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I love sharing different perspectives when it comes to visiting Zion & Southern Utah. Since I am a local, I tend to see this area a little differently than someone who has never visited before. I am so excited to bring you this itinerary from Domonique of Simple Proof Travel. If you are contemplating a trip to Zion in the spring or fall with older kids (ages 8-15), this itinerary will help get your trip planning started. Read all the details below. As avid National Park enthusiasts, we often center our domestic travel around parks we’d like to visit and Zion National Park has been at the top of that list a very long time! Too hot for me in the summer, a fall trip to Zion was the perfect time for us to visit. It was clear, crisp, cool and most importantly, not crowded. An unexpected treat was seeing the last of the fall color in the area. I suppose because it’s a desert we didn’t anticipate much fall foliage, but we were pleasantly surprised by all the golds and yellows on the trees. It made for the perfect color explosion against the red rock landscape. WHO: Me, Mr. Simple and our 3 kiddos (15, 12, 8) WHEN: November 2018 HOW LONG: 3 nights WHERE WE STAYED: Desert Pearl Inn TIPS: Booking hotels can be tricky for a family of five and we often have to book two rooms now. Desert Pearl Inn was a pretty good fit for us. We reserved two rooms with a king bed and sofa bed in each as well as a kitchenette. There was a restaurant on site where we had a nice buffet breakfast each day. Being right on the shuttle stop for the Springdale route to the park entrance was also really convenient. DAY ONE AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES We drove to Springdale from Las Vegas in about 2 1/2 hours. It was an easy and beautiful drive. We checked into our rooms at the Desert Pearl about 2pm, quickly unpacked and were excited to head into the park for the first time. Because it was close to 3pm, we took a chance on driving into Zion instead of taking the shuttle. We had heard how difficult the parking can be, but lucked out with a parking spot probably because it was later in the day. Our first stop at any National Park is always the Visitor’s Center. We have a tradition to walk around, reading signs, talking with rangers about hikes and vista points we shouldn’t miss and picking up our Junior Ranger Guides. Each of the kids also has a National Park Passport that they proudly stamp whenever we visit a new National Park. They’ve been to at least 10 parks in their short little lives (lucky kiddos). They tease me because I act like their national park passports are of equal value as their actual passports. When travel is at the core of your family’s values, these little books are our family history. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BOOKING AN ADVENTURE SHOOT TO CAPTURE YOU MEMORIES IN ZION/SOUTHERN UTAH EVENING ACTIVITIES After familiarizing ourselves with the park, it was time to meet Arika of ZION ADVENTURE PHOTOG, our photographer. I found Arika on Instagram, following her adventures in Southern Utah with three littles. Her photography is beautiful and with holiday cards around the corner, I couldn’t resist reaching out to see if she could capture some memories of our family while we were in Zion. She’s the warmest person who immediately connected with my three kids. I knew we were on to something special. Hopping aboard the Zion Shuttle, we drove up the canyon a few stops until we reached the Court of the Patriarchs. Here we did a short hike SAND BENCH LOOP, looping around under the three massive peaks each named after the biblical figures Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS on HIKING THE SAND BENCH LOOP TRAIL When we first entered Zion National Park, as most people, we were immediately struck by the red sandstone and the peaks rising quickly out of the river canyon. This was being made even more special at this time of day by the glow of the setting sun. A short trail, that can be enjoyed by any age, and the quintessential start to a wonderful few days of exploring. After saying our goodbyes to Arika, we took her recommendation and had a fun dinner at Oscar’s Cafe. Located about a mile outside of the park, Oscar’s was a lively spot with something for everyone on their menu. We sat outside and though it was a chilly night, their heaters kept us nice and warm. Our family had shrimp tacos, ribs, and macaroni and cheese, there are also burgers, salads and a famous Volcano Brownie Sundae! DAY TWO MORNING ACTIVITIES This is the bucket list day. After letting the kids sleep in a little later than we planned, we had breakfast at the Desert Pearl Inn. It was a chilly morning, getting us all nourished up and warm from the inside our was critical for the day ahead. PHOTOS BY DOMONIQUE OF THE SIMPLE PROOF There are a few hikes in Zion that get all the attention. One is Angels Landing (not for young children, the faint of heart or the acrophobic) and The Narrows. In my mind, The Narrows is why we were here. I wanted to take the kids on a different sort of