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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.

Suzanne and Patrick met in college. After five years of traveling the country and the world for Patrick, with the Army, they had the golden opportunity to choose the best place for them to raise their growing family, Sun Valley, Idaho. Fast forward years later, and they are still there happily raising their three adventurous kiddos, Braden, Elise and Will. They like to do everything with their kids, and as they have gotten older, their family bucket list keeps on expanding and getting even better with more adventures. "A few years ago, we were on a National Park kick and wanted to visit as many National Parks that we could drive to, so we loaded up our suburban and planned an All-American road trip for spring break. Within the first day of arriving at Zion, we were hooked by the majestic beauty, the adventures, and the ease of the park! We did the Narrows and couldn't believe that a place like that actually existed. That was inspiring for my whole family. We still talk about it! So, for the past three years, whenever we plan our spring break trip, the kids always beg to go back to Zion and each time that we go, there is always something new and exciting that we discover. It's amazing how peaceful and connected we all feel when we are there." - Suzanne DATES OF ADVENTURE March 20th thru March 22nd 2017 AGES OF KIDS 9, 10, & 12 WHERE TO STAY We usually stay at the Hampton Inn in Springdale, but this time we stayed at Zion Lodge inside the park and loved it (book early!). We felt like we were at a summer camp for the whole family. We could eat breakfast on our little balcony and stare at the magnificent mountains, then quickly walk over to a hiking trail. I felt like we went back in time, in a good way. I would try to get a room on the second floor so you could open up your balcony door at night. It would also be quieter! DAY 1 AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES When we first got to Zion, we checked in and orientated ourself on the area and formulated our plan for the next couple of days. I love to also check out every visitor center, so we did that too! Our main goal for Zion was to hike the Narrows (a family favorite!), but we discovered that it was closed due to high water, so we had to come up with another plan. We heard that the Subway was amazing, so that became Plan B. We went to the visitor center to get our permit, but were told that they Subway waters were becoming too high and many grown-ups couldn't access it. Time to think of Plan C--quickly. I did a quick search using very spotty cell service and found Red Desert Adventure and booked our canyoneering/repelling trip for the next day. EVENING ACTIVITIES We went to Jack's Sports Grille for dinner. We have been there before, so since we had hungry kids and were on a time crunch, we ate there again. A good variety of food for families---salads, hamburgers, etc. After dinner, we did an adventure shoot with Zion Adventure Photog along the Pa'Rus trail! After the photos, we drove into Springdale and had wonderful ice cream at Hoodoos Ice Cream Parlor. We had huge waffle cones that were delicious!! Since the sun was setting, we were thankful that we brought our jackets with us! DAY 2 MORNING ACTIVITIES We are kind of lame when it comes to breakfast and always eat in our hotel rooms. We hit up the grocery store and stock up on fruit, yogurt, bars, pb and j sandwiches, etc. The hotel room didn't have a fridge, so thankfully we had our cooler with us. We are morning people, so we were up early and were able to eat breakfast on our balcony while watching a couple of deer munch on the grass in front of us. Priceless! We then walked to Angel's Landing (1/2 mile walk from our hotel room). Our plan was just to walk as far as we felt comfortable since we heard that Angel's Landing isn't recommended for children. Since we were up earlier, the trail was fairly empty and due construction of the trail, we found that it was a fairly easy hike. Before we knew it, we were within 1/2 mile of the end, which also was the scariest section. Again, we took it nice and slow and went only as far as we felt comfortable as a family. By now, the crowds were starting to pick up, so we sure were grateful that we got up early. We stopped to fuel up at the ledge and hang out. A volunteer park ranger was giving a fascinating presentation on the California Condors in the park, so that was fun for us to listen to. The gentlemen does the presentation a couple of times of week, so we were glad that we were able to catch his talk. On our hike down, the crowds really picked up and it was almost a line going up to the top. The early bird catches the worm. :) AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES For lunch, we walked back to Zion Lodge and had lunch at their outdoor cafe. The boys and Patrick had cheeseburgers, I had their black bean burger (recommend it!), and Elise had pizza. We also had fresh fruit (apples and oranges) and yummy soft serve ice cream. We ate lunch on the big grassy lawn, and people watched while chatting about our hike. After