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True Story - I drove past this unassuming trail every day for almost two years before stopping to check it out. I knew it was some sort of a trail because I often saw cars at this one spot along the road and I could see a path heading into the distance, but I can't for the life of me figure out why it took me so long to stop and check it out for myself. Once I finally did I was absolutely kicking myself. Such a great trail for kids, beautiful views and the volcanic cone at the top of the knoll is magical. Just ask The American Field Trip! Distance 1.2 miles round trip to the knoll and back. The trail can also be extended to about 2.5 miles round trip (see tips and additional info section below). Difficulty This short trail is great for all skill levels, but there is a very short and steep uphill hike to be aware of. The hill is also a bit slippery with loose cinder cone so taking it slow going down is important. Location The West Cinder Knoll trail is accessed directly from a stepover on 600 North in the City of Hurricane (my home town!). The trailhead is on the north side of the road and about 1/4 mile west of the 870 West road. Always practice Leave No Trace principals and leave the places you visit the way you found them. Better yet, bring a clean-up bag with you and leave it BETTER than you found it! Trail Details The trail starts on a clearly defined dirt path. You can look up ahead and a bit to your left and see the hill and the dirt path that you will be climbing to get to the top of the knoll. The trail will fork in many directions once you reach the base of the knoll. Take the path that will lead you up. As mentioned above, the uphill climb is a bit slippery because of all the loose cinders on the trail. Take it slow and chose your footing carefully. Once at the top of the knoll explore to your heart's content. This area is so much fun for kids to run and play in the cinders. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Sandstone Mountain complex to the north, the East Cinder Knoll to the east, and portions of the Hurricane Valley to the south. You can take a less vertical path down by finding a small trail wrapping around the east side of the knoll. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MY POST | 10 EPIC FAMILY FRIENDLY HIKES IN SOUTHERN UTAH Good To Know There are no bathrooms or water fill stations at the trailhead but you are super close to a grocery store. :-) Dogs are allowed on this trail....yay!....but always clean up after your dog. Tips and Additional Info To make this trail longer you can take one of the many forks in the road at the base of the knoll. My favorite trail is the one going to the north that will take you to a beautiful overlook of the Virgin River. The knoll consists of a volcanic cone that was once extensively mined for its cinders. Running through the cinders at the top of the knoll is so much fun for young and young at heart :-). For the best experience wear clothes that you don't mind a little wear and tear and also wear boots so that the cinders don't get in your shoes as easily. You can bring dogs on this trail but they will need to be leashed. This is an excellent trail to do at sunset!!! As always paractice Leave No Trace principals. If you take it in make sure to take it out.....including dog poop! Leave these beautiful places even better than you found them by picking up extra trash along your way. Meet the Bowman Family of the popular blog and instagrom The American Field trip. This amazing family just got done spending a year with their kiddos traveling to all 59 National Parks in the US and they are now working on visiting all 417 NPS sites. Such a rad family!!!! HIRE AN OUTDOOR LOVING PHOTOGRAPHER TO FOLLOW ALONG ON YOUR ADVENTURE! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Living in Southern Utah it is not hard to find adventure but finding something that my kiddos will love as much as me, well that is a little more tricky. I am constantly on the search for new hikes, camping spots, and hidden gems to get my family outdoors and enjoying this beautiful area that we live in. In the hot summer months, its top priority for our adventures to include some sort of water, be it a lake, river or stream, to play in and Toquerville Falls definitely fits the bill. The post first appeared on SaltProject.co I have been wanting to do a family adventure to Toquerville Falls for a while now but have been a little nervous about how our truck would do on the notoriously bad 5.8-mile dirt road. After getting the go-ahead from my hubby a few weeks back, we packed up the kids, a tent, and our swimming suits and crossed our fingers that the truck would make it. Spoiler alert......it did!!!.....but barely. Toquerville Falls is one of those amazing off the beaten path gems that desert dreams are made of. A waterfall oasis in the middle of nowhere with a swimming hole and lots of exploring, Toquerville Falls is a destination that the whole family is sure to love. The moment that we pulled up my kiddos were in heaven. The beautiful waterfalls were calling out to be played in so we explored for a bit, tested out the water and then found the perfect spot along the La Verkin Creek to camp for the night. Situated on BLM land there are not marked campsites and camping is on a first come first serve basis. I had heard rumors that the falls have become overrun and misused but on a Saturday evening in mid-July, we were pleasantly surprised to find the area quiet with only a few other visitors. However, there was quite a bit of trash around. Such a bummer that people don't take better care of these beautiful natural gems. We picked up as much as we could around our campsite before we left and I encourage everyone who visits Toquerville Falls to make sure to leave it better than you found it. Every little bit helps. Camping in July in Southern Utah is HOT people! Before crawling into the tent for the night we headed down to the creek and doused our PJ's in water. I wish we would have also brought a spray bottle with us to mist ourselves through the night. In the morning we decided to put on our swimsuits and take our breakfast down to the waterfalls to do breakfast in style. I seriously can't imagine a better spot to eat cereal. After breakfast, we hiked down to the lower waterfall and played there for the remainder of the day. The water was a bit cold at first but once the heat of the day set in the water felt amazing. I wish we could have stayed another day or two and so did the kiddos. Toquerville Falls ranks as the best adventure of our summer!!! HIRE AN OUTDOOR LOVING PHOTOGRAPHER TO FOLLOW ALONG ON YOUR ADVENTURE! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO If you plan to visit Toquerville Falls you need to be aware that there is a 5.8 mile stretch of road that is not accessible with most cars. You will need a high clearance vehicle with 4 wheel drive. Do not, I repeat, do not try to drive this road in anything less. You will get stuck.

