Our Travel Guide: Zion Ponderosa

my top + jeans + shoes + hat + sunglasses

You guys! 202o has been quite the year! I feel like I’m on a rollercoaster of what could happen next!! One of the results of Covid 19 was a lot of changes to how our summer looks. Like I’m sure is the case for most of you, all of our travel plans have been cancelled or postponed. To be honest, we were feeling a little down about it all. Summer trips and that special time with our people is something we really look forward to! So when Utah eased up the restrictions a little bit where we didn’t feel like we had to be completely homebound, we planned a last minute trip down to Zion Ponderosa Ranch and we are SO SO glad we did!! It is the dreamiest family friendly spot that gives you so many fun opportunities, but still has you feeling away from it all!

Keep reading to check out all the amazing things Zion Ponderosa Ranch has to do for all ages! We LOVED it!

:: LODGING :: 

Ok first up, lets talk lodging. They have so many different fun options so you are sure to find something you will love! If you are up for actual camping they have a few different options. They have some super cute “glamping”  tents and wagons, or they have sites where you can bring your own tent or trailer. If you aren’t feeling the camping as much there are some small cabins around the resort or rental houses close by too. We stayed in one of the houses and loved it. They are great for families and sleep a variety of sizes depending on the house.

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:: THINGS TO DO :: 

Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort is honestly the dream weekend getaway with your family! They along with their sister company East Zion Adventures have thought of everything to bring out the fun for toddlers up to adults and everyone in between. Some of them are free options when you stay at the resort, and some are paid activities.

:: JEEP TOUR

First up was the jeep tour. This is one of the paid activity options, but SO SO much fun for the whole family. They are so accommodating to fit the needs of your group, and make it fun for all ages. If you have smaller children, elderly, or even disabilities they are willing to make your ride fit the needs and adventure level of your group. We all loved it!

:: HORSEBACK RIDING

This was probably my favorite part, because I grew up riding horses with my grandpa and it brought back so many memories. Solo rider ability is based off of height. Hunter and Hayden were both able to go on their own, but Harper had an instructor that walked alongside guiding her horse. The 1 hour option was perfect for Hayden’s age and younger, but Hunter and I could’ve gone for the 2 hour and really enjoyed it. It is such a fun activity to let your bigger kids feel a little more independent and try something new. Price on this depends on the length of your ride.

:: ZIP LINE

This was a big hit for the kids, even little Harper!! Ability to try it is based solely on how brave they are. We saw someone as young as 2 years old do it! It is fairly inexpensive, and they also offer a night zipline option which sounds so fun!

:: SWIMMING

One of the no additional cost activity options was swimming and we loved it! They have 2 pools, 2 hot tubs, and 2 water slides that the kids thought were so fun. They swam and played for hours and loved it. It was nice to have a laid back option to have as a filler between the bigger adventures. I loved that around the pool they had showers and private dressing rooms so you are able to change right there. These are also accessible if you choose the camping options. They also have a little mini pond area where you can take kayaks out.

:: PLAYGROUND + OUTDOOR GAMES

Another fun thing the resort offers is a playground and outdoor games. I loved that they had the different outdoor games that my bigger kids could do instead of just your typical slide set. They had a giant connect 4, bocce ball, corn hole, and pool. It was so nice to have some fun games to play while waiting for dinner or between other activities. They also have a tramp like pictured above that the kids loved.

:: ROCK WALL

Like the zipline, the rock wall is inexpensive and based on your bravery level. Harper and Houston were able to try it out but weren’t really old enough to get very far. Hayden got about 1/2 way before her nerves kicked in but the bigger kids really liked it. I would just be sure to take in their bravery level when deciding if it is worth it for your people. My bigs loved it!

:: MINIATURE GOLF

This one was honestly the biggest shocker favorite for me! I normally hate mini golf, to be honest. So I wasn’t really looking forward to it but the kids begged to try it. And I was pleasantly surprised with how fun the course was set up. It was definitely a family favorite.

:: HIKING + REPELLING 

Zion Canyon is such a beautiful place full of so many hikes and places to explore. The resort has the option to take guided hikes or go out repelling with them. Since we had the babies we weren’t able to try this out, but we are dying to go back and do it. Joe and I did escape for a gorgeous early morning hike on our own and it was so worth it.

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I think that sums up our review and our love for our getaway to Zion Ponderosa! I think it is the perfect place to getaway for a 3 day weekend! 2-3 days gives you plenty of time to get all your adventures in without feeling too packed! Such a fun place we hope to visit again soon!