When I told my sister in law that I was taking my eldest daughter to Sunny Arizona she scoffed at me and said, “There is nothing to do there.”  I understood what she meant as, when she goes to Arizona, it is to visit family, not for a vacation.

While I knew why her opinions were a bit negative I will admit I was thrilled to find so many fun family activities near Phoenix; some purely fun, some with sneaky education and many delicious.

Our trip took us to the communities of Tempe, Chandler, Mesa and Apache Junction; each town with its own unique flavor of fabulous.

Family Fun in Chandler, Arizona

My daughter would say that some of her best fun was in the pool at the Hampton Inn.  This new hotel has all the amenities a family would want- including a refrigerator in the room and complimentary hot breakfast.  Comfy beds and free wifi won top points with me.

Chandler hosts a Third Friday Art Walk downtown which shouldn’t be missed.  Artisans of all types set up booths around the square, showcasing everything from jewelry to paintings, blown glass to cuddly creations.  Wandering through the booths is great fun!  Tip: bring cash!

Arrive early –like 5pm- and have dinner at Serrano’s, the oldest continuous family owned business in Chandler.  Be sure to try the Prickly Pear Margarita (also available without alcohol)- it’s yummy!  Finish your evening at Paletas Betty for a delicious frozen treat.

If you need to wear the kids out take them to Jump Street, an indoor trampoline park.  With a dozen massive trampolines, a trampoline dodge ball court and a special area just for kids under 7, this is really fun for kids of all ages.

For a sweet treat make a stop at Sweeties Candy, the largest candy store in the state.  You’ll find holiday themed treats as well as nostalgic candies from way back when.

Family Adventures in Apache Junction, Arizona

The highlight of Apache Junction is the Superstition Mountains.  Tales of the Lost Dutchman mine still draw treasure hunters hoping to discover his vein of gold.

At the base of the Superstition Mountains is Goldfield Ghost Town, a recreation built in the footprints of the town that disappeared overnight.  Here you can explore the town as it was in 1892, wander the shops, take a mine tour and maybe even see a gun fight.

Goldfield is also a base for Jeep, horseback riding and hiking tours along the Apache Trail, into the Superstitions or the closer Goldfield Mountains.

While you’ll find plenty of dining in Goldfield Ghost Town, a quick drive to the Mining Camp Restaurant takes you back to the days of Cook Shanties, where the miners would gather to eat.  Meals are served family style, all you can eat, with fresh rolls and sweet cactus jelly.  Take your time eating because the “Amazing McNasty Brothers” put on a fun show filled with music and good humored banter.

Museums and More in Mesa

The Arizona Museum for Youth is what I like to call “sneaky education”.  Fun activities like a life size Lite Brite, puppet theater and creation stations will keep kids entertained for hours.  For the little ones the ArtVille play place is designed for exploration that can’t be wandered away from.

For your future paleontologists a visit to the Arizona Museum of Natural History is a must.  Not only are there rooms of dinosaurs- and a Paleo Dig-  but you can explore territorial jail cells and pan for gold!

Just outside Mesa is Superstition Farms.  This working, family-owned farm offers tours starring their herd of dairy cows.  New calves are a common site in the maternity pen if you’re alert.  Cuddle a bunny or chicken, hand feed goats and pet the calf in the petting zoo, then try the farm’s Udder Delights homemade ice cream.

Turtles and Tigers in Tempe

Built inside the massive Arizona Mills shopping and entertainment center, the Arizona Sea Life Aquarium was built to engage children.  Filled with touch pools and interactive centers, this aquarium will entrance kids of all ages.  One of the most incredible displays is the Ocean Tunnel, a 360° viewing area filled with 161,000 gallons of water.

On the very edge of Tempe, in Papago Park, is the Phoenix Zoo (which totally brought back memories of my African safari trip planning that started here).  One of the top 5 zoos in the US for kids, you’ll find a animals from warm climates (sorry, no polar bears or penguins here).  Bighorn sheep roam the nearby mountain while giraffe and Watusi Cattle roam the savanna.  Don’t miss the Monkey Village where you are inside the habitat with the adorable squirrel monkeys.  Be sure to bring comfy walking shoes and a stroller for the little ones.  You can easily make a day of your trip by packing a lunch and drinks- coolers are allowed inside the zoo grounds (just don’t bring alcohol or glass bottles).

This is just a handful of the fun family vacation activities you’ll find near Phoenix.  Next time you fly in for a trip to the Grand Canyon take a day or two to explore Sunny Arizona!

Photo credits: Jody Halsted

Jody Halsted shares her family’s
travels, tips and favorite travel
products at her Family Rambling site.

Disclosure:  I would like to thank the SunnyAZ CVB for hosting us and arranging our itinerary for this trip.

