Photo credit: Shap2007 on flickr.com
There’s no amusement park in Sedona. But that doesn’t mean that Sedona’s not a great destination for families with kids. There are all kinds of things to do in Sedona – especially in the spring and summer – that appeal to kids and parents alike. Check out a quick rundown of great things to do in Sedona – or a quick 20 – 60 minute drive away – if you have a child or children under the age of 12:
1) JEEP TOURS – In town, a Sedona Jeep Tour is a great, classic “must-do” for Sedona visitors of all ages. Sedona Jeep tours routinely cater to families with young children. There are several companies to choose from that offer jeep tours in Sedona so visit each one’s website to see what fits your family best.
2) SEDONA TROLLEY – The Sedona Trolley will take your family all over Uptown Sedona for shopping and dining; and a visit up Oak Creek Canyon to Slide Rock State Park is fun for some natural summertime water-play.
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3) STARGAZING – If the kids can stay up a little late, you might check out some Sedona astrological tours (”Sedona by Starlight” is presented by the Institute of Eco-Tourism) on Monday nights and take advantage of seeing Sedona’s beautifully dark skies filled with stars. For tours any night of the week, check out Evening Sky Tours. This is what you call family-friendly, natural Sedona entertainment and nightlife!
4) WILD ANIMAL PARK – Just a short 45-minute car ride, near Camp Verde, look for one of the best things to do in Prescott, AZ: Out of Africa wildlife park – a great zoo experience for the whole family.
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5) RIDE THE RAILS – Just a bit south of Sedona, look for the Verde Canyon Railroad (about 20 min from Sedona) for an old-fashioned train ride and sightseeing experience including lots of wildlife
7) SPECIAL EVENTS – There are some really fantastic special events in Sedona happening year-round. See our Sedona event calendar. Depending on the dates of your visit, you may catch the Sedona Arts Festival, one of many music festivals like the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks, live theater like Shakespeare Sedona or the Sedona Film Festival. Several popular fall & winter holiday events like Fiesta de Tlaquepaque and the famous Sedona Luminarias are reason alone to take a family vacation to Sedona, AZ. And anytime of year during your sightseeing in Sedona, be sure to look for all the “Javalinas on Parade,” a public art installation all around town. Kids love to use their “treasure” maps and go “hunting” for the Javalinas.
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8) KIDS EAT FREE – For parents on a budget (read: ALL PARENTS) a Kids Eat Free deal is something to shout about. Check out Sedona restaurants like Joey Bistro and Stakes & Sticks – both located at Los Abrigados Resort & Spa – where, starting March 29, 2009, Kids Eat Free every Sunday. Please call Stakes & Sticks at 928-204-STIX (7849) or Joey Bistro at (928) 204-JOEY (5639) for more information.
Enjoy your Sedona family vacation!
Sedona is kind of a quaint town but it is a second home place for the upper middle class and people into the arts. There are many galleries as well as some trendy stores. Great place to shop. If you like to golf, they have some great courses. It is also a wonderful place to look at nature. The landscaping is remarkable. My favorite activity was horseback riding which they offer at several places (at least when I went about 5 years ago). I live all the way up in Michigan on the Lake. The only thing I missed was not being on a big body of water. Hiking, of course, is another great idea. I’ve also looked up what there is to do there for you. I only stayed a few days.
The Grand Canyon, nature’s most spectacular attraction, is within a day’s travel of Sedona, Arizona. Several trusted tour operators provide package services– a tour of the Grand Canyon with transportation from Sedona.