First Time to the Grand Canyon

I've never been, but we were planning a possible trip. We were considering the Williams trip. It sounded like a lot of fun. However, after reading through tripadvisor, the big hotel sounded very expensive and run down. Everyone panned the free meals too. I did find a B&B that was family friendly and very highly rated on tripadvisor. Plus, it was half the price of the hotel for more room. It cost about $150 dollars for a two room suite. It only includes breakfast, but people raved about it. It has activities for kids. Plus they have kid DVDs. The place is called Sheridan Inn. We decided not to do the trip, but I didn't want all my research to go down the drain. Look ip everything ok tripadvisor. You'll see what I mean.

We camped there in May and the wetahaer was perfect. We had the best time.
There are several hotels within the park. Some over look the rim. There are several campgrounds too. A few restaurants and a grocery store are located in the park. There is a train from Williams to the Grand Canyon that has package deals, including hotels and tours. A shuttle system runs within the park so not having a car if you take the train ride isn't a problem. However, if you drive in yourself, you can drive out to further parts of the rim the shuttles don't go to.
Go to nps.gov and check out the Grand Canyon website.

I have never stayed in the Grand Canyon but if you don't mind a drive then look at staying in Williams, AZ. They have a train you can take into the Grand Canyon and then opt for a bus tour...during the summer parking can be difficult in the Canyon and this is one way around that. The drive is about 1 hr but it is nice. Williams is small but there are several family friendly eateries.

Hi A.,

We just got back from there a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. We stayed in Flagstaff. It was beautiful there, with shopping and parks and many hotels to choose from. On the list for B&B's there is a place or I should say places. A group of houses and they provide you breakfast in the morning. Some of them even have rooms for kids. Unfortunately, when we went, they were booked. There is also a train ride that takes you to the lodge at the Grand Canyon and you can stay at the park itself. We plan on doing that some time, too. The train is supposed to be entertaining and, at some point, held up by train robbers. Be warned, though. There are parts to the Canyon where there is no fence. I wouldn't let my 4 yo near it there. We also did the Imax movie about the Grand Canyon. My dh and I really enjoyed it and my 4yo sat through the whole thing (only about 30 minutes). Have fun!

Go to the website nps.gov/grca This will give you everything you want and need to know about visiting the Canyon. If you want to stay inside the Park, especially at the El Tovar, make reservations ASAP, I understand that they fill up over 6 months in advance (also quite pricey). There are lots of options both inside and out of the park. The South Rim has more to do and see than the North and is what you traditionally think of when you think "Grand Canyon". The North Rim is also very pretty with much more vegetation and lots of trees (we just visited there in July) -- however, because it's much higher in elevation than the South Rim, it doesn't open until mid-May (still snowed in), so a spring trip wouldn't work.

Hi A.,
If you're not staying at the Grand Canyon, you might prefer staying in Flagstaff over Williams. There is a wider variety of options for food, hotels, activities, etc.

We recently went to the Grand Canyon and we really enjoyed the IMAX movie. I think it would be especially good for families (like us) who wouldn't be hiking or visiting the bottom of the Grand Canyon. You can save a few dollars by buying the tix online prior to your visit.

Have fun!

Hey A.,
I have been to the Grand Canyon a few times but the best trip I ever took was through Williams, AZ. They have a package deal that includes an awesome train ride in an old train, three meals, a bus tour, and then a stay in a beautiful old hotel in Williams. It is designed to be a family trip, and your boys will love it! My parents took me a few years ago and I definitely plan to take my son when he's old enough. It is well worth every penny.
Also, there is are quite a few shows (old western type) near the railway station before and after the train arrives.
Here is the link to the Williams Railway: www.williamstours.net

