Red Rocks and Sunshine: Our Trip to Arizona

Our family trip to Arizona. We arrived in Phoenix and were welcomed with a heatwave. A record-breaking heatwave! Obviously, this was not planned. As soon as I stepped outside of the airport’s doors, it felt as though the oxygen left my lungs; it was stifling. Just five minutes outdoors and my skin stung from the sun’s contact. Yet, I was not physically hot. This was odd to me. Miami’s heat is quite different in that the humidity overwhelms and causes you to sweat. Luckily, we were prepared.

What to Pack

Before our family trip, I did some tiresome research on notable places, what to expect, what to pack, and where to eat. And I am glad I did! These are the items we packed that helped us throughout our trip.

1. Insulated Water Bottles
2. Chill Pal Mesh Cooling Towels. These are highly recommended. We took a few to share amongst the group, but the kids and adults were fighting over whose turn it was to have it. It made a significant difference in our outdoors experience. Get one for each family member!
3. Buff CoolNet UV+ / Buff Kids. Each person had their own. These are versatile accessories great for those outdoor adventures and hikes.
4. Body Wipes. Perfect for freshening up.
5. Backpacks. Each person, toddlers included, had their own backpack for essentials like snacks and water bottles.
6. Electrolyte Powder Packets. A must have for those outdoor activities in the summer sun. Make sure to pack some for the kids too. Advice, try it before buying many and packing it. We bought one and the kids did not like it at all.
7. Bug Repellent
8. Disposable Toilet Seat Covers. This is useful for the little ones, particularly when visiting park restrooms.
9. Hats/Caps (best with a brim)
10. Umbrellas. Compact to fit in your backpack, these helped tremendously to keep us in the shade as we walked around some of the more sun exposed areas. The kids appreciated these most.

And Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher).

A special note about the sunscreen. After a couple of days religiously applying sunscreen every two hours to ourselves and children, we began to peel. This perplexed me. I found out later, after some research, the same mineral that protects us from the harmful sun’s rays, zinc oxide, is also an astringent!

TIP: Before heading out for the day, apply moisturizer to the body, face and even lips. Let it absorb, then apply the sunscreen. Applying lotion in the evening is also helpful and using a balm to keep in the moisture is very effective.

Places to Visit

Nevertheless, our 9-day summer adventure in Arizona was a success!

Here are our top 10 places to visit.

Horseshoe Bend

This iconic natural site is located in Page, Arizona. To get to the Horseshoe Bend overlook, it is a short 10-minute walk from the parking lot. It is recommended to arrive early (before 9AM) to beat the crowds. Note, even though it was early, we still used our compact umbrellas for the hike to the overlook; the sun was strong when we visited in the summer.

Taliesin West

Built in 1937 Taliesin West is a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark in Scottsdale at the foot of the McDowell Mountains. The estate was once the winter home and design studio of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. I am a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, and this was on my list of sights to see. We did a self-guided audio tour of the Taliesin West complex. This gave us the flexibility to see the site without worrying about the kids’ attention spans and other mishaps. You can find more information about the complex here.

Bearizona

Visitors can walk and drive through the expansive park located in the Ponderosa Pine Forest. We did both and were able to see wildlife in their natural habitats. The kids enjoyed seeing the many animals, while the parents and grandparents enjoyed a drink. Yes, there is a restaurant and bar on site too!

Slide Rock State Park

One of the kids’ absolute favorite activities of the whole vacation. This state park is perfect for a picnic and is a welcome relief from the summer heat. Located in the Sedona mountains, it has a swimming area with natural water slides and a deeper spot where locals and visitors alike jump in from an elevated rock formation. There is a small market on site with picnic tables to enjoy snacks and ice cream.

TIP: Get non-slip water shoes for everyone; it can be very slippery! Note, though fun for everyone, do not leave children unattended.

Also, good to know, arrive early. There is limited parking, and a line of cars backs up quite a bit. All in all, it is well worth the visit!

Glen Canyon Paria Beach

We found Paria Beach by happenstance. And we were so happy to have done so! While stopping in at Glen Canyon Park to drive down to Lee Ferry’s recreation area, we turned into a small parking area that led straight to the beach on the Colorado River. We took off our shoes, pulled up our pants and enjoyed. I do have to mention that the temperature of the river water is typically a steady 48-degree Fahrenheit, give or take.

Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater is a meteorite impact crater measuring 550 feet deep and nearly a mile wide in northern Arizona. The crater was created about 50,000 years ago during the Pleistocene epoch. It is one of the largest meteor craters on Earth. On site is a cafe, gift shop, and more. The kids thought it was awesome, and we all couldn’t agree more. It is an impressive sight.

Grand Canyon

One of the 7 natural wonders of the world, and justly designated. The Grand Canyon must be experienced in person to truly understand the grandiosity and splendor of the landscape.

“The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately represented in symbols of speech, nor by speech itself”

John Wesley Powell

South Rim

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is one of the most visited sections of the park. It is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long. It offers visitors multiple trails, restaurants, historic sites, and hotels. In the center is the village where most of the gift shops, museums, and restaurants are located. From here, shuttle buses provide passengers with free service to other landmarks on the south side.

North Rim

Only 10% of people that visit the South Rim, make it to visit the North Rim. It is likely due to the long drive to get there, and that this entrance closes during winter. Fortunately, it was summer when we visited Arizona. So, we packed snacks and essentials, and headed up and back on the same day! It can be done. The vista driving up to the northern end of the Grand Canyon is verdant; we even spotted bison roaming on the plateau. We visited the lodge and took in the splendor that is the canyon; the view of the south rim from the lodge’s terrace is astounding.

TIP: The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel is located in Williams, AZ and offers vacation packages that make your visit to the Grand Canyon memorable. And the train ride is spectacular; the kids loved it!

For more on the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel visit their site.

Another post about the Grand Canyon coming soon.

Walnut Canyon

An inspiring archeological site. Just a few minutes from Flagstaff, the Walnut Canyon National Monument is a series of about 300 Sinagua Indian dwellings etched into the canyon walls. The Sinagua Indians inhabited the canyon well over seven centuries ago (1100 A.D.). This park has two trails. One-mile round-trip Island Trail provides access to 25 cliff dwellings. With several steps and inclinations, it is not an accessible trail and not stroller friendly. The Rim Trail has an amazing overlook and is accessible.

TIP: If going on the Island Trail with small children, a child harness with parent wrist strap is recommended. Also, make sure to use the restrooms before embarking on the Island Trail.

La Posada and the Turquoise Room

The best breakfast I had the entire trip was in the Turquoise Room at La Posada. Not only is the food amazing, but the hotel is also of historical significance. Located in Winslow, Arizona right along Route 66, the hotel was designed by female architect Mary Colter in the style of a Spanish hacienda. The doors first opened in 1930. If not staying in the hotel, visitors can reserve a table at the restaurant, shop at the bookstore, or just stroll the garden.

To my pleasant surprise, Arizona has so much to offer. We definitely could not do it all. Hope to return soon!

A detailed itinerary of our trip with points of interest, hotels, restaurants, descriptions and tips can be found here.