One of our favorite ways to beat the heat in Southern Utah is to head to the Virgin River. There are so many great spots along the river to play and explore but one of our favorite spots is Sheeps Bridge Park, also known as Falls Park. This park, located in Virgin UT just 15 minutes from Zion, is the ideal spot to catch frogs, play in the sand, tube, and even do some very mild cliff jumping. This post was first seen on Salt Project.co Location The park is located along a short and bumpy dirt road that is passable with most cars. If it has recently rained though the road can get a little rough. There is a large parking area at the end of the road with a bathroom and a few picnic tables. Click Here for directions. Details From the parking lot, it's a short walk down to the river to find a spot to play and swim for the day. Take a little time to explore and walk the river. There are some great spots with shade to the left of the parking lot. For the ideal spot to do a little tubing and a great spot for playing in the sand make your way to the right of the parking lot. Bring sand toys. There is plenty of sand to play in. If you visit at the end of June through July you will be greeted by tons of baby frogs. There are so many that you actually have to be careful that you don't step on them. It is so much fun for the kids. Bring a sand bucket that the kids can fill with all their catches but make sure to release the baby frogs when it's time to go. The Virgin River isn't known for great tubing (except in the spring) but this is one of the few areas along the river that it is deep enough to do a little tubing. It may be a short distance but my kids had such a great time floating down the river again and again. As always make sure to clean up all your trash and leave this beautiful spot BETTER than you found it. On your way home make a stop at Fort Zion in Virgin for lunch or dinner. They have the best burgers in Southern Utah and a fun petting zoo for the kids. RELATED: Fort Zion - Things to Do When Visiting Zion With Kids

There are times as a parent when life gets a little too much and getting everyone out of the house, off the electronics, and into the great outdoors is essential to survival....haha. One of my favorite ways to recharge in nature is to pack up the kids and take them camping. It definitely helps that my kids love camping too. I recently hit my breaking point this summer but due to my husband's work schedule he couldn't get away, so I decided to take the kids camping all by myself. A first for me. Before you go off and start thinking that I must be some sort of superhero to take three kids camping by myself I must clarify. I took them camping at Zion Ponderosa. If you are familiar with Zion Ponderosa then you may already know that the 4,000-acre mountain resort is about the farthest thing from roughing it, even if you are camping! Located just 15 minutes from the east entrance of Zion National Park and typically 10-15 degrees cooler than the canyon, Zion Ponderosa is a family destination that shouldn't be missed. During our recent camping trip we spent the majority of our time playing at the beautiful two-tiered swimming pool, with one round of miniature golf thrown in for good measure, but if you are planning to stay for longer, you can choose from a long list of activities to keep the kids busy for days. Zion Ponderosa has the most on-property activities of any resort in the region including jeep tours, guided hiking, guided canyoneering, wagon dinner, kayaking, tennis, horseback riding, zip lining, and jumping. I hear the jeep tours are particularly amazing and we can't wait to try it out on our next visit. Camping at East Crest Campground was the perfect way for me to immerse my kiddos into nature without too much hassle. At $14.00 per person / per night, all campsites include access to the open use activities like the pool, activity barn, and playground. You also have access to a coin-op laundry (washer/dryer), bathrooms, hot showers, dishwashing station, and picnic table / grill at your campsite. They do have wireless internet, but I had a hard time getting much service. The bathrooms and showers though were by far the nicest I have ever seen at any campground I have ever visited. We absolutely loved eating all our meals at Ray's, the onsite restaurant at Zion Ponderosa. If it weren't for Ray's, I don't think I could have managed camping by myself with three kids. Not having to worry about cooking was huge for me during our stay. The pizza and hot chocolate (yes, hot chocolate in July!) were big hits with my kids. If camping is a little too much like roughing for you, then there are plenty of other lodging options to chose from. Zion Ponderosa has an RV campground, cabin suites, Conestoga wagons, western cowboy cabins, glamping and even large luxury cabins. Seriously, there is something for everyone! Next time you are looking to recharge in nature make sure you check out Zion Ponderosa. RELATED - A Family Stay At Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort in Zion National Park

