We are starting to look into a family vacation (2 children, 12 and 16) during our Spring Break week - March 19-26...considering Grand Canyon, Sedona, maybe going into New Mexico. Is this too early in the year weather-wise to try the Grand Canyon? Any other thoughts/ideas from anyone? Thanks for your help...

Went to Grand Canyon and Sedona around the same time last year. Loved them both. Weatherwise, they were fine, though cold in the nighttime. We walked down into the canyon where it was quite hot.

Sedona is a great place for some novice - intermediate mountain biking. Lovely!!

I think the Grand Canyon would be wonderful for a family vacation, especially for kids that age. And Sedona would be magic to them. It would be too much to do NM also. You can fly into Phoenix and drive from there to Sedona, then go the next night to the Canyon. Remember that you'll have to book reservations far in advance for staying in the canyon.

It's about six hours from Flagstaff to Albuquerque if you want to come to New Mexico, but you wouldn't have time to do much once you factor in the driving time. You might want to stick with Arizona as TandooriGirl suggested. Phoenix will be nice if you want to spend a day or two there.

Lee Ann

You may not be able to get reservations at the GC for next year's Spring Break - things book really early. A friend took a similar trip with extended family and they decided to stay at the Residence Inn in Flagstaff for lots of room, apartment style accomodations, etc. and to drive to GC and Sedona. Worked great for them.

I've done a little more forum-surfing and am wondering whether it makes sense to fly in and out of Las Vegas instead...and is it feasible to try and get to Zion/Bryce as well? Or should we keep it simple and within AZ to avoid hours upon end in the car? Any other spots to consider on a Phoenix/Scottsdale - GC South Rim - Sedona loop?

I did this trip with DH and 14 y.o. -- fly into LV-3 days, Zion + Bryce-1 day, GCN-1 day, GCS & Flagstaff & Sedona-3 days, fly out of Phoenix - 1 day. It was the right amount of time for us but we spent some time w/family in Flag.

We were in the Grand Canyon in March one year and got snow. But not a ton. It was beautiful!

Your kids are perfect ages. We went on similiar trip when our boys were 12 and 14.
If you go to Sedona you must take the kids on the pink jeep tours. you pick them up in the center of town. A very fun way to see sedona and to learn about the area.
We also rode horses with an Yavapai Indian guide on the Yavapai reservation about 5 miles south of Sedona...enjoy!!

Another recommendation for Bryce/Zion and, if you have the time, Big Bend, TX - the least visited national Park, but really special.
M

I don't know if you have boys or girls, but we took our boys (16, 14, and 11)on a hummer tour in Sedona - pretty much the same route as Pink Jeep, but more "boy" - they were thrilled! We stayed at - I'll have to check on the name - but a rental condo just past Sliding Rock at Oak Creek Canyon. It was pricey, but had two bedrooms plus a foldout sofa in the living room, a fireplace, and a kitchen. WE were in the middle of a two week trip, so it was really nice to pick up groceries in town and not have to go to a restaurant for a couple of days. The downside was that it was a pretty far out from town on a narrow, twisty road. We read on this forum to go into the Grand Canyon from the east side - which was wonderful advice. We avoided the long lines coming in from the south, plus the lookouts were great.

Junapine (Junipine?) was where we stayed in Oak Creek Canyon.

We're still refining our plans (and had better get on the stick since Christmas is coming soon!)...thinking of flying into and out of Phoenix to save costs...spend a couple of days in Tucson (can anyone suggest any ranch resorts?) and surrounding area, then maybe head back up north toward Sedona and maybe one day at GC before circling home. 8 days total. Girls have never been to Southwest before so want to give them a feel for the desert, unique geography, etc. We may have to do Bryce/Zion some other time. How is this sounding? Any other thoughts of things to do/see along this route?