Checking in with kids at America’s hidden gems! Stunning canyons + a guide to avoid pitfalls
This time, I took the kids to Vegas and finally included Antelope Canyon in the itinerary! The 10-hour round trip was really tough, but experiencing the charm of nature with the kids made it all worth it, and of course, you have to get great photos! Here are some very important family tips that I hope will help sisters avoid any traps:
1️⃣ Make sure the kids wear proper walking shoes! Absolutely! The park is full of red sand and uneven paths, so kids must wear non-slip sneakers. Avoid flip-flops or sandals to prevent slipping and blisters.
2️⃣ Antelope Canyon can only be visited with a local guide. If you’re with kids, it’s recommended to tip $5-$10 before the tour. Each group has about a dozen people waiting to enter, and you can’t fall behind. We didn’t tip, and the guide kept rushing us, so we barely had time to take photos, and the kids got anxious. Later we learned that tipping slows the guide down and they help find good photo spots, making the experience better with kids.
3️⃣ Antelope Canyon has top lighting, so front-facing photos aren’t ideal most of the time. Try having the kids look up or take parent-child photos from behind. The easiest trick is to have the kids wear sunglasses for better shots. The canyon is narrow, so it’s best to walk at the front or back of the group to avoid crowds and make it easier to take photos and rest with kids.
4️⃣ Family outfit tips: Black, white, or brown colors look best in photos. Parents and kids can coordinate with matching colors for more harmonious family pictures.
5️⃣ Actually, photos inside Antelope Canyon are all pretty similar. The wide-open area outside is much more spacious and there’s no guide rushing you, so you can comfortably take family photos and let the kids run and play freely.
6️⃣ Don’t forget sun protection! The park is very hot, so fully protect the kids with sun-protective clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen to avoid sunburn.
7️⃣ There are no clean restrooms inside the park, only pit toilets. You can change clothes and freshen up at a clean restroom the guide takes you to beforehand. Bring wet wipes and tissues to keep the kids clean.
8️⃣ Bring enough drinking water and light snacks for the kids. Supplies inside the park are scarce and expensive, so avoid hunger and thirst.
9️⃣ Pack common medicines and band-aids for the kids to handle emergencies like falls or scrapes.
Regarding group tours, I did a lot of research because I didn’t want to be packed on a big bus. After reading many posts and checking foreign platforms, 50-person Antelope Canyon tours cost about $200 round trip from Vegas; 14-person business buses are around $250, with fixed hotel pickups—no door-to-door service, and extra fees or early pickups if you’re not at the designated hotels.
This time, I found a private small group tour with a business car for up to 5 people at $259. They pick up from all central Vegas hotels and picked us up at 6 AM, saving a lot of time compared to regular tours. The guide was a kind Chinese lady, the car was clean, and they even provided umbrellas, ice water, iced cola, and sunscreen. The kids slept both ways—super comfortable. I really want to recommend it; it’s so good it feels like a secret, but no lies here~
The only regret is there’s no two-day tour option. Otherwise, we could have stayed overnight in Page town and had time to check out the Jennie-style Powell Lake boat tour for a richer experience with the kids. A couple traveling with us didn’t want to go, so we missed out—so regretful~
Next post will be about Horseshoe Bend! It’s insanely photogenic. You can skip Antelope Canyon, but Horseshoe Bend is definitely worth taking the kids to~