Looking for Short Get-away from Phoenix - Possibly Vegas?

What about Tucson? We went almost 2 years ago. I was pregnant and our daughter was almost 18 months. We went up Sabino Canyon. There is a "train" that you can ride through the canyon and see the sights. They have a visitor's center with info about the canyon and a few informative movies. It was very enjoyable, even with a little one so young. I am sure that your children would get more out of it since they are older and your parents would enjoy seeing some of the sights of the desert. There was also the Titan Missle Silo which was very interesting. It might be a little hard for your dad if he has a hard time walking as there are a lot of stairs (they may have an elevator, I am not sure since we didn't use it), but your teenager would love it! I am sure there are some other things that I don't know about (look online and see if there are websites about things to do), but hope that gives you a good start for maybe going down there.

I don't have any great ideas for you, but I would beg to differ about Las Vegas being a great place for families. I guess maybe if you don't go to the strip. I was there in September with some of my girlfriends and I was shocked at how bad it's gotten there. And I'm not even that conservative! We stayed in what I thought was supposed to be a family friendly hotel, and there were women wearing practically nothing dancing on the bar right when you walk into the casinos. But the thing that I was most disturbed by was the business-card-sized flyers being passed out, and thrown all over the ground EVERYWHERE that had naked women on them. I vowed I wouldn't take my young kids there. I don't want them exposed to that. Anyway, just wanted to add my two cents about Vegas.
Good luck to you.

Vegas is lots of fun for they kids. Circus Circus has a bunch of stuff to do along with a roller coaster. NY NY also has a roller coaster. There are a bunch of shops they would like too, like the M&M store and coke store they are two stories. My kids (2 boys, 7 & 14) love it. Good luck!!

I've read articles about how great Vegas is for families. But keep in mind: Vegas is still walking. http://www.lasvegasfamilies.com/ any tour attraction is - otherwise you'd just be sitting at a hotel staring at each other. I know there's also the ghost towns of Jerome and Bisbee, which I've heard are fun. I've heard Lake Havasu has some great Christmas decorations/attractions on the London Bridge. (not sure how cold any of those are). You could go to San Diego and not do the theme parks. Like - hang out at the beach, but again, anytime I think of going on a trip, I think of walking.

Good luck, I hope it works out!