PREPARING FOR A WINTER GETAWAY

Although families

tend to vacation in the

summer months,

winter is an

overlooked but

excellent time for a

family vacation.

In the winter you can

expect fewer crowds,

less expensive trips

(depending on where

you travel), and the

magic of snow.

Let’s take a look at

some of the best

winter vacation

destinations in the

Southwestern U.S.

With milder than

average temperatures,

winter is a great time to

visit the alluring city of

Las Vegas.

The amazing hotel

resorts in Las Vegas

have adventures for the

whole family, including

museums, indoor

swimming pools, and

spas.

Hit the slot machines,

see a Vegas show, and

take the family on a

helicopter tour from Las

Vegas to the Grand

Canyon—a must-do on

your Vegas itinerary.

The Grand Canyon is

spectacular any time of

year, but it’s particularly

magical when covered in

snow.

The South Rim of the

Grand Canyon is open 365

days a year, and there’s

plenty to do, even in the

winter months.

Take the family for a hike

on the ―Trail of Time,‖

look for reintroduced

condors in the area, or

catch a glimpse of the

canyon from the air on an

exciting South Rim

airplane tour.

There are so many things to do

and see in the Greater Phoenix

area for the whole family. Here

are a few ideas:

• Visit Mystery Castle, a

Western fantasyland that the

kids will love.

• Learn about the Native

Americans of the area and

view thousands of cultural

artifacts at the Heard

Museum.

• Hike through giant saguaro

cactus on Camelback

Mountain.

• Take an all-day ground tour

from Phoenix to the Grand

Canyon.

Surrounded by spectacular

red rock formations, Sedona

boasts more than 100 hiking

trails and unparalleled views

of the breathtaking Arizona

desert.

Visitors come from all over

the world to experience ―The

Vortexes,‖ which are said to

emit spiritual energy straight

from the Earth. Take a vortex

tour to experience it for

yourself.

Don’t miss the Grand

Canyon while in Arizona–

take a full-day adventure tour

right out of Sedona.

Here are some tips for keeping the

whole family comfortable and toasty

warm on your winter vacation:

1. Dress in layers - that way

you can pull clothes off and

on as needed.

2. Bring a hat, scarf, and

gloves - temperatures can

drop quickly at higher

elevations and at night.

3. Stuff your pockets with

hand warmers - hand

warmers from an outdoor or

sporting goods store are a

welcome relief for chilly

digits.

4. Bring a heavy jacket and

lighter sweater - essentials in

cold winter weather.

While you may not need to book your trip quite as far in advance in the winter

months than in the summer, it’s still a good idea to plan as far ahead as

possible to get the best rates.

Plan to make transportation arrangements several months in advance, and book

special tours at least a few weeks in advance.

Buying plane tickets? Smartertravel.com offers a formula for when to book.

Nothing quite compares to

seeing the Grand

Canyon by helicopter.

Papillon offers a variety

of helicopter tours,

departing from Las Vegas

and the Grand Canyon

Airport as well as

combination ground,

helicopter, and boat tours,

departing from Phoenix

and Sedona.

Your family will never

forget these once-in-a-

lifetime tours of the

spectacular desert.

Since 1965 Papillon has been the

world's oldest and largest

sightseeing company, flying an

estimated 600,000 passengers a

year on its daily Grand Canyon

tours. With over forty unique

excursions featuring spectacular

sights of the Hoover Dam, Lake

Mead, Monument Valley, and the

Grand Canyon, Papillon is proud

to offer guests an unparalleled

perspective of one of the world's

greatest natural wonders.

Visit www.papillon.com or call

(888) 635-7272 for tour

information.

Sources

1. http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hours.htm

2. http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/upload/2013srwinter_letter.pdf

3. http://heard.org/

4. http://climbcamelback.com/

5. http://www.mymysterycastle.com/

6. http://travel.usnews.com/Sedona_AZ/Things_To_Do/The_Vortexes_62185/

7. http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel/why-you-should-book-your-

flight-exactly-54-days-in-advance.html?id=17812107