This Arizona travel post was written by Abby Klosterhoff and Candice Meyer!
When two St. Louis mamas plan a Spring Break trip to Arizona roughly one week apart, you know we are going to share all the details— what worked, what we would skip, as well as the best resources to help you plan an unforgettable trip!
Abby Klosterhoff and Candice Meyer both agree Phoenix and Sedona deserve a spot on your short list of family-friendly destinations! Here’s a mini guide to help you explore the adventure possibilities:
Weather / Best time to visit: March and April
Enjoy AMAZING weather! These months tend to be ideal times to visit because the temperatures are warm but not too hot. Phoenix was generally in the 80’s and Sedona saw highs in the 60’s, which made it ideal for exploring the outdoors since there is relatively little shade! Expect Spring Break crowds, especially in Sedona— more on the traffic situation below.
Sedona’s Hidden Gems- What To Do:
- Slide Rock State Park: bring your suits and towels if the weather is nice because you could spend all day here sliding and playing in the water! The views are AMAZING. Even if you don’t get in the water, this would be an awesome spot to spend the morning. You can also become junior rangers here! Entrance fee: $20/car.
- Crescent Moon Picnic Site: the coolest picnic site where Abby’s family spent about 2 hours hiking and eating lunch! This scenic area runs along Oak Creek Canyon and can connect to other trails within Red Rock State Park. Entrance fee: $10/car. Note: the trails are not well-marked. Use the AllTrails app!
- Sugarloaf Mountain Trail: AWESOME hidden gem in West Sedona that is about 1.5 miles! Initially, you’ll follow the Teacup Trail. Then, hop on part of the Sugarloaf Loop Trail until you see a sign for the Sugarloaf Summit Trail. Follow the path uphill to the most incredible views! It’s truly breathtaking any time of the day- sunrise, sunset, or during the day!
- Doe Mountain: this stunning mountain climb might have been Candice’s favorite hike of the whole trip! The kiddos enjoyed all the rock scrambles (there are a few along the way and a slightly challenging one right before you reach the top). Don’t give up- the view from the top was truly postcard worthy! Warning- make sure your kiddos can respect the edge of a cliff with dramatic drop-offs. There are NO guardrails!
- Scenic Spot– Stop along Upper Red Rock Loop Rd for an incredible picture!
- Mountain Scenic Route: Admire the views along North Route 89A. Warning- the road has impressive switchbacks so this route might not be the best for those who get car sick.
Where to Eat with Kids:
*If you plan to eat out, book reservations in advance! We can’t stress this enough to avoid long wait times! Also, leave earlier than you think- traffic in downtown Sedona can get very congested.
Our top 2 of the trip: The Hudson & Sedonuts
The Hudson offers elegant casual dining with an amazing view of the red rocks. The food was delicious and kids were definitely welcomed. Sedonuts is WORTH the wait for yummy donuts! Try a cinnamon roll vortex and salted caramel latte for a sweet start to the day. Bonus- it’s in the same shopping complex as the infamous AQUA McDonald’s arches- the only ones in the country!
Honorable Mention: El Rincon Restaurante Mexicano
After a very long day of adventuring, we were HUNGRY and didn’t have dinner reservations. A few places we stopped at downtown quoted us a 45+ min wait. We ended up at the BEAUTIFUL Tlaquepaque Village and were seated immediately at this restaurant’s outdoor patio. The ambiance was delightful and our server couldn’t have been nicer. She even brought my daughter a sample of the barbacoa for her to see if it was too spicy!
Want to try for next time: Sedona Memories (sandwich shop) and Outlaw Grille (burgers & ribs).
We would SKIP eating at The Hideaway House. While it’s a gorgeous setting (you’ll feel like you are in a treehouse), the food didn’t quite live up to the hype (our pizza was very, very greasy)!
Biggest Tip:
Plan for picnics! There is a Whole Foods grocery in West Sedona to stock up on a few lunch essentials for your trip. We also bought a few of their pizzas for dinner one night, as well as ice cream for an after hiking treat!