adventure, something out of our normal hiking, biking, camping. The Narrows was it. Zion Canyon is the gorge created by the Virgin River. The Narrows as it’s called, is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. Upstream from the Visitors Center and the last stop on the shuttle, many visitors never venture into this section of the canyon. Why you ask? Because you have to walk through the river! CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON HIKING THE NARROWS + CLICK HERE FOR MY POST | 10 TIPS FOR HIKING THE NARROWS WITH KIDS In the summer months, I imagine you could hike this in a pair of hiking boots or even good water shoes, but in November we needed some cold weather gear. We went to Zion Outfitters for our dry suits which included bibs, neoprene socks, hydro canyoneering boots, and a walking stick. Our younger two were in full dry suits. We also rented a dry backpack, and so glad we did since our lunches were in there and my husband fell in the water while goofing around! At the last stop of the shuttle, you will find a paved trail called Riverside Walk. This trail is one-mile long and takes you to The Narrows along a beautiful path on the edge of the river. We were lucky enough to see it in all its fall glory. There is no trail for The Narrows. The Riverside Walk simple ends and you walk into the Virgin River. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ON HIKING THE RIVERSIDE WALK TRAIL Before I continue, I want to be sure you all know that while we were completely safe, you are walking in the river and this area, especially in the late spring and summer, is prone to flash flooding. Be sure to check in with the rangers at the Visitors Center the day you plan to hike The Narrows and watch the weather report. Flash floods are no joke! TIP: No permit is needed for the bottom-up part of the canyon. To get to the turn around point at Big Springs (a permit is needed to go any further) it is 4.5 miles one way, including the paved hiking on Riverside Walk We probably saw as much as we were going to see and experience within the first 30 minutes up river, except for Wall Street which was the point at which I was hoping we would make it. This is the area where the canyon narrows to 20 feet wide and the water is deeper. The walls of the gorge soar to 2,000ft tall so you can imagine the impression it would make on children 4ft tall particularly where the canyon is only 20 feet wide. Whether we made it beyond this point on this trip wasn’t important to me. I was so proud of my kids, especially my youngest. While she is a fantastic traveler, hiker, biker, sightseer, she is only 8 years old and this sort of hike through a river and over rocks is not the same as hiking on a trail at all. My knees the next day proved that point. We brought water, lunch, and plenty of snacks with us as well as our cameras. My older two kids could have gone on forever, and the narrower the canyon became, the more curious we were to forge on. The Narrows did not disappoint! An adventure for all of us and an experience we won’t ever forget. Nature is truly amazing. EVENING ACTIVITIES After returning our gear and shuttling back to the hotel, we had some down time before showering up and going out to dinner. I had read about King’s Landing Bistro before our trip and wanted to try it. We all deserved a celebratory dinner after our big day. King’s Landing Bistro was cozy and delicious. We started with a huge bavarian pretzel with house made beer-based mustards, butternut squash soup, shirley temples and a glass of red wine. For dinner we had steak, pasta, burgers and salads, pretty much each of our dream dinners. We followed it up with a warm fruit crisp and scoops of ice cream too. We enjoyed our dinner here so much, we tried to go back the next night but they were all booked. Definitely recommend making reservations. DAY THREE MORNING & AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES Today we set our alarms to get up early and drive over to Bryce Canyon National Park. You can read more about that here. It’s a gorgeous drive through Zion National Park’s east side, through the east entrance along meadows, canyons and a river to Bryce Canyon National Park 85 miles northeast of Zion. It is a great day trip from Zion that allows you to see both parks while staying in Springdale. Other than the red rock, the two parks are very different. I’m so glad we made time to drive over. Our hike that day was unforgettable. