Things to Do in Sedona with Kids

Sedona is an incredibly family-friendly destination that keeps families coming back season after season, year after year. Whether it’s eating ice cream on Oak Creek in the summer, sipping on apple cider in the fall leaves, climbing up the towers or interacting with the red rocks and its beauty together as a family – the community and culture that Sedona gives alongside its physical beauty is unmatched. You could even go off-roading in the rugged terrain on bikes or on a jeep tour - any family can now explore the wilderness of this Red Rock country.

The best time of year to visit Sedona with the kids is April-May and September-October, but it is a stunning destination year-round. If you want peace and quiet and snow on the Red Rocks, you should go in January-March.

The thing is no matter who you are or where you are traveling from, Sedona will strike a chord in you. Maybe it will give you that rush of “awe” that you have been craving; perhaps it will give you a sense of comfort and warmth in the chanting you hear throughout the canyon walls. If you’re looking for high-class cuisine or local Mexican tacos; a fancy massage or enlightening palm reading; a scenic hike, a classic rock-climbing route, or an endless bike trail – Sedona will have it for you.

Some favorite activities for families or a large group is always hiking and exploring the land. Whether you are on mountain bikes, running with dogs, or slowly meandering - exploring Sedona’s endless trails is an activity to do with your family that keeps giving. Get out there, stay on the trails and really enjoy and interact with Mother Nature.

Kid-Friendly Activities

Top 3 Hiking Trails for Families with Kids:

#1 West Fork You hike along water, and it is a flat hike, so it is fun for a variety of ages. Arrive early this parking lot fills up fast.

#2 Visit Red Rock State Park A beautiful state park just south of Sedona city limits.

#3 Slide Rock State Park Another amazing state park but completely different, sitting North of Sedona inside Oak Creek Canyon there is swimming, sliding and trails here. Slide Rock sits below a 10-acre orchard which you can also visit while you are there.

In town, a Sedona Jeep tour is THE classic "must-do" for Sedona visitors of all ages, and it's something you should do earlier in your vacation than later because your Jeep tour guide will help you understand the lay of the land, the names of the different red rock formations, and educate your family about the history of Sedona's ancient people as well as the various plants and animals you're sure to encounter along the way. Sedona Jeep tours routinely cater to families with young children, tailoring both the level of adventure and their educational narrative to suit all ages and pique kids' natural curiosity. Even children aged 5 and under can take a Jeep tour, provided they follow Arizona state law and ride in a car seat. Many companies provide car seats if you don't have your own; just let them know in advance when booking your reservation.

As an alternative to a Jeep tour, a trolley ride will take your family all over Sedona from the Village of Oak Creek out to West Sedona. The trolley is a great way to become acquainted with Sedona's geography and landscape. The trolley also allows your family to tour on its own schedule; you simply hop on and hop off where you want to explore, or to check out local shopping and dining.

When it's time to get active and work out the wiggles, make a drive up Oak Creek Canyon, stopping along the way at Grasshopper Point and/or Slide Rock State Park; both are fun for some natural water-play in the warmer months and fairly easy hiking along the creekside. Kids aged 6 - 12 can complete the Junior Ranger program at Arizona State Parks like Slide Rock and Red Rock. If you need further specifics on where to go, see our recommended hikes. Also in the canyon, check out the trout farm for fishing with 100% guaranteed success for even the littlest anglers, and do some easy hiking at West Fork.

If your kids are older and like most parents of tweens and teens, you're having a hard time separating your kid from his or her smartphone, don't fight it - USE IT to your advantage! Put your teen in charge of taking all the family photos.

If the kids can stay up a little late, you might check out some Sedona astronomy tours or UFO tours and take advantage of seeing Sedona's beautifully dark skies filled with stars.

Just a short 45-minute car ride, in Camp Verde, look for some of the most family-friendly attractions in the area. First, check out Out of Africa wildlife park – a great zoo experience for the whole family, featuring a Tiger Splash show and a brand new Predator Zip-Line. Also in Camp Verde, take the kids to Cliff Castle Casino for some (perhaps surprisingly) family-friendly fun including bowling and an arcade. If the grownups want to do some gaming and entertainment, the kids will love Kids Quest, a child care center beyond their wildest dreams with a huge indoor playground, karaoke state and Barbieland. Finally, don't leave Camp Verde without a visit to Montezuma Castle National Monument for a fascinating, up-close look at one of the best-preserved ancient cliff dwellings in North America.

Just a bit south of Sedona and west of Camp Verde, look for the Verde Canyon Railroad (about 20 min from Sedona in the town of Clarkdale, just outside Cottonwood) for an old-fashioned train ride through a riparian canyon, a spectacular sightseeing experience where you'll observe the remnants of an old mining town, steep canyon walls and lots of wildlife, all from the comfort of your indoor passenger car and adjacent open-air observation car. And don't miss Blazin’ M Ranch for a cowboy cookout dinner (also 20 min from Sedona and can be combined with a Verde Canyon rail ride for a full day of fun.)

