The ‘Mighty Five’ national parks of Utah protect a mind-blowingly diverse ecosystem and also draw millions of visitors each year. But exploring these highlights can be tricky and often overwhelming if you don’t know your way around. Here are a few helpful tips for you to experience the natural playground of Utah at your ease.

Planning Well Ahead

The Mighty Five national parks of Utah have witnessed a huge upsurge of visitors over the last few years. This situation has prompted the park service authorities to enforce strict limits on the number of visitors to protect the delicate landscape. Now, you need to book most of the popular hikes, and even the less-common ones, like the Subway hike in Zion, well ahead of the season.

Taking a Guided Tour or Two

Opting for at least one or two guided tours in the Mighty Five parks can make your trip easier, hassle-free, and more enjoyable. This way, all the logistics of your visits, including permits, will be pre-arranged or taken care of, and you’ll also get more depth in your visits with interesting information and not-to-miss highlights. The guides are trained to deliver you the best experiences with minimal impact on landscapes.

Traveling During Off-Season

Appreciating nature’s majesty can be tricky when you have to jostle for space among a hoard of visitors. As most families tend to visit the Mighty Five national parks during summer, the rest of the year, mainly fall and spring, are perfect for hitting the trails without the rush. These seasons also come with their own perks of changing foliage, early blooms or colorful wildflowers, livelier wildlife, and comfortable temperature.

Getting Up Early to Go Farther

Starting early is a great way to avoid tourist crowds. For example, if you choose the signature day hike in the Narrows at the popular Zion national park, you’ll need a special gear kit as the hiking trail includes running water. Most hikers rent the kit in the morning before starting, but collecting the kit the night before and heading up early will give you the benefit of having the scenery largely to yourself.

Opting for Less-Traveled Trails

Nothing works better to beat the crowd than heading off the beaten path. Among the Mighty Five parks, Zion earns the most reputation for being Utah’s main draw. But you can avoid the crowd here by taking the Subway route instead of the Narrows. Similarly, the gentler trail of Scout Lookout will give you the same views of the popular Angel’s Landing summit, minus the tough hike, crowds, and the need for permits.

Staying indoors on a holiday that’s typically marked by having a fun day out with friends and family certainly doesn’t sound easy or fun. But luckily, there are many ways to enjoy and celebrate this holiday indoors as well!

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of museums, national parks, and other tourist destinations, it’s possible to take virtual tours that can provide entertainment and let us see something new and beautiful from the comfort of our homes. If anyone’s interested in seeing some of the wonders of Ireland, several options are just a click away!

Excellent Virtual Tours for St. Patrick’s Day

The Guinness Storehouse virtual tour may be one of the most fitting options for this iconic holiday. Guinness is one of the most famous Irish beers in the world, and for many beer lovers out there, a virtual tour of their storehouse in Dublin can be a real treat. The brewery tour is readily available for viewing on YouTube. Another great option is a tour of the Jamesson distillery located in Midleton.

Must-See Tours for Any Occasion

When looking for something to do on this year’s St. Patrick’s Day or on any other day, virtual tours of Ireland are a fun treat. For the book-lovers out there, a virtual tour of the Long Room at the Library of Trinity College in Dublin is always a great choice. The library is well known for its impressive collection, amazing architecture, and possesses some of the world’s oldest books. Many museums, castles, and historical sites have online virtual tours available as well.

For those that prefer to look at the grandeur and majesty of nature, there are amazing virtual tours of the Cliffs of Moher, the Irish National Heritage Park, and even charming towns and villages such as Downpatrick, Cookstown, and many others. Most of these options are available and free to view on YouTube, Virtual Visit Tours, and similar platforms!