Good afternoon everyone, how’s it goin’? Here at the Grand Canyon, we’re getting rather antsy and distracted. Why? Because it’s getting to be that time of year when we have a real hard time being cooped up indoors. With temperatures running about 75 degrees during the daytime, can you blame us? Days like these are just perfect for a brisk stroll on the Grand Canyon’s rim trail, or maybe for a short hike down the Bright Angel or Kaibab Trail. Rain is predicted towards the end of the week, which is not at all unusual in late August/early September. But that close-to-picture-perfect autumn weather is just around the corner, though and we can’t wait! For those of you lucky enough to be here around late September/early October, get ready: you may find yourself not wanting to leave.
After Labor Day, crowds at the Grand Canyon invariably start to thin out as the temperatures cool down. This time of year you see a lot of young couples and retirees travelling around Arizona, having purposely timed their visits to when most kids are back at school. But if you happen to be the parents of pre-school children, this is a great time for you to visit the Grand Canyon, too! Not only is the weather great, but what with the older kids back to the academic grind, the atmosphere in the park is much more relaxed. Leah V., a GrandCanyon.com reservationist and mom to two “wee ones” gives us her favorite things to do with children in the Grand Canyon area:
1. Let your children (ages 4-14) become Junior Rangers. The Junior Ranger Program provides activities to foster an understanding of the Grand Canyon. There are 4 steps to becoming a Junior Ranger at the Grand Canyon, all of which are described in detail at www.kaibab.org/kids/gc_kids.htm or http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/ranger-program.htm There is a fee of $1.50 per person.
2. The Grand Canyon Deer Farm holds a great deal of excitement for children. The petting zoo has been in operation since 1969. There are birds, goats, deer (who will eat from your hand), antelope, wallabies, llamas, pigs, chickens, turkeys, peacocks, and a buffalo. Children 0-2 are free. Children 3-13 are $4.50, adults are $7.50, and senior citizens (62+) are $6.50 (taxes are not included). The deer farm is located in Williams, Arizona, less than an hour drive from the South Rim. For hours and location, check out: www.deerfarm.com or call 1-800-926-DEER.
3. Explore the Colorado River on a Half-Day Smooth Water Float Trip. Your trip begins in Page/Lake Powell, Arizona when you check in at the Wilderness River Outfitters’ Store. You then board a motorcoach that takes you to the base of magnificent Glen Canyon Dam, where you board 22 passenger pontoon rafts. During the 15.5 mile float trip an experienced Wilderness River Guide will make you an expert on the Glen Canyon and its history. After a brief stop to marvel at ancient petroglyphs, your next destination is the ever unique Lee’s Ferry, a historic crossing of the Colorado River. There your Motor coach will be waiting to pick you up and return you to the Wilderness River Outfitters’ store via the beautiful Navajo Indian Reservation. Here’s an insider tip: though it’s tempting to fall asleep on the trip back to Page, stay awake at least long enough to observe the gravity-defying balanced rock formations of Marble Canyon on the ride back. Trip duration is about 5 hours, and because this stretch of the Colorado River has no rapids, the tour is appropriate for children age 3 and up. $62/adult, $52/child, including tax and beverages. Watch a video right now!
4. Take a walk. Along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is a trail that extends from the Yavapai Observation Station to Maricopa Point. It is flat, mostly paved, and accessible from several parking areas in the park. Check the newspaper guide you receive at the entrance station for more information. At the Tusayan Museum, near Desert View Point on the South Rim, you can also take a walk through an Anasazi Indian Ruin. You can follow a self-guided trail or have a ranger take you. There are several trails at both the North and South Rim that actually go down into the canyon, too. Keep in mind, however, that inner canyon hikes are not recommended for small children. As you descend into the Grand Canyon, it will take twice as long to get back up. A short hike that will give you a feel for the inner canyon without undue stress or strain is to take the Bright Angel Trail on the South Rim to the “first tunnel,” then turn back. This typically takes maybe half an hour for an adult, but may take longer if you have little ones. Make sure you have extra water, a camera and are wearing appropriate walking shoes. And WATCH YOUR KIDS AT ALL TIMES! Many areas of the canyon rim have no guardrails. For more information on Grand Canyon trails, visit www.grandcanyonhiker.com, or www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute/default.asp.
5. See a cool Grand Canyon movie! Stop by the National Geographic IMAX Theater in Tusayan and see the 35 minute film Grand Canyon – The Hidden Secrets. Hourly shows run from 8:30am to 8:30pm, March through October, and 10:30am to 6:30pm, November through February. ***Ask how GrandCanyon.com can save you 20% on your IMAX Tickets with advance purchase.***
6. For a guided educational tour, you can join a tour with the Grand Canyon Field Institute. There are rim based tours (for both North and South Rims), single day classes, and a package deal that includes accommodations. Each class or tour is led by an expert instructor. Some of the topics covered are geology, ecology, archeology, history and photography. Most of the institute’s tours and classes originate at the South Rim. Visit www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute/default.asp or call 1-866-471-4435 for lists of classes, topics, and packages available.
7. Go bowling or play some video games at the play center at GrandCanyon.com’s preferred hotel, the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn on Route 64 just south of the Entrance station. This hotel also has two on-site restaurants, an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi (open through mid-September) and for the adults, a sports lounge, cocktail bar, salon, and a masseuse who is onsite 3-4 days a week. Even if you are staying at another Grand Canyon hotel, you are still invited to come over and enjoy the amenities at the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn.
8. Climb the Desert View Watchtower. Located on Route 64 by the East Entrance into the Grand Canyon stands the watch tower designed and constructed by Mary Colter 1933. In the gift shop you will find the stairway up to the top of the tower where you can peer out across the magnificent Grand Canyon. A good overall description can be found at www.scienceviews.com/parks/watchtower.html or you can view an Adobe file with beautiful images of the walls and ceiling at www.infomagic.net/~rockart/RCS_Watchtower.pdf.
9. What kid doesn’t love a) trains, b) cowboy characters or c) both? If this describes your kids, they would LOVE to take a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway. The vintage steam train leaves from Williams, Arizona and transports you up to the Grand Canyon South Rim. Once dropped off at the train depot inside the Grand Canyon National Park, you have approximately 3.5 hours of free time to tour the gift shops, art gallery and museum before returning to the depot for the ride back to Williams. There is a book in the gift shop called Rails to the Rim which gives a mile by mile account of what you’re passing as you travel. Just before you depart the Williams depot, you do get to experience a “wild west shootout” and on the return trip, you may experience a “hold-up” (all “pretend” of course!) The train runs every day except Christmas and often has a special events like Thomas the Tank Engine week as well as a Polar Express ride where your kids can visit with Santa Claus himself!
Before you leave for your trip, go to your local library and find books on the Grand Canyon. Also visit the National Park website: www.nps.gov or the National Geographic website: www.nationalgeographic.com/grandcanyon/kids.html. Then, find out what your kids are into and discover the Grand Canyon together!
Recent Comments