It’s just 6.5 miles from Tusayan, AZ for bicycling into Grand Canyon National Park on the New Greenway.

The National Park Service completed this greenway to provide a healthy outdoor activity to park visitors and another means of access to the Park.  A ribbon cutting ceremony on September 12, 2012 was held at the new parking lot on the Kaibab National Forest just north of Tusayan, Arizona. This new parking lot has 100 new spaces for visitors to the Canyon.

Superintendent Uberauga then rode his bike the 6.5 miles to the Bright Angel Bicycles concession at the National Park’s Visitor Center. Bright Angel Bicycles also offers a Grab & Go food service for the Visitor Center area.

According to Superintendent Uberuaga, the event and the three new facilities were all about connections — connections between the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, the park and the community of Tusayan, Arizona.

This new Greenway will provide a healthy, fun and exciting way to experience the Grand Canyon. For those with bicycles, simply bring you own…but if you’d like to rent, be sure you contact Bright Angel Bicycles at 928-814-8704.

Morning travelers! Perhaps the “subtitle” of this entry should be an old Chicago tune: “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” At the Grand Canyon, that’s a loaded question!

Time. One simple word that induces much head-scratching at the Grand Canyon. Upon seeing the Grand Canyon, one’s sense of time and its passage certainly changes. It’s hard not to be humbled in the presence of a work of art that took millions of years to sculpt. But in a more practical sense, the question of the Grand Canyon time zone can be something of a pain. I’ll explain: (hey that rhymes!)

At this time of year, lots of prudent folks are setting about planning their spring  vacations. And a popular destination is the Grand Canyon. But here’s the problem: when the rest of the country is “springing forward,” Arizona is staying put! TripAdvisor contributor “travelloverOntario” is just finding out how confounding the concept of Grand Canyon time is:

I feel kind of silly for not being able to figure this out for myself…but I have some questions about time zone areas in mid March. If we leave Bryce and head into Page on March 12, 2013 do we gain/lose any time? What about going from Page to Flagstaff/Sedona the next day: any time gain/loss? Is Page on different time than Antelope Canyon as it’s on Navajo land? Sorry for being so daft. I did try to look it up and got lost.

I attempted to put things into perspective for ‘travelloverOntario’ as follows:

Arizona does NOT observe Daylight Saving Time, with the exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation. Utah DOES observe Daylight Saving Time all round. I checked the calendar and the transition to Daylight Saving Time will occur on Sunday March 10th in 2013, so on the day you’re traveling, you will cross time zones heading into Arizona, in this case, you will “gain” 1 hour. 10 AM in Utah = 9 AM in Arizona.

Page is not technically on the Navajo Indian Reservation (right next door, but not quite there), so it will also be on Standard Time. If you visit Antelope Canyon with one of the tour outfitters out of Page, they will all operate on Mountain Standard Time.

And since so many people have asked this particular Grand Canyon Time Zone question before, I had to add:

And you’re NOT being silly about this at all, it’s totally confusing I know! Good rule of thumb: “when in doubt, check it out.”

Now here’s what’s silly: in my 25 years’ experience as a Grand Canyon travel consultant, I’d never actually questioned why Arizona took a pass on the Daylight Savings Time thing. Not surprisingly, it had a lot to do with weather. ABC15′s Chris Kline explained:

The history of daylight saving is tied to energy conservation. Switching to DST in the summer means more sunlight at night, which in turn means homes don’t have to turn on lights as early.  … In 1973, a permanent federal law was enacted to help with the oil shortages of that time. But Arizona asked for and was eventually granted an exemption. According to an Arizona Republic editorial from 1969, the reason was the state’s extreme heat. If Arizona were to observe Daylight Saving Time, the sun would stay out until 9 p.m. in the summer (instead of 8 p.m., like it does currently). ‘[Data] clearly show that we must wait until about 9 p.m. DST to start any night-time activity such as drive-in movies, moonlight rides, convincing little children it’s bedtime, etc,’ the editorial stated. ‘And it’s still hot as blazes!’

