Fun Things For The Kids To Do On Family Vacation In Sedona, Arizona

Located close to Flagstaff, Arizona, Sedona is a desert town, known for its steep canyon walls, red-rock buttes and pine forests. Meanwhile, it is also known for its mild climate, making it a great place for a family vacation. As for parents, the town has a vibrant arts community, and is full of art galleries, New Age shops and spas. For energetic families, Sedona offers a number of trailheads on the outskirts of town where hiking, picnicking and birdwatching are fun activities. Read on to find out the best things for the kids to do on a family vacation in Sedona.

Take the kids hiking in Sedona on a family vacation

Due to its great climate and wonderful red-rock views, Sedona is a perfect place to go hiking with the kids. Depending on their ages, one moderate hike is the West Fork of Oak Creek (6.5 miles), which has many creek crossings to keep it interesting. Another is the Fay Canyon Trail (2.3 miles) or the Doe Mountain Trail (1.5 miles). This moderate loop heads to the top of a mesa with amazing views along the way. Meanwhile, the Boynton Vista Trail (1.1 miles) is an excellent short hike featuring interesting spires.

Out of Africa Wildlife Park, Camp Verde

Around a 45-minute drive from Sedona, Out of Africa is a wildlife park in Camp Verde. The park is an excellent zoo experience for the whole family, including a new Predator Zip-Line and a Tiger Splash show. Meanwhile, the residents of the wildlife are fascinating and varied, including Mogie and Blue, a pair of American Black Bears, rescued as cubs, and a pair of Black Leopards named Enoch and Silhouette. They are joined by a tiger named Vista, a lioness by the name of Kora and the handsome Temba the giraffe, pictured above begging for food. Visit the Out of Africa website to find out more about the wildlife park and its many residents, furry or otherwise.

Head to Cliff Castle Casino in Camp Verde

While in Camp Verde, spend some time at the Cliff Castle Casino, which surprisingly offers plenty of family-friendly fun, including a games arcade and bowling. If mom and dad want to try their hand at gambling, the kids can have fun at Kids Quest, a child care center with a huge indoor playground and, appropriately (with the movie out now), Barbieland.

Sedona events calendar

Throughout the year, Sedona offers many special events and it is definitely worthwhile to plan your family vacation around those particular dates. For instance, there are many musical festivals, live theater at Shakespeare Sedona, the Sedona Film Festival and the Sedona Arts Festival. In the winter months, events like Fiesta de Tlaquepaque and Sedona Luminarias are excellent for the whole family. Visit the town’s event calendar for more details. Of course, all year round, the excellent restaurants of town are happy to serve you delicious food.

Have a fun family vacation in Sedona this year – with these and many more fun things to do among the striking red-rock landscapes.