Any Suggestions Please!! Choose Bryce, Zion OR Oregon??????
 

I have A Wedding in LA on Sept. 9th. I was looking into Flying to Vegas on Sept. 1, driving to Zion 2 nights (sept. 1 and 2), Bryce 2 nights (sept. 3 and 4), North Rim one night, sept 5, back to Vegas 2 nights (sept. 6 and 7th). Fly to LA on the 8th. Question would I have time to drive around to other sites, Cedar, more parks in utah a little north, arhes etc....or Lake Powell southeast? What is the drive time from bryce to some parks in the north? <BR> <BR>The other question is what would be a better trip scenic, and time wise and given this itinerary, Oregon or some other Parks or Bryce and Zion??? Or does the Vegas trip do me just fine? <BR> <BR>I am going with a Greenhorn (new) Hiker and probably won't do anything to strenuous. <BR> <BR>Planning to stay at the Best westerns near both parks and canon lodge north rim. Hotel Paris or treasure Island in Vegas. Any input would be helpful. Thanks!!!!

What would you try to see in Oregon? <BR>I think has to be established before you can arrive at a good answer. <BR>If Oregon, do you plan on driving along the Oregon coast? <BR>It may boil down to a choice of red rock formations of sandstone and shale or the sea shore. The Oregon coast is rocky in places where the waves pound, and at other places you have broad beaches. <BR>They are not particularly good for swimming because the wind blows and the water is cold. <BR>We watched some intrepid would be bather walk across the sand to the water. The air temperature was about 75 and the wind was about 30 mph. A large wave doused our intrepid swimmer. It was not long until she was retreating poste haste to her motel. I bet she was one big goose bump!

I like southern Utah, and I think your itinerary is a good one although I might drop the one night at the Grand Canyon. I'm not a big fan of the Grand Canyon, but if you go, you should spend more time there. i really like Zion and Bryce. Bryce is the smaller of the two, but is the more scenic (IMO). At Bryce, I'd do the Narrows hike (follows a smallish river through some awesome canyons. It can get NARROW in there, though. And wet.) <BR>Oregon would be more work. I like Bend. There's lots of outdoors stuff there, and in the town of Sisters. Then there's Crater Lake, but that's a one day trip. It is neat, but not really worth a long trip to get there (IMO). <BR>I like Arches and Canyonlands near Moab on the eastern side of Utah, but I think it'd be too long of a drive from where you'll be for it to be worthwhile. I think that area deserves a seperate trip. <BR>Have fun.

The Narrows are at Zion NOT Bryce. Sorry - my typing fingers aren't following my mental commands.

My input: <BR> <BR>See as much as you can of the S. Utah parks. <BR> <BR>Make a dinner reservation early at the NOrth Rim (around sunset). try sunrisesunset.com to figure it out. <BR> <BR>Overall, spend less time at GC and more in S. Utah. <BR> <BR>Although Oregon is nice, I thought Southern Utah was spectacular and diverse. <BR> <BR>You will also be past school starting time.. so you won't run into the crowds. <BR> <BR>Skip Oregon. Do more Utah. <BR>

Southern utah is the way to go. There are great easy hikes in Bryce that will just blow you away. Zion has a great easy hike up to a natural swimming hole. Powell lake is to touristy I didn't enjoy it. North rim as OK it is the way to see the Grand Canyon with less tourist. We enjoyed the Hoover Dam tour on the border of Nevada and Arizona

another vote for utah! oregon can be spectacularly beautiful, but southern utah is so unique, it feels like you are on another planet. bryce canyon is one of my favorite spots ever - make sure you take a sunrise hike through the inside of the canyon. it's not too strenuous (trust me - i am NOT a hiker!), but it is completely spectacular, and it's still nice and cool then.

had an awesome 10 day vacation in North Rim, Zion & Bryce. 3 of us. we hiked most of the time. 1 of the 3 wasn't in great shape. My favorite was probably Zion. The Narrows was great (we rented gear at a place just outside of the park). We also did the Angel's landing hike which isn't easy (especially for me since i'm afraid of heights), but wow. it's great. I loved north rim as well. If you reserve ahead, you can do the mule ride down. That's nice. The lodge is beautiful. North Rim was really cozy, but be forwarned that the drive in is long and there's not much near there. Bryce was my least favorite, because it's smaller. I wish we had just stayed there one night. It's beautiful to see, but the hikes were very easy and it's not really big. The town outside of zion has some really good places to eat. <BR>this place has links to all 3: <BR>http://www.amwest-travel.com/awt_zion1.html

Yet another vote for Zion. <BR> <BR>Spent my 30th birthday there (will not admit how many years ago, but it wasn't too many) hiking there. We rented a cabin in the national park. Very nice. We were there in mid-October, and the weather was fantastic. We loved the towns near the park -- great food and crafts. Nice horse riding in the park, too. I'm an easterner and I was blown away by the scenery. Hikes were easy/challenging.