Utah, Yellowstone or Glacier with a 3 year old?!?
 

Early ’09 our daughter will be 3 years old. We are aching to take a nice vacation, having been to Tetons/Yellowstone pre-baby, and loving it, we are torn between exploring “new” places to us, or just going back to Wyoming again.

We are considering either Utah/Arches/Moab or Glacier or back to Yellowstone/Tetons.

My wife and I love hiking and outdoors but obviously we will be limited by the capacity and attention-span of our daughter. Were trying to make a good decision for the whole family and not have this turn into a series of long drives with our daughter strapped to the car seat and whining the whole time or making her bored stiff with the scenery type stuff.

We go on lots of hikes but I am convinced that she would be just as happy playing in the dirt in the parking lot than our actual destination.

Can anyone recommend a better place to bring an energetic 3 year old girl?
Tetons/Yellowstone (too much driving needed?)
Arches/Canyonlands (too much hiking needed?)
Glacier (too much both?)

We will likely fly into the nearest local airport and rent a van.

Confused and craving a vacation!
Thanks,
-Glen

You can see a lot of Arches without much hiking or driving. It is very easy to get around and a lot is right on the road. It is much smaller than Yellowstone. Canyonlands is big. Glacier might be more manageable than Yellowstone. If you choose Glacier or Yellowstone maybe just stay more in one or two areas. Of course, any of them, the longer hikes are very nice. Zion and Bryce are smaller parks and easier to get around as well. I have seen more people hiking with kids at Zion than any other place. She would probably like splashing in "The Narrows".

We did Yellowstone with a 2 year old and 4 year old, and had a very good trip. A short hike at that age can take half a day as they stop to examine every rock, insect, leaf, etc.

I also recommend taking a look at Rocky Mountain National Park. We went there when our sons were 1 and 3. A variety of terrain, wildlife and short hiking opportunities led us to return there when they were 4 and 6.

Just don't plan on long drives except when you want her to nap.

We just did a family trip to Moab with kids (search for Moab Trip Report--you will see plenty but mine has something like with young kids in the title). Arches is an ideal park for little children.

I'm not taking the kids to Yellowstone till little missy listens better. I grew up with that park as practically my back yard and worked there for a summer---you would be amazed at how often people step into hot pots! So I really am not interested in spending time in the burn unit! Depends on how well your DD listens.

Glacier is cool but HUGE. It also depends on when you want to go. We went over 4th of July and it was COLD. We stayed one night and went up to Waterton Park which was nicer. But lots of long driving distances there.

If you decide on Moab there is a Giant Hill of Red Sand just outside the park entrance that kids gather on and roll down. It is fun to just sit and watch them. You see alot of kids under 5 doing this. Sometimes as many as 100. The hill is big enough to accomodate 100 easily.

Your bigger concern might be weather. If you are going before May, then I'd rule out Yellowstone. Spring would be a good time to visit Arches and Canyonlands. I wouldn't go to Utah in the summer.

Our two boys grew up going on long road trip vacations. First born started at 7 months and second one at 5 months. I won't kid you, it was work but I wouldn't have changed anything. For the most part children just like being with their parents, so if your happy, they are happy.

We took our boys to Yellowstone when they were 1 1/2 and 4 1/2 (campging in a tent trailer) Many of the hikes in Yellowstone are stroller friendly and we had one that they both could ride in which eleminated the worry about falling into hot water.

At 3 1/2 our son did the Queen's Garden hike in Bryce. If you decide on Arches and Canyonlands and you feel your daughter isn't up to a couple miles of hiking then you might want to see if a kids backpack would work.


Utahtea