Explore the ‘Gateway to the Grand Canyon,’ known as Williams, Arizona

WILLIAMS, AZ (AZFamily) — It’s known as the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, but Williams, Arizona, is worth much more than a pit stop on your road trip.

The scenic northern Arizona town offers a variety of activities for visitors, including driving along historic Route 66, riding the Grand Canyon Railway and making a stop to say hello to the animals at Bearizona. In this week’s Field Trip Friday, Arizona’s Family is showing off all the amazing things to do in this nostalgic town.

High-Flying Adventure

Come soar through the sky on the Route 66 zipline! The attraction is the closest zipline to the Grand Canyon’s South Entrance, just off Interstate 40. The Route 66 zipline soars right along the famous Route 66 above Williams and over Grand Canyon Boulevard.

A solo rider can ride for $15, and tandem riders can take flight for $12 per person. Families can hop on the ride for $36, and if you buy three rides, mom or dad flies for free.

Grab a bite to eat

Want to grab a quick bite to eat and feel like you took a step back in time? Visit Cruiser’s Cafe 66, a retro diner and grill that will make your mouth water! Cruiser’s offers locally made craft beer and classic American diner food. Sink your teeth into their delicious ribs, wings, burgers and sandwiches.

Tons of family-fun attractions

There’s tons of family-friendly activities in Williams, and Arizona’s Family is here to tell you about three of them! Bearizona, Canyon Coaster and Poozeum are among some fun and interesting attractions that the kids will love.

Bearizona is a drive-through experience offering up-close views of North American wildlife. Visitors can drive through over three miles of the Ponderosa Pine Forest and check out beautiful animals in their natural habitats. Don’t want to drive? More animals are in Fort Bearizona, a beautiful 20-acre walk-through area, along winding paths in more of a “zoo” type setting. Tickets start at $30 for adults and $20 for children.

You can’t miss Bearizona’s “Okto-Bear-Fest,” which will be Saturday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests will be able to craft beer samples from local breweries, play games, enjoy live music, visit the animals and score some raffle prizes.

And a brand-new attraction is now open — the Poozeum! That’s right... the Poozeum is the world’s only museum dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of dinosaur poop! The museum is free and located in the heart of Williams. Visitors will immerse themselves in the fascinating world of coprolites, or fossilized poop.

Are you more of a thrill-seeker instead? Hop on the Canyon Coaster! Enjoy mountain scenery on your way up, then you control the speed down a mile-long track! Experience a variety of thrills such as steep descents, dips, twists, hairpin turns, and 360-degree corkscrews. This one is a favorite at Arizona’s Family — it’s Gibby and Tess approved!

All Aboard!

It’s time to hop on the French Fry Express! This environmentally-friendly steam engine is fully run off vegetable oil — the first and only one of its kind in the country. It’s one of about 200 steam engines in operation in the United States. Eric Hatter, chief mechanical officer, is the brains behind the invention; he’s the one who converted Engine 4960 into the French Fry Express.

So how does it work? Hatter says when restaurants are done with their fryers, somebody comes along, picks that up, and they take it back to the processing facility. From there, they clean it, and deliver the oil before each trip. Guests can ride this one of a kind steam engine on the first Saturday of every month or during special events.

Christmas in July

Looking to get ahead on your holiday plans? July is a great time to book a trip on the Grand Canyon Railway! The railway is doing a “Christmas in July” sale, where guests can save 30% off train tickets for trips between October and March. This sale is only going on until July 31, so don’t miss it!

Yabba Dabba Doo!

Calling all Flintstones superfans — stop by Bedrock City today! Come enjoy a slice of vintage pop culture at the historic cartoon landmark from the 1970s. Guests can feel like they’re living alongside The Flintstones and take photos inside the homes, cars and characters that we all love. Admission is $10 or free to all campground guests.

Grand Canyon Brewing

Of course, we can’t end a Field Trip Friday without trying a local favorite. We stopped by Grand Canyon Brewing, which offers delicious local beer and spirits and an impressive list of burgers, wings, pizzas and appetizers right in the heart of Williams.

In 2003, United States Navy veteran John Peasley returned to his childhood vacation area, Williams, Arizona. From there, Grand Canyon Brewing was born and has become a local and visitor favorite. Peasley’s goal was to create a brand that paid homage to the breathtaking landscape and the adventurous lifestyle of living in Williams, and it’s done just that!

A fun event coming up at the brewery is their 4th annual Labor Daze Festival. The event is on Sunday, Sept. 1, from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. and will benefit the Williams Volunteer Fire Department. The festival will feature a craft beer fest, live music, food, craft vendors, a kid’s zone, and more!

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