Road trip: plan now for a scenic summer break.

• Author: Baumeister, Pam
• Position: Living Well

Summer may seem far away, but now is the best time to get started on planning your family's summer vacation. Cold, dreary days will soon be but a memory, and your family will be itching to get on the road and basking in the sunny outdoors.

If you've lived in the Beehive State for more than a few years, you've likely visited Moab, Zion National Park or Lake Powell. Here are a few often overlooked destinations that are no less spectacular and far less crowded.

Gorgeous Getaway: Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park boasts towering canyon walls of red rock, mysterious slot canyons, ancient petroglyphs, a nearby orchard with free apples for the picking and, most importantly, no crowds. If you're looking for a place where kids of all ages can explore and enjoy jaw-dropping scenery, this is the place.

A quick three and a half hours southeast from Salt Lake City, nestled between national forests and the west desert just west of Canyonlands, Capitol Reef offers scenic views of three types of landscapes: aspen forests, stunning red cliffs and desert vistas. Families should give themselves at least two to three days to explore this beautiful park and all its offerings.

Lodging:

Stay at one of several motels in the towns surrounding the park (Torrey has the most choices), or camp at one of many campgrounds in and around the park.

For more information, visit www.capitolreef.org.

Scenic Sabbatical: Get to know Utah's Picturesque Highways

Take a drive on a scenic byway, and you'll get to see more out-of-the-way places than you'd imagine. Kelly Thacker, author and owner of Salt Lake City's Thacker + Co. Court Reporting, has enjoyed taking journeys along Utah's scenic roads and quaint small towns with her husband and now grown children for years. One of her favorite road trips can be done in four to five days, depending on how long you want to spend in each stop along the way and how many diversions you allow yourself.

The Trip:

Starting on southbound 1-15, take Highway 6 to Highway 89 as it ribbons through small towns to Highway 24. You may want to stop in the small town of Spring City to check out some of the...