lunch, Elise and I walked across the street and checked out the horses at the stables. They are located next to a peaceful stream, and again, it was so beautiful all around us. We were the only ones there, so we took our time talking to each one of the sleepy horses. Around 2:00, Nathan from Red Desert Adventures picked us up at the Visitor Center and took us out on our canyoneering and repelling adventure. We had about a 30-minute drive, so Nathan told us more history about Zion NP and told us more about the area. We returned to the Lodge around 6:30 pm. EVENING ACTIVITIES Everyone recommended Oscar's for dinner. There was no wait time even though they were very busy. Patrick got the fish tacos, I had a salad, and the kids had cheeseburgers (again!). We also had chips and guacamole (very good!). The food was good for a family, and we like the variety, but it wasn't the greatest food, and next time we would like to try somewhere different. For dessert, we had the carrot cake and the lava cake which I would highly recommend!! After dinner, we walked around and looked into some of the stores. We were pleasantly surprised that stores stayed open so late, which allowed so many tourists to walk around. It was fun to see so many families out and about at night. DAY 3 MORNING ACTIVITIES We got up early again and wanted to hike to the Emerald Pools. We walked there from our hotel (another bonus point for our hotel!). For the first 45 minutes, we didn't see another person! We hiked to the upper and middle pools (lower pool was closed to do a rock slide). It was a good hike for families and provided a lot to see along the way. I would recommend that families definitely try to make it to the upper pools and to just hang out up there and soak up the beauty. AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES We heard that the crepes at Me Me's Cafe are wonderful, so we had to try them! Patrick and the boys got ham/cheese crepes that filled them up for long time. They loved them!! Elise got a nutella/banana crepe and never said a word until her plate was licked clean. I had the veggies omelet and it was oh so good! Our bellies were happy and full. We have eaten there for dinner before and also liked it. TIPS FOR HIKING ZION WITH KIDS Go as early as you can!! Bring enough water for everyone (they have water bottle refilling stations with good tasting water at a lot of the stops) Go to the bathroom after you get off of the bus since there aren't many places to nature pee since there are a lot of people. Bring a lot of snacks so little tummies don't run out of gas, and so you can enjoy the day longer without having to rush back for lunch or dinner. Gummy bears provide a huge energy boost to most kids. :) Dressing in layers in March is essential! GEAR Patrick and I both carry Gregory backpacks. They can carry all of our water bottles (my water bottle is 48 oz, and my pack still doesn't feel heavy or full) and our snacks. We also always carry hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and band-aids. I have a bad neck, and the Gregory backpack distributes the weight so well, that I never have any neck problems. Since we leave early for our hikes, it's still chilly, so we all dress in layers and slowly take off our layers throughout the day. Sometimes we tie layers around our waists or put them in our packs. Elise and I wore our Chacos, and our feet were so comfortable---better than my hiking shoes! TRIP HIGHLIGHTS We loved being together 24/7 with very limited cell service. Our only agenda for each day was to hike, explore, and be together. Patrick and I work full time (he's an insurance agent, and I'm a Kindergarten teacher), plus the kids are involved in after-school sports, so this trip allowed us all to reconnect in one of the most beautiful settings and just enjoy the stillness and the wonder of nature. We also LOVED canyoneering and repelling---a huge highlight for all us. We went with Red Desert Adventures and had the most amazing outing. The kids all thought that venturing into the slot canyons was pretty rad and still talk about it! They now want to repel and canyoneer on every trip!! PARTING WORDS If you are looking for a place to unwind and have some good old fashion family fun, then Zion is the place. Zion caters to every single level and age. You could be an expert rock climber or a family with young kids and still find plenty to do. The bus makes getting around so easy and so convenient. Most stops have a clean bathroom and water bottle refill station. Most paths are semi-paved, so little ones can easily walk around on them and still get a sense of the greatness of Zions. This is our third year in a row going to Zion because my kids keep begging us to go back! Zion is an amazing place, and when you are trying to hike/explore with kids, it's not always easy to snap photos of any type. That is why we hired Zion Adventure Photog, and I honestly think it was one of the best decisions from our entire trip. The camera (my iPhone) and I could relax the rest of the trip since I knew that at least one of our adventures was well documented! You can follow more of Suzanne and Patrick's family adventures on Instagram.

