The planning of our Sedona trip was a long process. We knew we would be staying at Sedona each night. We then had to figure out how to fill the days while accommodating a much-needed naptime halfway through the day. Overall, Faith is an amazing kid. But sometimes she does go on a streak where she does not pay attention or is downright difficult. Most of the times this coincides with her being hungry, tired, or both.
A day or two before our trip began, Allison told me she had heard about Bearizona from a coworker. That was the first time I had heard about this place. Initially, though, I didn’t think much of it as it didn’t seem too close to Sedona and it didn’t look on the way either. Later, though, I noticed that it was about midway between Sedona and the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park. While we had planned to spend a whole day at Grand Canyon, I thought it may only end up being a half-day outing because of Faith. After all, she wasn’t going to be doing any long hiking treks. And I wasn’t sure she would just want to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Quick COVID Travel Tip: After paying for entry, you are immediately directed into the driving portion of the park (though you may be able to ask to go to the walking section first). You may find yourself in the car for an hour or more depending on how crowded it is and how active the animals are at that time. It’s a good idea to make sure a restroom isn’t needed before you start on the driving path.
The drive around the park does take time. It is definitely a fun way to see the animals. There are some sections where we were instructed not to stop and to keep moving. It was kind of hard at some points when the cars ahead of us stopped, though.
After completing the driving loop, you exit into the parking lot for the walking section and gift shop. This is the section where there are clean restrooms to use. Due to COVID-19, there have been changes to operations. Distancing is encouraged. Masks are required in any indoor areas (like the gift shop). I am not sure how strict they are at enforcement as it seemed like everyone I saw was wearing a face covering. At the time we visited, there were no shows or bus tours running and the petting zoo was closed. For the latest information, check their website.
We also included our stop at Bearizona on this vlog episode below:
