4 Best Sights in Zion National Park, Utah

Informal lectures take place on the Zion Human History Museum patio twice a day (10:30 am and 2:30 pm) and daily at 4 pm at Zion Lodge and may cover anything from wildlife and geology to the stories of early settlers. Talks usually last from 20 to 30 minutes, though some run longer.

Architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, responsible for many noteworthy national park lodges, designed the original Zion Lodge, which opened in 1924 but was destroyed by fire four decades later (the neighboring guest cabins survived and are still in use today). It was hastily rebuilt in about 100 days, and then in 1990, it received a painstaking restoration that brought it back to its original rustic style, in some cases down to the very paint color. Natural beauty is on display inside and out, from the lobby's rock columns and exposed wood to the cottonwoods shading the sprawling lawn. The main building includes a gift shop, an upscale restaurant, and an outdoor café with a large patio and beer garden. One way to experience the lodge and its surroundings is through an open-air narrated tram ride (the fare is $17).

Held each evening at 9 pm from May through October in Watchman Campground Amphitheater, these 45-minute ranger-led talks cover geology, biology, and history. You might learn about coyote calls, the night sky, the secret life of bats, or observing nature with all your senses. Slide shows and audience participation are often part of the proceedings.

This informative museum tells the park's story from the perspective of its human inhabitants, among them Ancestral Puebloans and early Mormon settlers. Permanent exhibits illustrate how humans have dealt with wildlife, plants, and natural forces. Temporary exhibits have touched on everything from vintage park-employee photography to the history of Union Pacific Railroad hotels. Don't miss the incredible view of Towers of the Virgin from the back patio.