Our family has done a lot of traveling over the years but exploring the Grand Canyon would be a first for us all… so of course we had to plan a trip! From the right bag and road trip staples, to where to stay and play (plus a free park pass), we compiled all the ways that made travel, exploring, and our adventure together, an epic and memorable time as a family.
ROUTE 66 NOSTALGIA: SPACE VIBES AND MOVIE TIES
Pull off Route 66 and right up to your room at Americana Motor Hotel! Minutes from the heart of Flagstaff and an easy drive to the Grand Canyon, this newly renovated hotel is a great stop for families excited to take in all of Northern Arizona’s stunning landscapes, iconic natural attractions, and cool cosmic adventures.
We immediately got caught up in the 70s vibe with the unique space theme twist. The colors are so playful and inviting and we couldn’t help but bust a move under the disco ball hanging in our room! Dance party every day is the perfect way to keep the excitement of vacation alive.
The decor details are purposefully planned as we found out the nod to space is because the planet Pluto was discovered in Flagstaff at the Lowell Observatory. It makes sense as the night skies are incredible, you can borrow a telescope and star gaze right from your room too!
But I think our favorite fun fact about the property is the iconic movie history that lends itself to the walls — if only they could talk! In 1969 the now classic film Easy Rider hit theatres and Americana Motor Hotel hosted the cast. Imagine Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper swapping stories for set as the prepare for their next scene. Plus the King himself Elvis Presley spent time at the hotel… you can easily catch film fever when walking down this memory lane.
We enjoyed time in the backyard oasis with the refreshing pool, music playing throughout the deck area and catching some sun while relaxing. Yard games are a family-favorite so regardless of the heat we took turns with corn hole and bocce ball. The fire pits and hammocks were also calling our name. Plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy in between planned hikes, sightseeing and excursions.
When hunger strikes, we could easily grab a bite to eat from Baja Mar Seafood. The have a bistro style restaurant on property or enjoy their full sit down location if you want to venture downtown. Their mission is to serve authentic, handcrafted Mexican cuisine that celebrates tradition, community, and bold flavors and we definitely enjoyed their specialty shrimp and barbacoa crispy tacos, burritos and shared the Carne Asada Nachos.
BEARIZONA WILDLIFE PARK
Between the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff, off the iconic Route 66 is Bearizona! This wildlife park is approximately 160 acres and it exceeded our expectations. With the intent to promote conservation and preservation through memorable and educational encounters with North American Wildlife in a natural environment, Bearizona quickly became a family favorite spot.
When you enter, the first part of the park you drive through three miles of Ponderosa Pine Forest where animals like wolves, reindeer, bison and of course bears, literally roam around in their natural habitat. We took a few laps to really take in all the animals and watch the way they move and interact with each other.
Once you finish the drive, then you move to the walk-thru area. More animals are exhibited in Fort Bearizona’s 20-acrea along winding paths which is more of a “zoo” typesetting. You watch the animals in large open settings and it was incredible to see the bears swim and play ball — we’ve never seen them so playful.
Animal encounters made us super fans as when we got to the otters, there was a feeding scheduled and they actually give you fish and allow you to feed the otters. They won over our hearts, we even had to bring home a plushie from the gift shop to remember the experience.
CANYONLANDS RESTAURANT
In order to check out the jaguars, you enter into Canyonlands restaurant — you can actually overlook the habitant while you eat. With towering canyon walls, ancient ruins, and incredible jaguar views, you can enjoy gourmet burgers, sandwiches, and fresh salads.
We enjoyed the philly cheesesteak, crispy chicken sandwhich and the burgers… the food was delicious and the setting is so cool. All the details from decor to dining are thought out at Canyonlands.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK: FOURTH GRADERS FREE
We were so excited to get to see the Grand Canyon as a family, after all it is widely recognized as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World! It’s geological, ecological, and cultural significance, coupled with its sheer natural beauty solidify it as one of the planet’s most remarkable and awe-inspiring landscapes.
An unexpected bonus was fourth graders get to go to historic sites for FREE! That’s right, we found out about this tip just in time, as our son is in the 4th grade and so we were able to have him get the pass, and access for the whole family, into the Grand Canyon National Park.
