First - thanks to all of you who helped plan our trip last year to the S. Rim, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. We had an amazing time thanks to everyone's fabulous advice. And, now, we are headed to Utah and need your help.
Mid May trip (yes, N. Rim opens on May 10th)

Here is our plan:

Fly into Vegas - drive to N. Rim -
2 nights in N. Rim (western Cabin inside park)

Then - leave the N. Rim and drive to Bryce - 1 night in Bryce (western cabin inside park)
- Here we want to go to Cap. Reef - but - should we stay a night there, too - or just drive up and see it for a half day from Bryce? We could take one night off of the N. Rim and stay a night at Cap. Reef instead...

Then - after Bryce and Cap. Reef - drive to Zion and stay one night at Desert Pearl(highly rec'd by Fodorites) -
then head to Vegas for about 3 days to relax at some lavish hotel/spa.

I am wondering also - should we just stay at N. Rim (1 night) then maybe 3 nights at Zion and day trip from Zion to Bryce and Cap. Reef?

Thoughts? Advice? Suggestions? Must sees? Accomodations?

THANK YOU!!!!!!

I kind of like the idea of staying at the wonderful Desert Pearl Inn and day tripping, Judy

Do you think it is too much driving or not? I wasn't sure - since Cap. Reef seems kind of far away...
thank you for the help!

If you want my honest opinion, since you went to the Grand Canyon last year I would skip it and do two nights at Bryce, drive scenic Hwy 12 , two nights at Torrey so you have time to explore Capitol Reef and then drive back on Hwy 12 to Zion for two nights.

Utahtea

Really? Thanks. Utahtea. I thought the N. Rim and S. Rim were so very different and that both were must-sees. I trust your judgement. If you say so, we will skip the N. Rim.
Where do you like to stay in Torrey?

We did the N.Rim a few yrs back..lots of driving to get there and when we arrived we were limited in the park as to where we could drive due to fires..stayed at the Desert Pearl and could have spent the whole trip there. We did not bother to upgrade to the river view rooms as the pool view was great and a wonderful area to spend time at. We ended up with the last room on the first floor, away from the pool. Can't say enough about that place! Great rooms, beds, bath, & deck to sit out on. Forget the Canyon, stay another day at the PEARL!

Disneynan,
THANK YOU! Your advice is GREAT! And,, many thanks to all of you.

This is the plan - skip GC N. Rim - go from Vegas to Bryce instead- stay one night inside park in cabin

then - go to Cap. Reef and stay at Boulder MTN lodge one night - does anyone have the site for this place?

- then from Cap reef drive to zion and stay 2 nts at desert pearl - then - back to vegas

sound OK? any must see stops along way?

thanks AGAIN!

Boulder Mtn. Lodge:http://www.boulder-utah.com/ that was another great place to stay and they have a nice restaurant on-site. This is really in the middle of nowhere . We opted to upgrade here and got a room with a deck overlooking the pond..did a day trip to Lower Calf Falls right down the road, suggested by the owners ...

P.S.Also if you need a nice scenic place to stay before you leave Las Vegas try bidding PRICELINE for a room at Hyatt Lake LasVegas,Henderson. Gorgeous property & views, far from the crowds yet close to the airport. We had it for an amazing price this past Oct.& would gladly stay a week!