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT MY BLOG POST | A PERFECT WINTER DAY IN BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK EVENING ACTIVITIES After spending the day in Bryce Canyon, we drove back to Zion and were able to hop on the shuttle to Zion Lodge to fit in one last hike before sunset to Lower Emerald Pools. The roundtrip on this hike is only 1.2 miles and easily accessed by any age. We hoped to continue on to middle and upper pools (3 miles RT), but those trails were closed. You will follow the trail along the river and pass over a bridge, through green areas, and under a waterfall that comes from middle pool above you. The storm this past summer (2018) damaged the upper parts of this trail, but hopefully this can be repaired for other visitors to enjoy in the future. PHOTOS BY DOMONIQUE OF THE SIMPLE PROOF For dinner, we went to Meme’s Cafe. While the decor leaves a bit to be desired, the food was great. Crepes, sandwiches, salads, and burgers then sweet crepes were just what we needed after another fun day exploring two remarkable National Parks. PARTING THOUGHTS After we travel, I spend some time reflecting on our highs and lows for each trip. We each decided that we want to explore much more of Southern Utah and Northern Arizona. At the very least we still have 3 more National Parks to visit in Utah. Thank you Arika for the beautiful photos of our family and for asking me to share our Zion National Park travels with you. MEET THE SIMPLE PROOF FAMILY Both California natives, Domonique and her husband love the outdoors. First introduced by friends because of their mutual love of travel, they are now raising three kids in Northern California and continue to enjoy traveling as a family. Whether it’s a day trip at home in the SF Bay Area, hiking through U.S. National Parks, or venturing around the globe, this family loves to try new things, seek new places, and learn more about our great big beautiful earth. Follow Domonique and her family adventures at INSTAGRAM and on her website THE SIMPLE PROOF

The first time I hiked Babylon Arch I thought the hike was just MEH. Don't ask me why. I still can't figure it out. Luckily I gave it a second try and turns out the second time was the charm and now I LOVE it. This trail has beautiful red rock formations around every corner, stunning views of the Virgin River, a fun sand hill to run down (not so fun on the hike back up though HAHA), access to the Virgin River, and you guessed it......a super rad arch! LENGTH 2.2 miles round trip from the Sand Cover trailhead. If you have a good 4 wheel drive vehicle you can drive to the primitive camping area and it is 1.5 miles from here. You can also extend the hike a bit by hiking down to the Virgin River, just past the arch. DIFFICULTY This is a family-friendly hike with very little elevation gain.....except for the sandhill that takes you down to the arch. The sandhill isn't long but hiking uphill in deep sand is a bit of a challenge. Much of the trail is rocky and uneven. LOCATION This trail is located in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. There is no pay station so no fee to hike here. The trailhead is located15 minutes south/east of Leeds, UT. CLICK HERE for a map and driving directions to the Sand Cove Trailhead that you will hike to get to Babylon Arch trailhead. CLICK HERE if you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle to take you directly to the trailhead. This is the GPS coordinates for the arch - 37°12’09.0″N 113°20’05.7″W 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 is sandy and at times rocky and uneven. The trail is also a little unclear at times. I have friends who have had a hard time finding the arch. These are the coordinates for the arch to put into your phone or GPS 37°12’09.0″N 113°20’05.7″W From the Sand Cove parking lot/trailhead you will walk along a trail for a short distance, down past a wash and then back up again to the bumpy 4 wheel drive road. Follow the road to the primitive camping area. This is where you will find the marker for the start of the Babylon Arch trail. The start of the trail takes you down a short sandhill and then along a sandy and rocky trail for about 1/2 mile. Once you come to a spot where you can see the Virgin River in the distance you will look to your right and see a steep sandhill to go down. At the base of the sandhill is the arch. From here you can also follow a trail to the Virgin River. Take time to explore and enjoy the trail. If you have kids who love to rock climb they will be in heaven. Scroll down for more tips and additional info. GOOD TO KNOW No bathrooms or water fill stations TIPS AND ADDITIONAL INFO There is no shade along the trail so not a great idea for the middle of the day in the summer. The primitive campground looks like an amazing spot to camp if you are up for it. If you don't have a 4 wheel drive vehicle you will have to hike you camping gear in from the Sand Cove parking lot. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and snacks. Wear good hiking shoes or hiking sandals with good grip. You will get sand in your shoes. Always practice LEAVE NO TRACE principals. If you take it in take it out. Take a cleanup bag on all your hikes and pick up as you go. Leave these beautiful places better than you found them. Meet the Forsyth family Melody along with her husband Victor and their four kiddos have made it their mission to visit all of our National parks, and then some. Melody thought hiking would be a thing of the past when she found out her youngest daughter Ruby had Down Syndrome. Turns out, it was just the beginning. Follow this beautiful & inspiring family on Instagram and check out this amazing podcast about her story here.