Camping without the roughing it? Heck ya! I love the idea of glamping but have never had the opportunity to try it out, so when I found out Under Canvas was coming to Zion, I knew this would be the perfect little staycation with the family. THE PROPERTY Situated on 196 acres along the Kolob Terrace road, Zion Under Canvas, is without a doubt surrounded by some seriously beautiful scenery. When I booked a one night stay with my hubby and three kiddos, I had no idea if Under Canvas catered to families. I just crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. When we pulled up, and I saw the sand volleyball court, teepee swings, bean bag games and fire pit I knew we had entered family territory. There were also card games and board games in the lobby for guests to take back to their tents which I thought was pretty awesome. My kiddos were particularly in love with the free all day access to hot chocolate and the complementary smores by the fire in the evening. We ate at the on-site restaurant for dinner and breakfast. The prices were reasonable, and even though the food was just ok, the beautiful setting, the convenience, and the friendly staff made up for it. I also loved how guests could order sack lunches to take with them hiking! GETTING AROUND A drive to the west entrance of Zion will take you 25 minutes from Zion Under Canvas. You can also drive a short distance to the north for tons of great hiking in a less crowded and equally beautiful section of Zion. THE TENT We stayed in a Safari Tent with 4 single beds. There are quite a few options when reserving a tent. You can go the luxury route with an attached bathroom and fireplace to keep warm. If you have more than 4 in your party, you can reserve an additional teepee right next to your tent or ask for a cot. Our tent didn't have an attached bathroom, so we had to walk a few minutes away to 6 individual bathrooms. The bathrooms were very well done, with hot showers and complimentary shampoo and body soap. Since we only stayed one night, it wasn't a big deal to have to walk a few minutes to the bathroom. It just added to the whole camping experience. With that said, it would have been fun to have one of the larger luxury tents with the bathroom attached. The beds were very comfortable, and the bedding was very warm and cozy. The temps dropped down to the 50's during our stay in September, and none of us got cold at all. ENTERTAINMENT There was plenty to keep us entertained during our stay. A few of the things we enjoyed the most included: Teepe swings Sand VolleyBall Exploring and hiking around the property Board games Beanbag toss game Smores around the fire in the evening GREAT HIKING CLOSE BY Grapevine Trail The Subway Right Fork Trail Wildcat Canyon RELATED: Hiking The Subway from the bottom up - Zion National Park Whether you are visiting Zion with your family or enjoying a hiking trip without the kids, Zion Under Canvas's mix of luxury hotel and rustic camping is sure to make your trip to Zion a little more fun. To book a stay at Zion Under Canvas click here.

