We Go With Kids!

Category: arizona

  • Best Science Centers in the World

    Best Science Centers in the World

    Science museums offer interactive and hands-on exhibits to inspire excitement for STEM learning.  Many science museums also participate in the ASTC Travel Passport Program, which provides members of participating museums free reciprocal admission to hundreds of natural history, science and children’s museums around the world.  We asked some of our fellow family travel bloggers for favorite science museums they’ve visited and came up with this list of the best science centers in the world (asterisked museums are participants in the ASTC Travel Passport Program).

    Best Science Museums for Kids

     

    #1:  Arizona Science Center With Kids* (Phoenix, Arizona)

    There are two things that make for a great science museum: interactive exhibits and engaging explanations. We found both of those in spades at the Arizona Science Center! We visited with our 3 and 5 year old children and found meaningful, hands-on stations to suit everyone in the family along with easy-to-understand signage everywhere. There’s almost an entire floor dedicated to the human body, a huge section on mechanics and even a large area covering extreme weather (perfect for my Storm Chasers-loving husband). The Center always shows interesting and age-appropriate films at its IMAX theater and has a fantastic cafe on-site that offers food that is both healthy and fun. A visit to the Arizona Science Center is the perfect way to escape the Phoenix heat with kids, and bring your ASTC member card for free admission!

    Recommended by Melissa Conn from The Family Voyage.  Find out more from Melissa about great family activities in Phoenix. 

     

    #2:  California Academy of Sciences With Kids (San Francisco, California)

    The California Academy of Sciences is both a natural history museum and a science museum all in one! The Academy has a rain forest, aquarium (with a touch and feel tide pool), planetarium, living roof, and a section where they provide African wildlife exhibits – including real penguins! The playroom is a favorite with our 1 and 3 year old children, too. Visitors can’t forget the albino alligator, Claude, who lives in the swamp of the Academy. We’ve had a membership to this museum since before we had kids, and we now continue to renew it because there is truly something for everyone. It’s located in a central part of the Golden Gate Park, so it’s a perfect spot to stop while you are exploring San Francisco.

    Recommended by Emily Jenks from Henry and Andrew’s Guide.  Find out more from Emily about San Francisco with kids.

     

    #4:  Cite des Sciences et de l’industrie With Kids (Paris, France)

    Housed inside a giant concrete block, the Cite des Sciences is the largest science museum in Europe.  It has several permanent exhibits featuring sciences, mathematics and technology.  Visitors can explore the human brain, learn about the origins of the universe and see how man has developed technology, among other things.   Don’t miss the Geode at the back of the museum; this enormous reflective globe contains a state of the art IMAX and virtual reality cinema.

    Children will be especially interested in the Cite des Enfants (Children’s City) where they can join a 90 minute session and explore experiments and interactive tasks, while learning about their bodies and the physical world.  Older children can also play in a TV studio and a garden.  The sessions are split by age: ages 2 – 7 and 5 – 12.  Kids don’t want to leave!

    After exploring the exhibits in the museum, take a walk in the Parc de la Villette behind the museum to see its modern, industrial architecture.  The Cite des Sciences is a little off the main tourist trail in Paris, but it’s reached easily enough from the Gare du Nord.  There’s no general admission fee, but individual exhibits do require admission, and pre-booking the children’s city is a good idea to avoid the long queues.

    Recommended by Emily Cole from Kids and Compass.  Find out more from Emily about Paris with small kids.

    #5:  The Franklin Institute With Kids* (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

    The Franklin Institute is a science and technology center in Center City in Philadelphia. It’s named for Philadelphia’s beloved citizen and Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, who wore many hats but most notably as a scientist and inventor. When we go to Philadelphia to visit family in the suburbs, my children always insist on visiting the Franklin Institute.

    Visitors can easily spend an entire day at this center because there is so much to do. The Institute has special exhibits that rotate regularly. For example, we have enjoyed exhibits on Pompeii and the Terracotta Warriors. There is an IMAX theater, a planetarium and many interactive exhibits. For example, there is a giant human heart that visitors can walk both around and through, while exploring the different parts of the organ. Even though the Institute is very popular, it never feels crowded because it is so large. It’s easily one of the best science centers we have ever visited.

    Recommended by Shobha George from Just Go Places Blog.

