How to Enjoy Grand Canyon National Park With the Kids

The Grand Canyon is a great family-oriented vacation spot with lots of things for kids to do. If the young ones get tired of the stunning view, you can take them to attractions outside the park for a change of pace.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Swimsuits
• Hiking Boots
• Airline Tickets
• Bottled Water
• Grand Canyon Maps
• Flashlights
• Camping Gear
• Sporty Hats
• Sunglasses
• National Park Passes
• Sunscreen

1. See "How to Enjoy a Vacation in Grand Canyon National Park" in the Related eHows for general information on the park and the recreational activities available there. Most of the attractions are suitable for kids as well as adults.

2. Choose a motel if your kids are fussy campers. Air conditioning and a swimming pool may raise their spirits after a hot day in the park.

3. Give kids a local history - or geology - lesson. The Tusayan Ruin and Museum will give them a glimpse into the lives of the Pueblo Indians of 800 years ago, while the Tavapai Observation Station has displays about the formation of the canyon.

4. Get involved in ranger-led programs. These may include hikes, habitat restoration work, fossil walks, evening programs and stuff especially for kids.

5. Make 'em Junior Rangers! Kids age 4 to 14 can earn the rank of Junior Ranger by picking up a copy of the "Junior Rangers" newspaper, completing all the projects listed and reporting to a ranger for a special certificate. The newspaper is available at the park's visitors center.

6. Go to the National Geogrphic Visitor Center and Grand Canyon IMAX Theater in Tusayan, touted as Arizona's number one tourist attraction. Kids can learn the hidden secrets of the Grand Canyon, then stop for a cold drink, pizza and ice cream - every kid's favorite foods.

7. Ride the rails! The Grand Canyon Railway will take them back to the Old West on a steam engine ride into the Grand Canyon after a rousing send-off at the Williams Depot. They might even meet a few real cowboys aboard the train!

Tips & Warnings

• Expect to pay about $35 for a family of four at the IMAX Theater. The movie runs about 35 minutes.

• Grand Canyon Railway trips run from the Williams Depot to the Grand Canyon and back. It's about a six-hour round trip, with three of those hours spent off the train, exploring the Grand Canyon on your own. Expect to pay $170 and up for a round trip for a family of four. Other, less expensive, tours of the canyon are also available.

• Temperatures in the inner canyons can exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. Never let children set out alone on a hike and always carry sufficient water and food.

• The elevation in the canyon is 7,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. If your child has asthma or other respiratory or heart problems, he or she may not do well, especially when hiking.