Camping at Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort - On my own
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.