     

    #6:  Luray Caverns With Kids (Luray, Virginia)

    Luray Caverns is basically the Geology Hall of Fame. Located in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, Luray is the largest and most visited caverns in Eastern America. This one of a kind attraction combines geology, chemistry and even music. Admission tickets include a guided tour, which departs every 20 minutes after 9 a.m., and access to the The Luray Valley Museum, the Car and Carriage Museum and Toy Town Junction. Families can also buy additional tickets to the Rope Adventure Park and Garden Maze. The guided tour leads visitors through well lit, paved walkways to view and explore towering stone formations and natural wonders. Our family stopped at this one of a kind center on a road trip to Georgia, and I literally had to drag my kids out of there. My science and history loving children were in awe of the enormous chambers filled with towering stone columns, draperies and crystal-clear pools. For visitors looking for a unique science museum that offers hands on and experienced based learning in a stunning environment, Luray Caverns should be on your East Coast itinerary.

    Recommended by Ruth Mendes from Have Kiddos Will Travel.

     

    #7:  Magna Science Adventure Centre With Kids (Rotherham, England)

    We love the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham, Yorkshire. It’s based around air, fire, water and Earth with different exhibit areas for each. The Centre is set in an old steel works, and the space is massive and actually a little spooky. There is a big melt every hour with fireworks and other sounds to demonstrate how they used to melt the steel. Each of the pavilions has different interactive displays for young and old to play with and explore. Our particular favourites are watching a tornado of fire ignite in the fire pavilion, playing with pretend rocks and blowing holes in rocks in the Earth pavilion and shooting water canons at targets in the water pavilion. There’s also one of the biggest playgrounds I’ve ever seen that has a splash park in the warmer months. The added cherry on top is that once visitors have paid for one visit they can return as many times as desired for the next 12 months without charge.

    Recommended by Suzy McCullough from Our Bucket List Lives.

    #8:  National Science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci With Kids* (Milan, Italy)

    The National Science and Technology Museum Leonardo da Vinci is the biggest science museum in Italy. The outside of the 16th-century monastery that houses the museum is nothing to look at, but the inside is amazing. The Museum has a huge collection of sixteen thousand technical scientific objects, dating back to the 19th century. There’s a gallery with drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci and 130 scale models that are based on his sketches. Furthermore, the Museum has exhibits about energy production, communication, computers, iron and steel industry and space travel. The transportation section takes up a large part of the museum, with various (parts of) ships, a collection of locomotives and train carriages, numerous airplanes and even a full-size helicopter. Our son was also really impressed by the huge military submarine Enrico Toti that sits in the garden. We only spent a morning at the museum with our toddler and did not nearly have enough time to see it all.

    Recommended by Lisa van den Berg from Flip Flop Globetrotters.  Find out more from Lisa about things to do in Milan with kids.

     

    #9:  Nagoya City Science Museum and Electricity Museum With Kids (Nagoya, Japan)

    The Nagoya City Science Museum in Nagoya, Japan houses the biggest planetarium in the world.  The 30 minute planetarium show about the galaxy and constellations, featuring a highly realistic starry sky, will leave the viewers in awe even though it isn’t dubbed in English.   Visitors will also enjoy various exhibits such as the Tornado Lab, Deep Freezing Lab and Electric Discharge Lab.

    For Nagoya visitors who love science, the Electricity Museum is a family-friendly attraction in Nagoya, Japan where kids and adults can enjoy learning how electricity works and its importance to the people of Japan. We toured the museum through the Nagoya Sightseeing Tour Bus, and the entrance ticket is free for everyone. It offers hologram images where visitors can see the pioneers in Japanese electricity and there are interactive tools on display and a science plaza where kids can experiment and be familiarized with different science laws. The main attraction of this museum is the OHM Theater where guests can participate in quizzes and competitions as video game characters on their impressive 29-foot screen.

    Recommended by Catha Buti-Uy of Team Uy Travels.

     

    #10:  Oregon Museum of Science and Industry With Kids* (Portland, Oregon)

    The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (“OMSI”) in Portland, Oregon, is not somewhere visitors might think of bringing a child, and we worried whether our son would enjoy it. We wanted to visit the special exhibition OMSI had about Pompeii, but we were delighted to find lots for kids to enjoy. We were totally blown away by it. The Science Playground was by far our son’s favourite section.  Designed for kids ages 0-6, there were water tables, sand pits and lots of different sections for free-play, learning and discovery. The Planetarium was also a hit with our young son, and the rest of the museum was filled with different exhibits for children of all ages. One thing we missed during our visit was USS Blueback, the submarine that was featured in The Hunt for Red October and now permanently docked beside the museum. I was gutted to learn that we had missed it, but it’s a perfect excuse for a return visit!

