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Arizona

River Rafting & Railroads: The Grand Canyon With Your Grandchild

Program No. 5831RJ

Share the journey of a lifetime with your grandchild as you visit the Grand Canyon via train, raft the Colorado River and see amazing animals at Bearizona Wildlife Park.

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Program

At a Glance

Duration

6 days

Program Begins

Flagstaff, AZ

Program Concludes

Departures

Meals

14 ( 5B, 4L, 5D )

Activity Level

Everyone who has experienced the mind-boggling beauty of the Grand Canyon remembers the first time they laid eyes on this colossal wonder. Create an everlasting memory with your grandchild when you bring them to the Grand Canyon for the first time. Climb aboard the Grand Canyon Railway and ride to the canyon’s South Rim, but watch out for train robbers! Look for California condors as you explore canyon geology on a canyon trail hike. Plus, travel through the Navajo Reservation and visit secluded Walnut Canyon National Monument’s prehistoric cliff dwellings.

Best of all, you'll...

Raft the Colorado River beneath 800-foot towering sandstone cliffs, and stop for a short hike to see 1,000-year-old Native American petroglyphs.
See amazing animals at Bearizona Wildlife Park and participate in a fun, interactive activity about Native American culture and history at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Enjoy a Western shootout show on your train ride to the South Rim and help the good guys capture the bandits on board.

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General Notes

Program is for grandchildren ages 9-12.

Joel Kane

Joel Kane grew up roaming Appalachian Pennsylvania but has called the Southwest home for many years. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he earned a bachelor's degree in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Joel began working as an interpretive park ranger for the National Park Service at several parks across the west; he also pursued graduate studies in geology at Northern Arizona University, where has been working full-time as a program coordinator and group leader for Road Scholar programs since 2022.

Please Note:

This expert may not be available for every date of the program

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Jeanelle Carpentier

Jeanelle Carpentier grew up on a small island in Washington state, where she gained her love of nature and outdoor adventure at a young age. Studies in psychology, outdoor management, and wilderness medicine have set her up to lead groups to global destinations, including in the American West. She has explored more than 50 countries and resided in New Zealand, Peru, and Australia. She established her home in the heart of the Colorado Plateau in Northern Arizona, drawn by its diverse high-desert landscape.

Cassandra Dakan

Cassandra Dakan earned an M.A. in cultural anthropology from Northern Arizona University, where she later taught for a decade. She has lived on both U.S. coasts and the Gulf of Mexico, and visited all 50 states, Europe, China, and Africa. In her 60s, she served in the Peace Corps in Fiji and the Eastern Caribbean.

Activity Level

Outdoor: No Sweat

Walking up to two miles daily. Getting in/out of raft. Elevations up to 7,000 feet.

Suggested Reading List

View Full List (10 Books)

You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?

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Call 800-454-5768

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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.
Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.