Traveling with Children in the Southwest - Kid Friendly Resorts and Attractions

From a mule trip into the Grand Canyon, to a wild west show in Tombstone, the "town too tough to die," there are wonderful things to thrill children on their trip to Arizona. They will learn, have fun and remember their visit for years. What is great about these activities for children is that the adults accompanying them will have just as much fun!

Golf resorts in the Southwest often are multi-focused. Golf is important, but now having activities for everyone in the family is key. Our chosen resorts have top golf courses as well as amenities such as spas, kid's clubs, tennis and more.

From Water World to the Old Tucson Movie Sets, there are great things to do and see in Tucson. My favorite is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. You will see desert plants, native animals and a snake or two. Spend the day with your family and come home with a better understanding of desert life.

While most visitors gather to gawk at the canyon from the rim look-outs and head for the gift shops, the more adventurous may find that a mule trip into the canyon will make their visit to the Grand Canyon truly memorable. Great for older children.

Enjoy scenic and historic train rides in the Southwest. We have selected some great excursions for train buffs and sightseers alike. Some are short trips and others can be made into a train lovers vacation. What child doesn't love a train ride!

Aquariums in the Southwest? Believe it or not, the Southwest, known for cowboys and deserts has some great aquariums to visit. I actually got the idea for this article when visiting landlocked Atlanta, Georgia. While touring, I realized that a major attraction was the new aquarium. Aquariums are not seaside attractions any more!

We provide you with a great range of child-friendly sights and activities for all age groups. Bring your family to the Red Rocks of Sedona. There are short hikes, places to picnic and activities your kids will love. The best thing is that the adults accompanying the children will have a great time too!

Here are some great ideas for horseback riding, leads on how to find dude ranches and where to go for real Western atmosphere. Many dude ranches have special childrens programming. Our favorite is Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg, Arizona.

They call Las Vegas "Sin City" and claim that "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas," but don't let that stop you from enjoying Las Vegas, considering it for a family vacation or sharing colorful photos of your trip with the folks back home. Las Vegas truly has something for everyone. To prove it, we hit the Las Vegas Strip in the heat of mid-day, in search of some local color and subjects for our photo album. What we ended up with was a walking tour that mixed together the most famous of European cities with a dash of Disneyland, finished off with the Las Vegas tacky we expected all along.

How about a Colorado Dude Ranch vacation or a hot air balloon ride? From renting a houseboat to a stay at a National Park, Teresa Plowright, our travel writer for traveling with children, has some great ideas.