We have just returned from a great trip to our national parks in the southwest and I wish to thank all you folks for the great advice. Just a few thoughts. The horseback riding at Bryce was wonderful. We did the three hour trip in the park and saw the most beautiful scenery. Some of the edges are a little steep but my kids (8 and 13) didn't seem to notice. The cowboys tell some corny jokes and are very entertaining. I am so glad we did this at Bryce, becouse I can't imagine it being better. I could never have hiked an eight mile (Peek a boo)loop on foot and was able to see great scenery, tunnels and experience the canyon). Also in Bryce, well just outside the park, is an ATV rental outfit called Scenic Tours. They take you to an area about 15 minutes away (red mountain) for a GREAT ride. You will be covered in dust and smiling the whole time. The ATV rentals at Ruby's do not allow 13 year olds to ride alone and do not have the ups and downs on their trails. This was really fun. Staying at Ruby's was a plus. The kids were happy to have the pool after all the national park lodges but the food was lacking. At Mesa Verde, the lodge is a bit sparse and no air conditioning so daytime were warm. However, we set up a camping cot on the balcony and watched deer just below out feet in the evening and early morning. I think I heard wild horses during the night as well. It also was 40 something degrees that night. The Cliff Palace tour was great at 5pm. Not many people around and a small group. Zion was a quick stop. We hiked the narrows for an hour or so in the late afternoon. Great lighting for photos. Went tubing in Springdale. This was an alot of fun, but don't expect high water levels. Much of the tubing was knee deep water and you had to walk around some to the rocks. Even my husband enjoyed it and that is not his type of thing. The Grand Canyon was just that - GRAND. There were lots of condors flying around the Bright Angel Lodge. Hiked the Bright Angel Trail after discovering I could not park at S. Kaibab trailhead. It's amazing what shoes people attempt to hike in. Note- sandles, flimsy thin soled loaphers are not a good idea. We did a quick drive through into Arches becouse of lack of time and the same in Capital Reef. The drive from Moab to Bryce is very senic but get ready for some white knuckle driving. There is one stretch around Boulder ? were there is a severe dropoff on both sides of road (1,000 ft maybe, I was too scared to look), no shoulder and no guard rails. I don't think I would do it again. This was a very long day (Mesa Verde to Moab to Bryce. It could probably have been planned better.

Thank you for the interesting report. I am planning a similar itinerary. What road has the white knuckle driving? Do you remember the road name or number?

Hey JoyM thanks for the trip report. In the few months I have been with Fodors I find that lots of people ask for advice, but few do a follow up.

I really liked Bryce, but Zion is still my favorite.

JoyM - I'm heading to the Southwest next wk. Do you have a phone # or website for Scenic Tours? My boys would love that! Thanks!

The white knuckle drive JoyM is talking about is Hwy 12 and the area she is describing is called the Hogs Back.

LOL...the very first time we drove to Boulder it was pouring rain and we couldn't see any thing. We spent some time in Boulder at the Anasazi Indian Village State Park. The sun came out and we drove back over the Hogs Back and were amazed at what we had missed during the rain.

http://www.so-utah.com/hwy12/hogsback/hogsair.jpg

Going south bound there is a little turn out before an area that is very narrow. We always stop there in our motorhome and have lunch.

Utahtea

The ATV rides are with Bryce Canyon ATV Adventure Tours and Rentals at the junction of Hwy. 12 and Hwy 63 (can't miss it). www.atvbrycecanyon.com
Do the three hour into Red Canyon. We also did the one hour with my young daughter( she rode as a passenger) this was a nice ride in the Dixie Forest but the three hour is GREAT! Nice folks. You could prehaaps walk right up without reservations but on a tight schedule I always plan ahead. The cafe just behind the place is not bad either. As for the drive from Moab-north to I-70, then west to Hwy 24. The drive to Hanksville is barren, zip, nadda, very boring but you can speed as fast as you like. After that it gets very senic as you near Capital Reef. At Torrey take Hwy 12 south. The white knuckle part I recall near Boulder. Most of the rode I would describe as easy mountain driving, curvy with ups and downs and also very senic. Picnic supplies would be great.

Sorry folks. I just read my earlier messages. I will start proofreading. It's early here in Louisiana.

Thanks, JoyM, for the info about the Bryce Canyon ATVs. I cked out their website and made reservations. My boys are psyched!