    Recommended by Catherine from Passports and Adventures.  Find out more from Catherine about the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

     

    #11:  Perot Museum of Nature and Science With Kids* (Dallas, Texas)

    The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is not merely a science center. This awe-inspiring, 160,000 square foot structure is a state-of-the-art experience intersecting the worlds of engineering, science, architecture, nature and sustainability. With eleven permanent exhibits, six learning labs and one traveling exhibit, the sprawling six floors deliver excitement. My fourth-grader loves the Rose Hall of Birds where visitors can build and fly their own bird. The Leap Frog Forest enchants my toddler as kids of all ages can crawl, jump and play life-size leapfrog. Both kids agree that the top attractions are:

    • Sports: Practice an athletic move then film yourself in “Motion Lab” or challenge a T-Rex, Dallas Cowboy or cheetah in a timed race at “Run.”
    • Life Then and Now: Build your own dinosaur then send it to battle.
    • Engineering and Innovation: Lead pre-built robots on missions or program one yourself using visual coding stations.

    But, don’t forget to squeeze in some other special engagements. Marvel at the Perot Dinosaur, a new species found by Perot Museum Paleontologists. Crack open an Amethyst Geode that stands 5 feet tall. Visitors can also get their groove on at Harmony Park, watch a 4D Film at the National Geographic Experience Theater or view a real brain and stem at “Being Human.”

    Recommended by Brandy from Kid Allergy Travel.

     

    #12:  Science World at TELUS World of Science With Kids* (Vancouver, Canada)

    Science World at TELUS World of Science is one of the best science museums we have visited.  Not only does it stand out in terms of location and architecture, but it also has diverse displays, hands-on experiments and award-winning playgrounds.  Most displays are designed to be intuitive, and children and grown-ups are encouraged to try things out and have fun while exploring the museum and learning. Kids can try to weigh a hippo, climb on a rotating climbing wall and crawl through a beaver lodge. There are regular live demonstrations throughout the day, and we planned to visit for 2 hours and end up staying for 4.5. Science World is one of Vancouver’s must-do kid-focused tourist attractions.

    Recommended by Jules from Shades of Courage.

     

    #13:  Scienceworks With Kids (Melbourne, Australia)

    For parents of children constantly asking “why” about everything, Scienceworks in Melbourne feeds the curiosity of young minds.  Offering a wide range of kid friendly exhibits with hands on activities, and live demonstrations, this child-focused museum makes learning about science fun and exciting.

    For little space lovers, the planetarium teaches kids about planets, constellations, and their home planet Earth through a kid-friendly animated film. With reclining seats and a domed roof, visitors can sit back and enjoy the show.  Kids also love the “lightning room” which is a 120-seat auditorium that presents demonstrations to teach children about electricity.  Learn about dinosaurs, the ocean, bugs and insects, and much more.  For those visiting Melbourne, Scienceworks is a great day out for the whole family.

    Recommended by Chontelle from Mum’s Little Explorers.

     

    Best Science Centers For Kids

    There are so many of these best science museums in the world that are now on our travel list.  For more amazing museums for young scientists, check out the Best Natural History Museums in the World!

  • Scottsdale With Kids: Desert and Baseball

    Scottsdale With Kids: Desert and Baseball

    I recently visited Scottsdale, Arizona while attending a conference at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa  located near Scottsdale, is a city in suburban Phoenix.  Scottsdale has been ranked as the best city to retire in America and is also an international art and resort center in the Sonoran Desert with so much to offer visiting families with kids.

    JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort – A Wonderful Scottsdale Family Resort

    The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa opened in November 2002 as Marriott’s 2,500th hotel worldwide and as Arizona’s largest resort with over 950 rooms.  The guest room was well-appointed and very comfortable, and the bathroom featured elegant stone work and a standing shower.

    My favorite feature of my room was the view of the McDowell Mountains from the patio – palm trees and mountains are a pretty amazing way to start the day.

    A room with a view

    The Desert Ridge Resort includes over 3.5 acres of pools, 36 holes of championship golf, eight tennis courts and Revive Spa.  Four of the Resort’s five pools are always heated at 82 degrees.  Even though we enjoyed the heated geothermal pools in Iceland, it felt too chilly during the February cold snap to try out the pools.  The Lazy River would have been an amazing place to spend an afternoon floating in one of the brightly colored inner tubes – if it was only 10 degrees warmer.  I can only imagine how wonderful the aquatic center must be during the super hot summer months.

