Helicopter Tours

Grand Canyon National Park: Yavapai Lodge: Great place to get away from the madding crowd

2005-06-29T18:03:00.000-07:00

Just pent 3 nights at Yavapai 06 May, and couldn't really fault it. The room was spotlessly clean, and the service was great. Only ate at the coffee shop once - it was quite adequate.
Ate most meals at Bright Angel, where the food was good and reasonably priced.
I would highly recommend doing the Xanterra tours if you are staying there. We did 2 tours for US$35 per person - 2 hour Desert View bus tour, then a 4 hour Hermits Rest tour. Both are excellent, and the drivers are full of all sorts on facts about the Grand Canyon. (Just book at hotel tour desk.) It is certainly easier than driving and trying to find a parking space!

I had never been to the Grand Canyon before, and it is true - you cannot put into words what it is really like. I would definitely recommend staying at Yavapai for its location - it is far enough away from the rim to be quiet, but close enough to walk. Much better than staying outside the park itself, in my opinion.
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Natures best at its best - Grand Canyon

2005-06-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

Incurably addicted to Nature? My husband and I are, and so we took a bus tour from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon and it was totally worth it. The bus tour costed us 75 per head (I heard sometimes its more .. sometimes we can get better deals). Bus picked us up from our hotel - Stratosphere (good rooms and attractions but we lost on all slot machines there!!) at 7 AM.. we stopped at other hotels and picked up the rest. It was a diverse crowd and the bus tour guide being so funny had all of us talking and interacting with each other in minutes.

Our first halt was at the Hoover Dam and the drive from there was in anticipation of whats instore at the Grand Canyon Village.
We reached the magnificient Grand Canyon. Its a totally unimaginable place. Grand Canyon is an erosional feature that owes its existence to the Colorado River. If we choose to walk - which all us of did, it was a total of 2.3 miles walk along the rim.

The view, the walk along the rim, the serenity, the breeze, the colours of the rocks, the vastness, the height, the look of nature, the sunshine on the Canyon, the old trees and woods which depicts mother nature, I think I could go on and on about the spectacular Grand Canyon.

How many of you go to Vegas and miss this trip to the Grand Canyon - I just have one thing to say - You will believe the beauty and feel the serenity when you see the place.

Go Grand Canyon!!

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Deep In The Grand Canyon

2005-06-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

The walls whisper of billions of years, the rapids roar like thunder, and time drifts by as endlessly as the Colorado River flowing...

At first I mistake the noise for the sound of my own heart hurling itself against the bars of my rib cage as boatman Jan Yost maneuvers us toward the lip of the rapid. But then I hear it againclouder, closer, and directly overhead. Thunder.

Perfect. Here we are drifting toward Lava Falls, the largest rapid in the Grand Canyon, a spot where the entire Colorado River is churned into chaos, and even the sky above is about to go wild. I chuckle at the theatrical melodrama of it all: wind blowing in strange gusts, clouds swirling with rain, canyon walls cloaked in gray. "Now," I think to myself, "if only we had some of that jagged horror-movie lightning."

A lightning bolt cracks across the sky.

No rapid in the world is the subject of more campfire stories than fabled Lava Falls. Cutting through an ancient lava flow, it is a jumble of massive waves and roiling currents where the river drops 37 feet in a few hundred yards. It has been called the fastest navigable white-water rapid in North America.

The roar of the rapid sweeps our voices away. We have to shout to be heard. The sky above, the river below, and the dories in between. There is a gust of wind and the feel of the dory dropping down the first wave as if falling into an elevator shaft....

To most of its five million visitors a year, Grand Canyon National Park means breathtaking vistas, postcard views of imponderable reaches. Even without the Hollywood-style special effects, it is one of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet—277 miles long, 10 miles across, over a mile deep. Step to the edge and your sense of scale shatters like glass. Whole mountain ranges could be hidden down there. Set the Empire State Building in the sand on the canyon floor and its roof would barely peek out of the inner gorge.

The spectacle of all that space, of cliffs plunging a thousand vertical feet, of nothing between you and eternity but thin air shot through with golden light, can, for some, teeter on that fine line between wonder and terror. Visitors have been known to recoil with fright at their first glimpse. Several years ago, a German woman took one look over the edge and fainted, falling to her death over the rim. Four days later, a man from Japan was similarly overcome and toppled in.

For most, the view is less fatal but no less inspiring. It moves some to song, some to silence, and some to wedding vows. The sight of the Grand Canyon from the rim is, as one early explorer wrote, quite simply "the most sublime spectacle in nature."

But there is another side to the Grand Canyon, one barely imagined in those guardrailed views from the rim. It is a world where you can run your hand over billion-year-old rocks, where the rapids roar like thunder and fern-draped side canyons echo with a silence so deep you can hear your own heartbeat. That world lies in the blue-green ribbon shimmering thousands of feet below the rim: the Colorado River.

"Everybody ready?" asks head boatman, chuck wales, as he shoves his boat, the Toroweap, off the gravel bar and into the river. We float almost motionless for a moment, the turquoise blue of the hull shimmering on the water, before we catch the current and move downstream. Three other boats fall in line behind, each one floating quietly in the pool of its own brightly colored reflection.

My wife, Jill, and I have joined 13 other passengers and six crew members for a 14-day journey down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In 1869, John Wesley Powell and his men—with a few bags of moldy flour and a large sack of coffee—became the first to complete this journey, filling in one of the last great blank spots on the American map.

Now, 23,000 people a year run the river. That's not all that will be different. We'll have steaks on the grill, ice for our drinks. And the wild, silt-bristled Colorado River has been tamed, a bit, by Glen Canyon Dam. Still, a float trip through the canyon is one of the great American adventures. Thoughts of dams vanish like mist at the first tug of the current, or at the sound of the first white-water rapid.

"Badger Rapid?" Jill half asks, half tells me, as we hear a rising rumble near Mile 8. We check the straps on our life jackets, tighten the strings on our sunglasses, and reach for the handholds.

You can run the river in 40-foot motorized boats, or in smaller, oar-powered rubber rafts that wallop and bend their way through the rapids. But we have chosen dories for exactly this kind of moment. "A perfect craft for the canyon," says Derald Stewart, a dory builder and boatman who is rowing the Temple Butte just ahead of us. "Buoyant, quick, and. . . ." The bow of his boat dips into the rapid, slides down the slick, tonguelike first wave, and then rises, twisting slightly like a bubble caught in a crosswind, straightens, and curls down the other side. . . graceful."

We turn to watch the other two dories bounce through the rapid—the maroon Redwall and the black Muav. They are craft of ancient lines: 18 feet long, flat-bottomed, flared out widely amidships, and swept up on both ends like a quarter moon. They seem to leap through the white water. Every wave, every pirouette of current, touches them, brings them to life. It is the motion...of dance. Exactly. The dories are dancing with the waves.

In the first days, there are only a few dances. Although there are over 160 rapids in the Grand Canyon—and some of the largest in the world—most of the big ones come later, in the lower canyon. Here, the boats drift quietly, moving easily beneath the slow parade of canyon walls.

Unlike the all-at-once views from the rim, the river-level views of the canyon are revealed one cliff face, one bend, at a time. It is a poetic way to see this landscape, each layer cut by the river a verse in the poetry of stone. It becomes a chant: Kaibab Limestone, Toroweap, Coconino Sandstone, Hermit Shale, Supai, Redwall, and down and down, as though we are sliding into the center of the earth. A river flowing backward in time.

We pass a side canyon where 300-million-year-old sea creatures called nautiloids swim fossilized in rock. We drift beneath cliff walls wavy with the lines of a riverbed turned to stone 400 million years ago. There are places in the canyon where the width of your hand can encompass nearly a billion years of geologic time. "Kind of makes our 70 years here on earth seem insignificant, doesn't it?" I once heard a passenger say. "Or precious," the boatman answered. "Or precious."