Celebrating milestones big and small helps us to put things into perspective and to focus on the important things in life. When you make it to 10 years of marriage, and you are still in love with your spouse, well that is something to celebrate and what better way to celebrate than to renew your vows in Zion National Park on your ten-year wedding aniversary. That is what Gina and Michael did. Read on for the details. "Michael and I met in high school, our first time hanging out with friends we went sleigh riding. Our friendship evolved over the next year, and we eventually fell for each other. That was 17yrs ago. We've been married for 10. We live in upstate NY, not far from the town we met in. We are raising two boys, ages 9 & 6 and three dogs. As a family, I like to think we enjoy adventure. We like to spend our weekends in the summer hanging out on the lake we live on, and in the winter we hit the slopes! "Renewing our vows was important to me. We've been together for so long and married really young. We have both grown so much over the past 10yrs, between becoming parents and raising our family, to supporting each other in business endeavors, to buying homes and renovating them while we live there. It's been a hectic 10yrs, and I'm proud of us for making our marriage a priority and growing together. I'm proud of the man I married and am grateful that he continues to choose me to share his life with. CLICK HERE TO GET MY FREE FAMILY GUIDE TO ZION!!! "The whole experience of renewing our vows in Zion was beyond my expectations. Taking the time to say things to one another that we already know, but maybe don't take enough time in our chaotic life to slow down and really say them. Reading our "vows" to each other allowed us to reminisce on our 17yrs, and how far we've come together. Our vows were a mix of funny, sweet and spoken from the heart. We both chose (without knowing) to end with a line from our wedding song by The Dave Matthews Band "Steady as we go." "It rained on our wedding day 10yrs ago. We were supposed to take pictures in the Catskill mountains at an overlook, and b/c of the rain we didn't. I've had that regret for the past 10yrs. To me, these pictures make up for those pictures we didn't get to take on our wedding day. I will forever be grateful to Arika for this experience and these photos. - Gina Tarbell

When Andrew set out to propose to his girlfriend of three years, Maddie, he wanted to make it something she would never forget. Read on to find out how he made both of their dreams come true with the sweetest proposal ever. Get ready to melt. "On August 6, Maddie and I made the drive to Zion from our St George hotel arriving at the Canyon Overlook trail. At the overlook, Arika was already set up with her camera ready to capture the proposal. The scenery of the canyon overlook and the beauty of Zion National Park was breathtaking and was the perfect background for our engagement pictures. Arika captured the moment that will forever live in my heart as the best day of my life in stunning fashion. The entire experience was like a dream, perfect weather, beautiful scenery, and big horn sheep climbing down the canyon walls next to us. Our engagement could not have gone any better than that simple moment in Zion National Park. CLICK HERE TO GET MY FREE FAMILY GUIDE TO ZION!!! We will always remember that night, and we will always be looking forward to our next trip out to Zion National Park as a newly married couple and one day to share the incredible park with our children and have family pictures taken by Zion Adventure Photog!" -Andrew

Cory and Andrea live in Denver, Colorado with their three kids Liam (4), Elijah (3) and Finley (1). Cory is a third culture kid who grew up overseas in Northern Pakistan and he has lived in five different countries and traveled to 26 other countries. Andrea used to help run a youth program at a homeless shelter where she would take her students on camping trips and outdoor adventures! "We want our kids to have the same opportunities to travel and live life as we have had. Hiking and being outdoors allows for our family to slow down, explore and spend time together without any distractions. We hope to teach our kids more about the world by connecting them to people and places of different cultures, landscapes, and experiences."