    Lazy River

    The Resort also offers several great dining options. Stonegrill serves American fare with a Southwestern twist in a casual atmosphere with comfortable seating.  Roy’s Pacific Rim is an Asian-Fusion restaurant with Hawaiian and Asian-inspired cuisine.  During our stay, we watched Olympic coverage at the hotel bar Twenty6.

    Stonegrill
    Roy’s Pacific Rim

    The Resort really capitalizes on the gorgeous surrounding views with lots of windows and comfy chairs in the common areas.  It was not so surprising that neither windows nor comfy chairs were featured in the Resort’s conference center.  With tax and securities on the agenda, it would definitely be nearly impossible to hold the attention of attendees if competing with the beautiful view.

    Great place to sit and rest

    While the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa was a fantastic resort, it would be a shame to travel 2,000 miles and not get the chance to explore beyond the resort.  Luckily, I also had a chance to visit the Phoenix Art Museum on my way from the airport and Old Town Scottsdale before my departing flight.

    There are many more accommodations options for visitors to Scottsdale with kids.  Families who want to stay close to Old Town should check out my cousin’s guest house, Casita Saguaro.  It is a lovely, newly constructed two bedroom private guesthouse available at an amazing nightly rate.

    Old Town Scottsdale With Kids

    After my conference concluded, my cousin picked me up, and we headed to Old Town Scottsdale.  There was a lot of excitement in Old Town because it was the first day of MLB Spring Training, and Scottsdale’s Spring training home team, the San Francisco Giants, were playing the Milwaukee Brewers in the Scottsdale Stadium.  Although baseball was not on our agenda, it was fun to hear the crowds cheering as we made our way to our first stop at The Mission for lunch.

    The Mission features modern delicious Latin cuisine.  The tacos were divine, but the real highlight was the made to order tableside guacamole, which we shared.

    After lunch, we walked around Old Town Scottsdale to explore its floral displays and Native American arts shops.  Of course, I couldn’t resist visiting the Scottsdale Historical Museum, a free museum with seasonal hours (closed June – August when it is really hot).  This charming brick structure was built in 1909 and originally used as the town’s school city hall, courthouse and library.  The Scottsdale Historical Museum offers exhibits related to the historical and cultural heritage of Scottsdale and the Southwest.

    Scottsdale Historical Museum

    My favorite was the One Room Schoolhouse depicting a typical 19th century classroom that appeared to be right out of Little House and the Prairie, and the 1872 rules for teachers w

    One Room Schoolhouse

    I was thrilled to unexpectedly find one of Robert Indiana’s pop art Love sculptures in front of the Scottsdale Civic Center as we walked around Old Town.  Indiana’s Love sculptures are now located all over the world and my favorite example of public art.

    The gardens in Old Town were absolutely beautiful.

    I wished that there was enough time to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.  Frank Lloyd Wright invested his earnings from Fallingwater to purchase property in Scottsdale where he built Talliesin West was his own winter home.  Like Fallingwater, this tour is not intended for children under age six.  If my architecture loving middle child was with me, Talliesin West would have definitely been a can’t miss activity.

    Why We Love Scottsdale With Kids

    Scottsdale’s mild winters makes it an ideal location for a winter trip, especially for baseball fans during Spring Training.  We loved the art and architecture and look forward to a chance to explore Scottsdale with kids more!

    When planning a trip to Scottsdale with kids, make sure to check out our other favorite Arizona and Nevada destinations.

  • Visiting Sedona With Kids

    Visiting Sedona With Kids

    Sedona is a resort town in Arizona known for its stunning red rock canyon and spiritual vortexes.  USA Weekend has rated it as the most beautiful place in America.  Located at the mouth of the Oak Creek Canyon about two hours from the Grand Canyon and Phoenix, Sedona is considered Arizona’s second most popular tourist attraction behind the Grand Canyon.  Its climate is often cooler than Phoenix and warmer than the Grand Canyon, and its beautiful landscapes were the setting for many Western movies, and there are fantastic hiking opportunities.  Our visit to Sedona with kids was an idyllic weekend destination.

    Visiting Sedona, Arizona

    Sedona has recently become a New Age mecca.  In 1981, Page Bryant, a psychic and writer, identified seven vortexes in Sedona.  Vortexes are cosmic energy fields that are believed to exude high-octane spiritual energy ideal for facilitating prayer, meditation and healing.  Vortexes have been identified at Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon and Airport Mesa.  While the New Age vortexes were not what drew us to Sedona, the beautiful rock buttes, mesas and spires are so beautiful that our visit there was definitely spiritual.