There are some really fantastic special events in Sedona happening year-round. See our Sedona event calendar. Depending on the dates of your visit, you may catch the Sedona Arts Festival, one of many music festivals, live theater-like Shakespeare Sedona or the Sedona Film Festival. Several popular fall & winter holiday events like Fiesta de Tlaquepaque and the famous Sedona Luminarias are reasons alone to take a family vacation to Sedona, AZ. And anytime of year during your sightseeing in Sedona, be sure to look for all the “Javelinas on Parade,” a public art installation all around town. Kids love to use their “treasure” maps and go “hunting” for the Javelinas.

There are several family-friendly hotels throughout Sedona, but two good places to start are the Village of Oak Creek (not to be confused with Oak Creek Canyon) and West Sedona. In general, you'll find that familiar pocket-friendly hotel and motel chains as well as lower-priced singular hotels are located in both West Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek.

If you're traveling with tweens, teens or with another family, you may want to find accommodations with some extra elbow room. There are several hotels with suites available, but Sedona is fortunate to be able to offer visitors vacation rental homes as well as several timeshare or vacation ownership resort options as a spacious alternative. Particularly attractive for a 3+ night stay or longer, a vacation home rental or timeshare resort rental is a great solution for families on vacation, even if you're not a timeshare owner. Search the web for vacation rentals by owner to find vacation rentals, and familiarize yourself with Diamond Resorts, Sedona Pines, Poco Diablo, Los Abrigados, Arroyo Roble, Wyndham, Hyatt and Hilton resorts for accommodations ranging from one to three-bedroom condos or suites.

Let's face it: the kids will be tickled "red" if you choose a hotel with a swimming pool in the summer. It will be particularly refreshing upon your first afternoon's arrival, especially after a long(ish) drive, the hotel's pool is the perfect place to head immediately after you drop your bags in the guestroom. Let the kids swim and tucker themselves out while you enjoy poolside refreshments and towering red rock views; the crimson color gets cranked up to the max in the setting sunlight. Enjoy a good night's sleep in your budget-friendly, perfectly located, spacious accommodations because there's a whole lotta family-friendly activities to explore on your Sedona vacation!

Best Sedona Hotels & Lodging for Families »

One thing parents often hear when traveling with kids is the whine of "I'm huuuuunnnnggrryyyyy!" Faced with the challenge of finding kid-friendly places to eat at least three, and sometimes more, times a day on your vacation, you are wise to look in advance for restaurants and eateries that cater to families.

While it's certainly true that most places in Sedona will welcome you and your progeny, why not check out these especially kid-friendly joints that offer a decent array of choices on their children's menus, won't break your budget (probably), and will keep the kidlets entertained long enough for you to actually take a rest, maybe have a cocktail, and enjoy a meal yourself.

Insider tip: If you're staying a couple of days and your lodging has a fridge and/or microwave in the guestroom, make an early stop at one of the local grocers like Safeway or New Frontiers Natural Marketplace to stock up on some kid-friendly snacks and maybe even a simple ready-to-eat meal or two. You'll be happy to have fresh goodies and drinks on hand to not only keep up your sightseeing energy, but also avoid having to eat every single meal in a restaurant.

Classic - Coffee Pot Restaurant {B, L; lots of kids' menu choices; West Sedona}
Casual Anytime - Wildflower Bread Company {B, L, D; easy location with good parking; Uptown}
Breakfast - Red Rock Cafe {B, L, D; locals' favorite; Village of Oak Creek}
Lunch - Picazzo's Organic Italian Kitchen {L, D; Organic, local and gluten-free ingredients on pizzas and pasta; West Sedona)
Healthful - The Secret Garden Cafe {B, L, D; Several nutritious and delicious options for kids and adults; Uptown/Tlaquepaque}
Patio - Ken's Creekside {B, L, D; Good variety in the kids' menu; Uptown}

More Kid-Friendly Place to Eat

The Hudson 671 State Route 179 Suite D Sedona, AZ 86336 Everyday 11:30a-9:00p
The Hideaway House 231 AZ-179 Sedona, AZ 86336 (928)202-4082 Everyday 11:00a-9:00p
Coffeepot Café Breakfast spot 2050 W State Route 89A, Sedona AZ 86336 Everyday 6:00a-2:00p
Tamaliza Café Mexican food 115 W State Route 89A, Sedona AZ 86336 (928) 202-9296

FAMILY-FRIENDLY SEDONA

Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock

A magical location, stunning landscape with sweeping vistas: Hilton Sedona at Bell Rock is your ideal home for adventure in red rock country. With a recent multi-million dollar renovation, our refreshed resort features 221 modern guest rooms and suites, all with fireplace, patio or balcony, and mini kitchenette. Enjoy the full-service spa, athletic club with fitness classes, two swimming pools and 18-hole championship golf course.

Things to Do in Sedona with Kids

Kid-Friendly Activities

Top 3 Hiking Trails for Families with Kids:

More Kid-Friendly Place to Eat

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