-Andrea. On most weekends you can find them in the mountains. DATES OF ADVENTURE Sunday, September 24, 2017 - Thursday, September 28, 2017 AGES OF CHILDREN 4,3, and 1 years old WHERE TO STAY We stayed at The Watchman campground and loved the location. It was close to the visitor's center, shuttles, and Zion Outfitter. Because of the free shuttle that takes you to most of the trails in Zion, we were able to do very little driving. The campground had dishwashing and bathrooms. Zion Outfitters, just a short walk from our campsite, had laundry and showers. We didn't like the bees and squirrel’s that were so prevalent. The bees made it hard to enjoy our meals. At times we had to eat in our tent due to the bees swarming our food and us. We also didn't like how close our campsite was to other people (we typically camp off grid). TIPS FOR CAMPING AT THE WATCHMAN CAMPGROUND We booked our site five months in advance, and we got one of the last spots. We recommend booking at least 6-8 months out. Bring bee traps to help with the bee problem. There are some campsites with no shade. If you want shade make sure you bring an awning for those hot days. Zion Outfitter has showers and laundry in close walking distance. DAY one AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES We checked in at noon which is standard check-in time. For lunch, we cooked at our campsite on the camp stove. We had mac & cheese with hot dogs. We then explored the visitor center, picked up Jr. Ranger Workbooks, got info about hikes and bus times and then set up camp EVENING ACTIVITIES For dinner, we cooked at our campsite on the camp stove. We had grilled chicken, noodles and salad. Afterwards, we hiked Emerald Pools. It was an easy hike. Do this hike in the evening as it is the most popular hike at Zion. We did the entire hike up to the Upper Emerald Pool. It took us about 2 hours. The hike was beautiful, and our kids loved walking under a waterfall. We love doing this hike in the evening because it was nice and cool and once we reached the Upper Emerald Pool, the crowds had cleared and it was quiet and peaceful. When we got back to our campsite, we made a fire and did smores and hot chocolate/apple cider. We also prepped for the next day's adventures. DAY 2 MORNING ACTIVITIES Cory woke up early and hiked Angle’s Landing while I stayed with the kids and cooked oatmeal and fruit. Angle’s Landing took Cory 2 ½ hours (6:30 AM-9 AM). He met a guy from the Netherlands who he hiked with the entire way. The views were absolutely stunning and worth the hike to the top. Do this hike early to avoid crowds and long lines around the chains. AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES For lunch, we had sandwiches, fruit, and chips at our campsite. After lunch, we hiked the Riverside Walk up to the Narrows and hung out by the river playing and throwing rocks. The Riverside Walk was crowded in the afternoon. There is a dirt trail near the river that is less crowded. It took us about 45 minutes to reach The Narrows. There is an area just before the trailhead to The Narrows that is less crowded where we were able to sit down and let the kids run around and play in the water. It is also not in the direct sun, so it was nice and cool. EVENING ACTIVITIES For dinner, we made soup and grilled cheese on our camp stove. Afterwards, the kids worked on their Jr. Ranger Workbooks and we made a campfire for smores and hot chocolate/apple cider. We prepped for the next day adventure into The Narrows. We walked over and rented neoprene socks and water shoes at Zion Outfitters. They are located right outside of the walk-in entrance of the park. DAY three MORNING/AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES For breakfast, we cooked eggs on our camp stove with fruit and yogurt. We then set out to hike The Narrows as a family. We started the hike around 8:30 AM (go early to beat the crowds). We brought our four-year-old a wetsuit and neoprene socks to help keep him warm during the hike. We carried our two other kids in hiking backpacks. The wooden hiking sticks we rented from Zion Outfitters were very helpful. You can also pick up sticks that people leave behind on the wall at the trailhead of the Narrows for free! We rented neoprene socks and water shoes at Zion Outfitters, but the moment we started hiking in the water, our shoes filled with water. I wouldn’t waste my money again. Just make sure you wear waterproof hiking boots or tennis shoe to protect your feet from the rocks. We packed lunch to eat on our hike. We hiked 8 miles (which includes the Riverside Walk). It took us about 6 hours(9AM-3PM). It took us extra time hiking against the current. Also, on the way back crowds started to form, so we had to wait to cross fast currents or