I'm so excited to have Ashely from Tiny Shiny Home here today to give us the lowdown on boondocking in Southern Utah. If you are new to the term boondocking, it means camping/parking a trailer or RV on BLM land free of charge for a max of 14 days. These open land areas have no restrooms or camping amenities, but if you find the right spot it can be pretty amazing. Read on to find out how to find the perfect boondocking site and what Ashley and her family of 6 loved most about their 14 days in Southern Utah. Utah was never on our radar when we first started traveling full-time 3.5 years ago. There weren’t even plans to drive through our first year on the road. Had it not been for an unfortunate event, we may have skipped over Utah. After our friends rescued us from the mud at Lake Mead, they had invited us to stay with them and some other full-time friends on the ridge of the Virgin Dam just outside of Hurricane, UT. That was our very first boondocking experience and from that point on we were hooked. So I guess you could say, Utah has inspired us to spend most of our time off the grid, boondocking in some of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. Image by Tiny Shiny Home While we agree that most all of Utah is beautiful, Southern Utah has captured our attention. If you’re looking to experience some of the most amazing national parks and monuments, free camping, epic hikes, and epic views right outside your RV, then southern Utah is for you! La Verkin/ Virgin area has so many great boondocking options and town is so close for water, dump, and supplies. Plus you’re only about 30 minutes from the entrance to Zion National Park! While we loved visiting Zion, it was really the Red Reef area that captured our attention. Check out this post Hiking Red Reef Trail - Southern Utah We could not get enough of the red rock hikes and amazing sunsets and seclusion that comes with visiting in late October. There haven’t been many places that make me look at property prices but this place had me on Zillow far too often. So, let’s talk about camping in this area! While I can see the advantages of reserving a site at one of the two campgrounds in Zion National Park for easier access to the park and trails, we aren’t much for making plans ahead of time. Plus we love being alone out in nature, so boondocking is our top choice when it comes to looking for a place to stay. Lucky for us, there are SO MANY OPTIONS near Zion. We snagged this cute little spot near the Virgin Dam and stayed for our full allotted 14 nights! It. Was. Magical.The sunsets, the seclusion, the views… So if boondocking is your thing, Virgin, UT needs to be on your bucket list. And if you’re new to boondocking (camping without hookups) then click on this guide to help you find your first boon docking spot. FIND THE PERFECT BOONDOCKING SPOT 4 quick ways to scout beautiful, safe, off-grid camping locations. Within just a 2 hour drive from Hurricane, Utah, you can see all of these magical places… Cedar Breaks National Monument 1 hour, 17 minutes Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park 1 hour, 22 minutes Zion National Park 21 min Snow Canyon State Park 45 minutes Bryce Canyon National Park 2 hours, 11 minutes Red Cliff National Conservation Area 30 min Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument 1 hour 30 minutes Grand Canyon North Rim 2 hours Glen Canyon National Recreation Area/Lake Powell 2 hours Valley of Fire State Park 2 hours Lake Mead National Recreation Area 2 hours I’m sure there are more than what I listed, but all of these places are reason enough to find your perfect campsite near Virgin, Ut. And I can’t forget the people! We hosted our very first meet-up while boondocking here. We ended up with 20 people coming by to chat, eat some pie, and enjoy a fire. It’s true that when you travel full-time, there are days that get a little lonely, but this community is amazing. With little notice, we were able to have several people come by and talk about the highs and lows of full-time travel. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone! So much so that we have no pictures of the event! That’s when you know you’re having a good time. And we can’t say thank you enough to Arika. Thank you for taking us on a beautiful hike and snapping some pictures of our little family. We will treasure these for years to come! I cannot say enough good things about our time spent here in Utah, and Zion Adventure Photog was a big part of making our time here so memorable. Thank you! - Ashley Longlecker Make sure to follow Ashley and her family on their adventures at Tiny Shiny Home and on their Instagram.

