Bryce Canyon - The rock formations and extreme pink and orange colors and the otherworldly spires and Hoodoos make this my favorite and takes me back to those candle wax drip castles I loved as a kid. My short hike left me feeling like I had landed on another planet. Summer offers hiking, mountain biking, ATV and horseback tours, while winter is great for cross country skiing and sleigh rides. Click here for all things Bryce- https://youtu.be/dlH4-yTZH48
Lake Powell - There is nothing quite like a houseboat vacation. Fun for the family or even group getaway with friends. Choices run from basic to luxury and you can find all manner of water sports. And this lake doesn’t look like every other lake. Again, with its smattering of hoodoos in the distance, you’ll feel like you’re boating in a lunar lake. www.lakepowell.com.
The Wave - okay full disclosure I have yet to experience The Wave in person. Access is granted only by permit through a lottery system and I haven’t been so lucky to win yet. 20 spots are given out daily, 10 online (with an average 3 month lead time) and 10 local daily drawing for the next day. That said, it’s considered a bucket list must-see destination. This 5.2 mile trail (after a really rough 8.3 miles dirt road drive) is known for its sandstone rock formation on the slopes of the Coyote Buttes near the Utah-Arizona border in the Paria Canyon - Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness. The Wave is truly breathtaking (in fact, the summer sun has been known to literally take the breath away from a traveler or two every year from dehydration and sunstroke). http://www.thewave.info/
These are but a short list of the popular destinations. Locals will point you in the direction of less touristy sites that some find even more memorable.
How to get there - Fly into Las Vegas, NV, Salt Lake City,or St. George, UT or even Page, AZ International Airports and rent a car or an RV and enjoy old fashioned road tripping.
Getting around - Stay at one of the many hotels/motels in Kanab and do day trips or if RV’ing, try the well appointed RV parks or campgrounds all along your route.
Choosing your stops - My favorite site that offers popular and off the beaten track options http://www.visitutah.com/places-to-go/state-and-federal-recreation-areas/southern
Happy trails!
For more about these popular destinations: Zion, Bryce, Lake Powell NRA(National Recreational Area) and even treasure Hunting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXeCz8Z0T6g)