Every bend yields something new. At Vaseys Paradise, a snow white fountain of springwater appears out of solid rock. Near Mile 50 I hike alone into a small grotto so silent I can hear my pulse—the red river flowing in my own veins. Once, we float up silently on a herd of bighorn sheep: seven ewes and two rams half hidden in the brush. In the stillness, we can hear the clicking of teeth as one of the ewes bites at an itch on its flank.

The dizzying cliffs and stifling heat can make the Grand Canyon seem a lifeless place, an empty stone house. At Unkar Delta near Mile 72, on a broad flat where the walls peel back a bit, letting in more light, lies the largest archaeological site in the canyon. From about 950 until 1150 A.D., when they were driven out of the canyon by drought, a group of Anasazi families lived on this spot, growing corn, hunting mule deer, and making pottery.

Other cultures have left pictographs, a few small granaries, graceful split-twig figurines sprinkled throughout the canyon. But it is the pottery at Unkar Delta that seems to echo the most. The ground sparkles with shards—sunset red, gray as fog, pinched clay braids, and the famous black-on-white pattern. Picking them up is like holding a chip of time in the palm of your hand. "The Anasazi potters have always inspired me," says Jan Yost, an artist herself. "Here they were eking out an existence, and yet art was still so important to them that they spent precious extra hours just to make something beautiful." How could they not, I think to myself, setting the shard back among the stones, with so much beauty all around them?

Dawn. the sun's first light has just now brushed itself across the desert sky, turning it a soft, watery blue that will last only a few hours before the heat of the day. At this early hour, the canyon walls seem to lean in to stare at themselves in the river, their reflections swirling the water with ribbons of gold and orange and red. There is a canyon wren singing, its song skipping down the scale like pebbles sprinkled down a cliff face. The notes add music to a morning breeze already tinged with the aroma of brewing coffee and the soft scent of sage.

But there is more on the breeze than the smells of breakfast. There is an edge of tension. By Mile 93, the openness of the upper canyon is gone. The walls have closed in, gone dark with rock as old as time itself. At 1.7 billion years old, Vishnu schist is some of the oldest rock on the planet. The earth's bones. It squeezes the river tight. The shadows seem to swallow the light. The air rumbles with the sound of rapids.

We have entered the Inner Gorge, the dark heart of the canyon. It is, as boatman Amy Wiley calls it, "the land of the giants." Here are the rapids the Grand Canyon is famous for—Horn Creek, Granite, Hermit, Crystal. Granite lies just downstream, close enough to have rumbled all night in our dreams.

Packing goes slower today. People check and recheck their gear. The air seems heavy, and it is harder to breathe. We are about to put ourselves into the maw of the Colorado River's power, into the very strength that has carved this canyon. To ease the tension, all the boatmen have slipped into black shorts—Vishnu shorts they call them, in parody of the rock that creates the Inner Gorge. Despite the humor, they take this stretch of river very seriously.

After a long scout, with Derald sketching the rapids in the sand to be sure of the route, all the boats run Granite safely. We relax a bit. Still, as the boatmen like to say, "Events occur." This time, they occur in Hermit Rapid. The Temple Butte slides down the fourth of seven mountainous waves, lines up for the fifth in perfect position, and then is upside-down. Just like that. As quick as slapping a mosquito. From downstream, we hear a shout, "They're over!" It is a sunny morning, already hot, but the water is frigid. A long swim can be dangerous. Two passengers come floating downstream. Kristi Washburn is wide-eyed but gives the thumbs-up sign when I yell to her. Ed Smith swims up snapping photographs with his waterproof camera.

With help, Derald rights the boat, the buoyant dory rolling back up easily, collects his remaining passenger, and floats down to a beach where we stop to regroup. The adrenaline is coursing like electric current. Everyone is talking. "I've never felt so helpless in all my life," Ed says, still shaking with cold and with the enormity of what he was moments ago afloat in. "That river did whatever it wanted with me."

No one is hurt. Nothing important is lost. Within a few minutes we are back on the water, running a whole string of rapids—Boucher and Crystal, some of "the Gems"—without incident. "There are just two kinds of boatmen in the Grand Canyon," an old river saying goes, "Those who have flipped and those who are going to." Later that night, sitting in the boats, drinking beer and retelling the story, Derald takes me aside and whispers "Jeff, if you put that in your article, just make sure and say I hit it square." So...he hit it square.

The Grand Canyon is not a single gash. Hundreds of smaller side canyons cut their way to the main canyon, slicing their own depths through the rock, each one a beautiful brushstroke in stone. After a day in the big rapids, the river slows for a few days, giving us time to relax and explore. At Shinumo Creek we wade through jade green water to slide like river otters down a small waterfall on our bellies. At Matkatamiba, we create "butt dams" by sitting close together in the narrow creek to back up the water, and then jump up, racing the mini flash floods downstream. We take a whole day to wander the blue-green paradise of Havasu Canyon.

It is a world unimaginable from the rim—the sensuous swirls of rock, monkeyflowers tickling your calves, drops of water like dew on your face. If it was the power of water that created the Grand Canyon, it is its artistry that makes it beautiful. Deep in Havasu Canyon the rest of the world seems distant.

It is a calm before the storm. Near Mile 175, the nervousness among the guides returns. We are nearing Lava Falls. Forty-foot motor rigs have been flipped here, dories tossed end for end. Once, when I rowed my father through on a trip 14 years ago, he shook my hand four times below this rapid and said, "That's the most exciting thing in my life since I met your mother."

The guides scout for a long time, standing atop the black boulders pointing at the waves. The roar of the rapid is deafening. Jan stretches to limber up. Derald winds and rewinds the tape over a blistered finger.

The guides are back in the boats, and suddenly there is water everywhere—waves breaking over us like white mountains, sheets of rain hammering the dories. Thunder like rocks rolling in the sky; rocks rolling like thunder in the river.

"ABL!" I hear Chuck yell as we are shot out into the quiet water below. "Alive Below Lava." As the last of the boats comes safely through the waves, the sun breaks out as if on cue.

"The world looks different below Lava," Chuck says as our two boats float close together. "It always does." With the big rapids behind us now, we drift in the current hardly dipping the oars, searching for bighorn in the cliffs. We soak each other in water fights with the bailing buckets to beat the heat and work on our campfire stories for the last night.

Thinking about what stories I will tell, I remember watching Jan sketching in a dory, Amy scrambling among the rocks to photograph the star-burst pattern of an agave plant. Each of us, in our own way, tries to capture a piece of a place like the Grand Canyon, something to carry away with us. Yet, is there a color on the palette for the softness of the sand in the morning? Or an f-stop for the taste, like iron, of fear in your mouth standing above a rapid?

For all the photographs and paintings, for all the words we write, the canyon remains just beyond the reach of our imaginations, ungraspable in its entirety. We take our memories, like a pocketful of colorful threads, and weave our own view of it as best we can.

Our final camp is on a small crescent of beach just above Mile 237 Rapid. Below, where the river goes still with the fat fingers of Lake Mead, a motorboat will meet us tomorrow and speed us back to a bus bound for Las Vegas. For now though, there are toasts to be made, stories to tell long after dark, sitting in the warm sand. And tomorrow, one final rapid to run. This time there are no Hollywood theatrics, no sky-splitting bolts of lightning. There are just soft shafts of sunlight draped across the canyon walls, the song of a canyon wren mixing with the roar of the rapid. And one last time, the dories dancing. It is enough. It is more than enough.

The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published, but we suggest you confirm all details before making travel plans

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You should not go to the Grand Canyon without a meal at the El Tovar!