I have to add to the recommendations for the train from Williams. We got a package tour with the Auto Club (AAA) and normally I never take tours, but this did have some advantages. You stay the first night and the last night in a hotel in Williams right next to the train station, and they have a cowboy show right before the train leaves that is kid oriented. Then, on the train, they have live music and robbers that come through the train (they ride up on horses). Very campy for adults but fun and not scary for children. They give plenty of warning, so everyone knows it's a show, but I think it delighted the kids a lot. The food included with the package tour at the hotel in Williams was mediocre, I thought, but I think most kids would love it, and it was wholesome, just not gourmet -- standard cafeteria type food. We chose a package that allowed us to stay in one of the lodges at the canyon, and I would recommend that for at least one night. A bus tour of the canyon rim was included in the tour, but I would skip the lunch provided myself, although I think it would be fine for kids. It just was very mediocre "middle America" food I don't like. I would have bought something in the other part of the hotel and been happy to pay for it. Anyway, I thought the hotel was otherwise great. We had a nice room in one of the separate lodges that are scattered amidst the trees. There is a tram to take you from place to place and then you get out and can enjoy the walks along the canyon, the museums, displays, etc. There are ranger programs that include things for kids. If you stay one night at the Canyon, you have half a day the first day, and then until about 3 pm the following day. You arrive back at Williams that night, stay in the hotel, and then are on your way. You can go many other great places nearby. We went to one of the Mesa ruins to see the houses built into the cliffs. Sedona is near as well.

We did take our children many years ago and camped near the North Rim. Of course nothing was as well developed then, but even so, I'd favor the South Rim. The exhibits we saw were really great and enhanced what we saw walking along the Canyon rim. We did go early in the year and beat the crowds somewhat, although the train was fairly full and there were certainly people there. However, there were sections of the Rim where we felt as if we could enjoy the silence.

A highlight for us was also having a very nice dinner at a restaurant that literally overlooks the Canyon. We sat right by the window and could see the sunset reflecting on the Canyon. I have traveled a lot with children (I had seven) and even the smallest at age 5 still remembers, at almost 45, many of our experiences camping and traveling in Europe.

I've been there a couple of times, with my kids who are 10 and 14. I wouldn't stay more than a night or two. There isn't much for kids there. Before or after you go there, you should go to Sedona for a night - and make sure to go to Slide Rock Canyon. It's so much fun - a river that goes over rocks that you can slide down. The water will be cold in spring, and there should be a couple of little areas where the kids can play. There is also a train somewhere outside of Grand Canyon, near Williams I think.

Hi! It's beautiful and it's all outdoors so kids get lots of space to move. You'll have a great trip! We went when our kids were 9 and 6. We drove from SoCal to Williams, Ariz., then took a train up to the Grand Canyon. You can find details on the train by Googling it. The ride to the Canyon south rim was 2-3 hours long on a vintage train w/ a snack car. Actors dressed as cowboys and bandits move through the train. Some of their fake robbery or "shootings" may scare the little kids? But it's a very short show that moves through the cars quickly. There were also musicians who moved through the cars playing guitars or Native American instruments. The kids can get up and you can walk them through the cars if they get antsy. The train schedule lets you go to the Canyon in the a.m. and return to Williams in the p.m. if you want but we thought we'd be way too rushed for this so we spent the night at the canyon and returned by train the next morning. There are a lot of hotels and lodges on the south rim so scout around online for details on prices, amenities, etc. We stayed in one of the lodges -- I can't remember which one -- it was not fancy but it was comfortable enough for one night. There are several restaurants and cafeterias along the trails that hug the south rim. There is one very large, luxurious, historic hotel very close to where the train lets you off at the Canyon. I can't recall the name but it's obvious after a little Googling. Absolutely gorgeous. The restaurant in its lobby had fabulous food. As for the Canyon itself, go early enough in spring so the temperature isn't too scorching. Plan on being on your feet all day so wear comfy shoes and bring hats, sunglasses, sunblock! Part of the trail along the south rim wanders a bit away from the actual lip of the canyon and it's safe to let the kids run a bit. But part of it is right at the edge of a cliff or rock outcroppings with no guard rails. You just have to be really aware of your surroundings and hold onto the children at times so they don't go running too close to the edge. Obviously some common sense necessary here but don't let fear keep you away because the GCanyon is truly mindboggling. ... We did not hike down into the Canyon, stuck to the rim, and we did not visit the north rim (closer to Vegas) so I can't offer any details about it. Another note: when in Williams, do NOT expect any decent restarauants. The place is small. There are plenty of hotel/motels to stay in if you need one but Williams seems to be built around the traffic that the train draws and there's not much there. Have fun!

I have been there many times, and love to go any chance I get. There are a number of lodges in the park itself. I prefer these to anything accommodations outside of the park. I like to spend all of my time seeing the sights and hiking the trails within the park itself rather than driving the same road to and from the park to some hotel in Williams or Flagstaff. I highly recommend the north rim. It’s a further drive, but much more quiet and relaxed atmosphere. Have fun, it’s a really wonderful place.