Visiting Williams, AZ - A Trip For Nature, Nostalgia and Nurturing Connection

The Spring of 2021 brought such an exuberant breath of fresh air when we started to travel again. We bought our first RV, (YAAAAAAAAY!) and were able to take Lexi on a few of her first few vacations! 

2020 felt like such a pressing year. One of refinement and frustration with many days of cabin fever and travel dreaming. 

Even through the hardships, there were also many moments of gratitude and family connection. We welcomed our sweet daughter, celebrated her first holidays, celebrated Grey turning 4, celebrated Grey graduating Pre-K and beginning our homeschool elementary school journey and many more sweet moments in between. 

Once the temps started creeping up in Phoenix, it was time to head North for some  cooler weather and I wanted to share one of our very favorite spots. 

Williams, AZ has so many things to do for families with kids of all ages. We call it our destination for nature, nostalgia and nurturing connection with one another. Below I share my Top 10 Activities to do in Williams, where we stayed and a collection of our favorite photos! 

TOP 10 ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES IN WILLIAMS, AZ

Updated January 2022 with the opening of the new coaster park!

1. Bearizona - Drive Thru - Our FAVORITE place to visit in Williams (and one of our top in Arizona) is Bearizona. The Drive-Thru portion is filled with grizzly bears, wolves, bison and more up close. It is worth every penny!
2. Bearizona - Walk Thru - In addition to the drive-thru portion, your ticket price also allows you a full day inside the zoo. Food trucks line the entrance and we enjoyed an allergen-friendly mexican lunch that was a 10/10! A wide array of animal exhibits, eateries and shopping. This is always a MUST DO for our trips up to Northern Arizona. 
3. The Canyon Coaster - Brand new in 2022 the Canyon Coaster is built directly into the mountainside and spans several acres along the natural curvatures of the mountain. This thrill ride stretches over one mile on a stainless-steel-tube track that has all the bells and whistles of a roller coaster such as steep descents, hairpin turns, and 360-degree corkscrews.
4. Grand Canyon Deer Farm - Get up close and personal with adorable woodland animals including deer, goats, camels and peacocks for a truly one of a kind, educational experience. 
5. Route 66 - One of our favorite things to do, day or night, is visit Route 66 with the kids. We grab old fashion ice cream, grab dinner (I found amazing GF/DF food at Station 66 Italian Bistro), visit all of the fun shops and more. One of my favorite memories was shopping with Grey for authentic salt water taffy, something my dad took me to do when I was young.) 
6. Grand Canyon Go Kart Racing - This is an activity at the Circle Pines KOA that is open to the public. We missed out on catching them when they were open but kids are able to ride and it looks very well kept and really fun! 
7. Planes of Fame Air Museum - Have kids that love airplanes as much as we do? The Planes of Fame Air Museum is a nice way to enjoy a little time indoors if the temps are chilly when you are visiting. 
8. Snow Play Areas - Williams, AZ is a beautiful place in Arizona to visit for snow. There are many snow play areas, including an area near the Canyon Coaster where you can rent inner tubes to take down the hills. 
9. Grand Canyon Railroad - A fun item on our travel list is to take the kids on an authentic train ride and this one tops our list. Expect 65 miles of scenic woodlands on this four and a half hour train ride. 
10. Circle Pines RV Park Activities - For those of you adventuring to Williams in your RV, Circle Pines is the most popular RV spot. An official KOA, it offers many of the amenities and activities I've listed below that are great for kids of all ages. 

We stayed at the Williams Circle Pines KOA with our RV and though it wasn't a top favorite on our favorite campsite list - it did have quite a few fun activities for kids!

Some of the activities include: miniature golf, big jumping pillow, playground, bike trails, gold panning, go-kart racing and an on-site store and eatery. 

Just make sure you check the schedule of events of when you are staying as some of the activities have odd days and hours. We thought we'd be able to Go Kart race during our four day stay and we unfortunately were unable to try that out. It's definitely on our list for our next trip as Grey is old enough and tall enough to ride and we think he would LOVE it. 

Have you made a trip down Route 66 or visited Williams, AZ with your family? We would love to know your favorites that we may have missed before we head back!