Would you take an 18 mo old and 3.5 yr old to Sedona and the Grand Canyon?

[mom2lucy]

I went to Sedona when I was pg with DD1 and LOVED it, always hoping to go back.  Well, my parents are taking a trip to Sedona and the Grand Canyon and asked if the girls (18 mo and 3.5 at the time) and I  want to come.  DH can't take the time from work so it would just be us.  I don't really know the details of the trip yet, they just asked today, but I'm super excited to even think about it.

Part of me thinks that it will be a total nightmare traveling on flights and so much driving with 2 little ones and I won't really get to enjoy much of the scenery, etc.  But another part says, who cares?  It will be an adventure and I'll get to see some stuff that I wouldn't have otherwise and the girls will too (even if they don't remember it). 

So mamas who've been there, what you do??

Thanks in advance for any advise!

[meemee]

i am not a good person to ask this question because i am the other part of you. what the hell. just go for the adventure.

and honestly in all my such escapades its been a lot of fun. as long as you cater in that you have 2 small kids to take care of and thus factor your activities around them. as long as your parents understand that too - then i'd say GO.

a lot depends on your kids personality. how much do they desire structure? will a late nap or lunch really screw up their day. 

you will be surprised what kids can remember. never ever underestimate the memory of children. my dd almost 9 remembers some things (mostly interesting people) from the age of 2. we went abroad when she was 3 and she still remembers clearly.

at that age the only thing i say is lots of breaks and lots of snacks. i made sure i chose say a 9 hour flight, then 6 hour layover and then another 6 hour flight instead of a 17 hour flight. 

dd and i have been travelling since seh was 2 months old. she HATED the car till she was 1. she had flown so much by 6 months that she instinctively figured out how to swallow to clear the pressure in her ears and refused to nurse at take off or touch down. 

i have an only. i always packed a lot of toys but i never ever used them. snacks is what we used and dd loved hanging out with the other passengers or family. 

[34me]

I took my guys when they were 18 mos, 3.5 and 5.5. We had a great time. We drove from N CO to AZ.

[rightkindofme]

I went there to visit my best friend (who lived in Sedona at the time) when I only had one 2 year old and I was pregnant.  I had a great time.  I think that would be totally doable with two. :)  But my kids are mellow.  So take my advice with a big grain of salt. :)

[zebra15]

YES!  take the trip.  I live in PHX and Sedona is absolutely beautiful.  Your folks are going along?? so you will have 'help' for the trip.  The Grand Canyon is AWESOME in so many ways.  Your older child is probably just the right age to start the jr. ranger program for the park system.  Oh how I wish I could afford a trip to either place this summer, even a day trip.

BTW if you get a change to stop in Flagstaff, Lowell Observatory is there and my son loves it. They have night viewing of the sky as well as day tours.  And just outside of Flagstaff is http://www.deerfarm.com/

GO! take the dang trip lady!....  I wish my parents invited us somewhere... anywhere  lol

[Drummer's Wife]

Yes, go! AZ is beautiful, and the Grand Canyon is breathtaking. We took the kids (on the way to CA from NM) when they were 2, 4, 6, and 8. They thought it was really cool. Flying with kids can be rough, but I wouldn't not go b/c of that. Find ways to keep them occupied, and it will be worth the effort.


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[maeby]

I live in Flagstaff and take nearly 3yo DS to both of those places all the time! You will have a blast! In Sedona go to Red Rock Crossing and the LO's can swim in the creek! On your way up to the Grand Canyon check out Out of Africa, Bearizona and the Deer Farm! Flagstaff also has lots of great parks and as another poster mentioned, Lowell Observatory.  The Grand Canyon can be a lot of driving and I would suggest having a stroller for it, but my son is a nut and just makes me super nervous on the edge!

Have fun!

[maeby]

To further entice you, here are two pictures from our Saturday this last weekend at Red Rock Crossing....

[Kedrosami]

Yes, go!

[mom2lucy]

wow!  ummm, yeah I think we'll be going!  Thanks for all the advise I really appreciate it

Originally Posted by kristinekristine 

To further entice you, here are two pictures from our Saturday this last weekend at Red Rock Crossing....