    Cathedral Rock

    Our family visited Sedona in February as part of a trip to the Southwest that also included Las Vegas and Grand Canyon.  For our four and seven year old boys, our visit to Sedona served as an extension of the geology and biology lessons that we began during our “field trip” to the Grand Canyon.  They were fascinated to learn that high concentrations of iron-oxide (aka rust) cause the rock formation’s red coloring and were also excited to explore the desert plant life.  Our six month old daughter was already a seasoned traveler and spent most of her time exploring Sedona relaxed in her carrier.

    Sunset at Airport Mesa, Sedona

    After watching a beautiful sunrise and sunset at the Grand Canyon, we wanted to make sure we had a great view of sunset in Sedona.  We chose to view sunset from Airport Mesa, one of the four vortexes.  This is a very popular sunset location, and there is convenient parking right near the knoll vista.  The short walk to the viewpoint was kid-friendly, and I carried our infant in her carrier.  Because of the popularity of this location at sunset, we were definitely not alone.

    We loved the view of Coffee Pot Rock, which resembles a percolator style pot and even has a spout.

    Coffee Pot Rock

    There was a drone with a camera taking pictures of sunset.  Drone photography was still pretty novel (at least to me) in 2015, and I would have liked to see those shots.

    Sunset from Airport Mesa was beautiful not only because of the changing colors and shadows on the rock faces and the panoramic view of the Sedona area but also because of the fantastic silhouettes created.  This helicopter was a special treat, even though it was noisy.

    The view from Airport Mesa would be spectacular at any time of day and likely less crowded when the sun is not rising or setting.  However, we didn’t mind the crowd and definitely stayed longer than we expected.

    Fay Canyon Trail, Sedona

    Sedona is known for its fabulous hiking opportunities.  We definitely wanted to do some exploring but also knew we were limited traveling with both grandparents and an infant in addition to our two young boys.  We chose the Fay Canyon Trail, an easy 2.2 mile loop with 150 foot elevation and were not disappointed.  The boys were especially enthusiastic to check out all the desert plant life along with the red rocks, and my daughter enjoyed her view from her carrier until my hiking lulled her to sleep.  It was a perfect day for hiking with a brilliant blue sky.

    Although the plant life was very beautiful, the main attractions of the Fay Canyon Trail are the red rocks and the arch.  We missed the turn off to the Fay Canyon Arch trail, which is a moderate trail with 300 feet elevation (some scrambling required) that forks from the main trail about .6 mile from the parking lot and leads to a natural arch.  Although the pictures look amazing, this side hike was really beyond the capabilities of our group.

    At the turn around point of the hike, my husband scaled the rock for an amazing view of the valley.

    Panoramic view

    The rest of our group waited while my husband explored.  The boys particularly enjoyed some “rock climbing” of their own.

    Rock climbing, four year old style

    The Fay Canyon Trail was particularly family friendly and worthwhile.  Next time, we’ll definitely check out the arch.

    Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona

    Our last stop in Sedona was the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a cross-faced chapel built into the red rock that is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.  The Chapel was commissioned by Marguerite Brunwig Staude, a local rancher and sculptor, and completed in 1957.  We parked in the parking lot and followed the winding path to the Chapel and were amazed by the view.

    Chapel of the Holy Cross

    The Chapel is part of the St. John Vianney parish, where we attended Sunday Mass, but there are no Masses (and no weddings) celebrated at the tiny Chapel.

    The Chapel is located near Eagle Head Rock, Twin Nuns and Mother and Child Rock, and we were ecstatic to locate the Twin Nuns.

    Two Nuns

    Sedona is also known for its vibrant art community, star-gazing tours, New Age shops and spas and Pink Jeep tours, but these were not part of our brief visit.  Even without fully experiencing all Sedona has to offer, it is a fantastic add-on destination to a family trip to the Grand Canyon or Phoenix.  Our visit to Sedona gave our boys a chance to really explore desert plant life and geology while enjoying brilliant views of a red rock canyon that is quite different from the nearby Grand Canyon.  When traveling to Sedona with kids, make sure to check out our other favorite Arizona and Nevada destinations.

