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Kidz Eye View of Zion
“Bound for Zion”
by Janis Hashe
Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort's 10,000 acres flank the east rim of stunning Zion National Park in Utah. And if "active" is the operative word in your family vacation planning, you can't have come to a better place.
As an all-inclusive resort, Zion Ponderosa lets families check in — and then never worry about meals or recreation for the rest of their stay. Whether you favor horseback riding, hiking, rappelling, mountain biking, guided ATV tours, fishing, archery or swimming — it's all right there, with trained staff to supervise. And when you're ready to explore the park, the short drive means you can spend more time being flabbergasted by the red-rock sculptures the Virgin River has created over centuries.
 Cabin in Ponderosa Ranch |
Accommodations include 16 "Cabin Suites" (living room, bathroom, bedroom with queen-size bed); 8 "Cowboy Cabins" (smaller rooms and no private bath); and camping sites. For meals, guests congregate in the main hall, where down-home, delicious food (multiple choices available) is dished up by the staff. Kids will love sharing their eating time with real cowboys, clanking through the hall in chaps and spurs. (Note to wine and beer drinkers: These beverages are available at the ranch, but due to Utah's Byzantine liquor laws, can be difficult to obtain.)
On a recent visit, I found the challenge of trying new outdoor experiences ("Excuse me, I'll be climbing straight down that cliff?") exhilarating. The Zion Ponderosa staff is capable and friendly, dedicated to making your stay enjoyable.
Even the most energetic kids will be worn out after a day of ranch activities. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Zion Ponderosa offers Camp Ponderosa for ages 3 through 12. Supervised activities include horseback riding, learning to rappel on the ranch's own climbing wall, go-cart riding, visiting the petting zoo, and Western arts and crafts classes. The schedule always allows parents to pick their kids up during the day for family activities.
 Headin' 'em up at the ranch |
Zion National Park is only 10 minutes from the ranch, and provides hiking trails for most levels of hiking, from strolling to scrambling. (I observed an entire family, from babies to Grandma, taking one trail — with all the women in saris.)
As if access to one of the world's natural wonders isn't enough, Zion Ponderosa is also within easy proximity to another national treasure: the Utah Shakespeare Festival. If you're visiting from late June through October, the two-hour drive to Cedar City is well worth the trip. Winner of the 2000 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the Festival is completely family-friendly, offering at least one children's show per season on one of its three stages, as well as the free outdoor "Greenshow" before each summer performance. The Adams Memorial Shakespearean Theatre is one of the most authentic replicas of an Elizabethan theater outside of England, and kids get a chance to experience seeing a play much as Shakespeare's contemporaries did.
The Royal Feaste is a staged banquet with "fantasy" entertainment that's offered four times each week in summer, and many children also enjoy the backstage tours, which include visits to the costume and scene shops.
Meeting people from all over the world, exploring slot canyons and Shakespeare — a trip to Zion might just be the perfect family vacation.
 Zion |
 Virgin river in Zion National Park |
 Climbing wall at Zion Ponderosa Ranch |
 Janis Hashe climbing Slot Canyon |
Zion Ponderosa Ranch, peak season per-person per-day rates (for Cabin Suites, three guests) begin at $125. (800) 293-5444 or www.zionponderosa.com.
Utah Shakespeare Festival, 2001 season begins June 21. (800) PLAYTIX (752-9849) or www.bard.org.
— Janis Hashe
Janis Hashe is a freelance writer specializing in travel and the performing arts. Recent adventures have included biking in France, rappelling in Utah, and getting stuck in the ice for 24 hours off Quebec.
NOTE: The prices listed above were accurate as of posting; we suggest you call for current rates before your trip.