Grand Canyon , AZ
Located in Arizona , Grand Canyon National Park encompasses 277 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands . The immense Grand Canyon is a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide . Layered bands of colorful rock reveal millions of years of geologic history with unmatched vistas from the rim . The South Rim is open year-round and has lodging and activities for the whole family .
Some ideas that you won ’ t want to miss include seeing a Native American Dance Performance . Check the sign at the Hopi House for times .
The trip down to the bottom of the canyon is only for the advanced hiker , but by taking a helicopter tour , you can see the sights without the time and body commitment . Some tours even land on the canyon floor . Havasupai Falls is a great feature to visit , but you have to plan ahead . Only a limited number of people are allowed . It must be accessed by either a helicopter flight or a horse or mule ride .
Mule tours are available at the South Rim . They last three hours , and the riders must be at least 9 years old .
For the train enthusiasts , the Grand Canyon Railway Train leaves Williams , Arizona , on a three-hour trip to the canyon . Get a car with dome windows and a glass roof for amazing views . There are even lighthearted reenacted robberies with actors as bandits on horseback .
White water rafting on the Colorado River is available for the adventurous ones . Children 8 and over can go on a motor-powered raft , and children 12 and over can go on an oar-powered raft .
Williamsburg hand in hand with my then boyfriend , and 17 years later , watching our daughter perform on those same streets with the Fifes and Drums of Yorktown . My other daughter was a peer interpreter at the Jamestown Settlement in her teen years . Hershey Park is where my love of factories and engineering started . I went to Washington D . C . with my 9th-grade class and have great memories of the museums of the Smithsonian , and I returned there on my honeymoon . We have been taking our children to Niagara Falls since they could walk , and their wide eyes as they witnessed the spray coming off the moving water were amazing . We took our girls to New York City when they were in their middle school years , and the long car ride and exciting attractions made for great connections that wouldn ’ t happen if we had been home . Use your vacations to connect your family to new experiences and with each other .
Last time I was at the Grand Canyon , we had the pleasure of seeing elk . We hiked the edge of the canyon , taking advantage of the shuttle bus when we got tired . We stayed in a hotel on the park property , which made it very convenient to get up for a truly inspirational sunrise .
Great resources for all of these destinations can be found on the internet . All travel has the opportunity to be educational , form lasting memories and create a family bond . I have fond memories of walking
MARCH 2022 | 9