Makes perfect sense! So if Grand Canyon Time makes you nuts, we’re sorry – I guess you can say we’re just a little ‘crazy from the heat.’

By the way, Daylight Saving Time transition dates for 2013 are as follows: “Spring Forward” Day: Sunday March 10th; “Fall Back” Day: Sunday November 3rd.

Speaking of time, it’s time to get back to your questions on the phone and on our chat line. After all, as the Alan Parsons Project once said, “Time keeps flowing like a river to the sea!”

Good morning travelers ~ Today’s post doesn’t come from the pages of TripAdvisor or other travel forums, it comes straight from you – well sort of. Working the phones of late at GrandCanyon.com I’ve heard a common refrain from Grand Canyon travel planners: “Whaddya mean it’s still busy? It’s after Labor Day! Isn’t it supposed to be off-season?”

Yes, once upon a time, folks, peak Grand Canyon Travel Season was a mere 3 months-and-change timeframe from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Frankly I never experienced that “once upon a time.” When I began working at Grand Canyon South Rim at the El Tovar Hotel in 1987, I remember a particularly busy day in February that threw all the “old timers” for a loop. Understaffed and unprepared, they loudly lamented, “aw man, it’s starting early this year!” And that was all she wrote for this Grand Canyon travel professional. From then on, “the season” extended from President’s Day through Halloween. If it was a mild winter and the snow didn’t start to fly until December, boom, another “extension.” Or if spring decided to show up early – you guessed it, another “extension.”

So why is this happening to Grand Canyon Travel? I’m not 100% certain, but one contributing factor is the wide variance that has developed between U.S. school systems in when they observe their holidays. Spring Break no longer revolves around Easter; some schools now resume as early as mid-August instead of after Labor Day like normal people! Some school systems, such as ours in Southern Wyoming where I now reside, have a short “fall break” in mid-October when families can take advantage of a long weekend and a mini-vacay. Then factor in the schools with year-round schedules and families who homeschool and voila! Grand Canyon South Rim has now become a year-round destination.

So if you really and truly want to experience Grand Canyon travel in a more relaxed frame of mind, when you’re not jockeying for a photo with a hundred other people standing shoulder to shoulder at Mather or Hopi Point, and having to drive 2 hours to your hotel room because everything within a 100 mile radius of the park was booked 6 months before you got there, there is now only one season where that’s possible: winter. I mean dead-of-winter between mid-December and late-February. Yes, it’s cold (we’re 7,000′ above sea level); yes, we sometimes get over 12″ of snow in a single storm; but in exchange for having to pack a down jacket in your suitcase, you will get back so much in return. Peace, solitude, and the chance to see the Grand Canyon at its absolute best: walking up to the rim just after a good snowstorm, when the clouds have just cleared, but before the roads have had a chance to be plowed. A stillness pervades the air as the newly fallen snow muffles almost all sound. The beauty and serenity of the Grand Canyon, swathed in a cape of pure white, is a magical quality you can’t experience any other time of year.

Winter is just around the corner – perhaps it’s time for you to start planning your Grand Canyon travel!

’til next time – stay warm

Good morning, travelers – or shall I say “woof?” Today’s Grand Canyon vacation  planning question revolves around Grand Canyon hotels, in particular, are any of them pet-friendly?

‘sativabaker’ writes:

I’m headed to the Grand Canyon last minute on my way to San Diego. Where should I stay? Flagstaff? I’m a 21 year old female going with my dog.

My reply:

The Red Feather Lodge is the only pet friendly Grand Canyon hotel in the immediate vicinity of the Grand Canyon (Tusayan/Grand Canyon Village South just outside the park), but if your trip is last minute, you’ll probably find it sold out. Another downside to that property is that their pet rooms also double as their smoking rooms. Williams, 1 hour South of the Grand Canyon has several pet-friendly Grand Canyon hotels, as does Flagstaff, 90 minutes from the park [editor's note: Williams and Flagstaff are referred to as 'Grand Canyon Gateway Communities'].

