Zion National Park for Families

Zion National Park is located Southwestern Utah close to the Arizona and Nevada borders. It is about 2 1/2 hours from Las Vegas (where we began this trip) and one of the major attractions along the "Grand Tour Circle" which includes Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon (still on my list of places to visit).

This was our first real hiking trip as family and we didn't know what to expect. Even though we did enough research about kid-friendly trails beforehand, any wise parent knows that traveling with children includes unexpected turn of events such as carsick kids, uncooperative weather, toilet disasters, sudden tantrums, broken equipment and forgotten items among a list of others.

We believe traveling provides one of the best real-life education for kids and do our best to travel every chance we can get. It can get costly to travel as family but if planned carefully and properly, it doesn't have to break a bank. Plus, sharing memories and exploring new places together as family are priceless, as we get to learn more about the world and each other in ways otherwise not possible. Thus far, traveling has one of the best investments for our growing family.

We left Las Vegas at about 6 am and arrived at Zion National Park at about 11 am. The drive took little over 2 1/2 hours but we stopped at Black Bear Diner in St. George for breakfast (a good option for families, plus it's right off the freeway) and a few places for snacks and gas.

The obligatory family picture by the Zion Park sign

ENTRANCE

Once we arrived, we learned that we are unable to drive freely throughout the park. Unless you are an overnight camper with a special red permit, you must park your car in Springdale town or in the parking lot by the visitor center, which is located right by the entrance to the right. We were fortunate enough to find parking inside but parking can get tough around mid-afternoon so be prepared to walk and take the shuttle bus from town if needed.

Parking is $25 for one week.

The Zion Canyon Shuttle system alleviates parking problems for visitors as well as conserving the roads and natural environments of the park. I personally found it very convenient- as you can find a shuttle at any stop once every 7 minutes or so.

Zion Shuttle Stops

nps.gov

WHERE TO START

The Visitor Center is a good place to start. There are restrooms, shops and displays of pictures and information about the national park. We took the shuttle from here to the last stop: Temple of Sinawava for the kid-friendly Riverside trail. I noticed most people got off at later stops too, starting from Zion Lodge where restaurants, shops and rest areas are located.

I believe this is the easiest scenic trail in the park as it is straight and flat with roads large enough for wheelchair and stroller access. In fact, I was surprised to see so many people with young children and babies on this trail. So don't worry, this trail is so fun and easy---perfect for families with young children, even babies as long as you're equipped with a jogging stroller or one of those baby carrying backpacks.

TRAIL 1: RIVERSIDE WALK (GATEWAY TO THE "NARROWS") 

On the Riverside Trail

Sorry strangers, but you looked cool between the tree.

Hungry squirrel who wasn't fazed by my camera lens.

Look at this adorable squirrel...they were everywhere! The visitors must be very friendly to these animals because they don't seem fearful of humans at all. Or perhaps they were just hungry....

A squirrel and my cute daughter in one picture. Heaven.

Thank you stranger for our non-blurry family picture

The fearless explorer

This trail is flat and easy yet very scenic. It is surrounded by majestic rock formations, lush greenery and kid-friendly streams that run placidly along the side.

April seems to be a perfect time to visit this park because the weather was absolutely gorgeous in the 70's- warm yet breezy and never hot.

Young kids should not go past this point

This is the end of the Riverside walk and beginning of the Narrows. I really wanted to go all the way inside but it would've been impossible with the kids. Plus we weren't properly equipped with the right shoes and hiking sticks. If you're going to challenge yourself to this trail, be sure to pack an extra pair of water shoes and use good judgement as flash floods can occur during certain seasons.

Next time for sure!

TRAIL 2: EMERALD POOLS

Because the Riverside trail was fairly easy for us and the kids, we decided to challenge ourselves to a more difficult trail- Emerald Pools. After taking the shuttle back to Zion Lodge, we took a short break and ate lunch. Their lunch was actually very impressive, much better than the overpriced junk they sell at amusement parks (yes you, Disneyland) and other family destinations. We had a cheeseburger (yummy), a hotdog (so-so), cheese pizza (yummy) and french fries (my ultimate weakness). For dessert, the kids enjoyed their fruit parfait and vanilla soft serve while I treated myself to a nice cold beer...and it was one of the best cold beers I've had in a long time! ;)

View to the right

Look, a deer looking right at me!

