We are planning to be in the Southwest mid-March for 1 week-10 days. Any ideas on an itinerary that would not be too much with a 2-year old? We also have a 9-year old. Thought we would fly into Las Vegas and drive to Grand (via Hoover Dam) or Bryce Canyon... grateful for any tips!
March 2013: Grand or Bryce Canyon? Family of 4, kids 9 and 2
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Your 9 year old will probably remember a visit to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
When you visit the Hoover Dam, after the checkpoint drive over the dam to the second (or third) parking area in Arizona and save $7.
There are helicopter rides available on the little hill next to the parking lot of the Hacienda casino. It's quite a thrill flying over Hoover Dam and Lake Meade.
Take the road west of Lake Meade to go up to Valley of Fire State Park. After leaving the State Park, you drive west to get on I-15.
In mid March you could get snow in either park although Grand Canyon would be less likely to have snow, Bryce has always had it in April when I've been there. A week would be much too long to spend at either park. Zion would be closer to Vegas and less likely to have snow and you could go over to Bryce for a look at the view points, but this would be a lot of seat time for a 2 yo.
A night or two at Grand Canyon and perhaps a couple at Zion would be plenty. Find a motel/hotel with a play scape and pool for the kids to unwind in after time in the car. Spend some time playing with them, maybe some together and some individually. The 9 yo could enjoy hiking in the parks, but unless the little one is in a back carrier, I wouldn't want him/her on the trails.
Vegas isn't really very kid friendly in March and many of the hotel pools will not be open yet.
Not the right time of year to go to Bryce, IMOP.
great, thanks for the input, everyone, we will be doing 3-4 days, hoover dam and gc, then dude ranch with the grandparents!
Good choice. The kids - might like Sigfried and Roy's secret garden (animals and fish) at the Mirage - and also the great roller coaster ride at NY NY (at least the 9 year old might) - and just up the street - is the M & M store - where they have more varities than you can imagine.
There is also a nice Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.
You/they might also enjoy one of the original Cirque du Soleil shows - perhaps the original Mystere being the best (at least PG)- and you can even get a small discount if you go to the Tix 4 Less - or other outlets - located around Vegas and advertised in the tourist mags.
Also - 20 minutes outside of Vegas - is Red Rock Canyon - which has a great visitor's center and is fun to drive though.