Grand Canyon Vacation ..... Info needed

Hidalgo

Hidalgo

Well-known member
The wife is wanting to start planning a vacation to the Grand Canyon. We want great lodging (not looking for actual lodging suggestions, just areas/cities), and some "other" things to do as a family.

OK you AZ guys.....what city to stay in within a reasonable drive of the Canyon? Other alternatives for leisure time & exploring?

We're going late July, early August (yeah...I know it'll be HOT) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

Thanks! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Steve.
 
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Steve,

It's been 20+ years since I was out there, but on the South Rim, (I think it's run by the National Park Service) there is a lodge/restaurant and several very nice cabins. All are right on the edge of the canyon and offer some fantastic scenery as well as a 'jumping off point' for other activities... Mule rides down into the canyon, walks if you don't mind the climb back to the top, etc..

The North Rim (in Utah) has some spectacular scenery as well, just not many places to stay in close proximity (at least at the time I was out there.) and I don't remember many extra activities in the area..
 
Thanks Bill! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

We were looking at possibly Flagstaff, had looked at Sedona but it's a long way away from The Canyon. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif I don't think we are going to try to get lodging "close" to there, just within a reasonable drive and make a couple of day trips. Our 13-yr-old will get bored with looking into a ditch more than a couple of days, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif so we're also looking for other alternatives for varied things to do in the area.
 
There is Crater national Park along the way.Petrified national forest along the way. We spent I think 4 days camping on the South rim With a 13 year old boy and he stayed entertained .The Grand Canyo is amazing it is a whole lot more than a hole in the /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gifground ,Like i thought it would be.I would Suggest you take a arial flight thru the canyon fairly cheap and well worth it ,Anyways hope you enjoy your trip.
 
Another vote for staying at the South Rim and then driving to where ever you want from there.

Personally I like the Bright Angel Lodge. You can actually get a room without a TV, yeah I know, it's great. Makes you get out and see things and wander around the main strip a little. I don't think getting bored will be a problem. You can spend a full day driving to the different overlooks of the canyon, then hike down and up the canyon another day, etc...

Mule Deer wander in the right of way right outside the lodge, along with Rams up and down the road. Right next door to the lodge you can enjoy one of the Greatest Ribeyes ever cooked. Take a scenic drive south to see some Antelope or go down to Sedona and possibly see some Elk out wandering around.

Good Luck.
 
Not knocking the Meteor Crater, but Nikonut and I visited it when were coming back from the Globe Hunt last year and IMHO it is the normal tourist trap (privately owned) and while somewhat educational, a little on the expensive side for the tour. Just my $0.02, but then I'm a little on the cheap side.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif and feeling guilty about all the times my parents 'just had to buy' some of the junk I wanted when we were on a trip.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

We did find a great little family restaurant in Winslow, AZ, right on the NW corner of Navajo Blvd and Old Rt 66 (Florida Ave.)... Food was great and a lot of history preserved by the original family owners... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
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My wife and I stayed on the south rim about four days back in 1995 and had a great time. One of those days we rode a bus up to Glen Canyon dam and floated from Page, Arizona down to Lees Ferry. This is the smooth water section of the Colorado River and it was a really good time. The company running the service provides drinks and a really good lunch on the river bank.

Don't discount going up into southern Utah. Same trip my wife and I spent two days in Zion National Park and wished we would have spent a couple more.
 
If you can scrounge up enough money I would reccomend a helicopter flight. Two of the best company's are Papillion helicopters and Maverick. They both fly out of the South rim. It can get kinda pricey depending on what tour you do but it is well worth it. Just a heads up Maverick has more comfy helicopters and the pilots narrate the whole flight. Papillion pilots just put in a cd and fly the helicopter. Also just google those two companies and you can get pricing and schedule your tour. If you dont you might not have a chance.
 
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Helipilotm, I've had a Private Pilot license since 1972......

Hasn't anyone ever told you that helicopters CAN'T FLY ?!?!?! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

They simply beat the air into submission, as you well know. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Seriously, thanks for the head's up. Sounds like the ONLY way to go......if I can talk the wife into it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
the national forest land south of the park has some of the finest elk bulls in the country. You might like driving some of the back roads to see some. Williams has several motels and would be a good choice to stay at. If you get south of Williams you might want to take a tour of Prescott.
 
Contrary to an earlier post, the north rim is in Arizona. The south rim is beautiful and touristy. The north rim is a little bit less accessible and really nice. Either way, Flagstaff is a good base for operations. You might consider Williams. The old hotels at the canyon are charming, beautiful and expensive. I've been to the south rim 4-5 times, the north rim twice. Both times at the north rim, we camped.

Be sure to make reservations early as you'll be competing with bus loads of Japaneese tourists.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

BTW, you may want to check out the new platform that walks into space out over the canyon. Its on the south side to the west of park on Indian land. It just opened this year and I think you can find it on the internet.
 
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Helipilotm, I've had a Private Pilot license since 1972......



Yes so you should know that...

Fairys use runaways /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
And real pilots use helipads /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Let me know if you do decide to go with maverick as I have a friend who flys for them on the south rim. He is a lead pilot down there and we might be able to work a little discount out he owes me. Its not much of a discount but every little bit helps.
 
I like Flagstaff, nice town. I did the Grand Canyon thing 2 years ago, it was fantastic! You can hike(or mule ride /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif) to the bottom and camp out, come back up the next day. Sedona was beautiful too, nice country all around. Meteor Creator was pricey, but pretty cool to see, man that is one big hole in the ground. You should plan a loop up thru Zion, on to Moab for some rock climbing in the family vehicle, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif then a trip thru the Rockies on the way home.
 
Hey Hildago, you could even cut the canyon short and drive another 6 hours, tell the wife you're taking her to Palm Springs and I'll come get you in the mornings, make a couple stands and have you back in time to hit the pool at one of the spas.
 
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The North Rim (in Utah) has some spectacular scenery as well, just not many places to stay in close proximity (at least at the time I was out there.) and I don't remember many extra activities in the area..



Not unless they moved our border south about 60 miles or so.

I would spend a day or two at Lake Powell! It is the most beautiful lake in the Union. IMHO. Rent a fishing boat and go exploring/fishing (great Stipers and SM bass) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif. Be warned though, if you go once, you will always want to go back. That place gets in your blood. Zions NP, Bryce Canyon NP are also great places to see.

Have a great time, and take lots of photos
 
Flagstaff offer's more choices for places to stay. Williams, Valle, Cameron, Tusayan, all have hotels, although not as much and are withen driving distant. You should be able to camp on National forest that time of the year if there are no restrictions. The North Rim would be nice to visit that time of year. Grand Canyon Taveran's, Lee's Ferry, Lake Powell, southern Utah, don't forget Monument Valley, Canyon DeChelly national monument, the Four Corners, old Trading post withen the Navajo Nation. Plenty to do and see.
Gilbert
 
Feed the family before you go to Tusayan. The food prices are outrageous. Even the McDonalds changes a fortune. They used to give out sheets of paper trying to explain why they charged such high prices.
 
Stay in Williams and go from there.
Traffic into the park is awful
so you could take the train in and out and enjoy the the whole trip.
Plenty to see around there out of Williams.
 
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