I'm so excited to have Megan from the Wild Blue Family here today to share all the fun we had hiking Yant Flat in Southern Utah. Read on for all the details and make sure to add Yant Flat to your Southern Utah bucket list. Hi, adventure friends! I’m Megan from the Wild Blue Family. We had the pleasure of going on an epic adventure in June with Arika to the fabled Candy Cliffs. Also called Yant Flat, these are located in Southern Utah just a stone’s throw away from Zion National Park. We were lucky to meet Arika through Instagram and plan our outing via email with our first actual meeting being on the trail. The trail certainly is a great way to get to know someone, isn’t it? We met up a couple of hours before sunset to begin our hike. It’s a little over a mile trek to the cliffs, and from there the exploring opportunities are limitless. You could go on for miles and miles. Shoes with good traction help a lot with navigating your way around the cliffs. If you’re looking to take your Candy Cliffs experience to the next level, consider exploring at sunrise or sunset. The sunset amplifies the oranges and reds on the cliffs and makes it truly breathtaking. I’m not sure how Arika planned such an epic sunset for our trip, but we’re so grateful! The kids were so inspired they even “tasted” the cliffs to see if they were as sweet as they appeared. The verdict? They taste as sweet as they look. Thank you, Arika, for a magical evening! LENGTH 2-7 miles round trip DIFFICULTY The trail to get to the candy cliffs is easy and family friendly with very little elevation gain. Exploring and navigating the rocks along the cliffs is a little more difficult. There are steep dropoffs in the area so it's important to keep a close eye on children. LOCATION Yant Flat is located in the Dixie National Forest near Hurricane and St George, Utah. Getting to Yant Flat is an adventure in and of itself. You follow a windy dirt road for miles and miles, going up and over foothills that quickly turn into mountains. It’s super scenic, and we didn’t see a single car the entire time. To get there use the Yant Flat Parking on google. Click here for map and directions. TRAIL DETAILS The mostly flat trail starts with soft sand along the lower forest at the base of Pine Valley Mountain. A mile in it the trail transitions to steep up/down slick rock when you get to the cliffs. There are two main sections to explore at the cliffs. The swirly rocks stretch for miles making it easy to spend as much or as little time as you would like hiking and exploring. Scroll down for tips and additional info. CHECK OUT THIS GREAT ITINERARY THAT INCLUDES YANT FLAT | THREE DAY IN SOUTHERN UTAH - WINTER RETREAT ITINERARY GOOD TO KNOW There are no bathrooms or water fill stations at the trailhead. TIPS AND ADDITIONAL INFO The ideal time to hike Yant Flat is September thru May. If planning to hike Yant Flats in the summer months make sure to go very early in the morning or later in the evening and bring plenty of water. There is no shade on this trail. A four-wheel drive vehicle is not needed for the bumpy dirt road to get to Yant Flat unless is has rained recently. Pack headlamps if you are going in the evening also bring plenty of snacks, water, and a can-do attitude. I’d recommend shoes with good traction, and have hands ready for holding as you navigate the cliffs with kids. HIRE AN OUTDOOR LOVING PHOTOGRAPHER TO FOLLOW ALONG ON YOUR ADVENTURE! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO MEET THE WILD BLUE FAMILY Our family is made up of Bryan, Megan, Stella, Kai and Aria. We love to explore wild places and are lucky to call Bozeman, Montana our basecamp. We’ve learned that our family is the strongest when we are exploring the great outdoors, together. Right beyond the edge of our comfort zone is where we prefer to be. After all, living within your comfort zone doesn’t keep your life safe – it keeps it small. We’ve seen firsthand how this has completely transformed our little family. Our goal with this website is to equip and inspire others (you!) to get outside and explore wild places, together. Follow their adventures and their popular INSTAGRAM or their WEBSITE.

