The Grand Canyon, Page & Sedona with kids: our itinerary
A week looping through the red-rock Southwest - the Grand Canyon, the slot canyons and lakes around Page, and the buttes of Sedona. Here is how we would do it again.
This is the companion to our Grand Canyon photo diary.
The Grand Canyon (South Rim)
Nothing prepares you for the scale. Walk a stretch of the Rim Trail, catch sunrise or sunset when the light does its best work, and - if the budget allows - take a helicopter flight, which is where the sheer size finally lands. Go early; the rim gets hot and busy by midday.
Page: Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell & Antelope Canyon
Page is the base for three unmissable sights. Horseshoe Bend is a short walk to a thousand-foot drop over a perfect river bend. Lake Powell is a blue maze of canyons made for a boat. And Antelope Canyon - the glowing, sculpted slot canyon - is the photographic highlight of the whole trip; you must book a guided tour in advance, and the midday light beams are worth timing for.
Sedona
An easy add-on south of the canyon, Sedona's red-rock formations - Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock - are stunning and very walkable, with short trails the whole family can manage.
Getting around & staying cool
This is a driving trip with real distances between stops, so plan a sensible route and fill the tank often. July is hot - hats, sunscreen, and far more water than you think you need, especially at the canyon and the slot canyons.
Just want the pictures? They live in our Grand Canyon photo diary.