On our way to the lower pool

View from the lower pool: so majestic and serene

This is the "I'm on top of the world" pose

Just a little more, soldiers.

Sweating, panting and one girl is still posing

Emerald Pools: Kid friendly?

This trail is supposedly "kid-friendly" but I'm not sure if its suitable for younger children and toddlers. Some of the roads leading to the middle and upper pools were very narrow and steep, a little scary for young kids as well as supervising parents. We had to make sure dad led the way and I stayed behind both my kids. There is red sand everywhere and wet areas along the pools so hiking shoes are a must.

If you have young toddlers and babies in strollers, I suggest you stop at the lower pool. Once you continue up to the middle and upper pools, it's difficult to get back down. I don't understand why this trail is considered to be "family friendly" because this can be misleading for new visitors. So parents if you have toddlers and babies, hike only to the lower pool which of course, is more than worthwhile. We even spotted a deer along the way!

Also, notice the chuck taylors on my daughters? This is how clueless we were about hiking... so LA and naive (sorry kids). In fact, we never imagined our kids would have so much fun hiking and didn't bother investing in hiking shoes for them or myself.  The chucks were fine for the flat Riverside trail but the girls definitely needed something more substantial and rugged for Emerald Pools.

Thankfully our girls were troopers and their shoes held up fine but I'm definitely purchasing real hiking shoes for our next hiking/camping trip.

Unfortunately, I don't have too many pictures of the more difficult parts of the trail-- I was too busy watching over the girls and panting (lol) to get out my huge camera for more pictures.

Middle Emerald Pools

So about 1.5 miles of hiking up to the Middle Emerald Pools, this is where we ended up. Ta dah~~~~ NOT! This trail was steep, at about 200 ft elevation. It was difficult to get up here, we were sweaty and dirty and I was scared for my kids' safety at some parts of the trail yet we kept going keeping our eyes on the prize.

Quite frankly, Middle Emerald Pools was disappointing and not worth the long, windy and steep hike. Once I reached the pool I was thinking.....What..this is it?? It's way nicer down there!

(I later learned that the middle pool is the least interesting, and we should've just hiked up to the upper pools. Oh well, another lesson learned. This is why thorough research is necessary. Oops!)

But of course I hid my disappointment for the kids because to them, this place too, was amazing and I didn't want to ruin their proud moment. After all, they fought their way all the way up with their tiny legs to reach this destination, and that's all that really mattered.

After a few pictures and about 5 minutes of rest, it was time to hike back down. By then I was tired and couldn't wait to get back down to the car but the girls must've been on an adrenaline rush because they wanted to keep going!

It's a good thing we suggested to hike back down because by the time we reached the bridge by the entrance, my poor T finally began to show signs of being tired.

......and we made it! We calculated the distance of the two trails both ways and we hiked a total of 5.2 miles this day. What a huge accomplishment for our first experience!

There were things I would've done differently, like buying hiking shoes for the entire family (only my husband had a pair), packing more healthy snacks beforehand (we only had some beef jerkey and popcorn from last minute pitstops- not enough), not letting my older daughter carry her Hello Kitty purse up to the canyon (thank goodness it wasn't heavy) and not letting my younger daughter carry her stuffed animals in her backpack. (Isn't it amazing what we parents sometimes allow our children to do, even though we know it's a bad idea?)

Overall, this was an awesome day trip and one of the best times we had as family. Being surrounded by nature is always therapeutic and calming, and accomplishing a common goal together as family proved to be an excellent way to bring us even closer.

Also, hiking is an amazing physical, mental and spiritual exercise for adults and children, and even my young daughters seemed to understand the beauty and charm behind this popular activity.

