The crowds were more than manageable during our visit. Binoculars for seeing farther into the canyon and spotting animals.įor our trip, we flew into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and rented a car to drive the 3 1/2 hours to Grand Canyon National Park.A park map that details trails, bus routes, landmarks, etc.Flashlight for nighttime walks (the Grand Canyon is an International Dark Sky Park).Comfortable, closed-toe shoes for hiking and walking.Hats, ultraviolet protection factor clothing and sunscreen for sun protection. Refillable water bottle or hydration pack (there are a lot of bottle-filling stations around the park and in the lodges).and a few we picked up while we were there that we didn't even know we needed. There were a few other items that made our time at the Grand Canyon more fun and kept us more comfortable. It should go without saying that you'll want to pack lightweight, outdoorsy clothing that you don't mind getting a bit sweaty or dirty. The same is true for the campgrounds situated along the North and South rims. We opted to stay in one of the South Rim lodges, which allow bookings up to six months in advance. While Phantom Ranch is certainly on my bucket list, my three kids are all under 10 years old and probably aren't quite ready to hike to the canyon floor. Backcountry permit applications for overnight camping and hiking in the canyon open on the first day of the month, five months in advance of your travel dates. If you are hoping to stay overnight at Phantom Ranch - the only lodging below the canyon rim - you'll need to enter a lottery up to 13 months in advance. How far in advance you begin planning depends on what you plan to do at the Grand Canyon. I picked up plenty of helpful tips along the way to help you plan the ultimate Grand Canyon family vacation.įor more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. most importantly that this wasn't going to be a one-off trip. I spent a lot of time researching our trip and learned a lot from our visit. What better place to commune with your family and with nature than the Grand Canyon? It was a chance to relax, connect and make lifelong memories, and I wanted to provide that same experience for my own children. Related: How to plan your 1st visit to a national park The scenery was completely different than what I was used to, we spent most of our time outside and our daily agenda consisted of hiking and mountain-top picnics. I never visited as a child but, in a lot of ways, it reminds me of the road trips we would take from Florida to the mountains in Georgia or North Carolina. To me, the Grand Canyon is one of those classic family vacations. I've dreamed of visiting the Grand Canyon for years and getting a small taste from 30,000 feet up in the air rekindled my desire and encouraged me to finally plan a trip. Until recently I had only seen the Grand Canyon from the sky while flying to Las Vegas to celebrate my 40th birthday last year.
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