I'm so excited to share with you my sweet friend Andrea from the family foodie blog Small You Can Eat. When it comes to finding the best spots to eat and ordering the best food on the menu, this girl knows her stuff. If you are planning a trip to Southern Utah and you want to know where to eat and what to order in St. George well, this girl has got you covered. Recently, my family and I took a long weekend getaway down to St. George. In addition to hiking, swimming, and splash pads, we ate our way around the St. George family dining scene. As a foodie family, it's what we do best and we wanted to share some of our favorite finds. We think there is a little bit for everyone -- from casual to downright adventurous! VIVA CHICKEN ST. GEORGE FAMILY DINING SCALE: CASUAL If you've ever frequented and loved Cafe Rio, Zupas, Noodles, or the like, Viva Chicken is for you! They serve family-style or individual portions of Peruvian style fare. The dipping sauces are not to be missed. The Aji Amarillo, the yellow sauce, is the mildest and referred to as a "crowd favorite." Next up is the green Huacatay sauce that "packs some heat." It is a delicious combo of mint, cilantro, and jalapenos. And last up is the Roasted Rocoto sauce that they lovingly label the "gringo killer" with its red Peruvian hot pepper base. Seriously, you will want to pour them over everything. Yes, they are great on the roasted chicken, but that cilantro lime rice is the perfect vehicle for these three sauces. If you need to keep trying all of them to decide which is best, we won't tell. We ordered the whole rotisserie chicken, which also comes with three sides for $23.95. We had heard on good authority that the plantains, rice, and green beans were tops. The green beans surprised me the most. Our son, Jude, loved them as did the rest of us! The whole chicken serves 3-4 adults and a toddler. You can see their menu here. ANGELICA'S MEXICAN GRILL ST. GEORGE FAMILY DINING SCALE : CASUAL AUTHENTIC Previously, Irmita's, this Mexican stop is one I could eat at daily. So tasty! If you go on Mondays, this 4 small taco special is $7.95. Definitely add a side of avocado and it will come like so... And then, you can add toppings from their salsa bar. If you want to try something besides the tacos, go for the mulitas! I mean, it's practically a taco quesadilla with the meat sandwiched between tortillas. And, try not to drink the salsa it's that good! See menu and visit their website here. PAINTED PONY ST. GEORGE FAMILY DINING SCALE: CASUAL FINE DINING This has long been a favorite restaurant in St. George. I was sold on the heirloom tomato BLT lunch special that came highly recommended. This is one restaurant where the lunch feels very different from dinner. They are both lovely, though the lunch is much more on the casual fine dining side and dinner sways toward true fine dining in both pricing and ambiance. Lunch entrees are around $10-$12 while dinner entrees are closer to $30. You can see their entire menu here. So, give it a go for lunch and see if you are ready to step it up for dinner later. We love the patio seating! The beet salad is a wonderful shareable to whet your palate and uses heirloom beets in this fun "gateau" presentation. Whether you select an appetizer or not, be sure to take a good look at their drink menu. Noteworthy are their Italian cream sodas and the raspberry iced tea that comes with fresh raspberries. These were both way too tasty! As for your lunch entree, I would highly recommend going with any special. There are also some tried and true sandwiches like this grilled tenderloin burger or the Spanish Dip sandwich. You get a choice of fries or side salad. I love fries as much as anyone, but this is one time you should go with the side salad. It is delicious! See menu and visit website here. XETAVA ST. GEORGE FAMILY DINING SCALE: ADVENTUROUS Let me preface this one by saying that if you are dining with infants in car seats or kids that are older and can sit in a regular chair, you can immediately proceed to go and bypass the adventurous label. The food at Xetava is incredible and should absolutely be a stop if you can swing it. There are NO high chairs or booster chairs, which is the sole reason this gets the adventurous rating from me. Our son is accustomed to a high chair and does fab in them. When it comes to lap sitting on a patio, he instinctually wants to get up and wander. Have I mentioned yet that the food is amazing? Everything we ordered was top-notch. This lemon dill salmon made a believer out of my stepdad and that is saying a lot from someone who doesn't usually love capers. The green curry mahi was also mwaaaah. The gyro and bread pudding also come highly recommended, though we haven't yet tried those ourselves. For the quality of food, the entree price range of $15-$20 is a steal! You can see everything they offer here. I feel a little guilty showing you this next entree as it was a special, but these fish tacos are the best I have ever tasted. My guess is that if there is a special, you should go for it! It worked out great to order a meal that was a little more interactive sans a highchair. Between lime squeezing and picking up the tacos, Jude sat through a lovely dinner on the patio. About Andrea I’m Andrea and this is my cute family that loves food as much as me. That is saying a lot! My hubby, Jared, has been my dinner date since 2001 (almost 17 years now!). And, our son, Jude, has been a gourmand-in-training for more than a year and a half. We started Small You Can Eat to detail our adventures in raising a foodie. Check out Andrea's foodie adventures in Salt Lake City on her blog Small You Can Eat and her Instagram. HIRE AN OUTDOOR LOVING PHOTOGRAPHER TO FOLLOW ALONG ON YOUR ADVENTURE! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Zion National Park has enough to see and do to keep travelers busy for days, even weeks but not everyone has that much time to spend so I invited a recent new friend Jen to share her 24 hour itinerary in Zion. If you are planning a quick trip to Zion with your family, this itinerary is sure to help you pack in the perfect amount of adventure, fun, and relaxation......next to a crackling fire. Read below for Jen's tips and itinerary for spending 24 hours in Zion. Zion is breathtaking! Living on the east coast, the landscape in Zion is unique and unfamiliar. It was an incredible opportunity for our family to explore and connect with nature. We loved climbing, playing in the Virgin River, and hiking to the Emerald Pools. For the kids, Zion was almost unexpected! From the moment we arrived the kids were in awe of the red rocks towering above them! They loved the opportunity to scale rocks, spotting squirrels and bighorn sheep in the park, going to the ranger talks, and earning park badges as part of the junior ranger program. WHERE WE STAYED March 29-30th we stayed at the Springhill Suites in Springdale for our 2-day visit in Zion National Park. The hotel is new and beautifully decorated in earth tones. It is also conveniently located 5 minutes from the entrance to Zion. It was the perfect spot for our family of six. The room we stayed in had 2 queen size beds and a pullout sofa and spectacular mountain views. The hotel has a pool, hot tub