2005-06-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

The El Tovar is by far one of the best restaurants we have ever been to! If you are not a guest at the hotel, you can make reservations 30 days ahead of time, which we did. The building is beautiful with much interesting history. The dining room has some great views and the dining was an experience in luxury. I had the duck, which was unsurpassed in flavor, my husband had the trout and he said he had never had better trout, and my daughter had the brucettia for supper. It was all delicious. The prices were lower than if I had the same meal in Atlanta, and the service was the best.

The El Tovar is hailed as the parks finest restaurant and it certainly lives up to its name. The ambiance of the restaurant probably has not changed since the hotel was first opened 100 years ago. It has a rustic and natural feel that compliments the park's landscape. The service was good but what really suprised me was the food. My girlfriend and I ordered steak and it was definitely the best steak I have ever had. My hats off to the chef from NY who cooked up the meal. Don't get too excited about Canyon views though, only a handful of tables face out the window. However, I would certainly recommend eating at the El Tovar when staying at the park.

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Where do you start with highlights in Las Vegas?

2005-06-02T22:39:00.000-07:00

Where do you start with highlights in Las Vegas? Race for Atlantis is a must do at Ceasar’s Palace, Star Trek - The Experience is another not to miss. For sheer wonder, go to Freemont Street at night and see the spectacular light show. Go on a helicopter ride over the city at night.

Probably the easiest highlight to tackle is simply to wander down the Strip at night and look at all the hotels in their glory. Quick Tips/Suggestions:

Drink plenty of water while walking about, it is very hot in Vegas and you dehydrate very quickly.

Try to visit as many hotels as possible, they are attractions in their own right. Best Way to Get Around:

Walking is the best way of getting around, although if you need to go from one end of the Strip to the other, a taxi is probably a better idea. There are also moving walkways operating between many of the hotels, just hop on and let the path do the walking. Shuttle buses also operate up and down the Strip. If you plan to go further, then the car is the only viable option.

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Comprehensive Guide To Las Vegas

2005-04-26T00:15:00.000-07:00

I have been long-haul on British Airways, and can tell you that the services and facilities – eg, leg room, space, food, in-flight movies etc – do not differ greatly. Nonetheless, I do give a lot of credit to Virgin Atlantic for an easy, stress-free flight. Although the space in the economy seating – what do you expect, I’m not willing to pay £8000 to sit in first class - was limited (I am about 6”1’), I still had free movement and enough space to sit comfortably for 10 hours. The service from the stewards was top-rate, and we were continually offered free drinks. I can not remember what I had to eat on the flight, but we had two meals per flight, as well as snacks, all of which I found reasonable – do not believe the harsh stereotypes of disgusting aeroplane food (unless you are flying with EasyJet I suppose.) In-flight entertainment was excellent, with a choice of 9 or so movies to keep me entertained, as well as music. All the movies are updated monthly, as to keep it up to date, so you will not be watching any films that have been out more than a couple of months.
and I feel more beautiful.

It should be noted that there are many stop over flights, which enable you to visit other parts of America such as San Francisco. However, this is time consuming, and if you are only really going to see LV, it is definitely worth flying direct.

After the flight, we nipped into a taxi which drove us to our hotel in a couple of minutes. As the strip is fairly modern, the first hotel being erected just after WWII, everything is built together efficiently and effectively, so no long distance journeys from destination to destination. One thing to say about the taxis is to ask the driver lots of questions. A small percentage of the time, they can be a bit grumpy and impatient, but many have a tremendous and fascinating local knowledge of the area. I gained a lot of information about LV’s history, as well as ideas and places to visit.

Nonetheless, the taxis are fairly expensive – all running on the same meter due to a number of businesses owning the whole ‘taxi industry’ in LV – and I would suggest the bus. The buses run almost constantly up and down the strip, though if time is limited (which it probably is as there is so much to see) it may be worth spending a few extra dollars on a taxi.

However, walking the strip is what I would recommend the most, especially on warm, pleasant days. Although the strip is 4 miles long, and it wouldn’t be too wise to walk it all, walking enables you to stop and look in shops, cafes, restaurants or hotels at your own leisure. There are monorails joining some hotels, which is an easier way to travel – free and direct. However, they are very limited, and I would only recommend using the one linking the Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

ACCOMODATION

We stayed in the Excalibur, in the southern end of the strip. The room was fairly standard – bed, air con, table, sofa, television etc. However, this really isn’t important at all, for the simple reason that you spend such little time in your room. As this was our first visit, we weren’t quite sure where to stay, but the Excalibur is a lively, relatively cheap option. I would also recommend Circus Circus as one of the cheapest options, but it is more family orientated in the hotel.

Every Hotel has a casino, with literally thousands of various slots, as well as tables for blackjack, roulette and craps (amongst others). In many hotels, there are also poker rooms to compete against fellow gamblers. For the high rollers, there are separate rooms to gamble away thousands at a time – not greatly appealing to me!!! When gambling, free drinks are given, though you often have to wait for a long time to be served by the few waitresses there are covering a huge casino floor.

There are often food courts in the hotels as well, with a few small cafes and restaurants in addition to the usual McDonalds and Pizza Hut. I would urge everyone to visit a buffet at least once during a visit, all of which are fairly cheap.

Lots of hotels have arcades for the U21’s, but most are not as ‘up to date’ as all the information guides say. They are fairly standard, just as you would see in England. I would highly recommend the arcade at Circus Circus. It is huge and also has an indoor theme park with an indoor log flume.

LAS VEGAS WEATHER

Throughout the year, the weather is mainly sunny. I feel it is best to go between March – June, as in the summer months my friend told me it was uncomfortably hot on occasions, and it was best to stay inside with the air condition. In summer, it is also far busier leading to cramped, sweaty conditions in many of the leading hotels.

TIPPING

Though slightly irrelevant at this point, tipping is an important factor in LV. From taxi drivers to blackjack dealers, it is claimed you should “tip everybody.” It is hard to suss out how much you should give, but a couple of dollars per taxi fare should be sufficient, and if receiving a free drink in the casinos, it is customary to leave a one dollar bill.

SHOWS AND ENTERTAINMENT

I can not speak highly enough of “The Tournament of the Kings” at the Excalibur. In a small arena, you are divided into countries cheering on your horseman in jousting and fighting events throughout the evening. The atmosphere is immense, as is the action and drama. This is a really professional show where the actors do really go at each other with their swords, adding to the realism and excitement. Throughout the evening, I had to remind myself we weren’t in the medieval era!!! Served with half a chicken and wedges was fun, having to eat it with your hands – you can see how the atmosphere is set – and the overall meal and entertainment turned out to be great value for money. I got talking to a couple of Americans just before the show who had seen the show no less than 34 times. WARNING – if sitting in the front row, make sure you eat fairly quickly as the horses can kick sand up into your meal.

There are shows throughout the strip with huge stars such as Elton John and Celine Dion. However, performers often change and it is best to research who will be there at the corresponding dates. Huge musical shows as well as sports events are usually held at Caesar’s Palace.

The gondola rides in The Venetian are a must for any romantic couples, serenaded as you travel through a canal inside the hotel. Definitely worth doing, as the scenery is beautiful – sounds a bit strange doesn’t it as you are inside, but the ceiling is painted like the sky and the shops and cafes around are stunning. Be warned though, you often get the feeling you are being stared at by others along the river.

The Stratosphere is another must for everyone visiting LV for the first time. It gives a fantastic view of the strip – a great photo opportunity. It also has the fastest lift in the world, climbing 120 floors in about 20 seconds – apparently going 21mph.

There is quite a number of simulator rides and Imax 3D experiences, some of which are worth visiting. Most are only a few dollars, and quite fun. Obviously these change frequently, so I could not recommend a certain film to you.

There are also a number of free shows which are performed nightly in the overall attempt to gain the upper hand from hotel to hotel. I can recommend a few…

Treasure Island outdoor show – amazing sound, action and fireworks telling a story of enemy pirates. It includes dancing and fighting, as well as a huge moving boat – amazing considering this is all just outside the hotel. (Performed three times per night.)