Here is a quick list of what to pack

1. Water (We only had one bottle each which was enough because weather was nice. However for summer, I'd bring two bottles per person)
2. Sunscreen
3. Hat
4. Hiking sticks (a must, especially for the more strenuous hikes)
5. Snacks (Next time I would pack healthier snacks like fruits, nuts & sandwiches).
6. Hiking shoes for the whole family
7. Hiking socks (for comfort & protection)
8. Extra clothes (In case you get too dirty, sweaty or wet)
9. Water shoes (If you plan to go in the water)
10. Towel 
11. First aid kit (Neosporin, bandaid, disinfectant spray etc-- we used ours)

All in TWO sturdy backpacks with lots of pockets- one for mom, one for dad simply because it makes life much easier with multiple children.

WHAT TO WEAR

I was glad I didn't put shorts on the girls because there were moments when they fell and their long pants prevented their knees from getting scraped. I too, was wearing capri yoga pants which turned out to be a good decision because I ended up with scratches here and there on my legs. I envision summer time would be too hot for longer pants, but for spring & fall, breathable longer pants proved to have its benefits over shorts.

Also be sure to dress in LAYERS- as temperature can slightly change depending on the trails, shade availability and time of day.

CONCLUSION

Two trails were enough for one day and I don't think we could've done anymore with or without kids. After about 4 hours of hiking, we drove 2.5 hours back to Las Vegas, ordered room service and fell asleep on our comfortable beds.

I never considered myself an outdoor type of person so I wasn't quite sure how this hiking day trip would turn out. I might hate it, the kids might hate it, and this could've been our first and last time at a famous national park.

Despite my reservations, this was an amazing and therapeutic experience and a memorable Spring break vacation. I'm not sure if I'd return during summer because hiking in the hot summer heat would be dreadful but I'd definitely return in Spring and fall to explore more trails.

Next destination on list: Sequoia National Park!

Spring Break Getaway: Las Vegas & Zion Canyon

Wynn pool

My daughters are on a year round track system where spring break is one month long so we decided to take the girls on a 5-day Spring break trip to Las Vegas, Nevada and Zion Canyon in Utah. Las Vegas is one of our most frequented destinations because it's fairly close (about 3 hour drive from our home) with luxurious five-star amenities and tons of good restaurants and fun activities for kids. We take full advantage of our generous casino host and card member room rates, which makes Las Vegas the most luxurious yet affordable Spring break destination. (One of many perks of living in Southern California!)

We lounged around the beautiful pool at the Wynn, spent a day at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum (which contrary to my reservation, turned out to be a fun & educational place for kids with plenty of activities and lessons) and explored the familiar city a little more by visiting new spots like the Stratosphere.

The highlight of our family trip however, was not Las Vegas but Zion Canyon in Utah. We were a little concerned about how we can pull this off with two young kids but our girls proved to be strong and determined little explorers by hiking a total distance of 5.2 miles!

It was the perfect opportunity to accomplish a common goal as family, share priceless memories and get fit; all while being immersed in the wonders of nature.

We were extremely proud and excited as the Zion Canyon day trip marks the beginning of a new chapter of traveling for the Kim family. We can now participate in more adventurous activities and explore nearby canyons and hiking trails. What a huge milestone for the girls!

An easy, flat riverside trail leading to "The Narrows"

Intermediate trail called "Emerald Pools" with lower, mid & high pools

Riverside trail

Another amazing part of the trails at Zion Canyon is its abundant wildlife in its natural setting. I saw so many squirrels and even a deer during the hike, it was such a unique experience. There are so many adorable squirrels that come right next to you and let you photograph it close up. One hungry squirrel came so close to my daughter, she couldn't resist sharing her snacks!

This was my family's first time hiking through a huge national park like Zion Canyon and the experience was no less than amazing and surreal. The magnificence and beauty of a well preserved national park cannot be contained in pictures, and I was in awe of its majestic presence.

Nature truly is, the best teacher for kids and despite the strenuous walking, this was a great opportunity for my children to experience the beauty of nature. Even better, I think they now understand the benefits of hiking not only as a physical but a mental exercise.