and fire pit for guests to enjoy. The stay also includes breakfast with lots of choices. The staff at the hotel were both friendly and helpful. We loved this hotel and would not hesitate to stay here again. The only negative (if any) is that it is not in the national park which would offer a unique and different experience. DAY ONE When we arrived in Zion, the first thing we did was visit the visitors center. The kids wanted to get their National Park Passport books stamped and purchase a park sticker for their books. We then spoke to a park ranger about possible hikes for our visit. We were using the travel book, Adventuring with Kids: Utah's Big Five National Parks. This book was an awesome resource. Our plan was to hike the Watchman, Emerald Pools, Riverside Walk, and Canyon Overlook during our 2-day visit. After talking with the ranger, we set out on the Watchman. Unfortunately, we had not allocated enough time and were unable to complete the entire hike as we were meeting Arika with Zion Adventure Photog that night at 6:00 for pictures. However, it was a great hike to begin our visit to Zion. We started the hike around 4:30 which was a great time of day because much of the hike was unshaded. The kids loved seeing a lizard, lots of wildflowers, a rock in the shape of a recliner, mule deer, and beautiful vistas with every turn. RELATED - Hiking Watchman Trail - Zion National Park After this hike, we met Arika and hopped on the park shuttle to the Court of the Patriarchs shuttle stop. This was a gorgeous setting for pictures just before sunset. Arika was amazing to work with and allowed all of us to be ourselves. She captured so many great pictures of all of us. It was a fun addition to our trip and definitely one of the best decisions we made. After pictures, we headed to the little town of Springdale for dinner. We decided on Oscars. It was a great decision as the food and service were top notch! The restaurant had a cool vibe, the prices were very reasonable, and the food was delicious! We enjoyed chips and salsa, ribs, and burritos. After dinner, we headed back to our hotel and decided to head over to the fire pit. Sitting around the fire pit while enjoying a glass of wine was the perfect end to the day. It gave us an opportunity to interact with other travelers and share park experiences. We really enjoyed chatting with other travelers about their adventures and what they had planned while visiting Zion and for the rest of their journey. DAY two For breakfast, we ate at the hotel. There were so many great choices - eggs, waffles, fresh fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, cereal, and pastries. There was definitely something for everyone at this breakfast. It was a good choice because it was convenient and allowed us to quickly get our day started. We got to the park early and started our day with the Emerald Pools hike. On this hike we encountered misting waterfalls, lower and upper pools, and views of Zion Canyon. The kids really enjoyed getting wet hiking under the waterfalls, the narrow sections of the trail, entering the box canyon, and scaling rocks at the upper emerald pool. This hike was lots of fun for the whole family. After we finished this hike we stopped at the Zion Lodge and ate a picnic lunch on the lawn. It was a beautiful day and gave the kids an opportunity to rest before our next hike. After lunch we took the shuttle to the Riverside Walk. This trail winded along the Virgin River. This hike was very crowded and mostly a flat, paved walkway that was much less exciting for the kids. We did see some hanging gardens and rock squirrels, but it felt almost commercialized. At the trail end, is the widening of the Virgin River and beginning of the Narrows hike. We would have loved to explore the Narrows, but due to the ages of our children decided this was probably not the best idea. There were several families river hiking with young children, but this hike was listed as strenuous and not recommended for children. In hindsight, we would not have gone on the Riverside hike as it was crowded, less interesting walking on pavement, and not worth tiring out the kids. RELATED - Hiking Riverside Walk Trail - Zion National Park After this hike, we planned to hike Overlook Canyon which we had heard had some awesome views. Unfortunately, our 12-year-old daughter got the stomach virus and forced us to skip this hike. This ended our 2nd day in Zion. We decided to have an early dinner at Cafe Soleil in Springdale before getting on the road. Cafe Soleil had delicious wraps, paninis and outdoor seating. This was another great spot! After dinner we got on our way to Bryce Canyon, the next stop on our 12 day adventure. WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY Zion is a beautiful park with so much to see and do. In hindsight, I wish we had stayed 2 nights and planned a 3rd day in Zion National Park. It would have been nice to have more time to explore Springdale and take more hikes in Zion National park. I was disappointed we did not have time to complete the Watchman or explore the Canyon Overlook Trail. Zion is definitely a place I would love to come back to someday. GEAR recommendations e shopped at I think a fleece, a good pair of hiking shoes, a day pack with lunch, water bottle, comfortable clothes, bathing suit, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, a good pair of moisture-wicking hiking socks, and dressing in layers are all important. We shopped REI, Columbia, and North Face before our trip. One thing we didn't have on this trip were hydration backpacks. Looking back I would have invested in a couple if we were to do a trip like this again. We traveled during spring break in early April and the weather was absolutely perfect. I am so glad we were not hiking with 4 kids in the summer heat. PLANNING AND TRAVEL TIPS We read two different travel books to help us plan our trip to the Utah National Parks and the Grand Canyon. It was really helpful to be familiar with the parks, the trails, and all of the available park programs before we arrived. Also, the National Park websites were helpful with up to date information. We rented a minivan which was the perfect choice for travel with kids. I ordered lots of travel activities to keep the kids entertained on the long drives. The kids played the game, Rubberneckers, AutoBingo, the License Plate game, the Rubiks cube, and of course, had their electronics packed. I had prizes from the dollar bins in Target to keep them interested in the road trip games we played. This was absolutely one of our all-time favorite family trips! Exploring and playing in the outdoors with our kids was an incredible experience and brought us closer together as a family. Honestly, I can't wait to do it again! MEET THE SMITH FAMILY My husband, Andrew and I have four kids - two girls and two boys. Our children are 13, 12, 9 and 6 years old. Andy and I love to travel and made a loop around Utah hitting many of the national parks 23 years ago. We camped, hiked, and spent a lot of time interacting with nature. This was one of our favorite trips, one we knew we would someday repeat with our children. With the ages of our children, we felt now was the time for our family to adventure out west.

