Watchman Villas

Where to begin when planning a trip to Zion? Not everyone is an expert, intuitive vacation planner. Some of us need a little help and guidance to get started. This article provides basic information that should lay the foundation for any trip to Zion National Park. We’re not going to tell you where to eat, what hikes we think are the best, or what Zion hotels you should stay at. That will be up to you to decide. The info here will be more fundamental than that. Let’s start with how to get here. Getting to Zion Las Vegas has the closest airport to Zion. If you’re flying here, McCarran International Airport is the airport to fly in to. From there, it’s between a 2.5-3 hour drive to Zion. Take I-15 north and get off the Hurricane, UT exit (Exit 16) and don’t turn off that road for about a dozen miles at which point you’ll turn right onto Hwy 9. 20 more miles and you're there. (These directions are the same for those coming from anywhere north of Hurricane, UT. Take I-15, get of...

Most people who enjoy traveling even a little bit are familiar with The Mighty 5, the nickname given to Utah’s five national parks. For those who may not have visited some of these places, we want to give you a brief overview of each one. Though Zion is the most popular of the five, the other four are simply incredible in their own right and play an enormous role in the rise of Utah’s tourism star. Utah’s Mighty Five are as follows: Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Bryce National Park, and Zion National Park. Capitol Reef National Park Of all the national parks in the state of Utah, this is the one that sees the least amount of annual visitors which truly is a shame because it is incredible. It is perhaps best known for the rugged white domes and cliffs as well as the many ridges, buttes, monoliths, and canyons that exude many different colors and are quite a sight to see. One popular location inside the park is the Burr Trail Scenic B...

Two weeks ago my wife surprised me with a birthday present I didn’t expect: a two-night stay (without the kids) in Springdale, UT at Watchman Villas, the town’s newest and nicest vacation rental. Though I’ve experienced many a Zion lodge in my days, I had heard a lot about this one and driven past multiple times but never stayed the night. I was very much looking forward to the experience. I’m going to tell you all about it, but before I do that, I’ll skip to the end for just a moment and let you know that the place is incredible. Everything about it exceeded my expectations. First of all, the location. It’s perfect. My wife and I basically walked everywhere. A few minutes of walking in one direction put us at the front door of the Switchback Grille and Jack’s Sports Bar. We ate two different meals there including dinner on Super Bowl Sunday. A few minutes of walking in the other direction takes you to Springdale’s grocery store, Sol Foods Supermarket, which was extremely conveni...

Vacation rentals are becoming more and more popular every year worldwide for both independent and family travelers. Many people are still a bit unsure as to what exactly a vacation rental is and how they are different from a traditional hotel or resort, particularly in Zion Park. What follows is information to help you understand the key characteristics of a vacation rental, what makes them stand out from other lodging options, and what makes Watchman Villas unique among them. The idea behind vacation rentals is that instead of staying in a hotel or motel, you are staying in an actual home, townhome, or apartment that is owned by a person or an organization (like a property management company, for example). Those who own and advertise vacation rentals hope to provide a more inexpensive, private, comfortable, and convenient lodging option for travelers, making it so you don’t have to worry about all of the headaches that are often associated with finding a hotel room. With hotels,...

For this week’s villa spotlight we will be highlighting The Willow, Watchman Villa’s one bedroom / one bathroom ground-level unit. For those traveling either alone or with perhaps one or two others, this is a perfect option for lodging. The Willow is also the ideal choice for lodging near Zion National Park for those needing wheelchair access as this unit requires no stairs and allows you to park directly in front of the front door. Characteristically smaller in size then our two multi-bedroom units (The Aspen and The Pinyon), this villa maximizes every inch of its 850 square feet and provides a very open, roomy, and comfortable living space. Designed to be more desirable than a traditional one-bathroom hotel room, you will feel more at home and relaxed here than you ever did in a conventional hotel space. The Willow feels more like permanent living space then temporary quarters. All of the amenities you’ll have at your disposable include but are not limited to a desk, a sofa tha...

Need a larger space to stay that will accommodate more than two people? Are you coming to Zion National Park with a group of friends or with your family? Watchman Villas, Springdale's leader in villa rentals, has exactly what you need. The Maple is another one of Watchman Villa’s two bedroom/two bathroom units that will give you everything you need and more. Plus, it is one of three upper-level units which kids usually prefer (in our experience, at least). If you’ve taken a look at any of our previous Villa Spotlight articles, you’ll see that there are many similarities across all of our units, which is certainly the case with The Maple. By booking this popular unit, you will be privy to some incredible views when spending time on the private balcony with luxurious seating, more space than you expect with an expansive 1300 square foot layout, a full kitchen that is stocked with everything you need in order to prepare a full course meal or simply store perishables in the refri...

Happy New Year! 2018 is here and we are beyond excited for what the next twelve months will bring to Springdale, to Zion National Park, and to you. We certainly wish all of you the best and hope that all of your New Years resolutions come to fruition. We also hope that you will save room on your list for at least one or more visits to Springdale and to Zion National Park hotels or vacation rentals! Big things are in store for the area and we are confident that 2018 is going to be a landmark year for the city of Springdale and for Zion Canyon. New construction has been underway now for months on Springdale’s main road, Zion-Mt. Carmel Hwy. By the time the busy season hits, getting around in Springdale will be easier than it has ever been before. All of those involved at both city and federal levels, as always, are striving to constantly make the tourist experience better and better every single year, and this is the reason why we are all confident that this new year is going to pr...