Every Kid Outdoors chose fourth graders because research shows that kids ages nine to 11 are beginning to learn about the world around them. They’re open to new ideas, and they are likely to connect to nature and our history. Learn about your heritage, and connect with nature. No matter where you live in the U.S., you’re within two hours of an included site.
Getting our pass was simple, you go to Every Kid Outdoors, fill out a diary entry (and a few more details) and then you just print your pass and bring it with you when you visit. (Electronic copies aren’t accepted). When you get to the entrance of your destination the Park Ranger will exchange your paper for a physical card that the fourth grader signs and then your adventure begins.
Your pass has a unique code. That means you can’t copy it and give it to friends. But encourage your friends to get their own pass if they’re in the fourth grade… we had a buddy download it and go to Yellowstone this summer!
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BAG!
Ahead of the road trip, the kids’ first question was, what can I bring?! To which we responded, you each can bring your backpack with whatever items will fit in the bag… so they went for stuffies, switch, books, games, ipads, coloring supplies, water bottles and more. Our favorite backpacks (not only because they are super stylish and cool, but also functional and full of features) are STATE Bags.
One thing that makes STATE Kids Backpacks so unique is that they come in sizes depending on your child’s age and needs. Starting with the Kane Mini for ages 2-4, then Kane, Kane Double Pocket, and Kane Double Pocket Large for kids 10+ and of course they have an entire adult line too. All the bags have a spacious main compartment, front pocket, side water bottle holders and then depending on size, there is thoughtful organization, luggage slip sleeve and can fit a laptop. We’ll definitely have our kids double this travel bag as their school bag too!
The style is so fantastic, from metallics and vibrant colors to patches and patterns… we picked 3D Butterfly and Blue Chevron. Many of the styles have matching Rodgers Lunch Box as well as other accesories ranging from Luggage to Duffle Bags, Sleeping Bags to Bensen Tolietry Kit. So whether you opt for the whole bundle or just a few select pieces, you can’t go wrong with STATE bags.
Plus we love that it’s a family bag company started by husband and wife team, Scot and Jacqi Tatelman, who created STATE as a for-profit company with a nonprofit pedigree. For every bag purchased, STATE supports American children and families in need. Let’s get shopping!
STAPLES FOR ROAD TRIP TRAVEL
Once you have the right bags, now you need to make sure you’re safe and entertained! Here are a few of our favorite staples when it comes to hitting the road and exploring the outdoors. First, always stay hydrated and the best in the game is YETI. We filled out Soft Cooler with drinks, fruit, snacks and used it to access while on the road, and also in our tent and hotel room. We each have Insulated Water Bottles with chug tops and when we filled them to the top with ice, and then water, it stayed cool the entire time. YETI is the best road trip (and Grand Canyon) companion.
Because we were hiking, swimming and exploring, sunscreen was a must and Sun Bum SPF50 Kids Face Stick is our absolute favorite. Not only does it smell like banana laffy taffy to us (if you know, you know) but it goes on so smooth, clear and doesn’t clog pores or cause any problems. A stick is always in our backpack.
To keep entertained on the trip during down town or to help pass the time driving we stocked up on Melissa and Doug Secret Decoders, Sticker Wow, Water Wow and Game On, Flip Travel Hangman and more.
MAKE YOUR TRIP LAST LONGER (AND PLAN THE NEXT!)
Counting down the days until our adventure, keeping track of all the locations and activities, timing and more, meant we relied on our Skylight Calendar. This WiFi-connected digital display showcases our family’s schedule with extraordinary clarity, color, and brilliance. Its HD touchscreen — combined with the free mobile app for on-the-go updates — helps us easily plan and manage events across different views and features. We love all the customization from toggling between day, week, month, and schedule views to color coding where we assign each family member their own color, making it simple for everyone to see who needs to be where and when.
We took hundreds of photos on our trip, and dozens of videos to help remember and relive our amazing time together. But we don’t want all that media to stay on our phones, so this meant we needed the new Skylight Frame 2. This is a stunning anti-glare touchscreen display in Full HD where you can update the photos straight from your phone, and update your look with swappable Snap Frames.
With 16 GB of storage there is room for thousands of pictures, and we love that video can also play in stunning Full HD, on demand – so it’s the perfect way to admire all our favorite summer memories!