I will dedicate another post to Zion Canyon for families with better pictures and more details and tips. Until then, I plan on enjoying the last week of spring break with more relaxation and quality time my little ones.

A Family's Guide to Maui

We went to Maui for our honeymoon about 9 years ago and we were fortunate enough to return with our two children.  The first time we stayed at Westin in Kaanapali, and this time at a condo in Kihei. This was our first time staying at a 2 bedroom condo instead of a luxury hotel and it proved to have many advantages for families, the most notable benefit being not having to pay high prices for simple meals for kids. We enjoyed being able to eat local Hawaiian cuisines as well as the flexibility of cooking for ourselves.

Kihei is located along the southwestern shore and considered the driest and sunniest part of the island.  It features 6 miles of beaches and has a more "local Hawaiian" vibe compared to the touristy Kaanapali.  We arrived tired after a long 5 hour flight and went straight to bed as soon as we arrived in our condo.

The next day, we took advantage of being on Maui time (+3 from California) by getting up at 3 am to watch the sunrise at Haleakala Mountain Top. It was freezing and the road was dark and windy (an experienced driver needed) but what awaits at the top was worth the time and effort.

The way a tiny light streaks the dark sky at the break of dawn is surreal and the colorful transformations that occur during sunrise is amazing beyond words.  It was one of those transcendental moments where I felt at one with God and the Universe, where silence and awe seem most fitting even for the little ones.

We stood at the mountain top as family, silent and in awe of the breathtaking view. It happened so fast that we didn't want to miss a beat and I hope it was a spiritual and transformative moment for the kids as it was for me.

Sunrise at Haleakala Mountain Top @ 5:20 am

2. Surfing Goat Dairy Farm

 Surfing Goat Dairy

Feeding goats at Surfing Goat Dairy

Surfing Goat Dairy Farm was another highlight of our trip. You can purchase a bag of food for $1 each and feed friendly goats all day!

The kids had a blast feeding the goats and we enjoyed their goat cheese platter with crackers. Yum~ They also have a wide selection of all natural goat milk soaps and goat cheese truffles.

The location was spacious, well maintained and very sunny-- so be sure to wear a hat & plenty of sunblock during hot months.

3. Kihei / Kamaole Beach Park

Kamaole Beach Park, Kihei

Kihei was less touristy with tons of local activities and authentic food. The sunset here is amazing and family friendly activities like fishing, art/craft fairs, parks and canoeing are abundant. We spent about five days at a spacious condo overlooking the ocean. Unlike Wailea where everything closes by 10pm, Kihei felt more alive & busy, albeit less luxurious.

It was our first time staying at a timeshare condo instead of a resort and it proved to have many benefits. Having a full sized kitchen and large refrigerator is so nice especially when traveling with kids. Aside from being able to save money on food (Wailea is overpriced), you can experience the island alongside the locals.

And did I mention Kihei has the most amazing food ever? The loco mocos, spam musabis, poke bowls, shrimp trucks, shave ice, endless tropical cocktails... It's heaven for those who enjoy authentic Hawaiian cuisine.

4. Road to Hana

Road to Hana is a must for anyone traveling to Maui. Be prepared to leave early in the morning with an ice chest packed with food and drinks if you want to explore all the little hidden wonders of this road. 

There are so much to see and so many hidden gems that you want to give yourself one full day to explore this part of the island. The drive back down can take 2-3 hours and it's not easy to do so once the sun sets. I might even consider staying in Hana overnight so I can visit all the hidden beaches (i.e. black sand beach) and hike to the waterfalls.

I never considered myself to be an outdoorsy type of person until I experienced the Road to Hana. Your senses are engulfed by the lush greenery and wonders of this island that you gradually become one with nature. I never knew so many different shades of green existed until this experience and there is a certain healing energy that permeates this road. 