Exploding volcano – outside the Mirage every fifteen minutes. I was unsatisfied with this spectacle, which lasted around two minutes. Worth seeing though if you are walking past.

Fountain Show – at the Bellagio. Huge jets fire masses of water in time with the music. There are also different demonstrates, so I saw the fantastic fountains about six times in all. Really spectacular.

The Conservatory – inside the Bellagio. Absolutely amazing plants, as well as a real life scene from Monet’s famous paintings. Really worth seeing, along with the famous Italian glass inside the hotel.

The Freemont experience – downtown, to the North of the strip. This is definitely worth seeing, with millions of LED lights giving a daily laser show on the ceiling!!!

M+M world is a huge building dedicated to the wonderful chocolate that is M+M. Interesting.

FOR THE ADVENTUROUS

The Rollercoaster around New York New York is not for the faint-hearted. Apparently, the views are great and you even get to see the strip upside down, but the queues are often long and slow moving.

The stratosphere has a number of rides, including a rollercoaster. There is also a ride that tips you over the edge of the building, as you sit there facing down 120 storeys – not really my cup of tea!!!

EATING AND DRINKING

As I have mentioned, it is definitely worth checking out a buffet or two, but there are a number of other fantastic bars and restaurants. I am only going to mention a few of the ones that stood out for me, because there are numerous restaurants, all serving great food.

Coyote Ugly at New York New York is a lively bar just like in the film, with table top dancing and a wild, party atmosphere.

Eiffel Tower Restaurant at the Paris Hotel is a great restaurant with terrific views, as you suddenly find yourself in France, which I found out is actually in America, not… France?!?!?

The Cheesecake factory is amazing for a light lunch or massive cheesecake – at Caesar’s Palace.

The Terrace Restaurant at the Bellagio is a stylish place to dine, with the additional factor of the magnificent fountains as a show every fifteen minutes.

SHOPPING

There are a fair few shopping centres but I would only recommend the Premium Outlet Centre just North of the strip. It sells clothes at an amazing price, half of what you would expect to pay in England. If you have children or grandchildren, it is definitely worth getting them some clothes, as there is loads of Nike and Adidas items!

For the more lavish shopper, get to the Mall at Caesar’s Palace. It has shops from all the best designers such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and D&G. Quite expensive though, as you can imagine.

There are also masses of souvenirs which are a must, located all along the strip.

GRAND CANYON

It is essential for anybody on a single visit to fly via plane or helicopter over the Hoover dam and around the Grand Canyon. It is safer to book in advance, but you can get great deals from operators on the strip. We flew to Grand Canyon, had BBQ lunch on the rim of Grand Canyon, flew down into basin by Helicopter and went on a boat along the Colorado river and back up in the Helicopter and flew back to Vegas for £150 each. The views are simply breathtaking, and I would love to meet anybody who could put the whole experience into words.

GENERAL LAS VEGAS BOULEVARD

Las Vegas is not simply about gambling. For me, it was more about looking at the overwhelming sites in and around the hotel – here are a few of the fantastic hotels and what they represent…

Luxor – pyramid

Excalibur – medieval castle

Venetian – Venice

Paris – Paris (obviously)

Caesar’s Palace – well you can imagine, absolutely awe-inspiring.

New York New York – fantastic skyline of New York and Statue of Liberty (with memorial to Sep 11.) x

There is also constant building work along the boulevard, meaning rapid growth for LV. In ten years time, I think the Strip will be twice as big and popular as it is now. My prediction is that there will eventually be a “London Hotel” – though I will claim the idea, just think of the possibilities; Houses of Parliament, London Dungeons, London Eye?

MY TIPS AND IDEAS

Plan a basic itinerary before you arrive and list all the things you plan to see, and then tick it off once you have – it is very easy to forget to go somewhere which you will regret later.

Spend time visiting each casino, and collect as many souvenirs as possible – eg money pots, used decks of cards and matches.

Avoid the roads as much as possible – its extremely dangerous crossing seven lane highways – use bridges from hotel to hotel as much as possible.

Avoid travelling on the roads at weekends; it becomes extremely congested at times.

When checking out at the airport, especially terminal two at the McCarren airport, it is worth checking in your bags as early as possible (usually around four hours before boarding) and then getting a taxi to the Hard Rock Hotel/Cafe for lunch - just off the strip by the airport. This means you waste minimal time waiting around at the airport, and the hotel has a huge variety of memorabilia which is worth seeing.***

Watch out for any fashions or clothes people are wearing – in a couple of months, it is likely to be a hit in England, but double the price.

This is possibly the best advice I had from an American whilst standing in the queue for breakfast – “Think 24 hours, not 12!” Everything is always open, so go to bed when you are tired, not necessarily at conventional hours. There is too much to see for you to be wasting time sleeping – there is always time to sleep when you get home!

For More Information

Paradise Found Tours maintains a website for Las Vegas Tours at http://www.paradisefoundtours.com. The site provides information for Grand Canyon tours, special news, fees and other pertinent information.

Valuable Links:
Grand Canyon Tours
Las Vegas Tours
Hoover Dam Tours
Las Vegas

Grand Canyon And The Total Perspective Vortex

2005-04-26T00:06:00.000-07:00

Trin Tragula was a dreamer, a thinker, a speculative philosopher or, as his wife would have it, an idiot. And she would nag him incessantly about the utterly inordinate amount of time he spent staring out into space, or mulling over the mechanics of safety pins, or doing spectographic analyses of pieces of fairy cake.

"Have some sense of proportion!" she would say, sometimes as often as thirty-eight times in a single day.

And so he built the Total Perspective Vortex--just to show her. And into one end he plugged the whole of reality as extrapolated from a piece of fairy cake, and into the other end he plugged his wife: so that when he turned it on she saw in one instant the whole infinity of creation and herself in relation to it.

To Trin Tragula's horror, the shock completely annihilated her brain; but to his satisfaction he realized that he had proved conclusively that if life is going to exist in a Universe of this size, then the one thing it cannot afford is a sense of proportion.’ (Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy)

The Grand Canyon, may not be the whole infinity of creation, or a fairy cake but it certainly puts size into perspective, and as for a sense of proportion well...

The Grand Canyon is undoubtedly one of the true natural wonders of the world. The rock formations are known the world over, as the red strata is one of the most photographed areas in the world. This stratum shows millions years of evolution and erosion, the inaccessibility of some of the pictographs (cave drawings) are proof of that. But however many pictures you see, however many holiday programmes you watch, you could even know every statistic there is to know on what is essentially an enormous hole in the ground, but the reaction when you first see it, is indescribable it is very difficult not to gasp in amazement and awesome may be a horrid word, but for the Grand Canyon, it works.

When we visited we took a rather long way round, we drove around the North rim up to the far end of the Grand Canyon, where we stayed in Page on the shore of Lake Powell. The two extremes of the Grand Canyon are marked by two dams, the Glen Canyon dam in the East which forms Lake Powell and Hoover Dam (as repaired by Christopher Reeve in Superman!) in the West forming Lake Mead. Now, the Grand Canyon itself is 150 miles long, so I really don’t understand why the majority of visitors chose to visit only a 3 mile area of it, which is on the South Rim about half way down where you will find the Grand Canyon Village.

There are several ways of seeing the Grand Canyon; one of the most popular is by Helicopter or Plane. We didn’t do this but I understand from many reports, this can be a little unnerving. I think you’re fine if love flying, but if you suffer from motion sickness it can get very turbulent, I think they plan on cleaning out the machines fairly regularly. The prices for this seem to range from $150 - $250 depending on the length of trip.

