Family Vacation in Southern Utah: Zion Ponderosa

by Jamie Moesser on December 4th, 2013 | No Comments »

Looking for the perfect family travel spot that is a mix of rugged adventure and natural beauty? Look no further. A family vacation in southern Utah is the perfect place to make meaningful memories together while getting active and enjoying nature.

Family Vacation in Southern Utah Activity Options

Zion Ponderosa Ranch and Resort, located just east of Zion National Park, is the perfect resort to stay at while on family vacation in southern Utah. It offers the following on-site activities that families can choose from and enjoy together:

ATV trails and mini-ATV course
Basketball
Billards/Foosball
Climbing Wall
Horseback Riding
Horse Shoes
Kids Camps
Miniature Golf
Outdoor Paint Ball Course
Pool and Hot Tubs
Shotgun Range
Skeet Shooting
Softball
Tennis
Trampoline Bungee
Volleyball
Wagon Rides
Zip Lining

Zion Ponderosa also provides a variety of guided activities into Zion National Park. And if adventure is what you are looking for on a family vacation in southern Utah, they also have options, including canyoneering, hiking, Jeep backcountry tours, and river rafting. Lodging for families, both immediate and extended, includes options to stay on-site in rented vacation homes, cabin suites, cowboy cabins, or their own RV's or tents. And food options include eating on-site at any of the three restaurants, chuckwagon dinners, or through in-home catering. The variety of activity, food, and lodging choices makes it easy for families to set aside a few days, if not a week or more, to be active together and make some lasting family memories.

Ziplining Adventures

During a recent stay at Zion Ponderosa, we were able to take advantage of some of these awesome activities. Ziplining, particularly during a snowstorm, can be an awesome way to put smiles on your family members' faces and get their hearts pumping at the same time. The staff outfitted us in plenty of safety gear (helmets, harnesses, etc)...

...and launched us off a third-story platform...

...down to end of the line about an 1/8th of a mile away.

Horseback Riding Adventures

We also were fortunate to be able to enjoy horseback riding with our families. We made appointments with Lisa, Zion Ponderosa's wrangler, so that she should prepare our mounts: two docile horses and two donkeys. We were able to take a one hour ride with views [overlooking Zions Park]. We enjoyed our family vacation to southern Utah with family friend, Jill Greenlaw, who said this of her horseback riding experience:

There is nothing like riding a horse in the mountains. It was peaceful and surreal. Lisa our wrangler, was so knowledgeable about the terrain. We learned a lot about the Native Americans that settled the land. The horses knew the terrain well, and were very easy to manage on the steep trails. If you are considering going on a horseback ride, I would encourage you to book the 2-hour tour. There is so much to see in the mountains that you will want to go for as long as you can.

And, of course, no trip would be complete without a dip in the swimming pool and hot tub, though those dips, if made in near-freezing temperatures, are usually made by young boys, foolhardy men, and crazy women. These boys got their blood pumping by alternating between hot tub stews and swimming pool plunges:

Our schedule was full, and we were only there for a couple of days. Imagine what could be done in a week!

There are, in summary, many ways to get through life, but one of the proven, best ways to enjoy it is as a family, active and together, and one good place to do that, with a plethora of activities provided and the necessary lodging and dining options onsite, is Zion Ponderosa Ranch and Resort.

Check out our other travel posts about Zion Ponderosa in southern Utah: