Earlier this month, Mindy and her family (parents and two college aged children) traveled to Arizona for their family vacation.  They flew into Flagstaff and started at the Grand Canyon which was still open, uncrowded and free due to the government shutdown.  Their Pink Jeep Desert View Tour was a highlight of their canyon experience.  It was a 3-hour tour that took them to various vantage points; some with no crowds at all.  They had an awesome guide and there are only 8 people in each heated jeep.  They were gifted with crystal clear views…even the guide commented that it had been months since he has seen so clearly to other side of canyon and across the Mojave Desert.  They also saw he IMAX movie in town which was included with the jeep tour.  The family stayed at the Grand Hotel in nearby Tusayan which was clean and comfortable.  The biggest issue with this region is the lack of food affordable choices.  Everything is rather expensive (including the 2^nd most expensive Big Mac in the world), but their jeep guide helped them navigate the best choices including dinner at the Best Western in town.  Who would have thought?

Their next stop was Sedona which was the highlight of their trip.  The red rock town has become quite touristy; so the family enjoyed their stay at a vacation rental in quieter West Sedona.  It was a great location since it was close to the most popular trail heads.  They took another Pink Jeep Tour for 2 hours to Coyote Canyon and really enjoyed it and their knowledgeable guide.  They paid close attention to how the guide handled the jeep going over rocks and boulders, because the next day, they had planned to rent out their own ATVs.  Their half-day ATV ride to the ancient ruins of Honanki was their favorite activity of the trip.  The rental company provided maps with photos with turn by turn instructions.  The cliff dwellings and rock art site from the Sinagua people (ancestors of the Hopi) are located in the Coconino National Forest and date back 700 years.  The family hiked around to explore the centuries-old pictographs and petroglyphs.  Unfortunately there were no guides there due to the government shutdown.  They circled back and went through Diamondback Gulch, a 10 story ravine that slices through the land. It was a harrowing ride (best for families with previous ATV experience) similar to a roller coaster, but very muddy, wet and terribly fun!

The trip ended in Scottsdale where they stayed in a vacation rental and spent time with friends who showed them around the region.  They enjoyed courtside seats at a Phoenix Suns game and visited the beautiful Desert Botanical Gardens.  They learned all about the endless varieties of cacti and succulents.  They went back in the evening for the Electric Desert; a unique illumination show.

Overall the children thought this was one of the best family trips they had ever taken which made them all realize that more active vacations are on the docket for the future.