Anyone been to the Grand Canyon?

[chelsea&austinsmom]

We are looking to go to the Grand Canyon sometime in April. Has anyone been there and can recommend a nice and reasonable hotel in the area. What shouldn't we miss doing while we are there?

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

I have a piece of the gran Canyon on my frodge. when my father and mother went they got a few pieces that were brocken off and put a magnet on the back and viola, instant fridge magent with meaning

 

[Pam]

We were there about 6 years ago - in Jan. or Feb. It's very beautiful. We stayed at a hotel and then took the train ride up to the Grand Canyon and stayed at one of the hotels right at the Canyon.

I am sorry that I don't remember the names - but it was all booked through the Grand Canyon Railway, including the hotel stay before and after the trip to the Canyon.

The Northern Rim is closed during the winter but I hear it's beautiful - if it's open, don't miss it. In our package deal, we had the tour bus gig, which was very nice. We also did several hikes and walked part of the way down the Blue Angel Trail. If you have time and firm buttocks, I hear the burro ride is great - we didn't have the time (and I personally didn't have Buns of Steel!)

 

[disneychrista]

I was planning an April trip but it got turned into a Disneyland trip instead. This will be the second time I have planned to go to the GC that it has been postponed. Maybe one of these day's we will get there.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Most of the hotels in Grand Canyon park are operated by the Park Service. If you stay in Grand Canyon City, I believe there are a few name brand motels (Best Western, Holiday Inn Express), but I can't remember. Depending on when you go, you may have to park your car and take the bus to the rim. There are a lot of stops, so you can see tons. If you can get up to see the sun rise and stay for the sun set, it is amazing. The lodges inside the park are beautiful, but the canyon itself, there is no real way to describe it. It is so big, and just awe inspiring.

There is an IMAX in GCC, it used to show the story of the exploration of the canyon, it is a good history. There isn't anything else there, a few shops in the park, the people who live there don't want to see the natural beauty ruined by development. If you make reservations well ahead of time, (think Cindy's, but 6 months to a year out) you can ride a mule to the bottom. If you are not an experienced hiker, don't try to hike the canyon, it is a full day down and back, and many people have to be rescued, because they don't realize how hard it is. In the summer, it is hotter at the bottom, up to 110 or more, and you are at about 4000 feet at the top. It is a really beautiful place, about 5 hours drive from Phoenix. A lot of people do helicopter toursa either from GCC or Vegas. THe train that goes to the canyon starts in Williams, AZ. You stay in WIlliams overnight at a historic hotel, then go the next day. They have varying packages, do a search on the WEB, you should be able to find some info. If you would like, you can PM me your address, I can get a few tourist brocures from the rack at work and mail them to you.

I have lived here since 1995, and went there only once, after Thanksgiving while the South Rim was still open, it was cold, and we saw a lot of mule deer and few other people. I need to drag DH there, he still hasn't seen it.

 

[RNMOM]

We were there in the summer of '00. DS#1 didn't want to go see "a big hole in the ground". He came away awestruck. It is now one of his favorite places.

As far as hotels, there is the Yavapai and Thunderbird lodges right on the ridge that are very comfortable and hotel like. There is also a beautiful lodge that escapes me right now. They have some funny arrangements there due to the age of the place and fire codes. There is also a group of cabins a little farther away called the Maswik lodge. It is nice and rustic but comfortable. Also there are some cabins on the ridge my sis stayed in and liked. You should look for the official site and they have ways of checking availability.

I understand you can no longer drive to the edge but they have a large parking area and busses. It was challenging to drive around there in summer.

Have a great trip.

 

[BobBrazeal]

The beautiful lodge to which RNMOM refers is the El Tovar. Very hard to get reservations there.

I second the idea of trying to get to the North Rim. It is closed to all car traffic for about 6 months out of the year due to snow. The North Rim is on average about 8000 feet elevation and the South Rim is about 7000 feet average elevation.

Standing on the South Rim, the North Rim is from 8 to 12 miles away. However, by car, it is over 200 miles to get there. Just keep that in mind. Also depends on the direction from which you are approaching.

I love the North Rim and think that it is well worth the trip. The scenery between the two is beautiful and like nothing you've ever seen before. Far fewer people visit the North Rim so it is much more peaceful. I personally think the views from the North Rim are much nicer.

Here is the Grand Canyon National Park web site.

Looks like the North Rim won't open for your trip. Site says mid-May.

 

[Sherlee]

We were just there in August and it is unbelieveable! We stayed at the El Tovar. It is very beautiful, but I would not stay there again due to the cost to stay and to eat there. Had I done a little more research, I would have stayed one of the lesser priced lodges right on the south rim: Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, or Bright Angel Lodge. It is undescribable to get up early in the morning and watch the sunrise over the canyon right outside of your hotel! The reservations phone number for all of the Grand Canyon lodges is 303-297-2757 and website is:

www.xanterra.com

There is a wonderful transportation system to get you all around the park and main sites. Here is the Grand Canyon National Park website:

www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

We did several of the naturalist programs that were very interesting and informative. THere are a few children's programs, too, that we did with our 7 year old. We also drove the Desert View Drive about half an hour (?) east to Desert View. It is a beautiful drive with several pull over stops and then at Desert View, there is a tower you can climb and the views from the top are unreal. It is also amazing to see how the canyon changes from there to the main tourist area. Even the color of the Colorado River is different. Have a great trip!

 

[JESW]

Sorry, I don't have any help to post. I just wanted to say that I hope you have a great time! The Grand Canyon is the only place I want to see - so far. When DD4 is a little bit older I would love to take that trip.

Jill

P.S. I still remember the Brady Bunch episode when they went there!

 

[Pam]

Thanks, Marsha for the memory jolt!

We stayed at the historic hotel in Williams and then got the train to the grand Canyon. The train ride was great - with a surprise twist on the ride home! We stayed at the Thunderbird Lodge at the Canyon.

 

[chelsea&austinsmom]

Thanks everyone for all your replies. I'll be looking into all you mention. I'll keep you posted.