Grand Canyon in May--Never Been Need Info

[lovemywhirlygirls]

My sister-in-law owns a condo in Scottsdale and she's invited us to go use it whenever we want. (Love you, Barbara!) We're looking at May thanks to Southwest flights. I have 3 girls ages 10, 7 and 5. We plan to make the Grand Canyon the big focus, so I know that will involve a drive. Anyone out there who can make recommendations about the "must dos" for a very quick trip (working around dh's work schedule)?

I haven't had a chance to do any research yet. Hoping you amazing women can make recommendations for me so I know where to start and place my focus. Someone said something about pack horses....which has my 10 year old excited beyond measure. Do they do that???

Ok, go! Share whatever you like and know that I'll be very grateful!

:bigear:

[Jane in NC]

I haven't had a chance to do any research yet. Hoping you amazing women can make recommendations for me so I know where to start and place my focus. Someone said something about pack horses....which has my 10 year old excited beyond measure. Do they do that???

Ok, go! Share whatever you like and know that I'll be very grateful!

:bigear:

There are mule rides on the Bright Angel Trail but I would do some investigation before committing. One is on a mule for hours--a painful experience for those who are unaccustomed to riding!

I would suggest that you do a junior ranger program with your kids. We enjoyed a hike into the Canyon, but it could be quite hot in May. The rangers give some interesting lectures on geology, condors, etc.

We stayed at accommodation in the park, along the rim. Nothing fancy, but convenient.

Jane

[lovemywhirlygirls]

This is what I was wondering. I have a lot of research to do and very little time to do it! I'm not interested in making this the vacation everyone hated!! Dh is very excited about the idea. I'm kind of wishing we could wait and do it in a couple of years when the girls are older.

[Donna]

The US government has a websight for each of the National Parks. Try a web search. We are driving there from NJ and camping. We will only stay there for two days. We are also visiting the Petrified Forest, Petroglyph National Park, and some of the other national parks nearby.

[Jane in NC]

This is what I was wondering. I have a lot of research to do and very little time to do it! I'm not interested in making this the vacation everyone hated!! Dh is very excited about the idea. I'm kind of wishing we could wait and do it in a couple of years when the girls are older.

Another idea: Your younger two could not do a half day mule trip because of their age. The seven year old could do a one hour trip--less expensive and not as painful!

Check it all out here:

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/mule_trips.htm

Editted oops! I see that the one hour trips are on the north rim. From the south rim, closer to Scottsdale, the mule rides are the full day affairs. Be forewarned!

[Susie in CA]

Here is what we did.


We went to the Canyon View Information Plaza. That's the Visitor Center. The kids joined the Junior Ranger Program. All the kids loved it! When you are done with all the fun assignments you go back to the Visitor Center and the kids get a Junior Rangers award.

From the visitor center we walked over to the "Rim Trail" which is absolutly fantastic. It is very easy walking - great for the 5 year old. The kids completed a lot of their junior ranger requirement there.

Check the ranger programs. We did a great one on fossils. We learned a lot and the kids loved it.

We walked a very short stretch of the 'Bright Angel Trail' to see the pictographs. Fantastic! We also saw lots of wild mountain goats there.

You can also see quite a few California Condors. They have been re-introduced into the wild in recent years. They were almost extinct.

We took the shuttle bus around (much easier than the car).

That's all I remember right now. We did camp inside Grand Canyon National Park at Mather Campground.

Hope some of this helps. Have a good time. :001_smile:

[lovemywhirlygirls]

What a great idea!

Can I just say that I love homeschooling? I love that we can plan a trip like this and I can tailor our learning around this special adventure! Keep the tips coming! Love them!