I am in constant awe of all the amazing hidden gems in and around Southern Utah. For a while now my siblings have been telling me about a small natural spring pool located just 20 minutes south of Saint George. It has been on my bucket list to check out but not until just recently did I make it happen and man I am so glad that I did. Imagine waterfalls surrounded by ferns and lush vegetation, a pool of green-blue sparkling water, streams filled with small fish.....all in the middle of the desert. Seriously what more could you ask for?!? But don't get too excited just quite yet, there is a catch. Read on for all the juicy details. ATTENTION I AM SO SORRY FRIENDS BUT THIS BEAUTIFUL SPOT IS NO MORE. THE SPRING WAS MOVED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE FREEWAY TO BE WIDEND. I KNOW, I AM Absolutely HEARTBROKEN ABOUT IT. FEE None! This is private property, and the owner is kind (or crazy) enough to let people enjoy for free. All the more reason to take extra good care of this place.....right! LOCATION Don't be fooled by Google Maps. Little Jamaica is much easier and quicker to get to than it says. Take Desert Spring exit on highway 15. If you are coming from the north take a right on a small road running parallel to I15. It will quickly turn into a bumpy dirt road. Don't worry, the road is short, and it opens into a dirt parking lot. You have arrived! If you are coming from the south take Desert Springs exit on I15 and you will follow the road running parallel to the 15 until you come to an underpass. Go under the underpass and take a right. It will quickly turn into a bumpy dirt road. Don't worry, the road is short, and it opens into a dirt parking lot. You have arrived! Click here to see location on a map but ignore the directions. TRAIL DETAILS If you haven't gathered by now from reading the directions, Little Jamaica is located right next to/below the I15 freeway. I understand this will be a huge turn off for some and I completely understand, but trust me, you will totally forget about the noise when you are swimming in the cool water surrounded by waterfalls. There are a few different ways to get to the swimming hole. You can take a dirt trail to the left of the parking lot. You can also go through the entrance gate and go to your right or the left. If you go to the right, it will take you along a short steep trail to the top of the waterfalls and pool. There is a rope that you can use to climb down to the pool. This is a hard way to go with kids, so I recommend taking one of the trails to the left. The trails to the left converge and take you down a steep and slick .15 mile dirt path to the river. Wear good shoes and go slow so that you don't slip. You will walk up the river to the waterfalls and climb up to the pool. There is a rope to help you climb up. The rocks have really good grip so wear good water shoes, and you will be able to climb easily around the waterfalls. Besides the freeway overhead, there are a few more things to be aware of when visiting Little Jamaica. Read below for tips and additional information. CLICK HERE TO GET MY FREE FAMILY GUIDE TO ZION!!! TIPS AND ADDITIONAL INFO I do not recommend visiting this area in the evening. This spot has been known to attract partiers and sketchy people. Both times we went it was early in the morning, and we didn't come across anyone questionable, but we did see plenty of evidence of partying. Unfortunately, on both of my visits, there was a lot of trash in the parking lot, along the river, and at the waterfalls and pool. It made me so sad. I brought a trash bag with me on my second visit and picked up all the trash I could fit into my bag. If you visit Little Jamaica, I recommend always bringing a trash bag with you. It is hard to enjoy the beauty when you are looking at trash. For the lush green vegetation visit in the spring/early summer. I have heard that in the heat of the summer and the winter the area is much more yellow and dormant. When we visited Little Jamaica in late April, the water was a bit cold. My girls didn't mind too much, but my two-year-old didn't last long. After swimming in the pool, we spent a couple of hours playing in the stream next to the Virgin River. There is a waterfall, fun rocks to climb, and small fish swimming in the water. We loved playing by the river just as much as swimming in the pool which is so great because if you do end up going on a day where there are crowds at the pool, you can still have great fun playing in and around the river. PLAYING BY THE VIRGIN RIVER Have you visited Little Jamaica? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

When Christoph contacted me in January with hopes of surprising his girlfriend of five years, Madi, with an epic proposal in Zion National Park, I knew that this proposal was going to be good. Besides planning the best proposal ever on one of the most jaw-dropping hikes in Zion, Angels Landing, Christoph had a few more tricks up his sleeve. Read on for Madi's account of all the fantastic details. "Chris and I met during my sophomore year of college in Los Angeles, CA about five years ago. At the time, I was involved in a female volunteer group where I was assigned a Big Sis, Morgan. Her boyfriend Brian was Christoph's roommate. Growing up, I was a competitive surfer and had agreed to give surf lessons to a bunch of friends including Brian and Morgan. Brian brought Chris to the lesson, and we became quick friends. So quick that I invited myself on his spring break trip to Hawaii two weeks later. This began our relationship, and we have not stopped taking spontaneous trips ever since. "In 2015 when Chris and I moved in