How to see the Grand Canyon with kids ⋆ Bright Dais Ahead

It sounds silly to write a blog on how to see the Grand Canyon with kids. What do you mean, how do you see it? You drive up to it and see it. But after a year of traveling the country seeing National Parks, we know not every National Park is exciting, especially if you have smaller children. The Grand Canyon can be especially tough to visit with kids. It’s just a big canyon, and boredom (or, in our case – whining) can set in quickly. So, we want to share with you a few ideas on how to see the Grand Canyon with kids.

Where to stay near the Grand Canyon

There are several options of places to stay near the Grand Canyon. (We prefer to choose campgrounds with full hookups versus campgrounds near national or state parks, as these parks tend not to have full hookups or as many amenities.) But if you look an hour away in the town of Williams, AZ, there are more RV parks to choose from and a little fun for everyone in the family.

Staying in Williams offers a few unique advantages even though it is an hour’s drive from the Grand Canyon. First, you are in a town with conveniences like fuel and groceries. In the village of Tusayan, directly outside of the main park entrance, they had fewer grocery options, and fuel was more expensive.

We stayed at The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel. While the title doesn’t include RV in the name, next to the hotel is indeed a lovely RV Park. And as a bonus, inside the RV Park office is also a pet resort. If you need to leave the pup home all day while you explore the Grand Canyon, you can leave Fido in the comfort of a pet resort where they feed, walk and pamper your pet. In addition, all the hotel amenities are shared with the RV guests too. Check out our YouTube video as John gives an RV park tour.

BOOK A STAY AT THE GRAND CANYON RAILWAY RV PARK

Check out this list of other camping venues in the Willliams area.

The historic town of Williams, AZ on Route 66

The cute town of Williams is located on Route 66. Make sure you schedule some time to spend a day looking at the sights along the iconic Route 66. We spent the day looking through a few shops, eating in one of the original Route 66 diners, and riding our bikes through town. There is a lot to see that will keep the kids’ attention in the town of Williams, like a zip line, a funky gas station museum, and a nightly shootout at 7:00.

The town puts on an old-fashioned shootout every night at 7:00 with the world-famous Cataract Creek Gang. The locations change nightly. This free event (they do take tips) is a delight for anyone who has ever wished to see a real gunfight in a western town. Put the kids to work to help hunt for the sandwich board to find where the shoot-out will be held. We visited the Grand Canyon area with another full-time family, and all our kids loved watching the actors. They were funny with jokes for kiddos and adults alike. After the little show, the cowboy actors stayed to say hello and take pictures with the kids.

How to see the Grand Canyon with Kids — Look what fun we found in Williams

Whether you’re looking to embark on an interesting walk or a drive in the woods, Williams is the perfect jumping-off point for an afternoon adventure. Check out this list of other things to do and see in the Williams area.

Bearizona

When you say you will see the Grand Canyon with kids, everyone says, “be sure to check out Bearizona!” Bearizona is a drive-thru wildlife park and zoo. The drive-thru portion of the park is approximately three miles long. It takes travelers through 160 acres of ponderosa pine forest. You will be able to view a wide variety of animals, including bison, black bears, mountain goats, arctic wolves, and bobcats. The park also has a 20-acre walk-through zoo where visitors stroll along winding paths to view animals on exhibit, including a jaguar.

The day we visited the jaguar was right up against the glass. Brighton went over to get a closer look at the jaguar, and as she leaned in, the jaguar growled and snapped. Thank goodness for the glass! While this scared Brighton quite a bit, it made for a memorable animal interaction she’ll always remember!

Take the train to see the Grand Canyon with Kids

“More than a century ago, the arrival of the train forever changed how folks traveled in the Old West and to Grand Canyon National Park. Now, tourists have the opportunity to relive history, both en route to the Canyon and aboard Grand Canyon Railway’s restored, historic locomotives and passenger cars.”
Grand Canyon Tour Guide

The trip to the canyon covers 65 miles of classic Old West territory, including high desert plains with endless vistas, small arroyos, and portions of the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest. (Random fact: Did you know ponderosa pine bark smells like vanilla?)

As parents, we got to sit back and relax enjoy the scenery and adult conversation during the two-hour journey. The kids loved all being together in a row (the seatbacks flip over so you can face one another) and were entertained with strolling musicians and western characters to provide entertainment.

Tips to riding the Train

If you decide to take the train, you may choose from four classes of service ranging from Pullman Class (or as I liked to call it – “last class”) to super posh Luxury Dome and Parlor tickets where they serve cocktails. Sorry, I checked, but parents cannot leave kids in Pullman class and purchase Luxury class tickets! I wouldn’t hesitate to book the Pullman class. We had our own “Passenger Service Attendant” or conductor. Our PSA was super attentive, passing out cold waters, happy affirmation sheets, coloring books to the kids, and Grand Canyon maps. There is a cafe on board to purchase snacks and water, but you are welcome to bring your own too.

The train departs the Williams Depot each morning, walking distance from the RV park. Everyone meets at the outdoor theater to see a performance by the Cataract Creek Gange before boarding the train. Then on the way back to Williams after the Grand Canyon, there is a “train robbery.” Actors ride horses next to the train and then board the train for a “hold-up” (a.k.a. tip money).

Once at the Grand Canyon, you are dropped off at the Grand Canyon Village and given 3 hours to wander the area. We checked out the gift shops, walked about a mile of the top rim trail, had lunch, and completed our Jr. Ranger booklets for a badge.

While the train does take double the time as a trip in the truck, even the hubbies agreed, the train was well worth the experience. How often do you really get to slow down and chat with friends while viewing the beautiful scenery? It is a memory none of us will soon forget.

Other things to see at the Grand Canyon with small kids

Maybe it was watching the Brady Bunch, but I have always wanted to take a family mule trip down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Unfortunately, these dreams have to wait until the age of 9 due to age restrictions (and much convincing is needed for the hubby!). And any dreams of river rafting trips have age restrictions too. While Phantom Ranch (at the bottom of the canyon) isn’t age restrictive, the only way down to Phantom Ranch other than a mule is to hike in and out. This strenuous hike isn’t in our four-year-olds skill set and frankly not in mine!

This drive was perfect for little legs and kept their attention with all the stops. And you get to see more of the river than you can from the Village or Visitor Center. And we knew we were on to a good thing as we followed the Pink Jeep Tour!

For those looking for a more challenging hike with little hikers, check out the Bright Angel Trail. While most steep, undeveloped trails descending below the South Rim are not suitable for young children, the Bright Angel Trail is wide and fairly graded with rest houses located a mile-and-a-half and three miles below the rim (a good place to turn around). Keep in mind that while children may eagerly hike down the trail, hiking back up can be grueling for children (and parents) and should be avoided during the mid-day heat.

Be careful when taking photos at the Grand Canyon.

When we first got sight of the Grand Canyon, Brighton said, “wow, that’s a magnificent view!” First of all, I didn’t know she knew such a big word, and then for her to recognize the beauty made this mama’s heart sore. But while there is a lot of oohing and ahh-ing at nature’s magnificence, please remember the Grand Canyon does not come with guard rails! Be ever watchful when visiting the Grand Canyon with kids. This a great time to take lots of family photos but make sure to hold little hands. One little stumble or trip could be disastrous. My little mama’s heart was pounding any time we were near the edge! On average, two people die by falling into the Grand Canyon each year. The instances are rare — about one per every 400,000 visitors — but they usually occur when people act carelessly to capture the perfect picture or from hopping about from rock to rock.