Sedona, Arizona

We absolutely loved Sedona during the four days that we spent there with our friends, another family with two kids. Altogether we had four kids with us, ranging in age from 6 to 10. The locals are friendly, the food is excellent, the hikes are amazing, and the views just can't be beat. Everywhere you go, you get the insane views of the red rock — it was literally non-stop!

Where to Stay

We absolutely loved staying at the Orchards Inn in Sedona. It's an upscale motel located right in the middle of everything. Every room features a balcony with spectacular views, and the included hot breakfast at the on-premise Mexican restaurant is delicious. The pool is a bit small, but my kids liked it just fine. Below is the view from every room at the inn.

What to Do

The No. 1 thing to do with kids in Sedona is Slide Rock State Park. It's a natural water park along the Oak Creek, where the smooth rocks serve as slides into crystal clear pools of water. The creek was super cold during our visit in late August, so be prepared with towels and dry clothes. And water shoes or strappy sandals are a must, as the rocks are very slippery and can be pretty dangerous to walk on. To be honest, I'm surprised this place doesn't require life vests and helmets ... but the kids weren't complaining!

We also went on a Pink Jeep Tour while we were there, and while it's an expensive excursion, we found it to be worth every penny. Our two-hour tour took us along the Broken Arrow trail and included several impossible-looking climbs up and down the mountain, plus time out of the vehicle to  enjoy the beautiful views and take photos. Our guide was the best — knowledgeable about the geology in the area, and patient with our kids who let out ear-piercing shrieks with every bump and turn.

About half an hour from downtown Sedona is the Blazin' M Ranch, which is a must for families. The experience includes all sorts of neat western-themed activities set up in a frontier town for the kids, plus a chuckwagon dinner and stage show. Some of the activities we enjoyed were the cow roping (where you learn how to throw a lasso), the shooting gallery (where everyone, even children, can shoot a real Colt .45 loaded with wax bullets), and the wooden puppet gallery (where adorable hand-carved puppets come to life in exchange for a few cents).

Other activities at the Blazin' M Ranch include a vintage tractor pull, a petting zoo, and games like horseshoes and corn hole. At a certain point in the evening, the dinner bell goes off and everyone files into the main barn to eat their meal (barbecued meats, cole slaw, biscuits, baked beans, and a baked potato), served on tin plates. The show starts as dessert is being served, featuring a three-person band singing popular country tunes. Their gags are a bit hokey, but the kids seemed entertained!

A surprisingly fun activity that we came across while we were there was the fishing experience at the Rainbow Trout Farm. Anyone who wants to fish can do so for a dollar, but you have to buy what you catch (each fish is $10 to $13, depending on size). There are two ponds swarming with rainbow trout and they give you the poles, bait, and a bucket for holding the fish. We ended up catching four fish (one for each kid) in under 20 minutes. The people who work at the farm will clean and gut the fish right in front of you and provide you with a grill kit to cook it up on-premise. There's a shaded picnic area for eating your catch of the day.

If shopping is your thing, a must-visit area is the Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village. Even if you're not a big shopper, the village is worth a visit for its beautiful design, modeled after a traditional Mexican village. In addition to the many shops in the village (including an old-fashioned toy store), there are tons of cute little eateries. We ended up spending most of our time at The Chai Spot, enjoying iced teas and Indian snacks. The seating areas were so inviting and comfortable.

When in Sedona you have to do a few hikes, and we prioritized the adventurous yet safe West Fork Trail. It's three miles out and the same distance back, but we decided to just hike for about an hour and turn around. The majority of the trail is shaded, and it crosses Oak Creek several times, so there's many opportunities to clamber across rocks and logs. The kids all had a blast with this one.

The Doe Mountain Trail is slightly more challenging, but also really fun and doable with children. It's a one-mile uphill climb to the top of a mesa offering panoramic vistas. There are many rock scrambles as you wind your way up and the views are breathtaking. There's no danger in falling off as you climb (despite how it looks), but watch out for the many prickly pears growing along the trail!

And when in Sedona, you have to visit at least one of the four vortexes, just to see what they're all about. I didn't know anything about Sedona's famed vortexes until we arrived, but quickly learned that they're centers of energy, credited with healing people and lifting up their spirits. Of course, we wanted to feel this spiritual energy for ourselves, so we set out for Airport Mesa, the vortex that requires the shortest hike to be reached. It took only about five minutes of climbing from the parking lot to reach the top of the mesa. And while no one actually felt the power of a vortex, we were all awed by the panoramic view at the top.

So here's the takeaway: You may have to be more open-minded than we were to feel the power of the Airport Mesa vortex, but what's definitely real are the incredible views.

Where to Eat

The food in Sedona is ridiculously good (and accordingly priced). We didn't have a single bad meal during our entire stay. Some of the highlights included The Hudson for its upscale comfort food, Creekside Bistro for its New American fare, Hideaway House's amazing pizzas, and the hugely portioned Mexican dishes at 89Agave. Just about anywhere you dine will feature amazing views of the red rock.