  • A Family Trip to the Grand Canyon

    A Family Trip to the Grand Canyon

    The Grand Canyon is a gorge of the Colorado River that is often considered one of the Wonders of the World.  The mile deep canyon was carved by the Colorado River over the past 6 million years as rugged plateaus have been cut into the rock.  Grand Canyon National Park‘s magnitude is astounding, and pictures cannot capture its breathtaking proportions or the beauty of the fine details and shadows.  Even on my fourth visit, I was giddy with excitement for that first peek over the rim. We all loved our family trip to the Grand Canyon.

    Lightning over the Grand Canyon

    Why Visit the Grand Canyon With Kids?

    In February 2015, Phoenix hosted the Super Bowl, which highlighted the Grand Canyon.  My son, who had recently learned about canyons in his first grade classroom asked me, “When are you going to take me to the Grand Canyon?”  The fact that my husband and I visited while I was pregnant with him and that he technically had been there was no consolation.  I promised him I would take him someday.  Someday turned out to be much sooner than expected when we happened to find a flight deal as part of Spirit Airlines‘ expansion into the Cleveland market to Las Vegas with perfect timings overlapping our kids’ upcoming Presidents’ Day holiday.  The Grand Canyon was definitely a bucket list location for my inlaws, who immediately wanted to join us.  We decided not only to book a trip only two weeks in advance, but to keep the destination a surprise for our four and seven year old boys.  We had no concerns about how our six month old, who was already a seasoned traveler, would handle her first red-eye flight and also added on a few days in Sedona.

    Visiting the Grand Canyon when I was six months pregnant with our first son

    My seven year old had only two guesses for the location of our mystery trip – 1. Disney World and 2. the Grand Canyon.  He was certainly ecstatic when we told him at the airport that we were headed first to Las Vegas for a few days and then to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon.  It was our first time flying on Spirit Airlines, which requires additional fees for checked and carry on luggage.  Our family of five was able to pack all the layers and gear we needed for a wide range of temperatures into one large suitcase and had an easy flight to Las Vegas before driving to the Grand Canyon a few days later.

    Visiting the Grand Canyon 

    Within Grand Canyon National Park, there are two rims, which may be only a maximum of 18 miles apart, but traveling from one rim to the other takes over 200 miles by car or a really long and treacherous hike through the Canyon.  We visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  The South Rim is open year around and far more developed than the North Rim, which is open only from May 15 to October 15 each year when it offers restaurants, accommodations and a campground.  We wanted to visit Grand Canyon National Park rather than the Skywalk, which is located about 2.5 hours from Las Vegas and drove about 4.5 hours to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon after three nights in Las Vegas.  We were not able to find accommodation inside the Grand Canyon National Park for this last-minute trip and booked one night at the Grand Hotel, which was located in Tusayan about one mile from the South Entrance.  The Grand Hotel had a felt like a lodge and features comfortable rooms and a heated swimming pool.

    We were all thrilled to see the canyon.  My son’s immediate reaction was that the Grand Canyon was much wider than he expected but not as deep.  Because we visited during the off-season, we were able to drive along Hermit Road to each of the vistas.  This seven-mile road is closed to private vehicles from March through November when it is serviced by a shuttle bus.  While my husband and I used the shuttle bus during our October 2007 visit, the flexibility of driving our own cars with our large group during the off-season was certainly helpful.  Because we were visiting the Grand Canyon in February, there was a risk of snow, but we totally lucked out with good weather and avoiding crowds.  Here are five fun Grand Canyon activities for families:

    #1: Grand Canyon Rim Trails

    Hiking along the Rim Walk on the South Rim is a fabulous way to explore Grand Canyon National Park without the treacherous descent to the floor of the Canyon.  I had previously taken a few hour hike about halfway into the Grand Canyon and then back up while visiting the North Rim in 2002, but that wasn’t something I wanted to attempt while pregnant or with kids.  The entire Rim Walk follows along the Canyon along for about 13 miles on mostly paved trails.  The hike from Hermit’s Rest to Grand Canyon Village is about eight miles.

    Enjoying the view from the Rim Walk

    When the shuttle operates along Hermit Road from March to November, it is easy to hike from one shuttle stop to the next along the Rim and then pick up the shuttle.  The Hermit Road Greenway Trail is even suitable for biking.  My husband and I enjoyed some of these hikes during our “babymoon”.   Traveling with a group of eight including two grandparents, two young kids and an infant, we chose to limit our hiking to the paved path of the Rim Walk around Grand Canyon Village.  This stroller-accessible hike offers spectacular views, which we regularly stopped to enjoy.  Next time, we hope to try some more adventurous but easy hikes, including Shoshone Point.

