Planning a Grand Canyon trip. Have questions...

[ChefBilly]

My DW's dream vacation is to the Grand Canyon. (Why can't Epcot have an Arizona pavilion? ;-)

My question is this:
I realize that seeing the canyon is going to be great. But what else is there to do?
How many days do you set aside for Canyon viewing?
Have you done the mule trip? Would you recommend it?
Is this something always tied in to a Vegas trip?
Is Vegas the closest airport?

I'm just looking for some guidance/advice.
I haven't really done too much research yet. I'm just starting to take a look at what's online and I figured I'd ask you guys.

If you've been there, what did you do?

 

[Sherlee]

We went last summer and it was great! We flew in/out of Phoenix. I think it is about a 4-5 hour drive, but we did alot of stopping. We spent two nights/three days at the Grand Canyon at the El Tovar Lodge on the South Rim. There are three lodges on the South Rim and I highly recommend staying there if you can. We made our reservations in March for an August trip. I think the mule trip reservations need to be made 6-12 months in advance, they fill up quickly. We spent a full day riding the rim tour transportation just visiting the various stops along the route. We also participated in three of the ranger programs. I think these are way overlooked by visitors and it's too bad - they were so interesting! On the way up or down, I would also stop in Sedona and spend a day or two. There are also several ancient Native American sites to visit and explore. You do not have to tie it in to Vegas, Phoenix worked just fine for us.

 

[nancyj_pa]

We went as a side trip when we stayed in Vegas. The hotel provided info and we flew in a small plane to the Grand Canyon. Then we took a bus tour around the rim with stops in quite a few places. It was spectacular and well worth the cost (it was many years ago and I don't remember how much). We only wished we had made reservations for the mule ride. They told us they're booked a year in advance.

 

[gshoemate]

I believe there is white water rafting down the grand canyon. We camped in a little town south of the canyon (can not remember the name of it) but they had a really good steakhouse and there was also an IMAX theatre. And you can take a helicopter ride over the canyon, we did this and it was a great view.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Don't do what I did and sit on a cactus trying to get a really good picture. Watch where you walk you may get some great pictures of a tarantula. Just enjoy the view!