5. Fairmont Kea Lani Maui

We ended our one week trip by spending the weekend at Fairmont Kea Lani. We were debating between Fairmont Kea Lani, The Grand Wailea and Four Seasons Wailea but ended up staying at the Fairmont Kea Lani because 1) We were already pleased with Fairmont service and standards from our previous trip to Fairmont Mayakoba and 2) Fairmont Kea Lani seemed less crowded than the Grand Wailea and more kid friendly than Four Seasons. It was also the only resort that offered standard suites in which there is a separate master bedroom and living room for the kids.

We were very pleased with our choice. We were greeted with leis, tropical drinks and beach toys for kids upon arrival and our weekend stay was luxurious and personable. We spent most of our time lounging around by the pool, playing on the slide and relaxing by the ocean. We watched the beautiful sunset every night while swinging on the hammock and dipping our toes in the sand.

Birthday dessert for my husband

Like with any amazing family vacations, the saddest part was leaving. Our girls didn't sleep at all on the flight back to LAX yet we managed to travel back without any tantrums or meltdowns (Thank you God!)

Maui is definitely one of our favorite destinations for families. We loved the beaches and historic sites in Riviera Maya but if I had to choose between Hawaii and Mexico, I'd choose Hawaii again.

There is a certain level of comfort and safety when traveling to an English-speaking island and the Hawaiian hospitality is unprecedented. Similar to Oahu, the people of Maui are so genuinely kind and giving that you leave the place wanting to be a happier and more generous person.

The best part of Maui though, is its healing energy that connects families and bring them a little closer. Traveling as family is priceless and I'm so thankful for our shared memory.

Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience. - Francis Bacon

Family Trip: Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Entrance to Mayakoba resorts: Banyan Tree, Rosewood, Fairmont Mayakoba

Playa beach

It's been almost two months since we returned from our family trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico but I've been so busy I'm now posting pictures. As expected, Mexico was a lot of fun and the beaches were beautiful beyond imagination. Every view looked picturesque and perfect as if it jumped out of a travel magazine or a postcard. I now understand why people say the caribbean is more beautiful and swimmable than the pacific side.

Our 8-day stay was full of adventures and surprises- and everyday brought something new. We walked along 5th street at Playa del Carmen, swam in cenotes under sleeping bats (eek!), ziplined upside down & rode sand buggies at Selvatica, engaged in tons of family friendly activities at XCARET and visited two famous ruins: Coba and Tulum.

Coba was fun because we were able to climb up the ruin and Tulum was breathtakingly beautiful. It was hot and humid so tons of sunblock, water bottles and frequent breaks were a must but the efforts were well worth it. The rich history and culture of Mayans were fascinating and educational, and even though my kids are still a bit young, I'm glad they got to see and feel the remnants of such an influential and historic civilization. 

Tulum

The only downside of the trip was our flight back with Aeromexico, and I would not recommend this airline to anyone especially families with children. They are rude, unprofessional and extremely outdated in their amenities and service. I wrote a long review regarding my experience on Yelp but for some odd reason, it keeps getting deleted. Hmmm...

Traveling is priceless as it provides so many educational opportunities for children. Not only do they learn more about different cultures, languages and heritage, they also learn how fortunate they are to be living in a place like America where water is drinkable and every toilet stall comes with seat covers.

Here we have an abundance of food, supplies, and technological tools while many parts of world still struggle to possess what we have. I explained this to the girls while passing by little kids playing in the slums and paying pesos to use clean restrooms. I hope they understood- or at least, remember so they can one day understand and wish to share with the less fortunate.

All in all, our trip to Mexico was memorable and despite our concerns about safety, we felt safe most of the time. We were bold and adventurous and drove everywhere on our own. Despite the occasional weird stares by natives, we were okay-- and I'm glad we got to experience a part of Mexico on our own without tour buses and expensive guides.

I'm thankful for my family who make traveling more fulfilling-- my hardworking husband who makes these trips possible and my beautiful and boisterous children who turn everyday into an adventure.

Thankful, thankful & thankful- and I'm looking forward to our next family trip which I hope takes place in Asia.

Last dinner at Rosewood Mayakoba

Mayan tapestries and artwork, Coba