Then there is by raft, this is one of the ways I would really love to see the Grand Canyon. The main issue is getting out again, there are only a couple of stops along the way where you can actually get access to the river so they offer trips of 3 days minimum or 7 days takes you down to the end of the line at lake Mead. The other issue with this area of the Grand Canyon is the white water so if you don’t want to do rapids, don’t do it. I was pregnant at the time of our visit so this option was out, but even if I hadn’t been you have to book places on the raft trips upwards of 18 months beforehand. My cousin did an independent canoe trip through and it took him 2 years to get the permit to allow him to do it, as the number of visitors allowed within the rim is strictly regulated.

However there is another option, as I mentioned earlier we stayed in Page and you can take a one day float (no rapids) down the Glen Canyon which is not as vast, but just as beautiful and costs (from memory) $50. These can be booked in Page itself and you do not need to pre-book. We did this and it was a wonderful day, the peace of floating down the river, seeing the wild life and rock formations and after just a short walk some 4000 year old pictographs. They provided lunch. The whole day was truly amazing, and fine for pregnant ladies. You get out at Lees Ferry, which is at the entrance to the Grand Canyon and is where the other rafting trips start.

Then there are the options that you can take from the Grand Canyon village, you can walk down into the rim, which if you plan on staying overnight you will need an overnight permit but if you do this you could stay at Phantom Range, if you don’t want to walk down you can take a mule. It is however a two day trip to go down to the valley floor, although the distance isn’t huge, it’s a really steep climb and you need to make sure you are properly prepared, copious amounts of water are essential as dehydration is the biggest problem. Mainly because this is desert country so it is hot. Having visited in the middle of summer some of the pictures of the Grand Canyon covered in snow are very beautiful but does looks very bizarre.

At this point I would recommend anyone who is interested in hiking, mules or planes to also have a read of the Grand Canyon review by Trampus, who describes her hair raising activities in excellent style.

Daily life at the Grand Canyon village is fairly predictable. Everybody wakes up fairly early, before sun rise to see the sun come up on the Grand Canyon, the colours change substantially and dramatically depending on the time of day, and photographers are out in force throughout the day, we are fairly good photographers and it has to be said all the photos we took from the Grand Canyon rim were well below our usual standard, and I think this is a fairly common experience so it is worth buying some postcards or something similar while you are there. The most popular time for photographs is of course Sunset, when the colours are at their most vibrant, and it is very orange. Most visitors to the Grand Canyon do not venture down inside the rim and simply gaze in wonder from the edge at the village, so at sunset in particular guard your spot early as from the various lookout points there is a huge number of people lined up with their cameras ready for the nightly show.

Accommodation in the village is actually fairly reasonable for a National Park, there are the usual sorts of hotel available and naturally you pay a supplement for a canyon view, there are 4 campsites within the park and any lodging is booked up way in advance, so you do have to get in early. The website address is www.grand.canyon.national-park.com and this has all the details you will need, although a straight forward search gives loads of options so it is worth having a good surf before you book.

the Grand Canyon village is as I mentioned earlier only a very small part of the Grand Canyon itself and I would strongly urge any visitor not to make it their sole focus. For me the most enjoyable part was not the Village, which I would not have missed for anything but the stay in Page beforehand. Page is on the shore of Lake Powell and at the entrance to the Glen Canyon, although is not as vast as the Grand Canyon it is very beautiful. The rock formation within the Glen Canyon is much softer than in the Grand Canyon, a bit like the difference between the Dolomites and the Alps for any of you who may have crossed them in Europe. There is much more to do in Page and it is cheaper, not being within the National Park. The view from the hotel room genuinely does not look real, it is like a picture of utter tranquillity and the changes in colour throughout the day is the only thing that reminds you it is not a painting.

The other noticeable difference in Page from the Grand Canyon village is the colour of the river, there is a very definite difference between the blue of the water and the red of the rock. However, the river running through the Grand Canyon is the Colorado which literally translates as ‘Colour Red’ and not without good reason, we were very lucky as we arrived on a blue day and then we had torrential downpour of rain, which disturbed all the sediment within the river, so the following day it was red or just dirty whichever way you want to think of it. This only took effect from the entrance to the Grand Canyon, and apparently can take several weeks to clear. From the Grand Canyon village the river is barely visible, and I love water so the main reason for preferring Page to the village was the fact that the river was so accessible. The Grand Canyon is just that, very Grand, very majestic but the Glen Canyon is smaller, softer and I feel more beautiful.

For More Information

Paradise Found Tours maintains a website for Grand Canyon Tours at http://www.paradisefoundtours.com. The site provides information for Grand Canyon tours, special news, fees and other pertinent information.

Valuable Links:
Grand Canyon Tours
Las Vegas Tours
Hoover Dam Tours

Grand Canyon Tours Information

2005-04-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

The Grand Canyon is more than a great chasm carved over millennia through the rocks of the Colorado Plateau. It is more than an awe-inspiring view. It is more than a pleasuring ground for those that explore the roads, hike the trails, or float the currents of the turbulent Colorado River.

This canyon is a gift that transcends what we experience. Its beauty and size humbles us. Its timelessness provokes a comparison to our short existence. In its vast spaces we may find solace from our hectic lives.

The Grand Canyon we visit today is a gift from past generations. Take time to enjoy this gift. Sit and watch the changing play of light and shadows. Wander along a trail and feel the sunshine and wind on your face. Attend a ranger program. Follow the antics of ravens soaring above the rim. Listen for the roar of the rapids far below. Savor a sunrise or sunset.

As the shadows lengthen across the spires and buttes, time passing into the depths of the canyon, understand what this great chasm passes to us - a sense of humility born in the interconnections of all that is and a willingness to care for this land. We have the responsibility to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to form their own connections with Grand Canyon National Park.

How big is The Grand Canyon?

Are there dams in Grand Canyon?

How old is the Grand Canyon?

Are the oldest rocks in the world exposed at Grand Canyon?

When and why did Grand Canyon become a National Park?

How do I get to the Grand Canyon?

How does one see the Grand Canyon?

When is the best time to visit the Grand Canyon?

Can I bring my dog along with me if I hike into the Grand Canyon?

Do I have to make reservations for lodging at the Grand Canyon?

How hard is it to hike into the Grand Canyon?

Do I need a permit to hike into the Grand Canyon?

What is the weather like at the Grand Canyon?

Does it cost anything to enter Grand Canyon National Park?

Where can I get more information on visiting the Grand Canyon?

How do I take a mule ride to the inner canyon?

What advice - travel tips do you have for international - overseas visitors?

What kinds of activities are available at Grand Canyon National Park?

Where can I make reseravtions for Grand Canyon Tours?

How big is it?: That depends on how you look at it. The park includes over a million acres of land - 1,218,375.54 acres / 493,077 hectares, to be exact, or 1,904 square miles / 4931 square kilometers. But most people measure the canyon in river miles, along the course of the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon. By that standard, Grand Canyon is 277 miles / 446 km long. It begins at Lees Ferry (mile 0) and ends at the Grand Wash Cliffs (mile 277 / km 446). The Colorado River is longer, of course: 1450 miles / 2333 km long from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California in Mexico. Grand Canyon is only one of many beautiful canyons which the river has carved. Others include Cataract Canyon and Glen Canyon - the latter now beneath the waters of Lake Powell. Most people agree, however, that Grand Canyon is the most spectacular. There's simply no other place in the world that looks quite like it. Width and depth of the Canyon vary from place to place. At the South Rim, near Grand Canyon Village, it's a vertical mile (about 5,000 feet / 1524 m) from rim to river (7 miles / 11.3 km by trail, if you're walking). At its deepest, it is 6000 vertical feet / 1829 km from rim to river. The width of the canyon at Grand Canyon Village is 10 miles / 16 km (rim to rim), though in places it is as much as 18 miles / 29 km wide. Here's another way to look at size: a trip to the bottom of the Canyon and back (on foot or by mule) is a two-day journey. Rim-to-rim hikers generally take three days one way to get from the North Rim to the South Rim. A trip through Grand Canyon by raft can take two weeks or longer, and experienced backpackers have spent weeks in the more remote areas of the Canyon.

