Williams is known as the “Gateway to Grand Canyon National Park.” The majority of people who drive through Williams are on their way to this natural wonder known as Arizona's Grand Canyon State.

It's a truly humbling sight to see something so incredibly vast in its natural form. The fact that millions of years ago the Colorado River cut through the Colorado Plateau to form this canyon is difficult to comprehend. Even if you actually see it, it is difficult to convey its depth and beauty.

While the Grand Canyon is a must-see for visitors, there is much to explore in Williams.

Here's a one-day road trip that takes you to lesser-known attractions. We left Phoenix at 8:30am, returned before 7pm, and visited all these spots.

Stop 1: Bearizona

Located at 1500 Route 66 East in Williams City, Bearizona is about a 2.5-hour drive north of Phoenix. Admission tickets include both drive-through and walk-through access to Fort Bearizona.

Tickets cost $30 per adult on weekdays and $35 on weekends. Discounts are available for seniors and their children under 12 years old.

Bear Arizona is a zoo like no other where you can immerse yourself in animals. The drive-thru portion of the 160-acre property winds through ponderosa pine forests and allows visitors to view a variety of North American animals in their natural habitat.

Once you get your day ticket, you can drive around the zoo as many times as you like. When you need a quick bite, stop by Canyonlands Restaurant in Bearizona.

For more information, please visit: Bearizona.com.

2nd stop: Bedrock City – Raptor Ranch

Step into the world of “The Flintstones” for just $10. The amusement park is located at 332 S. Highway 64 in Williams, about a 30-minute drive north of Bearizona.

If you'd like to spend the night, there's an on-site campground with 36 RV sites and tent sites. There are also several new Raptor Ranch glamping tents available for those looking to upgrade their typical camping experience. All campers receive free admission to Bedrock City.

If you want to visit the Grand Canyon while in Williams and want to save money by not staying in a hotel, staying at a campground can be the perfect place. Just 20 minutes from the South Rim entrance, everything you need is on-site including a camp store, gift shop, showers, snacks, and coffee.

As you pay your admission fee and enter Bedrock City through the gift shop, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time to this historic comic book landmark. You'll instantly feel a wave of nostalgia as you walk through the streets of The Flintstones, a 1970s city inspired by the popular 1960s cartoon.

Expect to spend at least an hour exploring the grounds. The experience is fully immersive, allowing visitors to walk through the different homes and shops they once saw on TV.

My favorite part is the goat sticking its head out at the goatsaurus feeding area and sliding down the giant dinosaur slide.

For more information, please visit: raptor-ranch.com/attractions/bedrock-city.

Third stop: Canyon Coaster Adventure Park

If I had more time, I could have spent hours here! We only experienced the Canyon Coaster, but depending on when you visit, there is mountain tubing in the summer and snow tubing in the winter. Tubing prices vary, but the Canyon Coaster was $20 per person per ride.

The Canyon Coaster is 30 minutes from Bedrock City and just a few minutes from Bearizona, so it doesn't matter which one you go to first. We wanted to finish the furthest thing first, so after exploring Bedrock, we drove to the adventure park at 700 East Route 66 in Williams.

The Canyon Coaster has been on my bucket list for quite some time and it did not disappoint. The coaster goes much faster than you think, so listen to the staff tell you to make sure all zippers are closed and secure before you start your journey up the mountain.

This coaster lets you feel the adrenaline rush as you zip around the mile-long Alpine coaster while being surrounded by William's beautiful mountain scenery.

If you're concerned about speed, you can pull the brake to slow down when navigating “steep downhills, downhills, winding roads, hairpin turns, and 360-degree corkscrews.”

When you come to Williams, don't miss Arizona's first and only mountain coaster.

For more information, please visit: canyoncoasteradventurepark.com.

Stop 4: Mother Road cars

Located at 341 W. Route 66 in Williams, the collection features vintage cars, souvenirs, a gift shop and cowboy reenactments. Located less than a mile from Canyon Coaster Adventure Park, Cars of the Mother Road offers plenty of photo opportunities.

Look out for live-action remakes of two famous characters from Pixar's Cars: Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater.

For more information, please visit: facebook.com/CarsofttheMotherRoad.

After visiting all these spots, we began our trek back to Phoenix. What I loved about this road trip was how different each spot was. Each location has its own unique experience and shows just how much Williams has to offer.