What's Nearby

Sedona's location is great. It's within two hours of the Grand Canyon (where we stayed for three days) and three hours of Antelope Canyon (which we've visited on a past trip), so it's easy to make it a part of a larger trip to the American West.

It's also just an hour from Williams, Arizona, of historic Route 66 fame. The town appears to be stuck in time and is really kitschy but fun. It's also home to two animal attraction: Bearizona and the Grand Canyon Deer Farm. Both are worth a visit if your kids are into animals. I describe them in more detail in my post on the Grand Canyon.

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Grand Canyon National Park: Best Hikes and Activities for Kids

For our recent trip to the Grand Canyon with another family, we flew into Phoenix and drove three hours to the South Rim, where we stayed for three days in Grand Canyon Village (here's a map of the area). We concentrated on this section of the park for our visit, as the canyon is so large that to travel to the North Rim would've taken four to five hours. But there's plenty to see and do with kids in the South Rim over three days.

The Grand Canyon was a part of our larger tour of Arizona, in which we saw a bit of Phoenix, a bit of Williams, and spent a few days in Sedona. You could also tack on visits to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park while you're in this part of the country. Those two parks rival the Grand Canyon in grandeur and offer plenty of fun, kid-friendly hikes.

Where to Stay

We flew into Phoenix and opted to stay one night at the Squaw Point Hilton Resort before hopping in our rental car for the three-hour drive to the Grand Canyon. I chose this hotel because it's got a built-in water park and lots of resort activities like poolside movies in the evening. It's the perfect way to unwind after a long flight.

For our lodging in the Grand Canyon, we booked the Kachina Lodge one year in advance. The park offers five hotels that are convenient to the sights within the South Rim, but they are mostly no-frills lodgings. You are staying at these places for the proximity to the sights. The Kachina Lodge is literally located right next to the rim walk, and if you book early enough, you could find yourself in a canyon-side room. There's nothing like waking up to a view of the Grand Canyon right outside your window.

Where to Eat

There are many restaurants within the park, and the two that we enjoyed the most were the Arizona Steakhouse and El Tovar. Have dinner at Arizona Steakhouse according to when the sun will go down to catch the sunset over the canyon from the panoramic windows. And show up for breakfast at the historic El Tovar dining room early so you don't have to wait for a table.

What to Do

Before we entered the park, we stopped at the IMAX theater in town that features a movie called "The Hidden Secrets of the Grand Canyon." This was a great way to get a preview of what we were about to see, and also learn more about the canyon. The movie was pretty exciting (it may be too exciting for small children), with awesome reenactments of the early explorers boating down the canyon river.

Once in the park, we did two amazing, kid-friendly hikes. The first was the popular Bright Angel Trail, which starts off at the rim and switchbacks all the way down to the bottom of the canyon. But covering that distance would take more than a day, so we just hiked for about an hour and then turned around. The views are seriously amazing, and it's nice to get a different perspective of the canyon. Just remember that going back up is considerably more difficult than going down, so it's best to turn back before the kids start whining!

Our second hike (and my personal favorite) was Shoshone Point, a two-mile out and back. This hike is a must-do, and it's best to go one hour before sunset, with a picnic dinner in hand. The trailhead is a bit tricky to find, as the parking lot is unmarked, but it's located on the north side of Highway 64, about 1.2 miles east of Yaki Point Road (just west of mile marker 246).

After parking your car, head past the gate and simply start down the path. It took us about 20 minutes of hiking through the forest (we spotted an elk up close!) to reach what may be the most amazing views of the canyon in the entire park. The hike ends at a lookout point that juts out over the canyon, but on a wide swath of rock so that it doesn't feel so death-defying to walk out to the very tip with your kids (but do hold onto their hand!). At the tip of Shoshone Point, you'll get 360-degree views of the canyon that will take your breath away.

After checking out that view, retreat back to the safety of the hiking path and eat the dinner you brought on one of the many picnic tables overlooking the canyon, as you watch the sunset. Then before it gets completely dark, start the one-mile hike back to your car. Bring some flashlights (or use the one in your cellphone) for the hike back, as it'll likely get pretty dark.

For a different way of viewing the canyon, hop on some rental bikes and ride along the rim. Bright Angel's Bicycles in the park has the best bike excursion for families, called the Hermit Shuttle Package. After getting fitted with a bike and helmets (there are plenty of kids' bikes available, as well as tagalongs and trailers), you hop on a shuttle bus and ride down to Hopi Point, where you're dropped off for a 5.5-mile ride down a wide road to Hermit's Rest. The occasional park shuttle goes by on this road, but otherwise you'll have it all to yourself.