Check out this video for more information on Williams, Flagstaff, Page and other Grand Canyon Gateway Communities:

Some other insights on bringing your dog to the Grand Canyon:

If you want to take your dog into the park, he/she must be on a leash at all times and will be limited to walking on paved rimside trails with you. Dogs are not allowed in any of the buildings or on the shuttle buses. Another option you might consider is boarding your dog for the day at the Grand Canyon Railway Pet Resort in Williams or the Grand Canyon Kennel inside the park. The former  is quite new and very nice from what I’ve heard.

The Grand Canyon National Park Service goes as far as to say leave your dog at home when visiting the park. Having taken my dog(s) to many National Parks (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, the Rocky Mountains), and enjoying their company thoroughly, I don’t fully agree with that assessment, but be aware that having a pet in tow does limit where you can go and what you can do. For instance, finding a pet-friendly hotel may be difficult last minute as ‘sativabaker’ is surely finding out. If all else fails, you might consider camping. Another thing to keep in mind is that your dog will not be allowed inside any buildings such as hotels, restaurants, gift shops, etc. The only exception: service dogs for the disabled, but they absolutely must be properly certified!

Another consideration: pets are NOT allowed on any Grand Canyon tours, even if they’re little! Sorry, Paris Hilton, you’re not gonna carry your little doggie in your purse on the Grand Canyon River Adventure or the Inner Grand Canyon Jeep Tour. If you’re traveling with a pet and plan to take a full day Grand Canyon tour, you’ll need to arrange to have your pet boarded for not one but two nights.  The reason: many of these tours start at 6 AM or similarly early departures. Area kennels typically do not open until 8-9 AM, so it will be impossible to get your pet into boarding that same morning. Similarly, since most full day tours end after 5 PM, by which time most kennels will be closed, you won’t be able to pick your dog up the night you return from your tour.

One last thing and we’ll wrap this up: If you plan on using any of the Grand Canyon area’s local pet boarding facilities, remember to bring your pet’s vaccination records. All shots must be current, or Fido won’t walk through the door.

So till next time, make it a “grand” day, even if it is a “dog day afternoon!”

Good morning travelers ~ Isn’t it ironic? And I’m not talking about “like rain on your wedding day” but like how the Lake Powell area’s #1 attraction is not located in Lake Powell at all! According to TripAdvisor.com, the #1 thing to do in the Page Arizona area is Horseshoe Bend. Not hard to see why – this vista is absolutely stunning, and if you’re into geology, it’s incredible that it even came to be.

Funny thing is that Horseshoe Bend, though considered to be the #1 attraction in the Lake Powell area, isn’t part of Lake Powell itself. It’s part of Glen Canyon of the Colorado River, an example of a formation called an “entrenched meander.” If you’re visiting the Lake Powell area, you have to try and see Horseshoe Bend. It’s free, how great can that be, and it’s considered to be one of the Lake Powell Arizona area’s easier hikes – or is it? As this thread on TripAdvisor seems to imply, it might be a case of “easy to be hard.”

‘TampaJules’ writes:

We are from Florida, so even a 100 foot incline is unusual for us, and we are used to sand and the beach, but man Horseshoe Bend was hard on us. I cannot imagine trekking out there in the mid day during the summer! The 3/4 mile figure I read somewhere has to be accurate. Which doesn’t sound too much but the inclines and sand are where it’s difficult. Coming in, there is a steep (20 degrees perhaps) incline, all sandy. Then a long walk down a sandy path, perhaps 100 feet elevation change, to the overlook which is all rocky. Going out you now have that long incline back up which is especially hard in the sand.