At this point in my photography journey, I have been lucky enough to capture quite a few surprise proposals, but Katie and Lauren's proposal was extra special with a double surprise. So much magic and love between these two. Read on for the full story and to find out what made this proposal extra special. "About this time last year (October), I had recently gotten out of a bad relationship, which led to me doing some very quick apartment-hunting. After couch surfing for a few weeks, I found a perfect little unit in a neighborhood near downtown St. Pete. As luck would have it, my new apartment building was directly next door to a couple of my close friends. After I had gotten settled into my new place, my neighbors (Jess and Toni) hosted a game night at their apartment. When I walked in with my bottle of wine and whichever board game I had grabbed, I said hi to everyone, and was also greeted by the huge, goofy, amazing smile of someone I hadn't met before. This was the first time I met Lauren - she seemed so happy and overjoyed to be in that room and immediately came and gave me a hug. A couple of months went by, and Lauren and I continued getting to know each other in the context of our group of friends. We'd all go out to the movies together, get drinks, and we did an escape room once (which, I found out later, was specifically planned by Lauren to be lab-themed because she knew that I am a huge nerd, and this was her way of very sneakily flirting with me). The thing was, I don't think either of us had the confidence to tell the other that our friendship was slowly turning into something more. Heck, we even tried to date other people during this time - all the while trying to ignore the fact that we'd be better off together. But FINALLY, last New Years' Eve, all of that changed. Lauren's birthday is on NYE, and she, Jess, Toni, and a couple of other friends were planning on going out downtown to celebrate. I was trying to decide on plans for the night, and I remember Lauren texting me "think of what would make you happiest to start the new year." So, naturally, I tagged along with the group. When it came time for the ball to drop, Lauren and I looked at each other during the countdown, and I knew I had made the right decision on how to spend the night. As cliche as it was, our first kiss was on New Year's Eve! From that moment on, we were pretty inseparable - she became my best friend, my lover, my partner, and the person I knew that I didn't want to ever be without. We've been traveling, rock climbing, camping, hiking, adventuring, and going through all of life's curveballs together, and I knew that she was my soul mate... I never really believed in that type of thing until I met her. She makes me laugh until my stomach hurts, supports me so selflessly, and she loves me in the most honest and genuine way. I remember the moment when I thought "wow, I am so incredibly in love with this woman, and I need to marry her". We had planned a week-long trip to go to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park at the end of August, and I knew that would be the perfect time to pop the question. With the help of an amazing photographer/Zion guru, I chose to set up a surprise proposal during a sunrise hike at Canyon Overlook in Zion. The morning of the hike, I pulled Lauren out of bed at 4 am to get to the park (this girl did not even complain... she's an angel). The plan was (unknown to Lauren) to meet Arika in the parking area near the trailhead so that she could hike out in front of us to be ready to capture our moment. The entire plan felt like a sting operation - the night before I barely slept out of excitement and nervousness. After driving to Zion and seeing that Arika had begun hiking in front of us, we made our way in semi-darkness up to the overlook. When we finally got to the top, I was amazed at how breathtaking the views were, but my mind was completely consumed by the question I was about to ask Lauren. As I led Lauren near the edge of one of the viewpoints to pop the question, I tried remembering what I had rehearsed in my head, but instead chose to say what I was feeling in that moment. I stood there, holding her hands, looking into her eyes, and asked her to marry me as I pulled out her ring. She gave me one of her giant smiles (the kind where her eyes disappear), said "Yes!", and I slid the ring on her finger. After I put the ring on her finger, she surprised me by saying, "I have a question for you, too...". She pulled a ring out of her pocket and proposed to me at the same time! I will never forget all of the joy, happiness, and love at that moment while watching the sun come up over the canyon, lighting up the park below. This had turned out to be the best day of my life so far! The rest of the day was spent hiking The Narrows and celebrating being newly engaged. I cannot be more thankful for how perfect everything turned out, and I know that it wouldn't have been possible without Arika's help." - Katie Rosar

