Hi
I'm just about to pull the trigger on this trip (I'd been worrying about going because I broke my hip and femur in a bad fall, but I think I'll be good by early November.

We will fly in and out of Las Vegas, and rent a car.

I keep looking at the routes and the drives seem long, and it looks like there may be only one route. I tried adding on the Grand Canyon to make the trip circular, but the drives are then really long.

We want this to be a relaxing trip, as we've been under a lot of stress and pressure since I fell at the beginning of April.

And anyone help by suggesting a pleasant route that won't be boring coming and going. And is there anyway to break up the trip on the way back to Las Vegas?

We will have a week (+ or - a day) and don't really care if we stop in Las Vegas. We've looked into it, and it seems like it might be more trouble than we need, since we aren't really interested in anything there.

One or maybe 2 nights in Springdale to see Zion in different light conditions. Drive State Route 12 to get to Torrey. See Bryce Canyon either coming from or going to Torey.
Next night in Page AZ. See the lake and the dam. Maybe take a boat tour.
Next day drive from Page to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Good luck on getting any lodging there.
You may end up driving south to Williams to get lodging.
Be sure to see Hoover Dam on your way back to Las Vegas.
One thing that might interest you in LV is the Fremont Street Experience including the great buffet at the Golden Nugget.
They have the worlds largest gold nugget on public display (62+ lb).
If you don't want to spend a night in LV I do like places in Henderson or out at the Hoover Dam Lodge.

Check this map that was posted by another fodorite:

http://ohiohickstraveltips.weebly.co...-utah-map.html

Hi tuscanlifeedit,

Im so glad you are replanning and expecting to be feeling well by November!

I dont think you and your husband are planning to do any of the longer hikes, correct? With a week, you would have time to do this sort of cicular route:

LV to Torrey and Capitol Reef if you are getting into LV early enough, take the detour up to see the Kolob Canyon sectopion of Zion. Its gorgeous!
Drive hwy 12 to Boulder and stay at Boulder Mtn Inn for a real treat and a meal at Hells Backbone Grill.
If time, take the short detour to Kodachrome Basin St Park.
Continue to Bryce
Then drive to Zion.

If you are getting in to LV late, them do it in the opposite order.

Make sure you get res right away, lodging is limited in Capitol Reef, Boulder, Bryce at this time of year. Come prepared for snow at Bryce and possibly up and over Boulder Mtn on hwy 12. Try to have flexible res that will let you adjust a day if you need to wait out a storm. It can snow early at the higher elevations.

We did the circular loop with the Grand Canyon. The worst days driving were from Bryce to Tuba City and from Williams, AZ back to LV. We did stay in Henderson instead of LV which was much more laid back. Had no desire to stay on the strip, though the Bellagio lobby was a beautiful garden paradise. A slight alternate we did was to get the national park annual pass. Then we decided to drive through Lake Mead on our way to Bryce instead of straight highway. There was this little oasis area that I just found stunning (but I am from PA and was enchanted by all the plants and rocks of the new landscape anyway!) Don't neglect the northern (Kolob?) area of Zion!

Thank you all.

I'm going to get down to plotting this out. I've been looking a lodgings for the first week of November but I didn't look at the Grand Canyon. I will check.

Dayle, it was late last night when I checked these replies. I see that others picked up on my mention of the GC, but I think you understood that I was saying I didn't want to be in the car that long. Your proposed itinerary sounds very good. I am hoping to book our air very shortly.

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

Thanks.

tuscan,

Glad it sounds appealing to you. A little more detail.

If you get in to LV early enough, head up I15, past St. Geroge and make the side trip up to the Kolob Canyon section of Zion NP.
Continue on to Cedar City if you want to stay overnight before reaching Torrey.

Stay 1 nt in Torrey and visit Capitol Reef. A half day or full day here. Unfortunately Cafe Diablo will be closed for the season as will most of the town. Have a cooler and picnic supplies with you.

Up and over Boulder Mtn to Boulder Mtn Inn in, where else?, Boulder. Otherwise known as a bend in the road. There are a couple other places to stay here, but the Inn is the place. They are on a bird refuge, have a great hot tub and a great restaurant. Make res for dinner ahead, it's very small and extremely popular. there is the Anazasi Museum and the start of the Burr Trail which is a very scenic paved road for a ways. Turn back and backtrack at the end of the pavement.

Next day continue on Hwy 12 thru Escalante Grand Staircase Natl Monument. Drive down Hole in the Rock road to the Devil's Garden if you feel like you have time, or do the detour to Kodachrome Basin before going up to Bryce.

1 or two nts at Bryce. 1 might be enough.

2 or 3 nts at Zion and back to LV.

If you decide to stay fewer nights at Bryce and Zion, St. George has the beautiful Snow Canyon park, lots of golf..... and a couple of interesting historical buildings good for a short peek. Jacob Hamblin's home in Santa Clara, Brigham Young's winter home in St. George, the St. George Temple, very pretty from the outside. there is also the Johnson Farm Dinosaur Tracks, a fairly recent discovery. Thousands of dino prints right off I 15.

Lots of ideas for you and your hubby to consider.

Best restaurant in town is the Painted Pony. Res are needed.

Dayle, I owe you. Thank you so much for all of this.

Everyone: we are changing our dates from Nov 1 for a week to October 18 for a week.

I wonder if this will be pleasant weather. I'm a little concerned about the in and out of Las Vegas. I seriously hate heate.

LV will still be warm but not nearly as bad as summer. Mid Oct is a fabulous time to visit, but its still fairly busy in the parks. All the Europeans and retirees choose this time since the kids are back at school. Plus you need to miss the Utah school break that happens in Oct. hurry and get your res!! You will find things much more booked up in October.

Isn't Oct 18th right around fall recess for UT schools? We're driving through UT on our way home from Yellowstone this fall and are planning to be out of UT by the 16th.

It looks like Utah recess will be either the 18th or 19th and the 20th, Wednesday to Friday for most of the public schools.

I'm sticking with November 1 to 8. I had no idea about the October recess in Utah, so thank you everyone.

I love October here in Western PA, and I'll be happy to stay right here.

We have two fabulous season, spring and fall, and I spent all of April in the hospital and nursing facility. I think I'll relax and enjoy October at home, planning for my trip to Utah in early November.

I'll be back shortly with lodging questions. Reserving air today.

Thank you all so much.