Our fall break adventure took us on a road trip to some of the most spectacular sights in the Southwest. We mapped out our week from Northern Arizona to Southern Utah, with visits to the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon.
From hiking to fishing, to a jeep tour and more, the boys learned so much about the natural world around them and got to enjoy some of the best parks this region has to offer. We couldn’t ask for more adventure-loving kids, but here are a few things we did on this trip to make the most of every experience:
Every Kid Outdoors: When Big Bro started fourth grade, we immediately took advantage of the Every Kid Outdoors program that grants free access to all National Parks, recreation areas and more. Not only is it a money-saver, It’s great inspiration to explore our nation’s wild outdoor spaces and give our kids hands-on experiences they’ll remember forever.
Junior Rangers: In addition to the parks pass, school-aged children can also take advantage of the National Parks Junior Ranger program. Simply ask a ranger at any national park for a junior ranger activity book and complete it during your visit. Once finished, a ranger can swear in a child as a “junior ranger” with a collectible badge for that specific park as well. This kept their attention during hikes while they searched for plants or animals to identify, or found a “special spot” to draw their surroundings. They loved getting their badges at the end of our visits, and seeing them get sworn in with a pledge unique to each park was pretty cute too.
Dress for the Weather: This trip took us from the painted desert and Horseshoe Bend (about 2,600ft in elevation) to the cliffs of Bryce Canyon at about 8,000ft in elevation. The weather didn’t just vary park to park, but time of day and sun or shade. I packed lots of layers to make sure the kids were comfortable, including gloves, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and baseball hats for the sun. And of course, always, appropriate shoes.
Snacks: This tip is included in pretty much every list of tips I have to offer. My kids don’t get hungry, they get hangry, and if I don’t get ahead of it with some well-timed snack breaks, it can be bad news. In addition to snacks like carrots sticks, granola bars and applesauce pouches, we packed emergency fruit snacks to offer during any particularly difficult walks requiring endurance. I’m proud to say we didn’t even need them during our Bryce Canyon hike, but they were a great treat to unpack when we reached the top.
Flexibility: Venturing into the unknown requires a certain amount of flexibility. We had a couple of excursions booked but other than that, we relied on the expertise of park rangers, locals, and website reviews when it came to selecting which hikes or restaurants or activities to choose. Keeping the kids prepped with an open mind and including them in our decision-making helped ensure everyone had a good time. At Bryce Canyon, we took a look at our initial hiking plan and realized that at 8K feet elevation, we needed a shorter option (due to shortness of breath!) Modeling flexibility and a positive attitude goes a long way in keeping the boys motivated. And the fruit snacks help too.
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