Bryce Canyon Family Vacations

The legions of fantastical rock formations that tower over the slopes of Utah's Bryce Canyon are the main attraction in this national park. Known as "hoodoos," these are the rocks seen in classic images of Bryce (but in my opinion, pictures don't really do them justice). Twisting skyward, the red and orange spires of limestone create an otherworldly landscape, and visitors can see miles of hoodoos stretching across the canyon from numerous park viewpoints.

If you hate crowds, but want to see some iconic western American scenery, Bryce Canyon is not to be missed. The park sees roughly 1.5 million visitors annually (compare this to the nearby Grand Canyon, which gets about 5 million visitors per year). Set in rural Garfield County among small towns and a vast, sparsely populated countryside, the park lacks the pushy crowds and built-up infrastructure of the busier national parks.

Bryce Canyon's remote location is a boon to astronomy buffs of all ages. Due to the park's thin mountain air and low levels of light pollution, it's possible to see roughly 7,500 stars at night -- without a telescope. In fact, Bryce Canyon is as dark as many world-class astronomical research locations. Take advantage of Bryce's amazing night sky by attending a ranger-led astronomy program, or go on a guided full moon hike held two nights a month (not recommended for kids under the age of 5).

If you're driving through Bryce Canyon or planning on taking just a day trip, your best bet is to plan a short hike along one of the canyon's smaller trails or a take driving tour of Scenic Byway 12, which runs through the northern section of the park. If you're planning to stay a while, there are plenty of fantastic hotels in the area, and with eight different day-hiking trails, and an impressive calendar of mostly free ranger-led activities (including lots of programs just for kids), it's almost impossible to get bored in Bryce.