Probably a stupid question but are you camping?

Two things I would recommend-good hiking shoes, not regular sneekers. Currently I have hiking shoes, but I have usually worn hiking boots, as trails are very dusty, and they keep my socks from getting dirty. next I would get a pair of those convertible pants..the kind with legs that zip off to make shorts. You can zip off the legs and put them in your backpack as the day gets hot. Then plan on layers, like tank top under a long sleeve shirt, and a light weight jacket that all can be shed and added as the temp varies at altitudes etc.

Bandaids for your ankles if you buy new shoes. :)

It will most likely be cold at night. I've been to most of those places, but camping, not staying in hotels. It got downright cold at night and sweaters and windbreakers were definitely needed, sometimes even inside a sleeping bag.

If you get new shoes, get them right away and break them in.

I think everyone on the trip should have long pants, shorts, a warm sweater or fleece and windbreaker, a couple of layers of shirts, good walking socks. The convertible pants are a good idea, if you think they will be worn again after the trip. A hat, for sunny days. Sunscreen.

I believe many of the National Parks are no longer selling water in bottles--you should check on this, as you may need to bring your own water bottles and fill them up for hikes.

Bryce and Zion can get downright scorching during the day (I assume the GC, too but have never been) and cool off considerably at night. A good hat to shade face and neck is very helpful at keeping you cool. Agree about the zip off pants - they are lifesavers. Remember this is high desert, very clear air, so plan for major sun control.

Blfenton, we are staying in hotels. DD and I bought new sneakers a month ago so we could wear them in a bit and make sure they're comfy. The thought of buying hiking boots for all 5 of us...which most of us probably won't wear again...ugh. Will have to think about that.

Zip off pants, why didn't I think of that? Not sure if they'll work for me because I'm short and need petite sizes but for the guys, that could be great.

Hats! Yes! Wish me luck getting my sons to wear them.

Lucky you! It's going to be fun! Anyway, what everyone else has said, sturdy hiking shoes, and socks, and a lot of sunscreen. It may not always be terribly hot, but the sun is relentless. Plenty of water. The Grand Canyon will have laundry facilities. Be prepared for the South Village to be extremely crowded, with major parking problems. Aside from that, the S.V. has stores that carry anything you could possibly need.

DH and I used to live in Arizona, and had many getaways to Sedona and the Canyon. Sedona is a unique town, set amidst great natural beauty. It is an art center, with many fine galleries, and some nice restaurants. The main street is very touristy, but if you go down around Oak Creek, there are some lovely places. There are jeep tours of the area, with a good variety of rides; those are truly fun.

Could I suggest that when you drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon you take U.S. 89? It winds along Oak Creek through beautiful aspen and pine forests and then climbs the mountain that takes you to the I-40, which you'll have to reach anyway to get to the G.C. There are some hairpin turns in the final 10 minutes, but I am a white-knuckle passenger and always loved that highway. My favorite drive in the world.

Hope I didn't overstep my bounds here. What a great trip!

Check Sierra Trading Post for all the things that you still need..especially the convertible pants. That is where I got all of mine and DH's . They are wonderful and I would be lost without mine. Also don't worry that you are short ! I am too...5'2". I had a neat tuck made in the legs just above where the zipper is. It looks like another fold for a zipper but isn't :) Very clever idea from my seamstress and also prevents messing with the bottoms of the pants as they often have zipper leg openings and/or snaps. here is a link c (i am linking the women's pants but they have lots for men too )

Here is a link that might be useful: STP convertible pants for women

Hats, sunglasses, 60 SPF sunscreen.

We're big on taking first aid stuff even for day hikes so tensor bandages (unexpected turned ankle), aloe cream for the sunburn, gel pads for blisters and medical tape to hold them in place (don't wait for a blister to start forming - put a gel pad on at the first sign of an area warming up), scissors, bandages, double-layer socks helps prevent chafing. GPS app on your phone or a real GPS and obviously a map of the area.

TMI but make sure everyone is wearing comfortable underwear/bras so no one is constantly tugging at something. I personally like to hike in my running gear because I know it's comfortable. Lightweight layers.

Lightweight layers tend to fold up smaller and weigh less when they get put into a backpack.

I don't know if you're doing a group hike but if you're hiking by yourselves PLEASE put a note on your car dashboard outlining what time you left, your expected route and the time you are expected back.

I love Sedona! We went in late June and it got hot in the afternoon but pretty chilly at night. I got a purse that converts to backpack which is really nice when we go to town and have to walk around all day. I think you'll be ok during the day with short sleeve shirts and a jacket for early mornings and evenings. Zip away pants sound great too.

I'd highly recommend mole skin over Bandaides for this kind of a trip. Keeping everyone's feet healthy is a must or your vacation could be ruined.

Sounds like so much fun!

We did a similar trip last year, at the end of June. We packed the same stuff we wear here in the summer, plus layers for night or rain (like the ultralight mountain gear rain slickers).

You can get anything you decide you need or want, so don't sweat it (Flagstaff, on your way to GC has some great stores for gear, less pricey then Sedona stores). We had laundry done just because we didn't want to waste the time. But we did get tired of paying far more than our kids tshirts' were worth to have a the hotel wash them, so we sent it out to the a place in town, paid by the pound, and had it back washed and folded 4 hours later. This was actually in Santa Fe but could apply in most towns, KWIM?

Are you going to the El Tovar? If so, ask upon check in if the Pres'l Suite is available. The hotel is dumpy but the enormous private terrace in the PS is perfect to watch the canyon colors change. It wasn't very pricey --- maybe $300?

