Family Travel tothe Grand Canyon and Vegas

This itinerary is designed to offer travelers the dual experience of luxury and the outdoors. When you arrive in Las Vegas, take some time to settle into your hotel – I personally stayed at the Four Seasons with my family and highly recommend it as a ‘home base.’ I’ve included a few more hotel recommendations in this itinerary, and I can also offer more recommendations for those looking for hotels more budget-friendly.

After settling in, head out to enjoy dinner. There's a lot of restaurants in Vegas, but for those looking for a more refined menu that is still kid-approved, Buddy V's Ristorante has a great kids’ menu. Following dinner and dessert, be sure to take a gondola ride at The Venetian – speaking from my family’s personal experience, it’s an amazing activity.

On your second day, take some time to explore Las Vegas a bit more before heading out to the Grand Canyon. The strip is the most-visited and popular part of Vegas, but I also love finding places that go beyond the Top 10 lists… Black Bear Diner is a great kid-friendly breakfast option that has two kids’ menus and is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

Then, head over to Mandalay Bay Wave pool – a favorite with the kids – before lunch. I recommend heading back to your hotel for lunch because it’s a good opportunity for a delicious poolside lunch as well as a refresh and recharge.

Following poolside lunch, check out the Mandalay Bay Aquarium, also known as Shark Reef Aquarium, where you can see more than 2,000 sea animals, including sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and many more. Make sure to reserve a time slot in advance.

To wrap up the day, I recommend an early dinner at one of several restaurants at Bellagio before catching a Cirque Du Soleil show.

Start off the morning with some breakfast – I recommend your hotel for ease – before heading off to the four day river rafting/camping trip in the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon is located about 130 miles from the heart of Las Vegas, and I recommend packing a picnic lunch so that you can eat whenever you want. Krayvings has some great to-go options that you can pick up on your way out from Vegas.

Before venturing to camping grounds in the Grand Canyon, I recommend spending your first night on a private ranch, where activities and dinner are planned out for you and you can have a relaxing evening with your family.

Get ready for an adventure-packed experience from days four through seven. You’ll spend the rest of your trip on the river, taking in breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon landscape.

I’ll work to help finalize a rafting guide, as well as meals and camping sites for the three day, four night experience.