I'm so excited to share this epic surprise proposal on the top of Observation Point with you guys today. Sam & Marlee had me in tears as I captured the love between them. I'm pretty sure they will have you in tears too. Read their story below. "Sam & I met in South Africa. This is where our story begins. If you know either of us, you know we are two people who have a passion for God, loving people, & chasing adventure. We signed up for South Africa thinking that was the biggest adventure yet, but God had other plans in mind. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON HIKING EAST MESA TRAIL TO OBSERVATION POINT Four years later Sam is in Seattle & I’m in… Puerto Rico? He messages me on Instagram asking me to accompany him to a country concert- BUT, not just any concert, my FAVORITE country artist, on Saturday. (Keep in mind this was Wednesday). The catch? It’s in Arizona. So what’d I do? I got home from Puerto Rico late Thursday night, packed a bag & was on an airplane to Phoenix the next day! That was the best “yes” decision I have ever made. It was the start of something magical. Flash forward to Almost one year eight months later and Sam has been living in California. People often asked him why he moved and his answer is my favorite. “To be close to her.” I have always wanted to visit Zion National Park and so Sam surprised me one day and said were going. I was SO excited. It was July 31 & we were jogging to make the sunset. We were hungry, exhausted & laughing because the back road of this hike was almost impossible to find. At one point we were following a speeding minivan on a dirt road. Luckily, we asked a local who told us “if you’re trying to make it to the observation point its definitely “that way” & he pointed in the opposite direction of where we were going. Sam had never done the hike before, but he had it all planned out. (Little did I know). We finally made it to the trailhead after many dirt road turns & breathed a sigh of relief. Knowing Sam had planned this hike to watch the sunset, we hurried onto the trail. We came across a family with little kids & decided to ask how long the hike was. (Sam was under the impression the hike was only 1 mile). “It’s about three more miles,” they said. We looked at each other; they must’ve seen the look of surprise on our faces because the next thing they said was, “But- it’s definitely worth it!” I don’t know if I have ever walked faster in my life; we SERIOUSLY chased the sun. About 3 miles into the hike- Sam’s shirt off, my legs cramping; we made it to the top. I was SO relieved to see this woman in red because the sun was going down…fast! I was convinced we wouldn’t find our way back to the car in the dark. As I approached the edge, I was overwhelmed by the vastness & beauty of the canyons before me. How high, how wide; it was unlike anything I had ever seen. Sam eventually joined me near the edge after asking me about 12 TIMES if I wanted a bite of my sandwich or a drink of water (he was definitely trying to throw me off! ). He put his arms out against my arms & said “stand right here” as he went down on one knee. “NOO! Are you Serious?” I said in shock. I remember thinking how surreal it felt. I wondered what this day would entail since I was a little girl & here it was. Here I was & here he was, & it was nothing short of magical. I fell to my knees & wrapped my arms around him. “Yes, oh my gosh, yes!” And if you guessed, we cried? You’re right we did- tears of joy. “You didn’t even look at the ring!”he said. So I looked. And, while I thought It was the most beautiful ring I have ever seen, it was not about the ring, it was about him. There’s nothing better than saying “yes” to marrying your very best friend & love of your life. He surprised me in the best way. And the woman in red? Her names Arika, he hired her to capture this magical moment. Wow. I cannot wait to be his wife. - Marlee "Arika is absolutely amazing and a blessing to work with. She talked me through all of the different proposal hiking ideas (because I have never been to Zion before). The proposal and the photos turned out better than I ever could have dreamed." -Sam PROPOSAL FEATURED ON HOWHEASKED.COM

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.