I just got back from my 9 day trip to Bryce, Moab and Zion and got so much useful information from this forum that I thought I would share my trip. I'll try to make it brief.

Flew to Vegas from NY. Rented an SUV from Payless. It was the cheapest rental and also doesn't charge you for an extra driver. Stopped at the Target in Vegas to pick up snacks and water. This was a helpful tip I got from this forum. Drove to Bryce and stopped at the Crystal Hotel (?) in Cedar City to eat dinner at about 7:00 PM. Arrived at Rubys Best Western. I wasn't too keen about staying there but the closeness to Bryce made up for my hesitation. Rooms were very clean. Food was passable. There's not much of a choice of places to eat or stay if you want to be close to Bryce. Watched the sunrise at Bryce the next morning. Had dinner at Bryce Lodge. We enjoyed it as well as breakfast there the next monring. More of a selection than at Rubys and nicer atmosphere. After breakfast, drove to Moab, highway 12, stopping all along the way. It is a beautiful drive. Just amazing especially being from a city. Stayed at the Sorrel River Ranch & Spa. Just to let you know, we decided to not worry about a budget on this trip for once. Great place. Great room. One side faced the Colorado River and cliffs, the other side mountains. Ate in the hotel restaurant. Pretty place, expensive, nothing great. The only drawback for this place is that it's about 25 minutes out of Moab. Long drive in the dark. We hired a guide, Mike, from Trekntrails in Moab, to take us on a easy mountainbike ride. This was a wonderful experience and he was great. If anyone wants his email or address I'd be more than happy to give it. We went to Arches and Canyonlands and hiked around. We had one dinner at the Center Cafe. Great meal. Pricey but well worth it. Breakfast at Eklectic Cafe and lunch at LaHacienda. Both good. After 3 nights in Moab we went to Zion. Once again a beautiful drive even though we were on interstate 70 for most of the way. There was snow on the ground and on the mountains. Stayed at the Desert Pearl Inn. Nice place. We had a 1st floor river room. Just to let you know, there is no view of the river from the room and you can't leave the shades open because people walk on the lawn and can look right into your room. We hiked the Narrows. Amazing experience. We rented dry pants, socks and shoes from the Zion Adventure Company. We got our stuff the day before and were very glad we did. This way we got an early start in the morning. I am not the most adventerous and am a bit of a scaredy cat but I did it and am glad I did. Rent the gear!! Even if it's just the shoes and a stick. Rent everything if it's cold. We bought sandwiches to take with us from the Sol Market. It's right before the park. Good place to get a quick bite or food for your room. We also hiked the Emerald Pools. Not that same day. A great dinner at the Barking Dog. After 3 nights in Zion we headed back to Vegas and home.

I hope my information helps other travelers. This was one of the best trips we've ever taken and now we want to see the other amazing places the US has to offer. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask.

Thanks so much. We're planning a trip in April and this is a huge help.

Hi closer53- Thanks so much for your report. Your comments about Zion and hiking the Narrows are extremely encouraging to me as my DD and I will be there next June. So glad you enjoyed your trip, thanks for sharing your experience with us.

Hi, we're planning a similar trip next June, but flying into SLC and out of Vegas. Did you feel isolated staying outside of Moab? I'm trying to decide between staying outside of Moab or DT. We will spend 3 days there too. Also, going to Bryce from there, but have read recommendations on staying in Boulder, we stayed at Ruby's a few years back, not our kind of place, too many kids. Do you know how far Boulder - Bryce is? Then we are also planning on staying at the Desert Pearl near Zion, I think that part is a no brainer.

Thanks for your help.

Owlwoman..We did not feel isolated staying outside of Moab especially given the surroundings at Sorrel. It was just that we eneded up driving back and forth a couple of times a day because of bad planning. We went biking one morning and then were planning on hiking in Arches but one person didn't want to go and someone else wanted to change so we drove them back and then drove to Arches. One night we picked up dinner in Moab,(at the one and only Chinese restaurant. Quite the experience but good food) after a day of hiking , and ate dinner in our room.

Regarding Bryce, I went in October, after the summer, specififcally to miss the hordes of children so I know what you mean. I did look into staying outside of Bryce but couldn't get a reservation. Since we were only at Ruby's for 2 nights, we could deal with it. Any longer and I don't know but given the proximity to the entrance of Bryce we felt it was the best pick.

to FLmom...Definitely do the Narrows. I'm in my mid 40s and made it through. The Zion Adventure Company was great. They give you an informational talk before you go and tell you about the water and weather conditions. I knew I would make it when I saw fearless teenagers doing it and also older people. Enjoy.

Thank you, I think we'll splurge for Sorrel Ranch, maybe two nights, then I just found this Red River Ranch in Torrey which looks amazing, for two nights, then a night in Boulder visiting Bryce from there on our way to Zion. Two nights at Desert Pearl and then onto the craziness of Vegas.

I would respectfully suggest the Dreamcatcher B&B in Moab and the Boulder Mountain Inn in Boulder.

We didn't stay at the Red River ranch in Torrey but checked it out...it looks like a special place and I wish we HAD stayed there. It is set well off the road out od town in a grove of trees. just a beautiful setting.

Hi Closer,

I go to Moab at least once a year and personally I would not want to stay out of town. I always recommend the Dreamkeeper in Moab, The Boulder Mtn Inn in Boulder and The Red River in Torrey, very nice!

Have fun!

For future Zion travelers, unless there is a new dog in town, it's the Spotted Dog Café, rather than Barking Dog.

I've never stayed at Desert Pearl, but stayed at Cliffrose our first trip to Zion. The next trip we stayed at Zion Lodge in the park, and that's the way we'll go from now on. Not that Cliffrose (and Desert Pearl) aren't wonderful, but the park in the moonlight, those sheer cliff walls lit only by the moon, is simply awesome. We loved the experience, loved the quiet, loved being there when the majority of people had left for the day. We stayed in the lodge itself, but next time will plan further ahead and shoot for one of the little cabins with porches and fireplaces. Two trips, several days each, and we still haven't gotten enough of it!

OO- Yes, of course it's the Spotted Dog Cafe. I had a momentary brain blip.

I'm well familiar with those brain blips myself, close. I've got another, not-nearly-so-genteel name for them.

Darn-it OO, just when I think I'm all settled down and not going to dream about my trip...you get me all stirred up again. Your description of the lodge at Zion sounds so beautiful that I’ve got to pinch myself and re-read my reservation sheet!! Yes, I’m getting to go next summer and I feel like the luckiest person I know. Thanks for giving me a glimpse of gorgeous things to come.