deep-water sections. We stopped a couple of times to sit down for lunch, resting (letting little ones out of packs to stretch legs) and to enjoy the view. TIPS FOR HIKING THE NARROWS If you are hiking The Narrows with kids, make sure to pack lots of water and snacks for the hike. Hiking in water is hard work! Our kids get cold easily, so we bought a wetsuit and neoprene socks for the one hiking in the water and a hat and jackets for our other two. We all got hot hiking, later on, so we just packed them away in our packs at that point. Be prepared for this hike. Having the right gear is essential such as wood hiking sticks and closed toe shoes. EVENING ACTIVITIES For dinner, we cooked chicken, rice, and vegetables on the camp stove. Afterwards, the kids worked on their Jr. Ranger Workbooks and we made a campfire for smores, and hot chocolate/apple cider. We also prepped for the next day's adventures. DAY FOUR MORNING ACTIVITIES For breakfast, we cooked pancakes on the camp stove and had yogurt and fruit. After we cleaned up, the kids played around the campsite, and then we headed to Zion Outfitters to do laundry and take showers AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES For lunch, we ate at the Zion Canyon Brewery Company. Our son has a peanut allergy so we had to ask a lot of questions and the hostess and some of the staff kept having to run back to ask the chef questions. They were not extremely knowledgeable about food allergies, so it was a little frustrating, but the food and beer were good. We recommend the fish and chips. The staff could have been a little more helpful and friendly. Afer lunch we drove up to the east side of Zion and hiked around. We later met up with Arika from Zion Adventure Photog (highly recommend). EVENING ACTIVITIES We went outside of the park to Fort Zion in Virgin for dinner. There were not many people there when we went as we went close to closing time and the service was quick; our food was out soon after ordering. The portions were BIG, huge burgers and a full potato for fries. Our three toddlers could have split one kid's meal; we had lots of leftovers. Everythings was so good. There was a small petting zoo there that cost $1/person to enter. We definitely recommend visiting Fort Zion. Afterwards, we drove back to the campsite. The kids worked on their Jr. Ranger books and we made a campfire for smores, and hot chocolate/apple cider. We also prepped for the next day's adventures. DAY FIVE MORNING ACTIVITIES Cory cooked breakfast with the kids at the campsite while I hiked Angle’s Landing. It took 2 hours (8AM-10AM). The views were absolutely stunning and worth the hike to the top. If you are afraid of heights or you have young children, there is a beautiful lookout spot at the top before you hit the chains. However, if you can, and you feel comfortable, you should definitely go up to the top. When I got back to the campsite we cleaned and packed up. The kids went to a morning ranger’s talk and earned their Jr. Ranger’s badges. Check-out was at 11:00 am. TIPS FOR VISITING ZION Make sure you bring your pass and driver’s license as you are exiting and re-entering the park. Buy groceries outside of the park, as groceries inside of the park and around Springdale are expensive. Get out early or later in the day to do hikes. Do classes during the day to avoid crowds. Catch the first bus at (6 AM) to do early morning hiking or hike -late evening to avoid the massive crowds on the hiking trails. Spend time on the east side of the park. There are far fewer people over there. Go prepared with the right equipment along with lots of water and snacks on hikes. RECCOMENDED GEAR Kid’s wetsuit Kids neoprene sock Kids Keen waterproof hiking boots Kids harness Deuter Kid Comfort 3 Child Carrier and Osprey Poco AG child Carrier HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP Hiking the Narrows Hiking Angel’s Landing Witnessing such an beautiful and unique landscape Getting to experience Zion with our kids Kids friendly HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE KIDS Getting their Jr. Ranger Badges Hiking the Narrows The shuttle rides PARTING WORDS Zion is absolutely stunning; it’s unlike anything else so it’s worth the trip. The trails are crowded so go early or later in the day. Our kids loved this place from the Jr. Ranger Program to the unique hikes and all the wildlife around the park. Ask locals like Arika for advice and secret hikes. Have fun!!!! Follow Andrea and Cory and their cute kids on Instagram also check out their website.

