7 Rockin' Things to Do in Sedona with Kids

Shila:  A very fun thing to do with kids in Sedona is Slide Rock State Park. The slippery footing underneath Oak Creek's wade-level water gives way to dozens of short water slides to explore while others lounge alongside the river bed. It's just a great place to get your feet wet, or swim for bit. Either way, it's also a fun, natural desert experience for families. There's also restrooms, trails and a market.

Kelly R:  Our Sedona family vacation was part of a larger road trip around Arizona and California, and all four of us agreed that the Pink Jeep Tour was the highlight of our entire week. The Broken Arrow tour is the must-do, and was just the right amount of bumpiness and adventure for my kids (who aren't usually thrill seekers). All of the tours feature a guided backcountry drive around the red rock landscape, offering amazing views without long hikes. I'd recommend it to anyone, but it's absolutely one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids if you've got one day to experience as much as you can.

Kelly R:  We had so much fun wandering this treasure trove of unique art and souvenirs, and found a fun keepsake to bring home to remember our family vacation in Sedona. Plan at least an hour to explore the maze of small rooms and outdoor spaces, packed to the brim with metal sculptures, wood carvings, pottery, quirky souvenirs and so much more. Keep an eye on little kids, because there's a "you break it you buy it" policy!

Kelly R:  We took a quick trip to marvel at the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a beautiful, small and serene Catholic chapel incredibly perched atop the red rocks. The chapel was finished in the 50s, and is just as impressive from the outside as it is from the inside. We were moved by the reverence and serenity of the space, despite welcoming millions of visitors each year.

Kelly R:  I visited a few of local restaurateur Lisa Dahl's amazing fine dining restaurants on an adults-only trip to the area, so I was thrilled to be able to bring my family to her casual pizza joint when we visited Sedona with kids! Be prepared for a wait...ours was over an hour for an early dinner. The wood-fired pizzas were delicious and unique, and there's a family-friendly outdoor patio. My kids loved trying their decadent creamy Italian sodas, which tasted a lot like "lighter" milkshakes!

Kelly R:  We visited a couple crystal shops in the area (they are everywhere!), and this was our favorite. Bright, clean, friendly, and located in a part of town that's not overrun with tourists. Whether you buy into the spiritual side of Sedona or not, it's a big part of what makes it unique, and browsing Mystical Bazaar's great sale section for souvenirs turned out to be one of our favorite things to do in Sedona with kids.

Kelly R:  This is a great Sedona hike with an amazing payoff at the end: a breathtaking panoramic view from a flat-topped mesa. We are not serious hikers and I would say it is moderately difficult and one of the best things to do in Sedona with kids who are a little older. My 9 and 12 year olds were fine on the trail, which switchbacked up the mountain with incredible views throughout. Expect a few tricky/steep spots that you have to navigate with hands, too. There's an ample parking lot, and we found that this trail isn't as heavily trafficked as some others in the area, so you won't have to wake up the kids at the crack of dawn to find a spot.