WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT?
Summer, when most FamilyFun readers took their trips, is high season at the parks. Ranger programs are in full swing, as is free, efficient shuttle service to trailheads, visitors' centers, and popular lookouts, including Zion's Scenic Drive and the Grand Canyon's Hermit Road. Summer is also when you can visit the remote North Rim of the Grand Canyon (a 250-mile round-trip from Zion, or a 90-mile round-trip detour en route from Zion to the South Rim). Of course, high season also brings crowds, peak lodging rates, and hot days inside the canyons, where daytime temperatures regularly spike over 100 degrees.
Even though summer is when most families can travel, many of our Utah and Arizona readers take their kids to the parks in fall (for vibrant colors) and spring (for abundant wildflowers). Both seasons, they report, bring fabulous weather, uncrowded parks, and up to 30 percent discounts on lodging.
WHERE DO WE START RESEARCHING?
If you're seriously thinking of heading to canyon country, here's a starter kit for general information.
- nps.gov: The official National Park Ser-vice Web site offers a good overview of each destination, but surf it thoroughly (especially the "in depth" section for each park), as some information is hard to find.
- us-national-parks.net: An exhaustive site for in-park activities and more.
- areaparks.com: Good for preliminary trip planning, especially for gateway towns, lodging, and dining.
- travelwest.net: General site with links to tour and vacation packages, as well as park and area city information.
- grand-canyon.com: Reservations site for guided trips in the Grand Canyon.