together, we started an annual tradition to go to Zion each year in February. I was excited to go this year for the third year of our tradition. "That morning, Chris woke me up early saying that he had a special hike planned for us. We had tried to go up to Angel's Landing the year prior but were deterred by bad weather. The weather this time looked good! However, I am not my best self before 9 a.m., and I have to admit I was a bit grumpy on our way to the trailhead. Once we started hiking though, I quickly woke up and was enjoying the views. We walked and took pictures and laughed at how out of shape we were. When we got to the proposal location, it was like any other photo opp stop. Chris asked a "stranger" (Arika) to take our photo. I turned towards the camera, smiled, and turned around to see Chris on his knee. Mid-ask I blurted out, "Are you doing what I think you are doing?!" and when he asked me to marry him I said "HELL YA!" I was shaking and repeatedly asked him if he was sure. The ring was perfect! "We spent the rest of the morning hiking with Arika and taking in all the views of Angel's Landing as an engaged couple. I did not think the day could get any better, but Christoph had one more surprise up his sleeve. He had told me he booked a romantic dinner for two at a nearby family-run restaurant. We HAD to be on time though he insisted as he raced up the curving roads of Zion. "When we got to the top of the road, we parked, and I walked into the most beautiful Airbnb filled with all of our closest friends and family. I was shocked! My family and friends mean the world to me and it was so special and overwhelming to have them all there to celebrate. Arika was also there to capture it all. She was in on the surprise too after having said goodbye to us at the end of our morning hike. My mom and grandma had been cooking our favorite foods all day long, and we got to spend the evening eating, sharing stories, dancing, and playing games. I was so surprised the whole way along and the love I felt that day was absolutely amazing. I cannot wait to get married and celebrate our love again! "Working with Arika with zion adventure Photog was a pleasure and I highly recommend her to anyone who wants beautiful photos of their adventures in and around Zion." - Christoph

Hands down my favorite hike on our recent spring break adventure to Capitol Reef National Park was Cassidy Arch Trail. This hike is rated as strenuous, and my girls did a fair amount of complaining about the steep climb, but the incredible views, the rock formations, the colors and the amazing arch at the end are absolutely worth the climb. LENGTH 3.5 miles round trip. DIFFICULTY This hike is rated as strenuous because of the 1000ft elevation gain over a 1-mile span. Before and after the elevation gain the hike is fairly level. LOCATION From from Capitol Reef Visitor Center drive 3.5 miles southward along the Scenic Drive. Turn left on to Grand Wash Road and drive to the trailhead. It will dead end into the parking area. Click Here for exact location and directions. TRAIL DETAILS You will begin this trail by hiking .25 mile through a wash. Keep your eyes posted for a sign to your left letting you know where to start heading up. At this point, you will have 1.5 miles to go. The elevation gain starts right after the sign and gets intense very quickly. The strenuous part only last for about a mile, so it goes pretty quickly. The great part about the climb is that once you have reached the top, you feel very accomplished because the views are stunning for the rest of the hike. You will also quickly see the arch across the way which gives you a good idea of where you are going and how much distance you have left. Once you get to the slick rock towards the arch, you will follow the cairns to help you know where to go. As you cross the slick rock to the arch, there are plenty of areas to explore and take photos. Take time to rest and enjoy the views. So freaking beautiful!!!! Scroll through for tips and additional information. GOOD TO KNOW There are bathrooms at the trailhead but no water fill stations. TIPS AND ADDITIONAL INFO This trail has very little shade in the middle of the day so not a great hike in the heat of the summer. If you are hiking this in the summer try to go first thing in the morning or later in the day and take plenty of water. With a 5 yr old 8 yr old and baby on back we completed this hike in 2.5 hrs with about 30 minutes for rest and play at the arch. We did this hike later in the afternoon in March, and the weather was perfect. Bring plenty of water, good hiking shoes, sunscreen, and lots of snacks. We ate a picnic dinner by the arch, and it was perfection. There are sheer drop-offs along the trail so make sure to keep your kiddos close. The trail is a bit rocky with a small amount of rock scrambling, but overall the tail is well maintained. Happy hiking, Arika

