Grand Canyon Mid April
Jan 6th, 2006, 12:03 PM
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Grand Canyon Mid April
I'm trying to plan something to do during my 9 year old son's Easter Break. Is April 7th- 15th too early for the Grand Canyon? I believe the South Rim is all that's open until May. Would Sedona be a nice side trip? We are not concerned with being economical, and would like to make it a memorable trip. We enjoy hiking and outdoor activities.
Jan 6th, 2006, 03:47 PM
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Mid-April should be ideal -- you are correct, only the South Rim will be open at that time. It is difficult to tell you how much time at the Grand Canyon would be good for you -- that depends on your desires for various activities.
Where will you be entering Arizona? From Phoenix by air? From Las Vegas by car? AZ is a very large place -- bigger than all of New England put together, for instance.
Two nights should do it nicely. Better get your room lined up now. Space fills fast as spring break approaches. If not at the canyon's rim, you could stay in many places just outside the park in Tusayan (TOO-sigh-yahn).
Points to remember: the GC rim is about 7,000 ft. altitude. The canyon provides fabulous vistas, magnificent dawns and sunsets, but as a place for hiking -- well, it's not a good place to send a boy of nine on his own. Too dangerous. A brief hike from the rim down a few hundred yards would be fine, provided he is accompanied by an adult in good condition. If he is asthmatic, overweight, or unruly -- forget it. The drop-offs are immense. There are no guard rails. The path varies in width from 8 to 10 ft., which you share with other hikers and trains of mules. Gets a bit messy at times. Lakes of mule urine and piles of manure in places.
Sedona, on the other hand, has dozens and dozens of excellent hikes for persons of all ages and all skills. Also, it is about 4,500 ft. altitude -- much easier. Two marvelous state parks, too. Slide Rock at the falls of Oak Creek in Oak Creek Canyon 7 miles north of town. Red Rock State Park on the west side with a nature center, miles of trails, interpretation lectures and films, excellent picnic facilities. Check the Sedona.com web site for more info.
Where will you be entering Arizona? From Phoenix by air? From Las Vegas by car? AZ is a very large place -- bigger than all of New England put together, for instance.
Two nights should do it nicely. Better get your room lined up now. Space fills fast as spring break approaches. If not at the canyon's rim, you could stay in many places just outside the park in Tusayan (TOO-sigh-yahn).
Points to remember: the GC rim is about 7,000 ft. altitude. The canyon provides fabulous vistas, magnificent dawns and sunsets, but as a place for hiking -- well, it's not a good place to send a boy of nine on his own. Too dangerous. A brief hike from the rim down a few hundred yards would be fine, provided he is accompanied by an adult in good condition. If he is asthmatic, overweight, or unruly -- forget it. The drop-offs are immense. There are no guard rails. The path varies in width from 8 to 10 ft., which you share with other hikers and trains of mules. Gets a bit messy at times. Lakes of mule urine and piles of manure in places.
Sedona, on the other hand, has dozens and dozens of excellent hikes for persons of all ages and all skills. Also, it is about 4,500 ft. altitude -- much easier. Two marvelous state parks, too. Slide Rock at the falls of Oak Creek in Oak Creek Canyon 7 miles north of town. Red Rock State Park on the west side with a nature center, miles of trails, interpretation lectures and films, excellent picnic facilities. Check the Sedona.com web site for more info.
Jan 6th, 2006, 06:38 PM
#4
Dear just4me:
I second USNR recs. We did a trip to Sedona/GC this past summer with our 12 year old daughter. Here is the thread for our trip report:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34655352
I hope this helps.
MY
I second USNR recs. We did a trip to Sedona/GC this past summer with our 12 year old daughter. Here is the thread for our trip report:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34655352
I hope this helps.
MY
Jan 6th, 2006, 07:06 PM
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We did Phoenix, GC and Sedona in mid November, and it was fabulous. You will probably have longer days than we did, so it should be even more fun.
We left Phoenix in the morning, made stops along the way, and got to the GC by early evening. Stayed that night, walked the rim the and stayed the next day and night.
The next morning we drove to Sedona via Oak Creek Canyon. We loved Oak Creek Canyon and went back during one of our 3 days and nights in Sedona.
In Sedona, we did a lot of hikes, and also spent an afternoon in Jerome, which we liked. Had a good burger at the Haunted Hamburger.
At the GC, we stayed in the Kachina Lodge and had a second floor room with a Canyon view. Fabulous. Nice room,too. We ate a good meal at the Arizona Room. We only ate there once, because we were on a tight budget, but if you aren't on a budget, you can eat very well at the Arizona Room.
We left Phoenix in the morning, made stops along the way, and got to the GC by early evening. Stayed that night, walked the rim the and stayed the next day and night.
The next morning we drove to Sedona via Oak Creek Canyon. We loved Oak Creek Canyon and went back during one of our 3 days and nights in Sedona.
In Sedona, we did a lot of hikes, and also spent an afternoon in Jerome, which we liked. Had a good burger at the Haunted Hamburger.
At the GC, we stayed in the Kachina Lodge and had a second floor room with a Canyon view. Fabulous. Nice room,too. We ate a good meal at the Arizona Room. We only ate there once, because we were on a tight budget, but if you aren't on a budget, you can eat very well at the Arizona Room.
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