Are there dams in Grand Canyon?: No, although several dams bordering the park have a profound effect on Grand Canyon. At the upper end of the Canyon, 15 river miles / 24 km above Lees Ferry, is Lake Powell, formed by the waters behind Glen Canyon Dam. At the lower end of the canyon is Lake Mead, formed by the waters behind Hoover Dam. The controlled release of water from Glen Canyon Dam at the upstream end affects the water that flows through Grand Canyon. Waters from Lake Mead flood the lower 40 miles / 64 km of Grand Canyon when the lake is full. Hoover Dam was completed in 1936. Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1963.

How old is the Canyon?: That's a tricky question. Although rocks exposed in the walls of the canyon are geologically quite old, the Canyon itself is a fairly young feature. The oldest rocks at the canyon bottom are close to 2000 million years old. The Canyon itself - an erosional feature - has formed only in the past five or six million years. Geologically speaking, Grand Canyon is very young.

Are the oldest rocks in the world exposed at Grand Canyon?: No. Although the oldest rocks at Grand Canyon (2000 million years old) are fairly old by any standard, the oldest rocks in the world are closer to 4000 million years old. The oldest exposed rocks in North America, which are among the oldest rocks in the world, are in northern Canada.

When and why did Grand Canyon become a National Park?: Grand Canyon is unmatched throughout the world in the incomparable vistas it offers to visitors on the rim. It is not the deepest canyon in the world (both the Barranca del Cobre in northern Mexico and Hell's Canyon in Idaho are deeper, just to name two), but the Grand Canyon is known throughout the world for its overwhelming size and its intricate and colorful landscape. Geologically it is significant because of the thick sequence of ancient rocks that are beautifully preserved and exposed in the walls of the canyon. These rock layers record much of the early geological history of the North American continent. Finally, it is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion in the world. Although first afforded Federal protection in 1893 as a Forest Reserve and later as a National Monument, Grand Canyon did not achieve National Park status until 1919, three years after the creation of the National Park Service. Today Grand Canyon National Park receives close to five million visitors each year - a far cry from the annual visitation of 44,173 which the park received in 1919. Grand Canyon became a national park in order to give it the best protection we as a nation have to offer. The mission of the National Park Service, here and elsewhere, is to preserve the park and all of its features, including the processes that created them, and to provide for the enjoyment of the park by visitors in a way that will leave the canyon unspoiled for future generations.

How do I get to the Grand Canyon?: The SOUTH RIM allows you several options. Common driving routes are from Williams, Arizona (via State Route 64 from Interstate 40) or Flagstaff (via US Highway 180). Commercial airlines serve Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Las Vegas. There is limited air service into Grand Canyon Airport from Las Vegas and elsewhere. Greyhound provides bus service to Flagstaff, and public bus transportation is available from Flagstaff to the South Rim. Amtrak provides rail service to Flagstaff with connecting bus service to the canyon. Grand Canyon Railway offers vintage train service from Williams. (more info)

The NORTH RIM does not have as many options. There is no public transportation to the North Rim other than the Trans Canyon Van Shuttle from the South Rim. You will need to drive on US Highway 89A or State Route 389 to Jacob Lake, just south of the Utah border, and take Highway 67 to the North Rim. You can fly into Las Vegas and drive 263 miles one-way. Keep in mind that heavy snows close the road to the North Rim from late October to mid May of each year. (more info)

How does one see the Canyon?: Nearly five million people see Grand Canyon each year. Most of them see it from their car at overlooks along the South Rim (this includes Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest, and Desert View). The South Rim - 60 miles / 97 km north of Williams and 80 miles / 97 km northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona - is the most accessible part of the park and is open all year. A much smaller number of people see the Canyon from the North Rim, which lies just 10 miles / 16 km (as the raven flies) directly across the Canyon from the South Rim. The North Rim rises a thousand feet higher than the South Rim, and is much less accessible. Heavy snows close the road to the North Rim from late October to mid May of each year. Even in good weather it's harder to get to: it's 220 miles / 354 km by car from the South Rim, or 21 miles / 34 km by foot across the Canyon by way of the North and South Kaibab Trails. The inner canyon includes everything below the rim and is seen mainly by hikers, mule riders, or river runners. There are many opportunities here for adventurous and hardy persons who want to backpack, ride a mule to Phantom Ranch, or take a river trip through the Canyon on the Colorado River (which can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks - there are no one-day river trips through Grand Canyon). How do people get across the canyon? If you're walking, the South Kaibab Trail crosses the Colorado River on a narrow foot bridge 70 feet / 21 m above the water. There is only one way to cross by automobile, and that is via Navajo Bridge, just a few miles downstream from Lees Ferry, where the Canyon is still only 400 feet / 122 m wide.

When is the best time to visit the Grand Canyon?: Expect heavy crowds during spring, summer, and fall months. You will find fewer crowds in the early spring or late fall. The South Rim is open year round, but heavy snows close the road to the North Rim from late October to mid May of each year.

Can I bring my dog along with me if I hike into the canyon?: Pets must be physically restrained at all times. Leashed pets are allowed on the rim trails throughout the developed areas in the park but not below the rim. The only exception is certified service dogs. Persons wishing to take a service dog below the rim must check in first at the Backcountry Information Center. There is a kennel on the South Rim but not on the North Rim.

Do I have to make reservations for lodging at the Grand Canyon?: Yes, lodging in Grand Canyon National Park becomes completely booked well in advance. Be sure to make reservations as far ahead as possible. Call (303) 297-2757 or toll free (888) 297-2757, or write Xanterra Parks & Resorts, 14001 East Iliff, Ste 600 Aurora, CO, 80014 for reservations at the South Rim or the North Rim. Or visit www.grandcanyonlodges.com..

How hard is it to hike into the Grand Canyon?: Unlike hiking in mountainous terrain, Grand Canyon trails involve a downhill trip followed by a strenuous uphill climb. Hiking in the Grand Canyon is so demanding that even people in excellent condition often emerge sore and fatigued. Yet it has been hiked by small children, senior citizens, and people with physical disabilities.

The day hiker, out for just a few hours, and the overnight backpacker must be equally prepared for the lack of water, extreme heat and cold, and isolation characteristic of the Grand Canyon. There are few places where the comforts of hotels, campgrounds, shops and restaurants are found so close to such a harsh environment. Particularly in the summer, mental attitude and adequate water consumption are the two most important factors in the success of any hike into the Grand Canyon.

Backcountry rangers recommend that hikers make their first overnight trip into the inner canyon on the park's "Corridor" trails. The Corridor is the area including and immediately adjacent to the Bright Angel and North and South Kaibab trails. This area includes three campgrounds: Indian Garden, Bright Angel, and Cottonwood.

Do I need a permit to hike into the Grand Canyon?: Permits are not required for day hikes below the rim, but you must obtain a backcountry permit if you plan on camping overnight outside an established campground.

What is the weather like at the Grand Canyon?: Summer - Summer temperatures on the South Rim are relatively pleasant (50°s - 80°s F; 10°s to high 20°s C) but inner canyon temperatures are extreme. Daytime highs at the river, 5000 feet below the rim, often exceed 100° F (38° C). North Rim summer temperatures are cooler that those on the South Rim due to the increased elevation.

Winter - Winter conditions at the South Rim can be extreme: expect snow, icy roads, and possible road closures. Temperatures are low, and with the wind-chill factor can at times drop below 0° F (-18° C). Canyon views may be temporarily obscured during winter storms; in such cases, entrance fees are not refundable. The North Rim is closed in winter.

Spring and Fall - Spring and Fall weather is extremely unpredictable; be prepared for sudden changes in the weather during these seasons.

