Fall Break Family Vacation!
We’ve had “Take the Kids to the Grand Canyon” on our bucket list for a while now.
So, on a last-minute sort of whim, Justin and I bought a package that included a hotel, food vouchers, and a train ride to the Grand Canyon. Usually, we prefer a little more adventurous travel, but it just felt right for this busy season in our lives.
So off we went—after making a fun stop at Rock Springs for pie and a walk through the funky little art gallery.
We stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel in Williams, Arizona. It was rather easy and comfy. The big lobby was so pretty, and we ate all our meals over at the Fred Harvey Restaurant. The kids had fun swimming in the indoor pool.
The train depot was located on-site, making it really convenient to hop aboard the train.
We all stayed in the same room, which was tight, but we made it work. Hunter’s always a good sport about sleeping easily on a rollaway bed.
Times like these always remind me what a true little team our family is. It’s so fun experiencing life with our little loves—they’re at the ages where new experiences mean so much to them, and they really get into it.
Early the next morning, off we went! The girls looked extra cute for their first train ride. I splurged and bought ridiculously expensive cowboy hats for us in the gift shop—it just felt right.
The train was really fun. Justin had upgraded us to the “fancier” first-class car, where we were able to enjoy oversized seats, big windows, bar service, and complimentary snacks.
They had lots of fun singing entertainers on board, making the ride extra enjoyable. The ride home even included the train getting stopped by robbers!
Once we got to the Grand Canyon, we had a nice lunch out on the patio at El Tovar, overlooking the canyon. Then we hiked the Bright Angel Trail.
One of the coolest parts of our hike was moving aside for the mules to walk through.
I was shocked to see a family similar to ours traveling back up the canyon on the famous “sure-footed” mules. I’m not sure I could do that myself, but it looked really extraordinary.
Our time at the Grand Canyon was a bit too short, but it was fun to share it with the kids.
Next time we go back, I’d love for us to stay at the Grand Canyon to experience the sunset and sunrise and do a full hike.
On our way home, we decided to check out Bearizona. I think Hunter enjoyed it the most.
Justin and I were pretty tired, but it was fun to drive through, looking for all the animals. It was a nice way to wrap up our adventure.
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