Family Travel: Grand Canyon, Lower Antelope, Horseshoe Bend

Grand Canyon (South Rim)

Our family’s winter journey to the Grand Canyon was inspired by our children’s curiosity about the world’s natural wonders. After watching a documentary about hiking the Grand Canyon, the kids were thrilled to explore this magnificent landscape. We strategically chose January for our trip, discovering it was the perfect season — minimal crowds and ideal hiking temperatures, a stark contrast to the scorching summer heat and tourist crowd we’d heard so much about.

Our adventure began in Las Vegas, where we flew in and embarked on a four-hour drive to the Grand Canyon (South Rim). Traveling light with just backpacks made our journey incredibly smooth — no checked luggage, no bulky carry-ons, just the essentials. The Bright Angel trail was our first major hiking experience, and contrary to online warnings about it being for advanced hikers, our family navigated it just fine. We spent two incredible hours exploring the trail, with Khang so mesmerized that he declared he wanted to move near the canyon to hike every single day!

Lower Antelope

The Lower Antelope Canyon was absolutely a photographer’s playground. Its intricate rock formations and play of light created a natural masterpiece that left us all in awe. Smooth, undulating walls of sandstone curved around us, light filtering through narrow passages in a dance of amber and rust. Each twist revealed another breathtaking composition, carved by wind and water over millennia. Khai, our budding documentarian, kept a detailed travel journal, filling pages with notes and drawings to remind him of this incredible experience.

Note: We chose to go with Ken’s as our tour guide.

Horseshoe Bend

Our adventure wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Horseshoe Bend, a true geological marvel. Located near Page, Arizona, this stunning natural formation is where the Colorado River creates a perfect horseshoe-shaped curve, dropping 1,000 feet through vibrant red sandstone cliffs. The short 1.5-mile round trip hike was easy peasy for our kids, and the panoramic view was unlike anything we’d ever seen. Khai was particularly excited to photograph the emerald green waters contrasting against the rust-colored canyon walls, while Khang excitedly climbed all the rock formations he could. Standing at the overlook, with the vast landscape stretching before us, we felt incredibly small yet wonderfully connected to the immense geological story carved over millions of years.

Our trip extended beyond hiking and sightseeing. In Las Vegas, we experienced moments of pure magic. The David Copperfield show was a highlight, igniting a sense of wonder that made us fall more in love with life’s extraordinary possibilities. Watching the children’s eyes grow wide, mouths agape in pure amazement, we remembered why we travel: to experience the world through fresh, unblemished perspectives.

Seeking to stretch this sense of wonder, we attended Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at the Bellagio. While the aquatic spectacle was visually stunning, with its 1.5-million-gallon pool and incredible acrobatics, we found ourselves disappointed. The show was undoubtedly a grand production. However, despite its impressive technical feats, it ultimately lacks storytelling, leaving us yearning for a clearer narrative amidst the mesmerizing visuals.

From a simple documentary that sparked curiosity to standing breathless in the Lower Antelope Canyon, our family had transformed a winter adventure into a testament of wonder. The landscape didn’t just show us its beauty; it taught us that adventure is less about the destination and more about the shared moments of awe that connect us. Indeed, our world is best understood not through textbooks, but through moments of shared amazement.