Yes we are out of shape, but I’ve seen reviews on here about Horseshoe Bend  not being that bad. But for the average overweight TV watching American it’s not going to be easy. I’m not saying to not do it – its completely worth it and do-able unless you can’t manage the walk or heat, just be prepared. Bring plenty of water and wear sneakers of course. I think I would freak out if I had kids out here. Absolutely no railings or safeguard and a 1200 foot drop straight down (editor’s note: it’s more like 700′ but still…).  You get dirty and tired and it took up a good two hours between the walks and hanging out at the rim.

Some respondents found ‘TampaJules’ account to be a bit off the mark, such as ‘pudgygroundhog:’

I didn’t have problems at all. Nor did my four year old. I agree though that mid summer would not be ideal!

‘Tet14′ (who I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in person) concurs:

I (senior) easily could do it and I’m not in great shape. Watch the kids indeed, no fence. Always bring water and slap on a hat (and slop on sunscreen).

I had this to add:

I’ve always found Horseshoe Bend to be one of those “borderline” hikes that most healthy people can handle, but the altitude, dry climate and summer heat can sometimes throw folks for a loop. Sounds like that happened to TampaJules’ family. My mom, who had 2 knee surgeries in as many years, took one look at the trail and said “absolutely  not.” Another friend of mine who also had a knee surgery and claimed to be “out of shape” had no problem hiking to Horseshoe Bend. Guess it just depends.

So ‘TampaJules,’ there are people out there who feel your pain, believe me!

If you know for a fact that you would like to see Horseshoe Bend but doing the walk won’t be an option, there are a couple of alternative ways you can still experience it:

1. Fly over it: Grand Canyon Airlines and Westwind Air Service offer fixed wing airplane flights daily from the Page Municipal Airport. For a few dollars more than the regular asking price, you upgrade a 30-minute Lake Powell Rainbow Bridge flight to include Horseshoe Bend.

2. The Colorado River Discovery Float Trip: on this beautiful half-day smooth water rafting trip, you won’t experience Horseshoe Bend from the world-famous “top down” perspective. Instead, you will see Horseshoe Bend from the “bottom up.” If you bring binoculars, you might even see the folks at the overlook waving to you – shoot, they’re probably jealous! This wonderful trip is another of the Lake Powell area’s top attractions, and with no rapids, it’s appropriate for children as young as 4. Visit www.raftthecanyon.com for more information on the Colorado River Discovery Float Trip.

For a complete list of Page and Lake Powell’s best activities, visit TripAdvisor.com. And be sure to visit the Travel Forum for more great tips and suggestions from their knowledgeable panel of Destination Experts.

‘Til next time, make it a “grand” day!

Good morning travelers, or goodness gracious, it’s almost afternoon ~ and goodness-er gracious-er, it’s almost Labor Day weekend! As those sage philosophers Pink Floyd once said, “every year is getting shorter,” and no doubt some of you are starting to feel a sense of urgency about crossing the Grand Canyon off your “bucket list.” Fair warning: you’re going to get a truckload of advice on how to get the most out of your Grand Canyon vacation, some of it from people who’ve never even been there!

Over the weekend, TripAdvisor contributor and Tempe, Arizona Destination Expert ‘MarianReader’ asked the following:

We have friends (seniors, still active) who have lived in Arizona for ten years but will be making their first Grand Canyon vacation next month. They have reservations at Mather Campground (they are veteran campers). I thought it might be interesting to find out what you would tell them to do/have/don’t miss/skip.  One thing I will tell them – fill up the gas tank in Flagstaff whether they need gas or not! How about you?