Things to Know:
- Sedona’s Bus Shuttle System: To help alleviate some of the traffic in Sedona, the city operates a shuttle system Thursday through Sunday all year round. *When the shuttles are running, the parking lots at the trailheads to Cathedral Rock and Soldiers Pass are CLOSED.* Keep this in mind since these are 2 of the most popular hiking destinations! The shuttle system is FREE but expect to wait- both to find a parking spot at the shuttle’s park and ride lot AND on the roads. It took Candice’s family 15 minutes to go half of a mile in traffic! Find more information here.
- AllTrails: Cell reception is SPOTTY at best! The AllTrails app offers a month free, which allows you to download a map so you aren’t relying on internet data. We *highly* recommend downloading any map before you start your trails!
- West Sedona is quieter (with a nearby Whole Foods) and has less traffic!
- Outdoor gear recs: hydration packs and good shoes with grip! Staying hydrated is absolutely essential for all your outdoor adventures. We highly recommend good hiking shoes as trails with the best views can be quite ROCKY and steep! Before your trip, double check the tread on your sneakers!
- Don’t miss: the Junior Ranger program! Your kids can earn park badges at any of the Arizona State Parks. We highly recommend this educational program! Just ask for a booklet to complete at the visitor center or ranger station. The kids even say an oath- it’s so darling!
- Jeep Tours: Yes, it might be very pricey and a “tourist trap,” but the Pink Jeep’s Broken Arrow tour has over 40,000 five-star ratings for a reason! The off-roading adventure takes you to areas in the beautiful Coconino National Forest that you wouldn’t be able to access on your own, including stops at Submarine Rock and Chicken Point. A Jeep tour would also be a really good option for families with mobility concerns or if you have littles under 5.
*Note: In all honesty, we wouldn’t recommend an Arizona trip in general to any kiddos younger than 5. It’s totally doable, but having slightly older kiddos gives such peace of mind since so many of the best activities are outside in the heat (with no guardrails!). Elementary aged kiddos and up will give your family so many more adventure options!
Flying into Phoenix:
The Phoenix airport is huge so be sure to build wait time into your schedule to get your rental car. Similarly, airport security lines were LONG, especially during spring break! There aren’t a ton of food options inside the gate area, so we recommend ordering ahead on app such as Panera or Starbucks.
Given that Phoenix traffic is WILD, we suggest getting close to the airport before your flight and finding something to do.
Activity Ideas at Arrival / Departure:
Papago Park
Stop at “Hole in the Rock” when you arrive to stretch your legs and let your kiddos get out some wiggles before making the drive up to Sedona (about 2 hours). Climb up the HUGE rock formation in this easy 10 minute hike for views of the surrounding area.
The Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Gardens are also located within Papago Park. If you are a member of the Missouri Botanical Garden, look into free entry at the Phoenix gardens through the reciprocal garden program.
Tempe Marketplace
This area has a Target and a splash pad! If you need to get close to the airport but are not ready to go check in for your flight, stop here and play in the splash pad or grab flight snacks. Such a mom win!
We also recommend Luci’s at the Orchard for a breakfast/lunch stop in Phoenix. It has a darling outside patio area, splash pad, and attached ice cream shop! It’s a delightful way to spend a bit of time waiting for your flight!
NOTE: There are TONS of splash pads around Phoenix but most of them do NOT open until April 1 (you can check out Phoenix with Kids site for an updated list!).
Nearby Places to Visit:
Candice combined her trip to Phoenix/Sedona with a stop at the Grand Canyon, roughly 2 hours North of Sedona. Abby highly recommends driving through the beautiful Prescott National Forest. Flagstaff and Antelope Canyon are also nearby amazing destinations!
Resources:
- Phoenix with Kids: Such an invaluable resource with a ton of activity ideas and the inside scoop, as well as hidden gems to explore with your family!
- Sedona Facebook Groups: Join a local Facebook group for Sedona! These groups were incredibly helpful to ask questions, get real time feedback, and search the archives for recommendations.
- AllTrails Hiking App: Check the app for hiking recommendations, reviews, and maps.
Happy Adventuring!
