Quick: When I say “Arizona,” what’s the first place that comes to mind?
Would it be the Grand Canyon?
Better than half chance and for obvious great reasons. Named one of the Seven Natural Wonders, it’s probably one of the most impressive natural sights you’ll see in your lifetime.
Our Grand Canyon Experience
So when we planned a trip to Arizona, of course we took the kids there. It was the thing to do, right? And seeing their faces the first moment they took in the view was quite memorable. It was the reward of spending our vacation dollars.
But after awhile, the view was the view. It didn’t change a whole lot. We weren’t going to try hiking down the canyon or do a helicopter tour or anything like that. Really, all there was to do was walk up and down the flat trail along the South Rim. It was both great … and not great.
It wasn’t too long until the kids had turned their attention away from the giant jagged hole in the ground. After all, more pressing matters appeared like examining the local fauna:
The Petrified Forest for Families
We didn’t regret visiting the Grand Canyon for a second, but we were also grateful that it was not the only national park we were going to visit on our trip. The second one, less visited and 1.5 hours east of Flagstaff, was The Petrified Forest.
THIS is the park we most remember from our vacation. Along the 28-mile road of the park, we found ever-changing dramatic scenery, fun little trails, unique stops, and a whole lotta fun for a family.
Blast From the Past: the Painted Desert Inn
Now a National Historic Landmark and located on the once-famous U.S. Route 66, the Painted Desert Inn was a step back in time. It was intriguing to see how hotel life used to be (you might just drool over the hysterically low prices listed in the restaurant). If you ask, one of the park rangers will open up one of the actual rooms to see what people got for their few dollars back then.
If you travel to Arizona, you will not regret a long stop at the Petrified Forest with your family. If you’re like us, it just might bring more lasting memories with your kids than even the hard-to-surpass Grand Canyon. Sometimes the lesser known and less traveled wins the vacation prize.
Great post! Living in Arizona we have seen so many changes to this park. It’s a great place to truly see the beauty and nature of the different deserts of Arizona!
Pretty amazing hike. Great pictures and natural history. Thanks for sharing.
We loved our trip to the Grand Canyon. Looks like we need to head back to Arizona so we can take in the Petrified Forest.
Planning an AZ trip soon! This was a good transparent comparison of the two sites. Thanks for sharing!
I am looking forward to exploring the western part of the country soon. I will add this park to my list.
Such beautiful landscape! Looks like both are worth visiting.
That inn looks so cool! Thanks for the tip to ask the park ranger to open up one of the rooms!
My family hails from Arizona and I think you captured the beauty of the state so well here!
I will add it to our trip to the Grand Canyon!
It’s great to see what the Petrified Forest actually is – I hope to get there sometime soon as my brother-in-law lives in Tucson and wants us to visit when it’s safe again.
Ick on the spider but the rest looks great. We have a piece of petrified wood at home and it is so cool so we would love this.
This looks like a great place to explore! Thanks for sharing!
This is a vacation we definitly want to take in the near future! I can’t wait! I pinned this for later reference! Thank you so much for sharing your travels! It is quite different from our Virginia 😉
Definitely–a very different kind of beauty! You will love visiting, and I hope you get to go soon.
Amazing! Arizona is one place I have never been to but have always wanted to go. I love the landscape. My husband and I are avid hikers, but those spiders would send him running! Ha! Thank you so much for sharing.
The Petrified Forest looks like a great visit! I would have RAN from that spider. No thanks!! xD
The Grand Canyon is pretty spectacular – we spent the night and hiked half way down – an entirely different perspective than observing from the top. The petrified forest also sounds like a great spot as well.
Isn’t the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest amazing?? My family has lived in Winslow, Arizona for decades. And almost every time I go to visit them, we visit the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. It’s especially beautiful at sunset in my opinion. But I love seeing the colors layered in the Earth. So amazing. And such a cool place to take the kids. And of course, we usually stop by The Grand Canyon and Meteor Crater too!
We so wanted to see Meteor Crater but didn’t have the time. That is on our list for a return trip someday soon!
So cool! It’s definitely a much different ecosystem than I’m used to!
Great hike, awesome pics!
I’ve seen the Badlands a couple times but never the Petrified Forest. I still have yet to make it to Arizona — the place most of us Minnesotans dream of for 6 months of the year. Your photos are beautiful. That Painted Desert Inn is SO cool!!
Gorgeous country! That spider picture gave me the chills, though, lol.
The Painted Desert Inn sounds like a fun place to visit with a great history.
We loved visiting that area. It has been many years now though.
Such beautiful country & vista’s! The only petrified forest I’ve seen is actually under water off the East Coast when diving. Gorgeous!
What a fabulous post! We need to visit Arizona and this gave us another option.
Sounds wonderful! My sister lives in Phoenix and when I visited her she took me to Sedona. I would love to see this along with the Grand Canyon. Maybe next time!
Those carvings are amazing! What a cool place
This looks sooo cool!! I can’t wait to take my kids to the Grand Canyon!
I’ve been all over the country and somehow have still not been here. Definitely on the list though. I think seeing the ancient petroglyph carvings on the rocks was the coolest part.
I think the petroglyph carvings were our favorite, too. Incredible!
What a fascinating place! My mother visited there years ago. I got to see her photos.