As you can imagine, lots of great pieces of advice were given from both Destination Experts and frequent Grand Canyon vacation takers. For example:

At the Grand Canyon, take your time. Never be in a rush to go anywhere. I like the viewpoints on the East Rim Drive, especially Lipan Point and Desert View. At Desert View I take the little social path just east of the tower. It gets you away from the crowd, and with binoculars or a scope you can spot ruins on the opposite cliff.   – ‘RedRox,’ Destination Expert, Sedona AZ

1. Do a Grand Canyon campfire or ranger program; 2. Take a short hike into the Grand Canyon canyon; 3. Walk up the Desert View Watchtower; 4. Have a drink or meal at El Tovar  - ‘CasaAzul,’ Destination Expert, Santa Fe, New Mexico and Mesa Verde National Park

Hike down into the Grand Canyon Canyon a bit if physically able. The perspective changes dramatically even if just hike to the first tunnel and back on the Bright Angel trail.   – ‘Flagstaff Traveler,’ Destination Expert, (3 guesses) Flagstaff, Arizona

Have a picnic for sunset or sunrise on the rim. Anywhere on the rim!  - ‘Buferson,’ Contributor from Indiana

1. Bring water 2. DRINK IT! – ‘K-Bot,’ Destination Expert, Grand Canyon National Park and Page, Arizona

Walk away from the Grand Canyon Village area and the crowds and enjoy the sunset! – ‘SouthJerseyGirl,’ Destination Expert, Grand Canyon National Park

Walk along the rim of the Grand Canyon a bit, and also explore the different viewpoints along rim drive and Hermit Road.  Bring your own refillable water bottle, some kind of light-weight canteen.   – ‘Esty666,’ Destination Expert, Wickenburg, Arizona

Sounds “sound” to us! Hope those of you who might have followed this advice will let us know how well it served you on your Grand Canyon vacation.

’til next time – make it a “grand” day!

Good morning travelers! No, I’m not about to start singing Sheryl Crow songs Today’s post is about the two most common mistakes made in the Grand Canyon Vacation planning process, which happen to be illustrated by not one but two trending threads on TripAdvisor.

Mistake #1: trying to cram too many destinations into a limited amount of time.  In a query titled “Vegas-Grand Canyon National Park -Bryce-Zion-Vegas in 3 nights,”  ’brooklyndan1′ writes:

Traveling w/3 active teenage daughters. I have 3 nights from a Tuesday to Friday to leave Las Vegas. Can I do all 3 NP’s not rushed. Maybe 2 nights at GCNP and one at Bryce or Zion. I just would like a good taste of all 3. Don’t need a full meal at each ;0)  I can leave on Tuesdasy morning, I need to be back in Vegas by Friday late afternoon (by 5-6 pm). I assume I should do the South Rim with all the amenities, although the north rim seems like an easier trip to hit all 3.

This is a common pitfall in Grand Canyon vacation planning, and I don’t blame ‘brooklyndan1′ one bit! He sounds like a busy dad, his time is at a premium, and there’s so dang much to see out here, it’s tempting to try and work it all in somehow, someway. Indeed, ‘awinatl’ offers up this suggested itinerary:

It can be done but is quite a bit of driving. I would do something like this:

Tue- Zion and possibly leave for Bryce in the late afternoon (a lot of driving that day though)

Wed- Bryce and head to Page, AZ in the late afternoon

Thur- checkout Page area and head to GC early/mid afternoon–make it to GC by sunset

Fri- GC until an early lunch and then back to LV

Bryce is a little out of the way for what you want to do but is a very cool place to see.

If all that’s making your head spin, here’s what it looks like on a map:

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Tucson Destination Expert ‘Bob B’ attempts to bring a little sanity to the situation:

I would make a choice: Zion and Bryce, or I would suggest an alternative of Grand Canyon National Park with some of the attractions near it. But all 3 in 3 days, no. You could wave to them as you drove past on the way to the next. These are very large natural areas over very long distances.