Does it cost anything to enter Grand Canyon National Park?: Yes, entrance to the park is $20 per private vehicle, $10 pedestrian or cyclist; fees for commercial bus/tour van passengers vary. Admission is for 7 days and includes both rims; there are no refunds due to inclement weather. U. S. citizens aged 62 or older may obtain a Golden Age Passport for a one-time fee of $10 and gain free admission. Persons holding a current National Parks Pass (obtainable for $50 at any national park) are admitted free. Annual Grand Canyon passports, valid for the calendar year, are available for $40. U.S. citizens who have a permanent physical, mental or sensory impairment may apply in person for a Golden Access Passport, which provides the same privileges as the Golden Age passport. (more info)

Where can I get more information on visiting the Grand Canyon?: To receive the most current park trip planning information, write: Trip Planner Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023. Or, visit our on-line Trip Planner. Or call (928) 638-7888. To purchase publications about the Grand Canyon you can write or call the Grand Canyon Association, P.O. Box 399, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, (928) 638-2481, FAX (928) 638-2484 or visit them at www.grandcanyon.org.

How do I take a mule ride to the inner canyon?: Mule rides from the South Rim are arranged through Grand Canyon National Park Lodges (303-297-2757) or visit www.grandcanyonlodges.com. It is a 2-day round-trip to the Colorado River at the canyon bottom. A one-day trip is also offered which goes part way to the river. Overnight riders stay and eat at Phantom Ranch. Mule trips may be booked 11 months in advance and fill up early. A waiting list is maintained for cancellations, but chances of obtaining reservations on the waiting list are slim. If you wish to make a trip into the canyon on mule, plan ahead! There are restrictions: mule riders must be over 4 feet 7 inches in height, weigh less than 200 lbs. (91K) and cannot be pregnant. Mule riders must be able to understand English. Please note that all pre-paid reservations must be claimed in person at the Bright Angel Lodge Transportation Desk ONE HOUR prior to departure. Unclaimed reservations are subject to resale. Mule trips are available from the North Rim (one-day and half-day trips) but do not go all the way to the river. Call Grand Canyon Trail Rides for reservations, (435) 679-8665, or write to PO Box 128, Tropic, Utah, 84776, or visit them at www.onlinepages.net/canyonrides.

What advice - travel tips do you have for international - overseas visitors?: Remember that the southwestern US is big and remote. Put a map of your home country next the distance you plan to cover in the USA to get an idea of what you are up against. Transportation takes time and is often expensive. Public transportation in northern Arizona is very limited, so find transportation & schedules before you leave, and expect to need some money to get around. - Many prices are "plus tax", so add 7-8% to your budget. * Common conversion factors: * temp. Celsius = (Fahrenheit - 32) * 5 / 9. temp. Fahrenheit = Celsius * 9 / 5 + 32. 1 pound (lb)= .45 kg 1 ounce (oz)= 1/16 pound 1 quart (qt)= .95 liters 1 gallon (gal)= 3.8 liters 1 inch (in)= 2.5 cm 1 foot (ft)= 30 cm 1 yard = .92 meters 1 mile = 1.61 Km 1 mile per hour (mph) = 1.6 Km/hr 1 "nickel" = 5 cents = 1/20 $. 1 "dime" = 10 cents = 1/10 $. 1 "quarter" = 25 cents = 1/4 $.

What kinds of activities are available at Grand Canyon National Park?: Gazing at the beautiful views of the canyon from the various vista points is the number one activity for many people. People of every age and condition can find activities to suit their desires, including the following: hiking, rafting trips, backpacking, mule rides or horseback rides, camping, scenic air tours. A wide variety of free interpretive programs (South Rim, North Rim) are offered by NPS rangers. Bicycling is allowed on park roads.

Where can I make Reservations for Grand Canyon Tours ?: Paradise Found Tours offers a variety of Grand Canyon Tours, Las Vegas Tours and Hoover Dam Tours that are personally selected for spectacular scenery, adventure, comfort, safety, and personal attention.

2005-04-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

My husband and I just came back from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I have seen the South Rim three times and this was my first visit to the North Rim, which is not nearly as crowded as the South, but equally as beautiful!

We saw seven deer as we were leaving the park, Kaibab Plateau, which is full of trees, something you don't see much of on the South Rim.

I would recommend to anyone who has seen the canyon not to miss the North Rim. I would not recommend driving South Rim to North Rim just because it would take about five hours one way. We spent time in Page, Ariz., which put us in position for the North Rim. Plus, there is so much more to see once you are north Zion and Bryce canyons, which are equally as impressive as the Grand Canyon. Not as many viewpoints on the north end as the south.

2004-10-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

A Grand Canyon Tour: There's been plenty of "Top Ten Places You Must See Before You Die" lists written over the years, and I think The Grand Canyon has been in pretty much every one of them. Reviewing such an awesome natural monument is almost impossible, but I'll do my humble best?

I visited the Grand Canyon in January 2002 ? a group of four young guys on their first trip to America. We drove from Los Angeles up to Las Vegas (couldn't stand either of those cities personally, but then I might have liked LA more if I'd had a chance to see more of it), stayed in a Travel Lodge for just $30 for the night ($7.5 per person wasn't bad even if the "breakfast" they gave you in the price was a stale cookie and carton of stale orange juice!), and got a trip to the Grand Canyon for about $150 (can't remember the exact price). This trip included being picked up in the morning by coach and taken to the aerodrome, flying in to the Grand Canyon in a 10-seater Cessna, a buffet lunch near a Native Indian reservation, and the return journey ? about 6 hours in total. (Also on offer was a helicopter trip, which I think was about $200 ? this didn't offer the lunch etc and lasted about 4 hours in total, but it did take you right into the GC, so if I'd had the money I would have liked to do both trips.) The company that offered these trips was right next to the Travel Lodge, but you wouldn't be able to walk down the main part of Vegas for very long without being offered a similar package.

The coach came on time and it was only about 15-20 minutes before we were at the aerodrome. We had our picture taken in front of the Cessna with the pilot before boarding the plane, which while obviously being another money-spinner (I think it was $10) for them did actually make a very nice souvenir. I've never been in a Cessna before and boy was it interesting! If, like me, you've only ever been on large commercial airliners, you're in for a bit of a shock. The tiny plane is buffeted by the slightest winds and of course is much more prone to air pockets, so every few seconds it felt like you were going to drop out of the sky. It was fantastic! It really was the most amazing ride of my life.

There was on-board commentary about what was below us, which at one point early on included the Hoover Dam. (On the way back the pilot opted for U2 instead, which wasn't bad either?) The commentary was quite interesting although to be honest the feeling of flying / being about to fall out of the sky, combined with the mind-blowing view, would have been more than enough to keep your senses overloaded, let alone busy. Seeing these amazing aerial views of the Grand Canyon will be something I will never forget.

Upon landing there was short wait for the coach, which took us to a sort of large, open cafeteria that served traditional Native Indian food (at least that was what they claimed, and I have no particular reason not to believe them ? anyway, it tasted good). It was "eat-as-much-as-you-want" too, though stuffing yourself would not be particularly recommended as looking over the side of any of the immense cliffs is severely vertigo-inducing. Out of the coach load I was with, only myself and one other person were brave (stupid?) enough to stand right on the edge. I think my bravery lasted, ooh, at least 2 seconds before I felt an overwhelming need to step back! Well, that was the first time ? I think I managed the amazing feat of 5 seconds the second time round? Apart from breathtaking scenery everywhere you looked, the local Indians also has some handicraft ? jewellery, "dreamcatchers", and so on -to sell. From what I saw it looked pretty good quality and fairly priced, but what they were selling wasn't really my sort of thing. Now if they'd been selling carvings of eagles and suchlike, I might have taken more notice. (Yes, I am strange. But I don't care.)

