The Best Winter Vacations in the Southwest

1

• Preparing for a Winter Getaway

2
Why Travel During The Winter Season

• 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.
• Lets take a look at some of the best winter
  vacation destinations in the Southwestern U.S.

3
Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada

• 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 Canyona must-do on your Vegas
  itinerary.

4
Grand Canyon National Park

• The Grand Canyon is spectacular any time of year,
  but its particularly magical when covered in
  snow.
• The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is open 365
  days a year, and theres 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.

5
Greater Phoenix, Arizona

• 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.

6
Sedona, Arizona

• 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.
• Dont miss the Grand Canyon while in Arizona
  take a full-day adventure tour right out of
  Sedona.

7
Tips for Keeping Warm

• Here are some tips for keeping the whole family
  comfortable and toasty warm on your winter
  vacation
• Dress in layers - that way you can pull clothes
  off and on as needed.
• Bring a hat, scarf, and gloves - temperatures can
  drop quickly at higher elevations and at night.
• Stuff your pockets with hand warmers - hand
  warmers from an outdoor or sporting goods store
  are a welcome relief for chilly digits.
• Bring a heavy jacket and lighter sweater -
  essentials in cold winter weather.

8
WHEN TO BOOK YOUR TRIP

• While you may not need to book your trip quite as
  far in advance in the winter months than in the
  summer, its 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.

9
See the Sights By Helicopter

• 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.

10

• 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 [phone] for
  tour information.

11
Sources

• http//www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hours.htm
• http//www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/upload/2013srwint
  er_letter.pdf
• http//heard.org/
• http//climbcamelback.com/
• http//www.mymysterycastle.com/
• http//travel.usnews.com/Sedona_AZ/Things_To_Do/Th
  e_Vortexes_62185/
• http//www.smartertravel.com/blogs/today-in-travel
  /why-you-should-book-your-flight-exactly-54-days-i
  n-advance.html?id17812107