Here’s what I brought to this Grand Canyon vacation planning discussion:

GCNP-Bryce-Zion in 3 nights? Not my idea of fun, especially with 3 active teenage girls (I used to be one back in the dark ages). You’re going to be sitting in the car most of your vacation. IMO they – and you – would enjoy Lake Powell (Page). It’s just 2.5 hours from Grand Canyon South Rim and has a lot to offer, not just beautiful scenery (think Grand Canyon with water in it), but fun activities such as the Colorado River Float Trip, 4×4 tours to Antelope Slot Canyon, boating on Lake Powell itself, either by rental or tour boat. If you go with a rental boat, maybe add a tube or wakeboard to your package. I think that would be fun for the girls!

We’ll see what ‘brooklyndan1′ decides. We’ve always said that you can do whatever you put your mind to when it comes to your Grand Canyon vacation, but we also maintain that “quality” trumps “quantity” when it comes to using your Grand Canyon vacation time wisely.

Mistake #2: Another trap Grand Canyon vacation planners tend to fall into is overthinking their trip plan. Our old buddy ‘daruwala’ is doing this very thing right now:

Ok, we have about 6 hrs at the Grand Canyon. Driving from Las Vegas. Should reach Grand Canyon National Park around 10am. Once we enter the park thru South Rim, where to then? Drive west on Village Loop Dr to Rim Dr to Hermits Rest? Drive east on Entrance Rd? Park the car and use park shuttles? Is it a good idea to drive inside the park or use shuttles? I understand there is a visitors center at the entrance, but then what? We have about 6 hours, want to cover as much as possible and take some nice pics with kids (6 & 8).

Just reading this makes me want to tell ‘daruwala’ “whooooooooaaaaaa, buddy, chill!” It’s great that he is planning his Grand Canyon vacation in this much detail, even just a day visit. But there’s no one “best” way to enjoy the Grand Canyon once you arrive there.

When you arrive at the park, you’ll be given a map of Grand Canyon South Rim, which points out the roads you can drive (East Rim/Desert View) and those you can’t (West Rim/Hermit’s Rest). You’ll also receive a copy of “The Guide,” the Grand Canyon National Park Service’s quarterly newspaper that gives suggestions for how best to use the time you have, whether it’s a couple of hours or a couple of days.

‘daruwala’s’ best bet? Get to the park, pay your fee, go to the Canyon View Information Plaza, get your bearings and go from there. Walk across the street to Mather Point and take in that first breath-taking view of the Grand Canyon. Once that happens, you might find that you “let the day take you” as Meryl Streep said in “The Bridges of Madison County.” I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘daruwala’ threw his well-drawn-up plans entirely out the window.  That’s OK. Your Grand Canyon vacation is about discovery, on your own terms. Think about it too much, and after awhile it feels like work. Isn’t that the one thing you want to be able to forget about on your Grand Canyon vacation?

That’s all for now! Talk to you soon, and make your day a “grand” one!

Good morning travelers! Like you, I have a certain “routine” I follow when I first get to work. My morning routine consists of looking around the various online travel forums, such as TripAdvisor, Fodors, Frommers, etc. for topics relevant to the Grand Canyon. No surprise I find a lot of them, but I’m always particularly delighted to find accounts of peoples’ Grand Canyon vacations after they’ve traveled, better known as a “Trip Report.”

Today’s Grand Canyon Trip Report (courtesy of TripAdvisor) was short but sweet as traveler ‘QOE’ described seeing a Grand Canyon sunrise from one of the best possible vantage points:

We arrived at Grand Canyon National Park at 4:00 am, having driven all night, and learned that the park opens at that time. We were trying to pick a spot to watch the sunrise and the sky was already beginning to lighten up. We were headed for the Watch Tower but it seemed to be taking forever on the twisty little roads so we opted for Lipan Point to watch the sun come up. It was a great vantage point.

Sunrise over the Grand Canyon was one of the high points of this trip. It was chilly standing on the rim. We watched huge crows (one attacked the grill of my car!) and speedy larks whizzing by like fighter jets as we waited for the sun to peek out. I can’t say enough about how special that time was for us. Who knew a big hole in the ground could be so impressive!

