Where to stay in Utah and Grand Canyon
 

We will be going to Utah (Bryce, Zion) and to the Grand Canyon in June. We have two children aged 5 & 6. Any recommendations for nice hotels to stay at? A pool would strongly be preferred. Any restaurant recommendations? Activities?

Thanks.

With kids that age, I would stay at Ruby's (a Best Western) while at Bryce - but beware, it probably would not qualify as "nice". It has a pool - which National Park lodges do not. Also laundramat, mediocre restaurant, multiple gift shops - but enough diversions since kids will not likely take to much hiking and looking at scenery after some hours.

At Grand Canyon, check Xanterra.com for availability at either North or South Rim of GC - may be full already. In my opinion, for the GC it is much better to stay right there than to travel back and forth from area of multiple hotels outside park.

Thanks Gail. Any other suggestions?

At Zion, I highly recommend the Desert Pearl Inn in Springdale which is just outside the Park's west entrance. Super nice rooms and a beautiful pool. The Spotted Dog Cafe was our fav place to eat in Springdale, but multiple other more
children oreinted food places, also
are available. Do a search on this
board for Zion, Bryce and GC.

If pools are high on your list, you might look into Cliffrose for your Zion stay. It sits just outside the entrance to the park, has a small pool, and the rooms are comfortable and clean. The propterty is situated alongside the Virgin River, has a huge lawn where the kids can run, and where deer come for an evening snack in their flower beds. (Fun for everyone but the Lodge owners to watch. :) ) The setting is lovely.

We ate at both Zion Pizza & Noodle and the Spotted Dog Cafe. Both very good, casual restaurants where you'll be comfortable with the kids.

We stayed at Ruby's in Bryce, would have preferred to have stayed in the park both at Bryce and Zion, but the lodge at Bryce was closed when we were there in November, and there was only availability for one night in Zion and we didn't feel like moving. Ruby's was fine...we had a room on one side overlooking a little lake. They've got a convenience store on grounds where you can pick up pretty much anything you need in the line of clothing or snacks. Every base is covered! :) Never saw their pool, but then...it was November and we didn't much care about swimming. There aren't a lot of dining options in the area, so we ate at Rubys as well, mediocre at best, but this is one of those trips that isn't all about food, too.

Like Gail, if you can stay in the park at the Grand Canyon, I'd recommend that over driving back to town. We've stayed both in and out of the park and <i>far</i> prefer staying within. It is beautiful there in the moonlight and you really don't want that drive unless you absolutely have no choice. Within the park we've stayed in the Bright Angel cabins which are within a 2 minute walk of the rim...very basic accommodations, somewhat on the rustic side, but perfectly adequate. It's an easy walk from the cabins to several restaurants. Last November we stayed at Yavapi Lodge, having gotten everyone's plans together too late to get into Bright Angel. The rooms were very very nice, recently renovated, small refrig and nice setting, but although within the park, it's a drive to get to the other restaurants (there is one there, cafeteria style) and the trailheads we were interested in, nor is it an easy walk to the rim. If you have a choice, and this late in the game you probably do not, I'd try to get Bright Angel cabins.

You've got a wonderful trip planned. How many days are you taking?

Thanks for all the great suggestions. We will be in Utah/GC for a week. Any suggestions as to how to break that time up between the three locations?

Definitely stop at the visitor center at Hoover Dam &amp; take the tour!! Also, Boulder City NV. Check out a few hotels in Vegas too!! Each is a destination of it's own! There are chain hotels in Williams, AZ with pools, etc. Have a great trip!!

Thanks.

If you are considering staying in Williams I'd recommend the Quality Inn Mountain Ranch &amp; Rsrt. It is 6 miles out of town and located in the woods so the views are nice. The children staying there seemed to be having a blast as there was a huge grassy area for them to play in that includes a volleyball net, one basketball net, bench swing, three teepees &amp; a wagon, and a pool. The rooms are nothing special with no frills, but they are clean and in good condition and a little bigger than the average hotel room. A night there costs a little over half what you'd pay in GCNP or for one directly outside the park, though you do have an hour's drive.