Product Description

Frommer's Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks includes all the up-to-date practical information and candid insider advice that you need to have the perfect park vacation…in an easy-to-carry size -- and at an unbeatable price:

• The best strategies for seeing these spectacular parks—and the lowdown on equally stunning (and less crowded!) natural wonders nearby.
• Great places to stay: cozy park lodges, family-friendly gateway motels, and the best campgrounds.
• The best hikes, from meandering garden paths to thrilling canyon trails—plus cross-country ski treks, mountain bike and horseback tours, and more.
• Where to eat and where to stock up on supplies, both in the parks and in gateway towns.
• Detailed, accurate regional, park, and trail maps—plus a fully illustrated nature guide!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #633546 in Books
• Published on: 2004-02-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

From the Back Cover
Frommer’s^® Puts the Parks in Your Pocket.

All the up-to-date practical information and candid insider advice you need to have the perfect park vacation…in an easy-to-carry size–and at an unbeatable price!

Your Complete Guide to Zion and Bryce Canyon:

• The best strategies for seeing these spectacular parks–and the lowdown on equally stunning (and less crowded!) natural wonders nearby
• Great places to stay: cozy park lodges, family-friendly gateway motels, and the best campgrounds
• The best hikes, from meandering garden paths to thrilling canyon trails–plus cross-country ski treks, mountain bike and horseback tours, and more
• Where to eat and stock up on supplies, both in the parks and in nearby towns
• Detailed, accurate regional, park, and trail maps

About the Author
Residents of northern New Mexico for more than 30 years, Don and Barbara Laine have traveled extensively throughout the Rocky Mountains and the Southwest. They are the authors of Frommer’s Colorado, Frommer’s Rocky Mountain National Park, Frommer’s Yosemite & Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, and Frommer’s Utah; are the lead authors of Frommer’s National Parks of the American West; and have contributed to Frommer’s Texas and Frommer’s USA. The Laines have also written Little-Known Southwest and New Mexico & Arizona State Parks (both for The Mountaineers Books).

Customer Reviews

A wonderful overview of the parks
This guide proved to be an excellent resource during our recent trip to the Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Highlights of this book include how comprehensive it was despite its relative brevity, the easy-to-read writing style, and its off-the-beaten-path recommendations.

The authors discussed all the subjects I was looking for in a travel book. They covered the usual "where to stay" and "where to eat" topics very well, including reviews of the campgrounds in the parks. We were very satisfied staying and eating at the places recommended by the authors.

A particular strength of the book was its overview of the numerous hiking trails of the two parks. The trails were organized by length, and the authors gave good recommendations about which trails to do. One hike that they recommended as a "find" was a beautiful, short stroll to an icy cave, but because of its location off the main park road, we were completely by ourselves. The authors even discussed some of the backcountry hiking, if you are inclined to strap on your pack and head off into the wilderness.

The chapter on the natural history of the parks was also excellent. There was a description of the geological events that formed the parks, the flora and fauna, and the diverse ecosystems. The geological discussion in particular was especially helpful for understanding how the layers of rock were laid down over millions of years.

The authors gave good sample itineraries for experiencing the park in a day or two. Recommendations on seeing the sunrise across the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon and on visiting some of the less traveled sections of Zion were very worthwhile.

Nice bonuses in the book included information for kids, RVers, and people with disabilities. The book also had information on practical things like where to get gas, buy supplies, do your laundry, etc. There is even a section on places to visit near the national parks such as some of the Utah state parks and nearby national monuments.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone heading to Zion and Bryce Canyon. It definitely enriched our experience and made planning a whole lot easier.