Five national parks - Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef - make southern Utah an outdoor lover's playground. The parks are fairly close together, so it's possible to visit all five in a single trip. They all share Utah's dry desert climate, clear skies, and fascinating geology, but each has its own unique personality.

Zion is Utah's most popular national park. Explore the wide-open canyon's towering cliffs -- ranging in color from cream to pink to red -- or hike into narrow slot canyons for an up-close perspective on the park's geography. Photography buffs will find the natural beauty and changing colors in Zion a source of endless inspiration. Outdoor enthusiasts can choose from hiking, canyoning, and biking -- the park's shuttle service even has bike racks. One of the park's most popular hikes -- Angel's Landing -- is strenuous at times but will mesmerize you with sweeping vistas you won't soon forget. You can also join a ranger-led hike or campground talk to learn about the park's history and geography.

Zion's freestanding sandstone arches include the 310-foot Kolob Arch, one of the largest formations of its kind on Earth. At the Southgate end of the park, you'll see petroglyphs left behind by the area's original Native American inhabitants. The park is home to almost 300 species of birds, including the Peregrine falcon.

Accommodations at Zion are limited to three campgrounds (one with hookups for RVs) and Zion Lodge, which has guestrooms, cabins, and a restaurant in the heart of the park. Both the Zion Canyon Visitor's Center and the Kolob Canyon Visitor's Center house exhibits explaining the park's history and geology, while the Zion Human History Museum addresses the influence of humans on the park.

All three are good places to plan your time in the park and enroll your kids in the Junior Ranger program.