The Grand Canyon could be the best vacation destination in the Southwest. If you ever considered a visit to the southwestern United States, you may have been looking for tourist information about Phoenix or Las Vegas or Flagstaff, but the insiders advice is to go to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon National Park is the ultimate destination for appreciating the raw power and beauty of our planet. The park includes trails along the rim of the Grand Canyon and trails to descend to the canyon floor where the mighty Colorado River is constantly digging deeper into the sweet earth. Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon, you can feel small and insignificant against the grandure around you, but you can also feel the canyon welcoming you into her ancient secrets.
When visiting Grand Canyon National Park, insiders know they must make advance reservations for lodging at the park's several lodges and hotels. Even in the off-peak seasons, park lodging fills up fast, but you are likely to find rooms available if you call a day or two in advance. A variety of restaurants are available on the south rim. Insiders tend to go to the big cafeterias which always have a wide variety of fresh and delicious selections.
Sometimes a section of the park may be closed for maintenance. Don't worry - the Grand Canyon National Park is so huge that you will always have plenty of it to explore. Insiders always remember to bring their best camera. You can't stop taking pictures here! Check with the information desks at the lodges or at the Grand Canyon visitors center to get a directory of daily activities. There are a variety of hikes, tours, and nature presentations all day long. After dark, you can often enjoy musical entertainment, slideshows, and fireside ranger talks. A system of free shuttle buses run all the time along the south rim, so hop on and leave the driving to them.
Every American should visit the Grand Canyon at least once. You'll meet visitors from all over the globe, too, because this is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world!