The Subway is one of those trails that starts out just ok, but with every step you take, it gets better and better. By the time you reach the pools at the end, you feel like you have entered a whole new world. LENGTH 8 miles round trip DIFFICULTY The difficulty of this trail lies mostly in all the rock scrambling you have to do. You will constantly be going up, down, over and around rocks and boulders as you follow the Left Fork of North Creek up the stream to The Subway. The most exhausting part of the hike is the 1/2 mile steep and rocky descent to get to the stream at the beginning of the hike. That 1/2 mile steep incline on your return will not be your friend, but those memories are so worth it! LOCATION 8 miles up the Kolob Terrace road is the start of the hike. The sign for the parking lot says Left Fork Trailhead. Click Here for directions. TRAIL DETAILS This hike is by permit only. Read the tips section below for more info about getting a permit. Hiking The Subway from the bottom means that you do not have to do any repelling to get to the beautiful blue-green pools of water known as The Subway, it does not mean that you are starting at a low point. From the parking lot, you will take a nicely maintained trail about 1/2 mile through a juniper and pinion forest. Things start to get interesting when that trail turns into a steep and rocky descent. Once you reach the bottom, you will take the Left Fork of North Creek stream and follow that all the way up until you hit the main attraction. The trail is rocky and unclear in many spots. You just have to pick a side of the stream and go back and forth as you make your way up. It's all about the journey and not the destination totally applies to this trail. There are so many beautiful gems along the way. The destination is pretty magical though. Scroll through for tips and additional info. TIPS AND ADDITIONAL INFO I'll be honest, getting a permit sucks. With that said I think I may have figured out a way to get a permit without all the rejection. Put in for a permit. You can try for the advanced lottery three months in advance, and you can try for the last minute lottery 2-7 days in advance. It costs $5 every time you apply. Click Here to apply. If luck is not on your side (it wasn't for me) try the day of route. Show up at the Kolob Canyon (Currently Closed but should be opening soon) visitor center or the Zion National Park visitor center at 8:00 in the morning and ask if there are any unclaimed permits. For the best chance of success try this on a weekday in the spring or fall. In order to avoid hiking the intense 1/2 mile uphill stretch in the heat of the day start your hike in the afternoon. You do not need a wetsuit for this route as you are not required to get in the water. Take plenty of water, snacks and a sack lunch. It took my hubby and I six and a half hours to complete the hike. We started at 12 pm and were finished by 6:30 pm. We did this hike in September, and it was so nice not to have the sun beating down on us during the final climb. We are in decent shape (not great). We walked pretty fast and had time for frequent photo stops. We only took about 15 minutes at the pools at the end since the wind was really intense in The Subway and we were a little nervous about getting back before dark. In hind site, I wish we would have stayed at the pools longer. Good comfy hiking shoes with good traction that can get wet will be your friend. Happy hiking, Arika

Family bike rides are a great way to get some exercise, get the kids off their electronics and enjoying the outdoors. One of the most beautiful bike riding trails around is the Pa’Rus trail in Zion National Park. Load your bikes up and bring them with you, or go the easy route and rent them from Zion Outfitter. Zion Outfitter is just steps from the walk-in entrance to Zion. This makes it so easy to rent your bikes and be riding the Pa’rus trail in a matter of minutes. TRAIL DETAILS The Pa’Rus trail is a relaxing and easy 1.7 mile (one way) biking and walking path that takes you along the Virgin River and ends at Canyon Junction (the shuttle stop that takes you into the canyon). The trail starts at the Visitor Center and goes along the South Campground. It takes you over several beautiful bridges that cross the Virgin River. There are numerous places to stop and let the kids play along the river. Scroll down for tips and additional info. TIPS AND ADDITIONAL INFO This path can easily be done in under an hour. The Pa'Rus trail will take you to the Natural History Museum where you can watch a really interesting short film about the history of Zion. You can put your bikes on the front of the shuttle at Canyon Junction and take the shuttle back to the visitor center if needed. Zion Outfitter also rents bike trailers for toddlers. Bring water and plenty of snacks on your biking adventure. Next time you are visiting Zion with your family make sure to bring your bikes or rent some and bike this beautiful trail. Get all the details about renting bikes from Zion Outfitter here.