The Tour Guide on the coach on the way back (with another stop to survey one of the most impressive chasms) told us a little about this history of the local tribe (she was a member of the tribe herself), which unfortunately I can't remember the name of :-( - all I can remember is it wasn't one of the very well known ones ? I think it may have been "Shawnee" but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong! ? and then we went back and plunged through the air again in the little Cessna.

I can't describe my overall impression in simple words, even as I'm typing this huge gestures are flying from my hands (and believe me, that makes typing rather difficult?). It's one of the most impressive things you will ever see, and like most impressive things, seeing pictures of it just doesn't convey anything truly pertinent about how it looks when you're actually there.

Superlatives fail me. This isn't a place that I recommend - it's a place you must go to!

Grand Canyon Tours

2004-09-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

Make your grand canyon vacation unforgettable. Experience a grand canyon tour today. Paradise Found Tours offers a grand canyon tour from las vegas that is quite memorable. We offer an extensive grand canyon picture library on our site, though it doesn't compare in seeing the grand canyon live. If you are looking for a las vegas tour we have many to choose from. A las vegas helicopter tour will leave you breathless. Hoover dam is not far from Las vegas and we also offer a very entertaining hoover dam tour.

2004-08-09T22:29:00.000-07:00

GRAND CANYON WEST RIM HELICOPTER TOUR.

THE STORY OF MY TRIP TO THE WEST RIM.

Its Midday And I Am Waiting At The Side Of The Flamingo Hotel For The Limo Driver To Arrive And Begin My Journey To The West Rim Of The Grand Canyon.

Trouble Is He Is At The Flamingo Road Side Of The Barbary Coast Hotel Looking For Me And I Am Mistakenly Waiting At The Opposite Side Of The Barbary Coast Hotel...OOOPS.

CLOSE SHAVE

After Realizing I Had Missed My Connection And Thinking I Would Miss My Tour To The Canyon I Hurriedly Ran To The Phone And Called The Tour Company Explaining My Situation.

Luckily For Me They Send The Driver Back To Collect Me And Take Me To The Helicopter Terminal So I Had The Whole Limo To Myself And It Was A Great Way To Travel Of Which I Could Easily Get Used To If I Won The Lottery Of Course...lol.

ALL ABOARD

After Paying For My Tour At The Office It Was Now Time For Myself And My Four Fellow Passengers To Meet The Pilot And Have Our Photo Taken Standing In Front Of Our Helicopter.

One Couple Sit In The Front With The Pilot While I Sit In The Rear Next To The Right Window With The Other Couple To My Left.

The Pilot Explains A Few Details To Us Regarding Taking Photos And Safety Procedures And Within A Few Minutes We Are Taking Off And Heading Over The Las Vegas Strip Near The Luxor.

UP UP AND AWAY

I Had Flown In A Helicopter For The First Time Just A Few Days Previously Doing The Vegas Strip Night Tour And I Am Still Amazed At How Smooth Flying In An Helicopter Is With Very Little Turbulence.

After Flying For A Few Minutes Past The Strip And Over The Residential Areas Below Its Not Long Before We Are Cruising Along The Canyon And Above Lake Mead With The Water Below Green One Minute And Blue The Next.

The Views From Above Are Always Spectacular But From Inside An Helicopter With Its Ability To Fly Low And With Its Big Windows You Get An Ever Better View Of The Incredible Sights Around You.

FLY LIKE A BIRD

After Flying For About 45 Minutes Taking Loads Of Photos Along The Way And Getting Lots Of Interesting Info From The Pilot We Start To Slowly Descend Over 3,000 Feet Deep Into The Canyon And Land Smoothly On The Grand Canyon West Rim Floor.

The Weather Was Quiet Nice When We Set Out With Mostly Blue Skies Scattered With Some White Clouds But The Closer We Got To The Landing Area The Darker The Skies Became And Soon It Was Spitting With Rain With The Temperature Dropping 10 Degrees Or More.
Although Coming From England I Am More Than Used To This Kind Of Gloomy Weather.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

Once The Blades Had Stopped Rotating We Departed The Helicopter And Took Photos Of Each Other Standing In Front Of The Helicopter On The Floor Of The Grand Canyon A Photo To Treasure For Always I'm Sure And The One You Can See At The Top Of This Page.

Its Now Time To Take A Look Around So Everyone Goes Their Own Way Looking At The Various Views Above, Below And All Around Taking Many Photographs Along The Way.

I Take A Couple Of Pictures Of Myself Standing Close To The Edge With My Remote Timer Trying Not To Fall Over The Side As Well As A Couple Of Cacti One Yellow And One Red And As Well As The Rock Formation Surrounding Me Which Is Hard To Imagine Has Been Here For Millions Of Years And Here I Am A Mere Speck In The History Of Time Standing Right In The Middle Of It.

CHICKEN,CHAMPAGNE & CANYON

After 20 Minutes Or So Its Time For Lunch At One Of The Most Exclusive And Most Sough After Restaurants In The Whole World.

Well Ok I'm Sitting On A Wooden Chair Under A Canopy Eating Off A Plain Table Cloth But Hey How Often Do You Get To Eat Lunch And Drink Champagne Surrounded By One Of The Seven Wonders Of The World.

Anyway After A Very Nice Chicken Lunch And A Few Glasses Of Champers Its Time To Hop Aboard The Helicopter And Slowly Ascend And Begin The Return Along The Canyon And Lake Mead Once Again Marvelling At The Fantastic Sights All Around.

RETURN TO BASE

After Around 40 Minutes Or So We Are Back Along The Strip And Landing At The Helicopter Headquarters Where We Thank And Tip Our Pilot Who Was Very Nice Then Head Into The Office To See The Photo They Took Of Us In Front Of The Helicopter Which I Liked And Bought For About $12.00.

Within 10 Minutes Our Limo Driver Had Returned To Take Us Back To Our Respective Hotels And Along The Way We Had A Fun Chat About The Trip And Vegas In General And Soon I Was At My Hotel So I Said My Thanks And Goodbyes And Now I Have Been To The South Rim And The West Rim So All That Remains Is The North Rim Which Funnily Enough I Have Booked To Visit In 3 Weeks Time When I Return To Las Vegas On The 27th Of July 2004. (:-))

by JOHNNY_ENGLISH - last update: Jul 15, 2004

Check out more of my travels at Virtual Tourist

Book your Grand Canyon Tour Here

2004-08-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

Prepare yourself for the awe-inspiring beauty of the Grand Canyon. The Canyon's panoramic vastness awaits you. My journey began with a flight out of Las Vegas with a brief sojourn at Hoover Dam and Lake Mead and continued through a rugged Joshua tree forest and onto the Grand Canyon West Rim, native home of the Hualapai tribe, where the Grand Canyon's natural beauty remains nearly untouched by man. No crowds, no guardrails and stunning views as far as the eye can see. I Descended further and deeper into the Grand Canyon and landed on the canyon floor, located just above the mighty Colorado River. I Enjoyed many incredible photo opportunities. I Departed the Canyon floor, flew back through the Grand Canyon. I concluded my Grand Canyon journey by flying over Lake Mead, extinct volcanoes and Hoover Dam. I then finished my journey over the Las Vegas Strip above the amazing Hotel skyline. This is my Grand Canyon blog and I look forward to posting my adventures as I tackle exploring every part of the Grand Canyon.

Make your grand canyon vacation unforgettable. Experience a grand canyon tour today. The very first time I took a Grand Canyon tour, I booked from Paradise Found Tours. They were so helpful and friendly that I have chosen them over and over in the past and will choose them to book all my tours in the future. Paradise Found Tours offers a grand canyon tour from las vegas that is quite memorable. They offer an extensive grand canyon picture library on their site, though it doesn't compare in seeing the grand canyon live. If you are looking for a las vegas tour they have many to choose from. A las vegas helicopter tour will leave you breathless. Hoover dam is not far from Las vegas and they also offer a very entertaining hoover dam tour.