The route is basically flat or downhill; you're pretty much coasting the entire time. Once at Hermit's Rest, the shuttle will pick you up and bring you back to the rental shop. The whole thing took about two-and-a-half hours (including the time being shuttled back and forth), and it's safe to say that I've never experienced such an easy bike ride in my life! If only all bike rides consisted of coasting down in one direction, then getting picked up by a shuttle for the uphill return.

There's even a small cafe at the rental shop, so you could do the ride in the morning and grab lunch there right after. I highly recommend checking out this package!

What's Nearby

There are two animal attractions within an hour of the Grand Canyon. At the Grand Canyon Deer Farm in Williams, you can feed the farm's collection of deer, which roam freely among the visitors. They don't bite or jump up on you, but they do aggressively follow you around if they see that you have a cup full of pellets, which can be frightening for kids. My kids were both pretty scared. There are other animals in pens around the farm, including wallabies, llamas, bison, goats, and reindeer.

A bigger hit with my kids was Bearizona, a zoo with a drive-through section, a walk-through section, and fun animal demonstrations. You can do the drive-through section in your own car or in the park's open-air trolley. The most impressive thing to see there are the dozens of black bears, all lolling about right in front of your vehicle. The raptor show is also really well done and interactive, with birds ranging from owls to falcons practically grazing the tops of audience members heads as they fly around.

About two hours from the Grand Canyon South Rim is Sedona, an absolutely stunning town with excellent food, hikes, and views. We spent four days there to complete our tour of Arizona; here's my itinerary for that part of the trip.

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Page, Arizona

The town of Page in Arizona makes a great day trip from Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, or Sedona. That's where you'll find Antelope Canyon, a sandstone slot canyon that needs to be seen to be believed. And just a few minutes from Antelope Canyon is Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell, two other attractions that will make your day in Page.

What to Do

The main attraction in Page is Antelope Canyon (although it's technically in the Navajo Nation of LeChee). There's an upper canyon and lower canyon, and the lower canyon supposedly offers a better experience for kids, while the upper one is popular among photographers for the midday light. You can only access the canyon with a guide, and we booked a tour with Dixie Ellis, which turned out to be great.

Before the tour started, we were treated to a traditional Navajo hoop dance. The whole thing lasted about five minutes, and it was a nice little taste of the local culture.

Then all the people going on our timed tour were separated into smaller groups and assigned to various guides. We were lucky and got a great guide named Buddy all to ourselves. The hike to and through the lower canyon is a little more than a mile round trip, and takes about an hour to complete. It's a lot of fun for everyone, and the time goes by quickly. Your guide will lead you on a 10-minute walk across the red sand to the entrance of the canyon, where you'll descend a series of stairs, then start to twist and turn through the curvy and narrow canyon walls.

Our guide was fantastic, pointing out fun shapes created by the curves of the canyon for the kids with his laser pointer, and taking photos for our family at all the prime spots. He knew all the right filters to use on my iPhone to capture the best colors.

The hike involves climbing many stairs and ladders, so strollers are definitely out, but all the climbing structures are very sturdy and not at all difficult for kids to manage. In fact, the ladders were definitely a part of the fun of this hike.

After traversing the whole canyon, you ascend one final set of ladders and then pop out of a hole in the ground like a gopher!

If you're visiting in the summer, make sure you reserve your timed tour for the early morning, as it can get seriously hot in Page after 10am. Also keep an eye on the weather forecast for the area, since the tour company will cancel your tour if there's even a hint of rain. Flash flooding in the canyon is a real danger. As Buddy told us, it may be scary to see scorpions or spiders in the canyon, but the scariest sight of all is a rain cloud above you.

Just a few miles from Antelope Canyon is Horseshoe Bend. You'll need to hike about three-quarters of a mile over a paved but sandy trail to reach the stunning lookout point. There are big signs at the beginning of the hike that tell you to bring enough water for each person, as the sun can be brutal in the middle of summer, and there's no shade. Fortunately for us, it was a cloudy day.

After about 20 minutes, we finally reached the Horseshoe Bend lookout point. It's so expansive that it almost looks unreal.

I snapped the photo above just as dark clouds rolled in over our heads and started pelting us with huge raindrops. The wind blasted sand on us the whole way back to our car, and we barely made it in before the sky opened up and started dumping out rain. 

Also in the area is beautiful Lake Powell, and our friends who were vacationing with us took a boat ride on the lake. There are also options to kayak and even rent a houseboat for a few days, which looks like loads of fun.

Where to Eat

We drove into Page for just a day, and stopped for lunch at traditional Mexican restaurant El Tapatio before heading back to Zion. Tacos, rice and beans, and a big helping of chips and guac make for just the right meal after a full morning of hiking!

What's Nearby

As I mentioned, Page is central to many bigger destinations in the area, including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon and Sedona. In my opinion, there's no need to stay in town; it's best visited as part of a day trip from one of these larger locations. Here are my family-friendly itineraries for Zion and Bryce (pictured below), which are both absolutely amazing and so much fun for the kids.

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