‘QOE’ made their morning even more special by continuing onto other viewpoints such as Grandview Point, a personal favorite of mine and where our Grand Canyon Sunset Jeep Safari goes.

They then capped off their morning in grand style by enjoying breakfast the El Tovar Hotel Dining Room.  Though dinner at this Grand Canyon hotel is widely touted as being a very special experience, I too was always fond of breakfast. No reservations are required, and you can start what will no doubt be a busy day of Grand Canyon sightseeing with a hearty yet creatively prepared repast that will keep you going well into the afternoon if you need it to. That kind of helps ’cause the Grand Canyon Railway drops off hundreds of people every day at 11.30 am, most of whom glom towards the rimside restaurants for lunch. Forget about getting a table once that happens.

As for where ‘QOE’ went next, we don’t know yet – hopefully that’s the subject of another Grand Canyon trip report. But we sure enjoyed reliving the magical moment of a Grand Canyon sunrise with her – “Angry Birds” and all!

’til next time, here’s a video that talks about various dining options at the Grand Canyon, including the El Tovar Hotel.

Make your day as “grand” as you can, friend! We’ll talk to you again soon.

P.S. Hey one more thing: notice ‘QOE’s’ comment that even in June, standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon was “chilly.” That’s why here at GrandCanyon.com we always say bring at least a light jacket even if you’re traveling in summertime. We’re 7,000′ above sea level, so nights and mornings can still be on the cool side, even in June!

Good morning travelers. Today’s TripAdvisor forum thread has to do with what is probably the biggest challenge for people planning a Grand Canyon vacation.   To sum it up, it’s “so much to see, so little time!”

OP ‘Alex D’ writes:

I’m starting to plan a trip for my family to the Grand Canyon area and am finding that its a little bit overwhelming with pretty much no knowledge of the area (we’re from the east coast). We’re family of 4, 2 fairly active mid 50′s adults and 2 20 something boys and are looking at spending a week in the area. I as wondering if anyone has advice regarding an itinerary for a road trip starting from Sedona, with possible stops including Bryce canyon, Antelope Canyon, Zion, Lake Powell, etc. I’m not sure if you can do all of those in just one week, and would appreciate any insight into whats best to see or leave out.

Sedona resident and Arizona Destination Expert RedRox responds:

All of the destinations are desirable, but none wil be meaningful if you include them all and just rush through. Less is more. Quality time is more important on your Grand Canyon vacation than numbers of places. … Skip Zion and Bryce. Give Sedona 3-4 nights, Grand Canyon National Park 1-2 nights and Page 2-3 nights, OR do Zion 2 nights, Bryce 1 night, Page 2-3 nights and Grand Canyon National Park 1-2 nights.

Indeed, trying to squeeze too many destinations into the typical week-long vacation is something many Grand Canyon vacation planners attempt to do. In a separate thread, ‘vivian y’ is finding out that Utah’s Arches National Park looks to be close enough to include in one’s Grand Canyon vacation, but in reality, she’d be better off saving it for another visit. Hey it’s perfectly understandable, especially if you’re coming from overseas, or if you know that your Grand Canyon vacation is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime (or at least a blue moon) event. What’s more, there are so many attractions in addition to the Grand Canyon out here that it’s a shame not to try and see them all.

As for ‘Alex D,’ another bit of knowledge that would help us advise him better is knowing where he’s starting his trip from:

If Sedona is on your “wish list” (as it deserves to be), then I’d suggest flying into Phoenix (PHX). As RedRox says, if you do that, you might indeed want to take Zion and Bryce off the agenda since Sedona deserves some real quality time, 3 days at least. Page/Lake Powell also deserves a couple of nights as there is a lot to see and do there. 2 nights would also be ideal for Grand Canyon South Rim, but if you find yourself having to shave off any time, you can scoot by with just 1 night there because a good portion of your Grand Canyon sightseeing would actually occur on the drive to Page.

