’t too crowded and it is great for little kids to run around!!

Jeremy Hanks

Aug 10, 2009 at 9:47 pm

I can help, I’ve been to 9/10 of your list. 😉 Never been to Bonneville Salt Flats State Park. My first question is When do you want to go? A lot of these I’d put in my too hot to visit outside of Spring/Fall category. Anything over 90 degrees really dampers trips for me.

Next, I’d put This is the Place State Park and Wasatch Mountain State Park on a different list, they can’t compare with things to do or in awesomeness with the other 8 on your list.

For kids (and even adults), Flaming Gorge is tricky unless you’re boaters. It’s way spread out, and you don’t have the “park at a turn out and see something totally cool” access as much as other parks. Canyonlands is more that way too.

Mesa Verde is probably the farthest away on your list, and if you’re kids are younger, I don’t think they’ll get the coolness as easily as if they were a bit older (8+) and could understand how amazing the civilization was that built all that stuff.

Zion National park is one of the most amazing places on the planet, and there are tons of age appropriate trails and things for kids. If older, Angel’s Landing is amazing, I’m taking my daughter (she’ll be 6) next spring.

My dad was named after Bryce Canyon, and I inherited that as my middle name, so I have an affinity for that place. Again, amazing, and tons of kid friendly stuff all over, and it’s also higher in elevation (8,000+) so it’s cooler.

Capital Reef is deserted, which is way cool, but it’s pretty spread out, and I’d say again, not as kid friendly without getting off beaten paths and onto some dirt roads for some hiking and things. But the visitor levels there are tiny %’s compared to Bryce and Zion and Canyonlands.

I’m assuming since it’s not on your list you’ve done Arches, which I think is one of the best for kids.

Great Basin is one of my top 5 favorite national parks. You drive 3.5 hours from here through nothing, literally just desert, and then bam, there’s 13,000 foot + Mt Wheeler with a glacier and this amazing 4,000 yr old bristlecone pine trees and a nice couple loop hikes to this small lakes, and on top of it all, you take the kids on a tour of Lehman Cave, (which I think is better than Timp Cave), and as you drive up the mountain there’s all these different plant zone confluences, and there are NO people out there. Camping is pretty easy to get, unlike probably every other one on your list where if you don’t reserve months in advance, your SOL. And it’s not hot this time of year (at bottom some, but not up high).

So, if you want to go in next 30 days, Great Basin hands down. Mid Sept through even Nov, go to Zion, it’s amazing. Then Bryce. And hit Wasatch Mtn and This is Place if you only have 1/2 day or a day.

Hope that helps. You’ll have my email in the comment sys if you want more info, I’m happy to jump on the phone, I love ALL of those places! Utah plain and simple rocks the house!! (I know Mesa Verde is in CO and Great Basin is NV, but hey, they’re close! 😉 )

David

Aug 11, 2009 at 6:39 am

I’d start with Zion and work your way backwards alphabetically.

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