The whole family, including the little ones, can blaze this trail without any trouble at all. Lush trees, ferns, moss, hanging gardens, and other greenery line the whole thing, not to mention the Virgin River alongside. Bring water shoes and swimsuits in the summer because this is a great place to play in the river. If you are feeling ambitious, you can even walk up The Narrows for a bit. LENGTH 2 miles round trip. DIFFICULTY This is an easy family friendly hike with very little elevation gain. Strollers and wheelchairs can come along on this hike with no problems. LOCATION This trail is located at the last shuttle stop in the canyon called Temple of Sinawava. You can drive to the trail head in the winter when the shuttles are not running. Click Here for exact location. TRAIL DETAILS This trail is mostly level and paved. Shear red rock mountains line the path as you walk along the Virgin River. You can find mule deer along the trail, and if you are visiting in the summer, you will be sure to come across some very friendly squirrels. You might be tempted to feed and pet them, but please don't. They bite and feeding them is not good for their diet. The end of this hike is where The Narrows begins. For a change of scenery and less crowds take the dirt trail that goes right along the Virgin River on your way back. Scroll through to get tips and additional information. GOOD TO KNOW There are bathrooms and water fill stations at the trailhead.....yay! TIPS AND ADDITIONAL INFO This trail is extremely popular, so it is best to go first thing in the morning. I recommend taking the shuttle right around sunrise if you want to beat the crowds. If you are hiking this trail in the middle of the summer with the intentions of letting the kiddos play in the Virgin River then make a day of it. Plan to spend 3-4 hours exploring along the trail, playing in the river and even walking a little way up The Narrows. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks and maybe even a change of clothes for the kids in the summer. They will get wet. There is a dirt trail that runs along the river. I recommend taking this trail on the way to or from. It is less crowded and gives you different scenery. Wear good hiking shoes or hiking sandals. For the kiddos bring water shoes for playing in the river. Happy hiking, Arika

The weather in Southern Utah is pretty mild in the winter compared to other parts of the country. Even so, I tend to stay cuddled up inside and let winter pass me by. This year, in an effort to enjoy winter to its fullest, I planned a family staycation at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. Take a cozy cabin, an abundance of outdoor family activities and a beautiful, serene setting, and what you get is the perfect winter getaway for the whole family. THE PROPERTY Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is located in a secluded and remote area just 20 minutes east of Zion National Park. Not only is the property beautiful but it has a great onsite restaurant called Ray's, it is packed with more activities than any other property in the area and with its assortment of lodging options it caters to any and all budgets. ACTIVITIES In the summer there are endless actives available like ATV rides, canyoneering, swimming, horseback riding, jeep tours, miniature golf, paintball, zip line, climbing wall, kids camp, rafting, and wagon ride/dutch oven dinner. In the winter the activities available are much more limited so if you book a stay make sure to ask about what activities are available during your stay. During our stay, my kiddos loved playing on the playground and playing pool and ping pong in the activity barn. We even got to play some miniature golf.......thank you beautiful weather!!! Another perk of the beautiful weather was that we were able to go horseback riding and do the zip line. The zip line was such a highlight (even though my eight year old chickened out), and my kiddos haven't stopped taking about Persilla (our horseback guide) and the sweet horses. If the weather had been a bit colder, we could have done some ice-skating on the new ice-skating rink, but it was total mush. We were hoping to hike the East Mesa Trail during our stay. It is a short 15-minute drive from the property and is a kid-friendly option to get to Observation Point. Unfortunately, we were advised that the road to get to the trailhead was too muddy at this time of year. We will definitely be back in the spring to do this one. LODGING At Zion Ponderosa you have a wide range of lodging options. From camping to glamping, to small cabin to full-on luxury home there is something for everyone. We stayed in a two bedroom cabin with a private jacuzzi. The cabin was so cozy with a fireplace and traditional cabin decor. Relaxing in the jacuzzi in the evening surrounded by the crisp mountain air while stargazing was a highlight of our stay. The kitchen was stocked with everything needed to cook meals for the family. The restaurant services were limited due to the slow winter season, so we did bring groceries with us and do a little bit of cooking. For one of the mornings, we ordered a breakfast basket at the front desk that was delivered to our door. It was delish, and the kiddos gobbled up every last bite. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MY POST | CAMPING AT ZION PONDEROSA IN THE SUMMER TIPS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The new guided jeep tours look amazing! With all the activities available on the property, a one night stay just won't cut it. You could spend a week here in the summer and not get bored. The onsite activities are limited in the winter so make sure to ask the front desk what is available and get your activity booked and on the schedule. If you are planning a family reunion in Zion, I can't think of a more perfect spot to get the family all together. Women's retreats are held in the spring and fall for women who are looking for a little extra adventure in their lives. Best Sunset Ever!!! If you are looking for somewhere to stay when visiting Zion National Park and you want your stay to be memorable, action-packed and fun for the whole family then look no further than Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort. To book your stay click here. *Please note: I was not compensated financially for this post, but we did receive our stay free of charge. All opinions are strictly my own.