If Bryce and Zion are “must do’s,” then you might want to fly into Las Vegas instead of Phoenix. Very easy to do a 1-week Grand Canyon-Page-Bryce-Zion park loop using Las Vegas as your start/end point. But, you’d probably have to take Sedona out of that loop.

Or – and here’s where rental car dropoff fees may prove cost-prohibitive, but some people do this – you might start in Phoenix and end in Las Vegas. That way you can kind of have the best of all worlds, but then again, I’d recommend trying to find some extra time to make your “dream” Grand Canyon vacation a reality.

The American Southwest is anything but typical, especially when it comes to a Grand Canyon vacation. The “typical” week’s vacation that most of us take usually turns out to be insufficient time to see and experience all that’s out here. A better timeframe guideline for this part of the country: 10 days. Enough to enjoy some quality time at the destinations that warrant it, such as Sedona and Lake Powell, and enough to see everything on your “bucket list.”

Here’s a video with some excellent ideas for Grand Canyon vacation itineraries using Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) and Las Vegas McCarran (LAS) airports as your – pardon the pun – “jumping off places:”
Till next time – make this day a “grand” one!

Good morning travelers ~ Hope your weekend is shaping up to be a “grand” one! Today on TripAdvisor a Sedona visitor is inquiring about his family’s options for enjoying some Grand Canyon white water rafting. “EurOpeO6″ writes:

Hello experts-my family will be in Sedona for a week starting August 3rd. We have kids ranging from 10-18 that really want to go on a Grand Canyon white water raft trip but all the info I can find are on trips from Grand Canyon. Are there any tour outfits in Sedona that can help us?

Short answer: Yes!

Long answer (courtesy of yours truly):

Options for taking part in Grand Canyon White Water Rafting for Sedona Grand Canyon visitors are:

1. Most economical: Drive yourself to the Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs Arizona.

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The drive takes ~ 2.5 hours and the river company wants you to check in at 7 AM, so it means either an early morning, or consider spending the night in Peach Springs or somewhere close by, such as Seligman AZ the night before. Visitwww.grandcanyonwest.com for more information on taking the 1-Day Grand Canyon White Water Rafting trip from Peach Springs through Hualapai River Runners.

2. Most convenient for Sedona guests: take a Grand Canyon white water rafting package tour with one of several local Sedona Grand Canyon tour outfitters. These would pick you up at your Sedona hotel and take care of all the transportation requirements for you. Reputable outfitters include (but are not limited to) Great Ventures Tours, Red Stone Tours, and Great West Tours.

3. “Somewhere in between:” drive to Flagstaff (a little shy of one hour from Sedona) and take a tour package from there.

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Again, all transportation included. Advantage to doing so (driving to Flagstaff) is saving ~$50/head off your trip price, which is already quite high no matter how you go about it. Info re: Flagstaff 1-Day White Water Trip package ->: http://grandcanyon.com/white-water-rafting-tour-flagstaff.html

Option #3 is where GrandCanyon.com can come in for Sedona visitors.

If you decide that Grand Canyon white water rafting isn’t going to be your thing this time around, consider one of many wonderful Colorado River float trip options through Glen Canyon (near Page Arizona) or Black Canyon (near Boulder City NV). Here again, Sedona visitors, if you’re OK with taking the short drive from Sedona to Flagstaff, GrandCanyon.com and Grand Canyon Old West Jeep Tours have a very cool day tour package that not only includes the Glen Canyon Float Trip but a hike into beautiful Lower Antelope Slot Canyon! Check it out here ->: http://grandcanyon.com/colorado-river-rafting-trip-flagstaff.html

That’s all for now, travelers~ If you’re going to Sedona, have a wonderful time! If you’re asking “what is Sedona Arizona and why should I go there?” well… take a look at this video and join us next time for another “grand” adventure!