Grand Canyon and Utah

Snowman9000 wrote:
I doubt if your kids are gonna care for Silverton or Durango unless you do some rafting, kayaking, jeeping.

Silverton is a great experience with the wooden sidewalks, etc. A real step back in time. Even w/o a jeep, one can see a lot of cool mining ruins, etc. in the area. Some amazing hiking, although the elevation can be a challenge for the first few days. Be warned that in a typical year, the snow higher up will still make some trails wet/snowy until mid June. Wildflowers really kick off after early July. Fishing isn't so good up there as many of the streams were contaminated by mining runoff in the 1880's killing of the trout.

Never done it, but seems like the Animas River through Durango might have some interesting kayaking stretches. Some parts are pretty tame right through town. Popular place to tube on a hot day. I'm sure it gets a little more challenging north of town as one gets closer to the mountains. I see some of the rafting companies offer Class III, IV, and V trips on the Upper Animas.

I see in another post you are bikers also. Mountain or road?

D.E.Bishop wrote:
I would hold off and save Arches for another trip. There is a lot of work going on in ANP, road work, parking areas, and waits and blockages are going to happen.

OP is going in 2018. Construction is due to wrap up in late October 2017.

I would still skip Moab/Arches/Canyonlands this trip as it will be hot mid-summer. If Moab is a must-do, then maybe skip Grand Canyon given your limited time. In many ways, I like the views at Canyonlands better than the Grand Canyon anyway. If you do go to Moab, avoid too many activities in the heat of the day. We go to the pool then, or hike up to a popular swimming hole up the north fork of Mill Creek right out of town. Stop at Milts on the way back for a malt or float.

BTW, try getting a spot at Watchman CG in Zion. Right by the Virgin "River", a great spot to wade and play in the water under huge Cottonwood trees. Great place to relax if it's hot.