It will most likely be cold at night. I've been to most of those places, but camping, not staying in hotels. It got downright cold at night and sweaters and windbreakers were definitely needed, sometimes even inside a sleeping bag.

If you get new shoes, get them right away and break them in.

I think everyone on the trip should have long pants, shorts, a warm sweater or fleece and windbreaker, a couple of layers of shirts, good walking socks. The convertible pants are a good idea, if you think they will be worn again after the trip. A hat, for sunny days. Sunscreen.

I believe many of the National Parks are no longer selling water in bottles--you should check on this, as you may need to bring your own water bottles and fill them up for hikes.

Camlan,

IIRC the Grand Canyon only sold refillable bottles and these awful pouches that looked cool but were useless.

Camlan,

IIRC the Grand Canyon only sold refillable bottles and these awful pouches that looked cool but were useless.

I've vacationed at every one of them. All the above suggestions are good ones.
High altitudes and Summer sun = a huge need for major sunscreen, hats that work, not just look cute, to keep the sun off your faces and heads, good sunglasses, constant hydration. Drinks like Gatorade hydrate while giving you back the electrolytes your body has sweated out . . . and make no mistake that you will sweat out here. Our air is just so dry that it evaporates sweat much more quickly than at more humid places.

Nose bleeds occur more often because of the higher altitudes and excessive dry air, so bringing along bottles of Ayer will definitely come in handy.

Dress in layers because the nights can get very cold, despite the heat of the days. Here where I live in the mountains of New Mexico, we have an average drop in temps of about 30-degrees between 3PM and 11PM during the Summer months.

Smallish canvas backpacks can carry your needs, without causing excessive weight or sweating.

Loose, sturdy clothing in natural, breathable fabrics.

Sturdy, comfortable hiking shoes (or at least good sturdy tennis) are a must . . . with socks! Avoid sandals, especially at Bryce, Zion, GC and Sedona outside of the town.

Speaking of Sedona, a place we LOVE to visit, Oak Creek Canyon is our favorite place to stay and The Silver Saddle at The Cowboy Club (for gourmet Western dining) and the Oak Creek Bar & Grill at Tlaquepaque for the best burgers (by far!) in all of Sedona, with a great setting overlooking Tlaquepaque (pronounced ta-LA-kay-PAH-kay) . . . not to mention, their delicious, award-winning, home brewed beers.

Wishing you a wonderful trip!
Lynn

We didn't camp there but stayed in hotels. It was absolutely wonderful. We enjoyed the tour of the Hoover Dam while we were there too....it's on the way to Vegas...but that was pre 9/11 so I'm not sure if they allow tours now or not.

I'm so envious. Bryce Canyon was the most beautiful spot on earth I've ever been, and the thought of enjoying its shapes and colors and grandeur again near make me swoon. We took the horse back ride down into the canyon....so scary if you're afraid of heights and yet so fabulous as you can only see so much by looking down on the canyon and you see so much more by looking back up on it from down inside. Hiking in Bryce is tiring though as the air is thin.

And everyone is right...water is the big thing. Esp at the grand canyon which is a hot desert on the bottom and the only water available on the trails are what you carry.

We did horseback riding at Grand Tetons and would love to do it again but DS #2 is so afraid of heights. I hate going off on adventures during a family vacation and leaving one member sitting in a hotel room, so we have agreed to skip the horses this trip. Meanwhile my 12 yo DD would be happy to jump on a horse and fly down a canyon or up a mountain...

These are all great ideas. I told DH this morning that we need to organize our troops and get to REI or LL Bean within the next week. I'm not going to do my typical order online, return, order again method.

As I looked over our paperwork last night I realized we are spending THREE nights in Sedona. Oops, I thought it was one night! So we have more time there than I thought. Like, enough time for me to book a massage at our resort!

Mtn, yes, staying at El Tovar, which I know gets mixed reviews. We have a suite plus a regular room, will try to remember to ask for the presidential suite!

HIGHLY recommend the app Pack the Bag. You start out by choosing the type of trip you want to pack for (mountains, himing, beach, city, etc.) and these open lists of everything imaginable specific for that type of trip . You can decide which items to keep on the list by turning them on or off, so they display (or not) in the final packing list. Then you check off each item as it is packed and it hides, so all you see are the unpacked items. There are sections for "before you leave" that are helpful if you don't already have a list of your own. It's also useful in the reverse, to make sure nothing is left behind in hotel rooms.

lol, sueB, if you are on tripadvisor you are probably reading my review

Have a great time!

PS How are you feeling?

Totally getting that app! I have a list on my computer that I edit depending on the trip but I love apps...

Mtn, I love Trip Advisor! I feel okay, still some funky feelings in my chest that I can't tell now whether it's my imagination getting carried away or not. Seeing the cardiologist, finally, on Thursday. Hopefully I don't have some wacky condition that will interfere with the busy summer I have planned!

Sueb, do you have Tripit? You can forward all the confirmation emails you get from arilines, hotels, car rental, etc. to them and it all comes back in an intinerary on your app. For our upcoming trip I am forcing everyone (all adults & adult kids) to get the app so I can send them the entire trip that way. It is VERY useful.

Get a few bandanas and use that bottle of water to keep them wet. You won't be sorry! ;o)

I second the wet bandana idea. It really does cool you down. I was in Switzerland during a hot spell and I was new to hot flashes. Not an attractive combination. My sister used wet, cooling bandana type cloths on her kids and had me drape one around my neck, Ahhhhhhh, relief. And so easy to pack.

Side travel story:
Another sister's friend is going to Europe with kids this summer. She's looking for a crossbody bag, but doesn't want it to big. Her theory is if you're old enough to go to Europe (or the Grand Canyon), you're old enough to carry your own stuff.