Parenthood With The Peck's
We found ourselves with a wide-open schedule for Labor Day weekend and roped our friends into a quick weekend trip up to Sedona. Every time we visit the city we feel so grateful to live a few hours away!
This was our first time taking Addison on a hike where we needed her to walk. We were looking for an easy stroll with water to play in. This side of Oak Creek has a ton of spots that have the perfect amount of water flow and shallow shores where you can feel safe with your kids! I will say the water was on the colder side. Nothing you can't get used to and plenty of people were swimming but it was little cold for the kids!
Look up Buddha Beach (Coordinates: 34.82632, -111.80692). Parking is available but will fill up on a holiday weekend. They charged $6/adult with card purchase available. Two bathrooms and water fountains are available near the parking lot.
Although the trails are wide and well-maintained, I wouldn't say it was stroller or wheelchair accessible unless you found a spot near the entrance. We walked further down to get away from the crowds and did cross some bigger rocks. Austin and I debated if an all-terrain wagon would make it to our spot and we agreed that it probably would.
What To Wear:
The weather was perfect. Highs were in the 80s but we had cloud cover and a beautiful breeze. I am sensitive to cold and was happy in my summer uniform - a tank top and biker shorts.
I didn't get in the water but Austin and the kids did. He wore amphibian shorts like THIS so he didn't need to change.
I brought the kid's their bathing suits. because of their fair skin I prefer to put them in long sleeve suits (means less surface area to apply sunscreen!). Addison's Suit & Lincoln's Suit! PS When purchasing suits for kids make sure you consider a bright color. It was super easy to spot my hot pink girl!
Hiking sandals like Tevas are the very best way to go for the grown ups. I have worn running shoes on these trails and it was the first and only time I have fallen hiking. Between the sleek rock and the water it is not worth falling with kids.
My kids do not have Tevas but Lincoln was carried and I did hold Addison's had for the little climbing stretch. They both wore plastic open-toed sandals like THIS.
Rain was in the forecast in the afternoon and we had a few drops before we left at 3:30PM. I chose not to pack rain gear and embrace it if it came. Worked for us!
What To Pack:
Osprey Child Carrier. Its a splurge but it is legit. If you like to hike add it to your baby registry!
In my backpack...
Thin Turkish Towel (We packed one to share)
Kid's Bathing Suits
Kid's hats (they refused to wear)
Diapers & Wipes
Small Trash Bag
Stick Sunscreen. It makes you ghosty (see Lincoln below) but worth not compromising protection!
Our Camelback Bladder like THIS. It was the easiest way for us to bring water for everyone without taking up too much space. Lincoln learned quickly and used it well!
I wanted a toy to play with and was so excited to find THIS bug catcher kit!! It was a perfect size. I didn't show Addison until we arrived and it definitely kept her busy (though no bugs were actually caught!).
ALL THE SNACKS. I filled up three silicone storage containers like THIS with dry snacks. They have three compartments so I was able to put a few different snacks in each section. Most of these snacks are Trader Joe's brands!It was a hit.
Other Things To Consider:
Bubbles. I have some in almost every bag. Does not take up space and always a fun activity!
Splash Bomb Balls do not take up any space in a bag and are fun to play with.
Collapsible Buckets & Shovels would have definitely been used.
Some families had full set ups with tents and camping chairs. We decided to be minimalists, but there is space for it near the shore if you really wanted to set up a full day camp.
Sunday morning we woke up and had breakfast at The Pump House Station. While they did have high chairs, they do not offer kids menus and I didn't see a changing table in the bathroom. They had an awesome selection of coloring books and pencils for Addison, but they were more like adult coloring books than for kids (which did not bother her one bit). My kids split the blueberry waffles and they were happy campers!
I felt like we needed to get some energy out before we left for home. Sunset Park was exactly what we were looking for! It had two play areas (one for toddlers and one for older kids), a few swings, a large grassy area and a splash pad! There were only a few other families enjoying the park on a gorgeous Sunday morning so I am sure it doesn't get too crowded.
Sunset Park Address: 655 Sunset Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336
Open: 7AM - 7PM
Escaping the late summer heat to Sedona was the perfect getaway for us. Let me know if you go and what items you found helpful!
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