    The trails into the Grand Canyon have many switchbacks
    • Rim Walk Facts:  Much of the Rim Walk follows the 1912 alignment of Hermit Road.
    • Rim Walk Caution:  It is necessary to keep a close eye on young kids anywhere near the rim of the Grand Canyon.  The barriers are definitely not child proof.  It may seem extremely dangerous, but have only been 53 fall fatalities between the mid-1800s and 2015.

     

    #2: Sunset at the Grand Canyon’s Hopi Point

    Watching sunrise and sunset at the Grand Canyon’s Hopi Point is definitely a must-do.  It’s amazing that the sun rises and sets so brilliantly every day, but we only seem to appreciate it when we are traveling.  The sun makes truly exceptional entrances and exits at the Grand Canyon as the colors and shadows constantly change.  Even after spending most of the day exploring the various viewpoints, watching the sunset is definitely a highlight.  Hopi Point is the most popular west-end vista for sunset views because of its unobstructed views of the western canyon.

    Hopi Point offers a view of the Colorado River.  Seeing the creator of this canyon masterpiece was a particular treat.

    • Hopi Point Facts:  Hopi Point is named for the Native American Hopi tribe of Northeastern Arizona.

     

    #3:  Sunrise at the Grand Canyon’s Grandview Point 

    Grandview Point offers an amazing sunrise view but requires a bit of a hike as it is located 12 miles east of Grand Canyon Village along Desert View Drive.  Waking up early enough to catch the sunrise may be more challenging with kids, but we used the fact that our kids had not fully adjusted to the time change to our advantage.  We were prepared for chilly temperatures with winter coats, hats and gloves.  This is a heavily wooded area, and our boys enjoyed climbing some low trees while waiting for the sun to make its appearance.

    • Grandview Point Facts:  The Spanish are believed to have first seen the Grand Canyon from Grandview Point.  The original canyon lodge was originally at here as well.

     

    #4:  Eating at the Grand Canyon’s El Tovar Dining Room With Kids

    The El Tovar is a historic hotel that sits on the edge of the Grand Canyon.  El Tovar was designed by Charles Whittlesey, a famous southwest architect, and looks like a Swiss chalet from the exterior and a log-house on the interior.  We had an amazing lunch at the El Tovar Dining Room on Valentine’s Day.  While our group was strolling along the Rim Walk, I sped ahead of the our group to arrive before the restaurant opened for lunch service.  I gladly accepted the separate dining room that I was offered, which was perfect for our party of eight. We all enjoyed our lunch and made sure to sit on the front porch afterwards to take in the view.

    • El Tovar Facts:  El Tovar opened in 1905 before the area was designated as a protected national park and has been a National Historic Monument since 1987.

     

    #5:  Participating in the Grand Canyon’s Junior Ranger Program

    Like most National Parks, Grand Canyon offers a Junior Ranger program for its young visitors.  Our boys had previously earned Junior Ranger badges at Yosemite National Park and were excited to participate again. We picked up South Rim Junior Ranger Activity Book, and they each completed their age-appropriate activities.  Then, we attended a ranger-led program, and the two of them took the Junior Ranger pledge and earned their badges at the edge of the Grand Canyon.

    We discovered lots of fossils on our ranger-led program

    • Junior Ranger Facts:  The Junior Ranger motto is “Explore, Learn, and Protect!”  The Junior Ranger Pledge is, “As a Junior Ranger, I promise to teach others about what I learned today, explore other parks and historic sites, and help preserve and protect those places so future generations can enjoy them.”

    As part of the Every Kid in a Park program, all fourth grade students in the US can receive a free pass to visit all federal lands and water with their families, including National Parks, for one year.  My little guy who inspired this trip three years go just received his, and we can’t wait to put it to use.

    Grand Canyon National Park with kids is definitely bucket-list worthy for any family.  With easy trails and the Junior Ranger program, we found Grand Canyon kid-friendly.  It’s likely to be a destination that requires more than a “once in a lifetime” visit.  When traveling to the area, make sure to check out our other favorite Arizona and Nevada destinations.

  • Spotlight: Phoenix Art Musuem With Kids

    Spotlight: Phoenix Art Musuem With Kids

    The Phoenix Museum of Art is the Southwest’s largest museum for visual arts.  It attracts highly acclaimed temporary exhibitions, but also houses a permanent collection of contemporary European and American art.  The Museum offers voluntary donation hours throughout the month. When in Phoenix, it’s definitely worthwhile to stop at the Phoenix Museum of Art with kids. 

