If you drive east out of Zion, continue to U.S. 89 and turn left for an easy drive about 40 miles north to the turnoff on Utah 12 to Bryce Canyon National Park — www.nps.gov/brca — famed for its own unique landscape and a view east across the canyonlands of southern Utah. Spend a day driving through the park, take a canyon trail ride by horse or mule, or try hiking trails rated from easy to strenuous (the elevation rises over 9,000 feet).

If you go to Kolob instead of the road east out of Zion, continue up I-15 to Cedar City — www.scenicsouthernutah.com. "Outdoor Activities" has links to recreation information at caves, lakes and parks. Cedar City also is the home of the award-winning Utah Shakespearean Festival — www.bard.org, which has been running since 1962. This year's season opens on June 19 with "The Two Gentlemen of Verona."

From Cedar City, head east on Utah 14, a scenic high-country route with views south into the backcountry of Zion and the entrance to Cedar Breaks National Monument — www.nps.gov/cebr — a compact cousin of Bryce Canyon. Continue east on Utah 14 to U.S. 89 as an alternate route to Bryce Canyon.

In a driving mood? From Bryce, head back south on U.S. 89 about 70 miles to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, where the sand is eroded from layers of colored sandstone like those that decorate Zion and Bryce.

That Cedar Breaks-Bryce-Zion-Coral Pink region iscovered by the East Zion Tourism Council — www.eastziontourismcouncil.org — a handy source of maps, highway information ("Byways"), lodging references including RV parks, B&B inns and motels, and more destination tips.