Guide to Las Vegas with kids: family-friendly Las Vegas vacation

There was a time when I didn't think of Las Vegas as a family-friendly trip idea, but in the past few years, Vegas hotels and attractions have made strides to be more kid-oriented. Whether your family trip focuses on Las Vegas entertainment, outdoor recreation, or dining (or all of the above), the following advice can help make your trip to Sin City much more wholesome. During this time of … [Read more...]

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

Just 20 minutes from the bright and bustling Las Vegas strip, Red Rock Canyon can be a welcome respite from the crowds, especially in the spring or fall. (If visiting in summer, try to make it a morning expedition.) Start at the visitor's center, located at the start of the scenic loop drive. The Canyon Interpretive Association puts on occasional classes and programs, so check when you … [Read more...]

Kennedy Park, Helena MT

If you've road tripped through Montana on a summer family vacation, you know that while beautiful, the state of Montana is vast...and often empty. Pit stops are sometimes scarce, which makes Kennedy Park (located on Harrison Avenue) in the heart of East Helena all the more attractive. We loved the wide space of grass (the boys dug the soccer ball out of the car), the picnic areas, and the … [Read more...]

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 19): Hiking in Zion Canyon

We devoted Day 19 to morning hikes in Zion National Park and the afternoon to floating along the Virgin River behind our room at the Cliffrose Lodge. We began our day at the visitor's center, where we consulted the shuttle route (also found in the park newsletter) and planned our hike to the Emerald Pools on the Zion Lodge shuttle stop. The Emerald Pools is a great hike for kids because you … [Read more...]

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 17): Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens

After driving from Park City to Zion National Park, day 17 found us at Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens in Springdale, Utah, gateway to the park. Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens is located in the heart of Springdale, mere yards from the national park entrance. While all of Springdale enjoys an unexpected lushness of greenery and flowering plants (due to water from the Virgin River which flows through … [Read more...]

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 16): Cove Fort, Utah

On Day 16, we reluctantly left the Westgate Park City behind to enthusiastically set out for Zion National Park. We needed a pit stop en route, and found it in Cove Fort between Fillmore and Beaver along I-15. At first, we thought Cove Fort was a self-guided tour, but after eating our lunch in their large picnic area, we were greeted by a fort guide (docent) and told that entrance to the fort … [Read more...]

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 7): Boulder Hot Springs

31 Hot Springs Road Boulder, MT On Day 7, we said goodbye to Glacier and the Many Glacier Hotel and drove south to Big Sky, Montana, with a midway stopover in Boulder. Boulder Hot Springs Inn and Spa is located almost mid-way between Butte and Helena just off Interstate 15 in Boulder. Sitting on almost 300 acres, it's in a very pretty location, and the geothermal waters are wonderful. We … [Read more...]