    • Kid Facts:  The Phoenix Art Museum opened in 1959, just 47 years after Arizona became the 48th state to join the US.

    Visiting the Phoenix Art Museum With Kids

    The Phoenix Art Museum’s family focused activities are outlined in the Museum’s “I’m Here With Kids” pamphlet.  The Museum offers Discount Tire Free Family Weekends every second weekend of the month and also Make It!, which includes hands-on activities on the last Wednesday of the month (during the Museum’s voluntary donation hours).   The unique outdoor sculpture garden is a highlight for those visiting with kids, especially Sui Jianguo’s Jurassic Age sculpture of a caged red dinosaur.  This sculpture is reminiscent of Clifford, the big red dog and particularly interesting to kids.

    The Museum’s child-focus extends to the James K. Ballinger Interactive Gallery (aka the Hub).  The Hub offers an open area with stadium seating, bright paintings and books for kids to interact with art at their own pace.

    • Kid Facts:  The current exhibit on display in the Hub is Poetry in Motion, which includes works of art that use line, color, shape and form to as poetic reflections of the world.

    Favorite Exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum With Kids

    Our favorite exhibit was Carlos Amorales’ Black Cloud, which is on display at the Phoenix Art Museum for one year.   Black Cloud includes 25,000 black paper moths and butterflies affixed to gallery walls.  Mexican artist Carlos Amorales was inspired by the annual migration of monarch butterflies and conceived of a plague of moths swarming through the Museum.   The sheer number of moths and butterflies is overwhelming and reminded me of an eerie scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, but the beauty and detail of each individual insect was stunning.

    • Kid Facts:  This is the second time that Black Cloud, which premiered in 2007, has been on display at the Phoenix Art Museum.  More than 30 different species of moths and butterflies are depicted.

    Gilbert Stuart’s painting of George Washington definitely required a double take.  This was one of Stuart’s paintings of Washington that served as a basis for the image that appears on the front of the one dollar bill.  I found $1 in my handbag to compare.

    • Kid Facts:  Artist Gilbert Stuart is best known for his unfinished painting of George Washington known as The Athenaeum, which is the basis for the 75 copies, including this one.

    Yayoi Kusama’s You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies is a mixed-media installation with LED lights on exhibit through 2020.  This was definitely a surreal installation and disorienting at first.  Kusama was inspired by a Japanese folk tale about a person in a field with 10,000 fire flies.  Kusama brings the tale to life in a dark, mirrored room with dangling LED lights.  It is one of the few art exhibits in which “do not touch” does not apply.  It is impossible not to touch a few of the thousands dangling lights while weaving through the installation.  Photographs just cannot do this exhibition justice.  It has to be experienced in person.

    • Kid Facts:  Kusama is a contemporary artist and is one of the most well-known living Japanese artists.

    Cornelia Parker’s Mass (Colder Darker Matter) was another favorite exhibit, which was made from burnt wood of a Texas Baptist church struck by lightning, wire and string.  The burnt wood appears to float in place in mid-air and is stunning to view from many angles.

    • Kid Facts:  When Cornelia Parker was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1997, she exhibited Mass (Colder Darker Matter).  The Turner Prize is the UK’s most prestigious art honor that is awarded annually to a British visual artist by the Tate.  The only time the Turner Prize shortlist included only female artists was in 1997.

    The Phoenix Museum of Art features artists from the American Southwest and Mexico, as well of area landscapes.  We particularly enjoyed Thomas Moran’s Zoroaster Temple at Sunset, which magnificently captures the Grand Canyon.

    • Kid Facts:  Thomas Moran was a landscape artist famous for his paintings of Yellowstone.  He first traveled to the Grand Canyon in 1873 to document this natural wonder and completed this painting in 1916.

    Phoenix Museum of Art With Kids

    We were glad we stopped at the Phoenix Museum of Art and definitely suggest planning a visit to the Phoenix Museum of Art with kids for a wonderful educational experience about art and the Southwest.  While we had only had a few hours in Phoenix during this visit, we can’t wait to check out all the other family-friendly things to do in Phoenix the next time we are in town.

    Every so often, we encounter a place that is so fabulous for those traveling with kids that it is worthy of being featured on its own. For more of our favorite locations, please check out our other Spotlight features!