Lauren wrote:
One week - and with the travel time needed to get from one to the other - leaves you very little time so SEE them; you can say you were there but have will not really have seen them in all their beauty. But we do what we can, right!
When we go to these parks, we see those who are on such a tight schedule. Many are taking video as they drive so when they get back home, they can see what they should have seen. ;)
I'd pick Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon and Bryce and enjoy those. You may not hike but one often has to park and walk to a viewpoint to actually see the views. The roads aren't necessarily right on the rime. In Zion, you have to use the shuttle, and they make a great option at the other two parks.
Plus, there's more than just you visual senses to stimulate. The smells and sounds are part of the experience. Find a bench and watch a sunset at the GC. Stop at a picnic table in Zion Canyon, have a long, leisurely lunch, and listen to the birds in the trees.
The time between parks is greater than one might imagine, so with drive times, I'd pick those three. Capitol Reef and the parks around Moab are sweltering in the summer anyway, so plan on coming back to visit them in cooler weather.
