Zion National Park

Back in 2020, I took a girls trip to Zion National Park with two friends. I had never been before, and by the time I left, I remember thinking, I have to bring Rick and the boys here someday. Rick and I happened to have an event this summer in Salt Lake City, so here was the perfect opportunity to drive down to Zion!

Growing up in Florida, Zion feels like a completely different world. We spend so much time around beaches and palm trees that it's hard to believe a place like this even exists. Even though I'd been before, I couldn't wait to see it again through my family's eyes. We only had three days, so we packed a lot into a short amount of time.

Our first stop was the Canyon Overlook Trail. It's a relatively short hike, but the views at the top are worth every step. This one I did last time so I knew what to expect and knew the boys would love the view and the climb. We got some great family pictures, and on the way back down I overheard a little girl tell her mom, "I'm bored."

Without even thinking, she replied, "Boring is just a state of mind."

I laughed and decided that was going to be my mantra for the rest of the trip.

The next day was all about The Narrows. To get there, you first walk about a mile on the Riverside Walk before you ever step into the river. The water level happened to be on the lower side while we were there, which was perfect. Most of the hike was knee deep, with only one section reaching about waist to chest height.

I have no idea exactly how far we made it before turning around, but it felt like we were close to halfway. Between hiking through the river and the walk to get there and back, we definitely got all our steps in.

If you're planning on hiking The Narrows, don't skip the water boots or the walking stick. The boots help with all the rocks under the water, but the walking stick was the real MVP. There were plenty of times I would've ate it without it. I think I only slipped once.

One of the things my kids were most excited for was renting ebikes. I'd heard how much fun they were, and they did not disappoint. Riding through the park with those canyon walls surrounding you was an experience by itself. That ended up being Ryker's favorite part of the trip.

Our last full day was spent riding UTVs through the dunes. I was expecting them to be a little scarier than they actually were, but they were just the right amount of thrilling. Rick was our driver for the day, and I'm pretty sure that was his favorite part of the trip.

Before we knew it, it was time to drive back to Las Vegas for our flight home. Rick convinced us to take the red eye, and I'm still not sure how I feel about that decision. Sleeping on a plane has never been my thing, but pulling into the driveway around 9am the next morning wasn't bad either.

This was my second trip to Zion, and I can honestly say I loved it just as much as the first time. Some places are worth going back to, especially when you get to share them with the people you love.

If You Go

🥾 Rent the water boots and walking stick if you're hiking The Narrows.

🚲 Don't skip the e-bikes or the dune buggies!

🏨 We stayed at the Cliffrose in Springdale, which made getting in and out of the park really easy. I would give it 3 Stars, so not super nice, but really close to the park.

🥾 Expect to walk...a lot. Comfortable sneakers are a must.

Check out what I packed for Zion HERE

If You Go

Savannah & Charleston