So the final four is in Arizona next year which I normally go to with my dad. Easter is the week before and my wife suggested doing a vacation that week in Arizona. Full caveat I am not a nature guy and normally prefer to drink beers and sit on a beach when I am off. There appear to be national parks by the Grand Canyon/Sedona area so if anyone has been what the heck do you do in a national park with a 5 and a 7 year old. Is it something where you just drive around and they are bored or do you I dunno go on hikes or something? I think my kids would get stir crazy at a resort in Scottsdale for 6 days.
Thanks in advance
it right off teh freeway near scottsdale 45 min diversion well worth it - make sure you do it on the way up as they close early I think - its a great drive up to the grand canyon lots of scenery
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If I were you I'd try and devote 2 or 3 day and take in the GC, Sedona, maybe a quick stop in Jerome. Worth it if you've never been.
Having just finished a vacation with my 2 and 5 year olds, there's no way we'd make a drive to the Grand Canyon. Maybe as part of a longer road trip on the way to somewhere else.
You should have no trouble finding a pool in Sedona. Artsy town, galleries and shopping. Don't know how the kids will go for that. If you stay over, be sure to go the Elote Cafe, great Mexican food. Also dahl and DeLuca, good upscale Italian.
Elevation is often a bigger factor than latitude as far as temperature.
Was thinking family trip. Really expensive, though.
The view cannot be overstated. Your kids wouldn't ever forget it. Hoover dam is cool too. Take the tour.
I would not take little kids to Sedona but we loved it. Good for couples.
The trip I went on was the 2nd half of the full trip that was a 15 day trip that started in Lees Ferry. I joined the trip at Phantom Ranch which is a 2 hour hike down from the south rim of the GC.
Most days we only spent 3-4 hours on the river and the rest of the day hiking the side canyons. To really enjoy the trip the family should be capable of, and enjoy,hiking. I don't think the motorized trips do much hiking.
Also it's really hot on the water - over 100 degrees - during June-August.
Yes expensive, but the self paddle trips are an awesome experience for a family if the kids are grown.
So yes, I think a vacation to the Grand Canyon is memorable for kids.
Was thinking family trip. Really expensive, though.
I did this then we got helicoptered out of Grand Canyon and a bus back to the lodge. Not sure if the helo was separate. The kids enjoyed it.
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We were there in early April. Still a tiny bit of residual snow in shady places. lots more as you come through the mountains north of Flagstaff. Gets 30ish overnight but will warm up into the 50s or so.
Crowds build quickly trying to get in the Tusayan gate and could back up a mile or so by 10-11. Be worth it to spend a night or 2 in the park if possible, or Tusayan as next best alternative. Get into the park real early, before the crowds. You'll appreciate the beauty that much more, before the crowds. Easy flat hiking trail along the rim, up to 8 miles, but bus stops along the way so you can adjust distance. You can venture into the hole as far as you like if you want.
Still feeling the effects of Covid, short staffing and such in the restaurants. You won't rave about the food, but you're pretty much a captive audience so go with the flow.
Looks like Bearizona is a wildlife park near the GC
I think kids these days are more into In N' Out and 5 Guys than to White Castle
That would be known as an oasis.
If you book early enough, you can reserve the top of a 2 level train with a clear dome ceiling/side….the views are incredible when you first see the canyon and they even ham it up with Old West stories and a fake train robbery. For kids it’s a lot of fun and for parents who like to pretend they’re kids it’s pretty great as well.
If you book early enough, you can reserve the top of a 2 level train with a clear dome ceiling/side….the views are incredible when you first see the canyon and they even ham it up with Old West stories and a fake train robbery. For kids it’s a lot of fun and for parents who like to pretend they’re kids it’s pretty great as well.
I second the Grand Canyon Railway recommenation for the kids. Old fashoinrd steam engine, on board actors and entertainers (a train robbery!). Never did the aquarium thing, but the kids might like that one as well.
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Find a western themed park - petting zoo, donkey rides, 'ghost town' buildings - close to town and go there. Years ago, there was one near Phoenix. Plenty of nice western nature closer to town. there's a zoo/old west town near Tucson, and Saguaro National Park is right there, too, which offers landscape/saguaro not seen elsewhere.
there's a zoo/old west town near Tucson, and Saguaro National Park is right there, too, which offers landscape/saguaro not seen elsewhere.
I hike often in Mesa and there are a lot of Sugauro there
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There’s a great option to do a train ride from Williams AZ directly to the GC. We opted to stay in the park and explore a bit over a few days but you could do a there-and-back in the same day.
If you book early enough, you can reserve the top of a 2 level train with a clear dome ceiling/side….the views are incredible when you first see the canyon and they even ham it up with Old West stories and a fake train robbery. For kids it’s a lot of fun and for parents who like to pretend they’re kids it’s pretty great as well.
I second the Grand Canyon Railway recommenation for the kids. Old fashoinrd steam engine, on board actors and entertainers (a train robbery!). Never did the aquarium thing, but the kids might like that one as well. Train to Grand Canyon - ( New Window )
This! + there is also Meteor Crater east of Flagstaff and someone mentioned Bearizona (you drive through the park...highly recommend it if you have kids). It's a 1-2 hour "expedition"
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Another thing was I had that trip planned out for a Rangers game against the coyotes and it didn't happen because of COVID so I'm more "eh" on that entire experience