Our Best Summer Ever! Ideas to Inspire Your 2022 Summer Family Adventure
Since we live where everyone comes to play, sometimes it’s nice to explore other latitudes, longitudes and altitudes. We asked some of our contributors to share their summer adventures beyond our beautiful Sunshine State to help inspire your family’s next big adventure!
EXPLORING THE GRAND CANYON AND OTHER NATURAL WONDERS IN ARIZONA Maggie Rodriguez, Co-host of Daytime of WFLA News Channel 8 How we got there: We flew to Las Vegas, then drove to the Grand Canyon, with a stop at the Hoover Dam along the way. We visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is the most popular because it offers the most scenic views. Where to Stay: staying inside the park is especially helpful when visiting the Grand Canyon in the hot summer so that you can go to and from your room as often as you’d like during the day. There are four lodging options: the historic El Tovar Hotel, which books up to a year in advance, or one of three lodges. They’re not luxurious, but quaint and perfectly situated close to the canyon’s rim. Suggested Itinerary: To beat the heat and the crowds, get an early start (between 6 and 8 a.m. if you can get your kids up that early). Avid hikers enjoy the popular Bright Angel or South Kaibab trails. Our favorite was the tamer Rim Trail, where each vista was more jaw dropping than the last. Bring lots of water and some snacks to keep you hydrated and fueled. At lunchtime, the dining room at the El Tovar Hotel is a great place to enjoy good food, spectacular views and much-needed AC amid artifacts from local Native American tribes. Make reservations as far in advance as possible. After lunch, when it’s still too hot to hike, I suggest driving to the many lookout points along the South Rim. You can park easily and take lots of photos. Each view is a little different, but equally spectacular. After a rest at your hotel, head back out to catch the sunset at one of the lookout points. The Grand Canyon is at its most beautiful as the sun sets and turns the rocks varied hues of pink, orange and purple. There’s no better word than magical to describe this experience.
A TOUR OF NEW ENGLAND Deanna Moore, executive producer of Daytime on WFLA News Channel 8 How we got there: We flew via Allegiant from St. Pete/Clearwater to Portsmouth. It’s the best route if you want to save money because flying from Tampa to Boston is a bit pricier and you have to drive a bit to get to the more quaint towns. Where we stayed: We rented accommodation via VRBO/Vacasa. We stayed in Wells, Maine, but took day trips to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Kennebunkport, Maine, and Salem, Massachusetts. Experiencing a northern beach was phenomenal. The wildlife, sand and atmosphere are completely different from Tampa Bay. In Kennebunkport we went on both a whale-watching excursion and a lobster-catching cruise. The girls learned so much and were entertained. In Salem, we took the girls on a kid-friendly historical/modern tour of the happenings during the Salem Witch Trials. To cap off everything the food was amazing! We had everything from decadent pancakes to quintessential New England seafood. Pro Tips: In order to see Kennebunkport or Portland, Maine, fly from St. Pete/Clearwater to Portsmouth, New Hampshire rather than TPA to Boston.
Other highlights: Our Arizona road trip continued to Page, where we discovered Antelope Canyon. Hiking at the bottom of the narrow, slot canyon was like walking through a painting.
If you need to rent a car, use a car seat rental service. They can provide you with car seats, boosters, cribs and toys and deliver straight to the airport for a minimal cost.
We also visited Sedona, known for its majestic red rocks. Off-roading is the best way to explore them. We loved the “Broken Arrow Tour” from Pink Jeep Tours.
Don’t stay in Kennebunkport proper. The nearby town of Wells, Maine, is a 20-minute drive away and is significantly cheaper for a vacation rental or hotel.
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TampaBayParenting.com SEPTEMBER 2021
