wait just make sure the hike is safe. Slot canyons get flash floods in April. Fall is the better time for slot canyon hikes.

On that note, OP, not sure you can do a hike in Zion called "The Narrows" in the spring, but if you can, do it. It's up the Virgin River...hiking in the river; vertical walls on either side; so incredible.

You'll need some Tevas or other kind of water shoes with a back strap (I did it in flip flops and it was great upstream, but not good downstream as they kept floating off my feet)

The great thing about The Narrows is you only have to go as far as you want. We went when our kids were pretty little; your kids can do it. Hiking sticks are at the trailhead for people to borrow. A one-of-a-kind experience!

Anonymous wrote:We did Zion and Bryce last October. Such an awesome trip! Zion is other wordly, but it was so, so crowded when we went. The hiking was wonderful, but, again, very crowded. Bryce was also spectacular, but we were able to hike without being in a line of people.

Honestly, my favorite hike was nearby in Grand Staircase-Escalante. We did a slot canyon hike and only saw a few other hikers there. There are a ton of great slot canyon hikes, but we did Willis Creek. http://www.thebohemiandiaries.com/6-hikes-grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument-bryce-canyon/

Enjoy your time in Utah! Honestly, it's one of the best family vacations we've ever taken!

Thanks for the link! Zebra slot looks really cool but Willis looks easier and closer!

We did Zion and Bryce last October. Such an awesome trip! Zion is other wordly, but it was so, so crowded when we went. The hiking was wonderful, but, again, very crowded. Bryce was also spectacular, but we were able to hike without being in a line of people.

Honestly, my favorite hike was nearby in Grand Staircase-Escalante. We did a slot canyon hike and only saw a few other hikers there. There are a ton of great slot canyon hikes, but we did Willis Creek. http://www.thebohemiandiaries.com/6-hikes-grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument-bryce-canyon/

Enjoy your time in Utah! Honestly, it's one of the best family vacations we've ever taken!

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the ideas!

We are planning to stay two nights in Vegas, two nights in Zion, and two nights at Bryce - then drive back to Vegas to fly out.

We will rent a car. I wonder if there will be a place to do laundry somewhere. I could pack lighter if I knew I could do laundry. I feel like it's going to be a lot of packing / unpacking / back in car so I would prefer not to overpack, but idk if I can fight my natural overpacking instincts without knowing about laundry

check your hotel for laundry. Ours had a room. Other trips, I have dropped stuff off at a service and picked up a few hours later.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please post back after the trip. Very interested in doing something like this with our kids next year. What ages are your kids?

Sorry, just re-read your post re ages. Again, please post back!

Thanks! I promise I will report back in this thread - I reported back after my Acadia trip

Link please!

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/index/posts/list/644562.page

You should go to Acadia

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please post back after the trip. Very interested in doing something like this with our kids next year. What ages are your kids?

Sorry, just re-read your post re ages. Again, please post back!

Thanks! I promise I will report back in this thread - I reported back after my Acadia trip

Link please!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please post back after the trip. Very interested in doing something like this with our kids next year. What ages are your kids?

Sorry, just re-read your post re ages. Again, please post back!

Thanks! I promise I will report back in this thread - I reported back after my Acadia trip

I highly recommend the bus that takes you through Zion. There are 12-14 official hikes, and even a 4-year-old could do a couple of them. (A couple are really high-level, though … do not bite off more than you can chew!)

We stayed in Springdale, and I thought all the food was good. We ate at the brewpub that is right by the park entrance, the Spotted Dog, and the Whiptail. Would recommend any; the brewpub is probably the most kid-friendly.

Anonymous wrote:Please post back after the trip. Very interested in doing something like this with our kids next year. What ages are your kids?

Sorry, just re-read your post re ages. Again, please post back!

Please post back after the trip. Very interested in doing something like this with our kids next year. What ages are your kids?

Thanks for the ideas!

We are planning to stay two nights in Vegas, two nights in Zion, and two nights at Bryce - then drive back to Vegas to fly out.

We will rent a car. I wonder if there will be a place to do laundry somewhere. I could pack lighter if I knew I could do laundry. I feel like it's going to be a lot of packing / unpacking / back in car so I would prefer not to overpack, but idk if I can fight my natural overpacking instincts without knowing about laundry

Assuming you are renting a car...between Zion and Bryce is Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. It's huge and there's some gorgeous land there (some movies filmed there). I can't remember if need a reservation or not, but google will tell you.

As I recall it only takes 2 or 3 hours to drive between one park and the other, so this is easily doable.

OP, Vegas is a little ways from Zion (beautiful drive, though! Don't do it at night or you'll miss the mountain pass). You may want to stay in the town adjacent to the entrance to Zion. If you can, stay at the one place inside of Zion, the hotel run by...Xanterra or whomever.

Bryce is not very big, which I was a little surprised about. You can do an easy hike with the kids. If you are up early enough try to catch the sunrise. It's very cool, but Zion is almost unreal. I'd pick a couple hikes and just enjoy riding the bus that picks up in springfield and takes you around the park.

I'm sure there are more kid friendly suggestions on the website or at the ranger stations. My kids weren't with me when I went.

There's going to be a lot of driving on this trip.

It will either be hot/warm (vegas) or freezing (parks), so pack accordingly.

You'll probably get more out of doing a jeep tour or helicopter tour than doing "easy hikes" with kids that age.

You may not be able to stay on East Coast time if you're doing doing organized tours.

We are flying into Las Vegas and doing Zion and Bryce over spring break (in April). (The kids will be 9, 7, and 4. We'll have to stick to easy hikes).

I have the hotels booked - Mandalay Bay in Vegas, right outside of Zion, and in the park in Bryce.

Can you recommend any must-dos - activities, food, etc.? Is there anything I need to book in advance now? (For example, a jeep tour of either of the parks, if that is recommended?)

I'm thinking of trying to keep us on East Coast time and more or less getting up early and going to bed early.

We are not national park experts but DCUM gave us great Acadia advice, which I still pass on! THANK YOU!