Austin, Texas has many claims to fame. It’s the liberal hotbed of conservative Texas, the live music capitol of the world (or at least the country), and it’s proudly “weird”. It’s also been criticized for skyrocketing costs of living in recent years and an LA-like obsession with status and trendiness. Both the criticism and the most well-known characteristics, however, fail to touch on one of the things that makes Austin so attractive to residents and visitors alike: its natural beauty and the ample opportunities to enjoy it for little or no money.

McKinney Falls State Park sits on the southeast corner of the city and can be enjoyed every day for just $5 per person. The park offers shaded campgrounds for tents and RVs, as well as plenty of outdoor recreation for the day visitor. Biking and bouldering are among the most popular – and will burn the health conscious the most calories – but long walks and fishing can keep the laid back crowd in touch with Mother Nature.

As the name suggests, McKinney Falls State Park is also home to some photogenic scenery, including the upper and lower waterfalls. While small, the falls are beautiful and give kids a chance to get up close and personal with the rushing water as the rocks that form the falls can actually be traversed by foot.

Austin’s weather makes McKinney and other local parks enjoyable all year long, but the extreme heat of the summer does call for safety precautions like ample water and shade breaks. The mild winters are perfect for throwing out a sweatshirt and getting out into the sunshine.

Photos: Britt Reints

Although it only takes a single look to be awed by the Grand Canyon, there are nearly 600 miles of rim ledge from which to gaze, each mile offering a new vantage point and unique perspective of the mighty crack. The Canyon itself is constantly changing with the seasons, one month offering the contrast of baked rock against muddy waters and another mixing white snow with green underbrush. It is no small thing to look at the Grand Canyon, and it would be impossible to see all of its wonders in one trip.

As an American, I reassure myself that I can return to the Grand Canyon. But what if your trip was a once-in-a-lifetime event? What if you didn’t know you could return – and really, none of us is ever guaranteed another trip anywhere – and you wanted to make the most of your moment? Rather than pick one lookout point on one rim on one day, many international travelers choose to soar above and below the Grand Canyon, taking in the view with the gluttony of a Las Vegas buffet.

The Papillon tour company shuttles visitors by from Vegas hotels to the Boulder City airport, where customers await their turn to board one of 48 helicopters. Standing in the airport lounge waiting for my name to be called, I heard party after party called from Spain, Brazil, the UK, Canada, and other countries around the world. Only once did I hear a state beside my own welcomed. Perhaps, as Americans, we take for granted that we will have endless opportunities to explore our own natural wonders; maybe we just don’t realize how impressive our native countryside is.

Grand Canyon helicopter tours offer a unique opportunity to fly above the canyon and dip below the rim, covering more miles in a two-hour tour than you could hope to cover by bus or hiking boot in days. On select tours, the aircraft will descend 4,000 feet to the canyon floor, setting down beside the Color River where passengers can then explore on their own. After time for photos and a celebratory champagne toast, visitors can climb aboard their helicopters and effortlessly scale nearly a mile of rocky terrain.

The Grand Canyon is a geological marvel that should be experienced rather than seen. It’s plateaus and Godly staircases beg to be conquered. From my helicopter seat, I vowed to return and go deeper, stay longer, get closer to the rocks that sipped past my window. But I remembered, too, that future adventures are never certain, and I was grateful the chance to stuff this visit and my memory with as many vistas as possible.

Just in case.

Photos: Britt Reints

All my life, I thought the Grand Canyon was a place to stop in the middle of the desert and take a picture. Sitcoms, movies, and even travel articles I’d read mentioned pulling the station wagon over for the requisite photo opp and then almost leaving a child or two behind as everyone made a mad dash for the real vacation destination.

It wasn’t until my own recent visit to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim that I realized that the canyon is itself a worthy destination.

So what do you do when you’re at the Grand Canyon after you’ve taken that “look, Ma! The Grand Canyon!” photo?

What to Do at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim

1. Hike the Timeline Trail

Start at the Yavapai Geology Museum and listen to a park ranger explain why the Grand Canyon exists in the northern Arizona desert and nowhere else. Once you’ve gotten a quick geological history lesson, you can walk just over a mile along the South Rim, stopping at rock samples from different canyon layers. Along with the educational experience, the trail has numerous spots to stop for a stunning view of the canyon. And, yes, you’ll want to take pictures.

2. Hike below the rim

There are trails to fit all skill levels and schedules. Spend an afternoon hiking just below the surface, or plan to hike to the bottom and spend the night before hiking back up. Even if you can only make it a mile or two down, you’ll be treated to stunning vistas and a rare perspective of the Grand Canyon.

3. Climb the Desert Watchtower

At the east edge of the South Rim, at the end of Desert View Road¸ is an old watchtower created by Mary Colter. You can climb 85 steps to get a 360 view of the canyon and step outside onto the roof of the first floor for a rare glimpse at the Colorado River. This is a perfect spot to enjoy a sunrise or sunset.