Day-by-Day Itinerary

Morning: Fly TLV → LAS (recommend overnight flight arriving early AM, or connect via European hub). Pick up rental car at McCarran — you'll need a large SUV or minivan for 7 people + luggage.

Drive: Las Vegas → Bryce Canyon: 4 hours (270 miles / 435 km) via I-15 N → UT-20 → US-89 → UT-12. Stunning drive through Zion corridor.

Evening: Meet the Gindi family at Bryce Canyon! They're checking out of BW Plus Bryce Canyon Grand. Sunset at Bryce Point — the amphitheater at golden hour is unforgettable.

Morning: Bryce Canyon sunrise hike — Navajo Loop + Queen's Garden trail combo (2.5 hrs, moderate, amazing for kids). The hoodoos at dawn are otherworldly.

Midday: Drive together with Gindi family to Page, Arizona (2 hours south via US-89).

Afternoon: Check into Hyatt Place Page. Horseshoe Bend sunset — 1.5 mile round trip walk. Get there by 6 PM for golden light.

All Day: Lake Powell boat day with both families! Options:

• Boat rental: Rent a pontoon or powerboat from Wahweap Marina — full day on the water. Kids can swim, cliff jump (at safe spots), explore slot canyons by boat.
• Rainbow Bridge tour: 6-hour guided boat tour to Rainbow Bridge National Monument — largest natural bridge in the world. Incredible but long for small kids.
• Kayak/paddleboard: Rent at Lone Rock Beach area — calm water, sandy beach, perfect for families.

Evening: Dinner in Page — Big John's Texas BBQ (local favorite, huge portions, kid-friendly).

Morning: Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon guided tour (1.5 hrs). The light beams in Upper are iconic — bring a good phone/camera, no tripods allowed.

Midday: Last lunch together with Gindi family. They head to San Francisco tomorrow.

Afternoon: Glen Canyon Dam overlook. Free afternoon — pool time at the hotel, or drive to Wahweap Overlook for panoramic Lake Powell views.

Morning: Say goodbye to the Gindis (they drive west to SF). Drive southeast to Monument Valley — 2.5 hours through stunning Navajo Nation desert.

Afternoon: Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park — 17-mile Valley Drive (dirt road, your SUV can handle it). The iconic mittens, Merrick Butte, John Ford Point — every angle is a movie set.

Sunset: Watch from the hotel terrace — The View Hotel literally faces the buttes. One of the best sunset views in America.

Morning: Sunrise at Monument Valley (worth the early wake-up). Quick breakfast, then drive northeast to Mesa Verde National Park — 3 hours through Four Corners region.

Afternoon: Mesa Verde — ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings (700+ years old). Ranger-led tour of Cliff Palace is a must (largest cliff dwelling in North America). Balcony House tour if kids are adventurous (involves ladders and tunnels).

Evening: Stay inside the park or nearby Cortez/Mancos.

Morning: One more Mesa Verde stop — Spruce Tree House or Wetherill Mesa (less crowded). Then hit the road to Santa Fe — 5 hours but through gorgeous high desert and Rio Grande valley.

Afternoon/Evening: Arrive in Santa Fe — the oldest capital city in the US (1610). Walk the historic Plaza, check out the Palace of the Governors. Dinner at The Shed (legendary New Mexican food — green chile everything).

Morning: Meow Wolf House of Eternal Return (2-3 hours — the kids won't want to leave). Or: Bandelier National Monument (45 min drive) — ancient cliff dwellings with ladder climbs.

Midday: Santa Fe art galleries on Canyon Road (if adults interested), or the Museum of International Folk Art (great for families).

Afternoon: Drive to Albuquerque airport (ABQ, 1 hour south). Return rental car. Fly to NYC or Miami (evening flights available).

Where to Stay

• 1 Hotel Central Park — $500-700/night, eco-luxury, park views, great for families
• The Knickerbocker — $350-500/night, Times Square, rooftop bar, classic NYC
• Residence Inn by Marriott Times Square — $300-400/night, suites with kitchenette (practical with 5 kids)

Must-Do with Kids

• 🗽 Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island — book crown tickets months ahead
• 🌳 Central Park — rent bikes, rowboats, visit the zoo, Bethesda Fountain
• 🏙️ Top of the Rock or Edge NYC — best skyline views (Edge has glass floor)
• 🎭 Broadway show — Lion King, Wicked, or Hamilton (TKTS booth for discounts)
• 🍕 Pizza tour — Joe's, Prince Street, Di Fara (Brooklyn)
• 🏀 NBA Summer League or Yankees game if in season
• 🎨 MoMA or Natural History Museum — full day each easily
• 🌉 Brooklyn Bridge walk → DUMBO → ice cream at Brooklyn Bridge Park
• 🛍️ SoHo/Chelsea Market — shopping + High Line walk
• 🌊 Coney Island — old-school boardwalk, rides, Nathan's hot dogs

Day Trip Option

The Hamptons or Fire Island (2hr drive/train) — beach day if the city gets too hot.

Where to Stay

• Faena Miami Beach — $500-800/night, stunning design, great pool, family-friendly
• 1 Hotel South Beach — $400-600/night, eco-luxury, rooftop pool, right on the beach
• The Setai — $450-700/night, 3 infinity pools, Asian-inspired calm, great for families
• Confidante Miami Beach — $250-350/night, Hyatt, more affordable, great pool

Must-Do with Kids

• 🏖️ South Beach — the obvious one, iconic Art Deco strip, beautiful water
• 🐊 Everglades airboat tour — 1hr drive, see gators up close, kids LOVE it
• 🐬 Miami Seaquarium — dolphins, sea lions, reef aquarium
• 🎨 Wynwood Walls — outdoor street art museum, incredible for photos
• 🏝️ Key Biscayne / Bill Baggs State Park — calmer beach, lighthouse, kayaking
• 🛥️ Biscayne Bay boat tour — see Star Island, celeb mansions, dolphins
• 🍦 Coconut Grove — chill village vibe, CocoWalk, ice cream
• 🎢 Jungle Island — interactive zoo/adventure park on Watson Island
• 🌴 Bal Harbour Shops — luxury shopping if adults need retail therapy
• 🌊 Day trip to Key Largo — snorkeling at John Pennekamp State Park (1.5hr drive)

Israeli Connection

Huge Israeli community in Miami — kosher restaurants everywhere, Hebrew signs in Surfside/Bal Harbour. Feel right at home.