Do you have any bucket list destinations? We have a few in our household, and one of them is the Grand Canyon in the western United States. We thought this destination would be off limits as a place not really suited to families with young kids. Boy, were we wrong!

As I began my research, I quickly realized it’s a perfect spot for families with kids of any age. There are many options in the area. Regardless of whether your family likes sightseeing, shopping, entertainment, or history, you’re sure to find it. And the best part? You can use the KidFriendlyVenue app to pinpoint the perfect spots for your family.

What Is Important to Your Family?

We quickly figured out this was an important question as we looked at all the options surrounding the Grand Canyon. You see, the two most popular choices for families to consider are between staying in Las Vegas, Nevada, and seeing the Grand Canyon from the north rim or staying along the south rim in Arizona.

Staying along the south rim in Arizona has more of a western feel. It’s a bit quieter and more relaxed. There are plenty of attractions, but they’re not necessarily the same type of attractions that you’ll find in Las Vegas.

For our family, we’ve decided when we visit, we will stay along the southern rim. The scientific and historic attractions in the area are what interest us the most. Now that we have one box checked off, we are freed up to move on to other considerations.

The South Rim

Once we knew the general area where we would want to stay, it was time to consider where we’d book our hotel—inside or outside the national park? There are several hotels and lodges which are situated inside the Grand Canyon National Park. Most have been around for decades and are extremely popular.

However, for our family, we know we’ll want modern accommodation as well as a swimming pool. Because of these preferences, we plan to stay in Flagstaff, Arizona. This is a short drive to the Grand Canyon itself but also close to other area attractions.

Williams, Arizona, is nearby, and from there our family will be able to enjoy the Grand Canyon Railway. This attraction looks amazing! Leaving our car in Williams, we’ll take the enclosed train into the Grand Canyon National Park. There is live music and entertainment on the train, and our family will get to enjoy the rolling western countryside as we ride.

At the end of the day, we’ll take the train back to our car and return to our hotel. Overall, it makes for a long but entertaining day.

Williams, Arizona, is also a part of the historic Route 66. There are plenty of shops and popular spots in the town for those wanting photos and memories in the area. For younger kids, consider Bearizona Wildlife Park, a drive-thru safari attraction filled with various animals that kids love.

For older kids, you might consider Lowell Observatory just outside of Flagstaff. The observatory was founded in 1894, and it was from this spot Pluto was discovered in 1930. You can also consider other options like catching a helicopter tour of the canyon or doing a guided donkey ride.

The Grand Canyon

What kind of piece would this be without a feature of the main event? The Grand Canyon itself is full of amazing things for kids of any age to enjoy. It is part of a system of national parks, and each of these is equipped with park ranger programs for kids. Stop by the visitors center first thing to get your kiddos enrolled in the program. They’ll be able to take part in a scavenger hunt type event that’ll keep them on the lookout for various animal and plant species throughout the canyon.

During the daylight hours, kids and teens alike will enjoy bike rides and hikes. Bikes in all sizes can be rented from Bright Angel Bikes. Popular hiking trails for kids include the Grand Canyon Rim Trail or the Yavapai Point Trail.

Don’t discount the Grand Canyon at night, either. The sky is the main attraction in the evening hours. It comes alive with stars and galaxies, and it’ll amaze even the most uninterested of kids. All these events are popular in both the summer and winter months.

You might be wondering what to do if your littles are babies or toddlers. Many use baby carriers to continue hiking the canyon even with small kids, so you’ll want to investigate that option if you’re interested. Top mom blogs are sure to give insight, and don’t forget to check the KFV app for recommendations.

While my family doesn’t have a date nailed down for this bucket list trip, we hope to have one soon. In the meantime, we’ll keep dreaming while we read the Mom’s Tribute blog for ideas!

Katie C