West · Arizona

Grand Canyon

National Park Weekend difficulty: Moderate with kids: yes

A gorge almost two kilometers deep and 446 long that the Colorado River carved over millions of years into the rock of Arizona. Peering over the edge for the first time leaves you speechless: layers of stone in every color as far as the eye can see.

With kids

Peer carefully over the edge and look for the tiny river down below
Walk a short stretch of the Bright Angel trail into the canyon
Count the colored layers of rock, each from a different era
Earn the junior ranger diploma with the park's booklet

Accessibility: All ages; railings and drop-offs, hold the little ones tight

With family

Watch the sunrise or sunset from Mather Point
Take the free shuttle that runs along the canyon stopping at the overlooks
Look for California condors, enormous, gliding over the abyss
Talk about how long the river took to dig all of this

Full listing, routes and recommendations at Mi País — Grand Canyon. ← All destinations