WHAT ARE OUR LODGING OPTIONS?
National park lodges and cabins offer immediate access to the parks, which was a big draw for a number of readers. "To sit at our window and look out at the canyon was incredible," says Lynne Tickle of Richmond, Virginia, who stayed at the Grand Canyon's Kachina Lodge. "We'd wake up early, go for a walk around the rim, and be back for breakfast!" Amenities at park accommodations vary widely, however, so if you're looking for luxury, they may not be for you. For example, rooms can be small and simply appointed (no television, for starters), there are no pools, and some lack air-conditioning. Still, for many families, staying in the parks made the trip more memorable. For information, contact the Xanterra Parks & Resort agency, which handles all in-park lodging (888-297-2757; xanterra.com).
The National Park Service also has campgrounds in all three parks. For information on Zion and the Grand Canyon, call 800-365-2267 or go to reservations.nps.gov; for Bryce, call 877-444-6777 or go to reserveusa.com.
Alternatives include gateway towns, which are minutes outside each park and offer standard (and in some cases luxury) hotel accommodations, as well as cabins and privately owned campgrounds. Many readers simply picked one city to use as a hub for visiting all three parks.
HOW HARD IS IT TO GET THERE?
Depending on where you live, a trip to canyon country can feel like a major expedition. Fortunately, there are myriad options. If you're considering flying in and visiting more than one park, look into a round-trip flight to Las Vegas, Nevada, or a multicity flight that lets you fly into one destination, Las Vegas, for example, then drive to and fly out of another, such as Phoenix or Flagstaff, Arizona. (Amtrak also offers service to Flagstaff.) Once you're out there, be prepared for long drives (about 275 miles from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon's South Rim, for example), and routes, while scenic and uncongested, can seem a bit desolate. You can also look into smaller airports in St. George, Utah, and Tusayan, Arizona (about seven miles from the Grand Canyon), which will cut travel time but may add cost.
If you're up for a truly epic road trip, follow the lead of readers who motored in from the coasts. For the Gigueres of Shelburne, Massachusetts, an RV rental was the ticket. "For our large family, it was cheaper than renting hotel rooms and easier than flying with camping gear," says mom Barbara. "Our kids could sit across from each other and play games as we drove -- and we didn't need to stop for bathroom breaks."
