The Great American Getaway Part 1: The Grand Canyon
Make the Grand Canyon the first stop on the Great American getaway, especially if you have little kids. Stress levels are low at the start of a road trip and you'll be less likely to hang a young one over a precipice by his toes.
Planning
There's a North Rim and a South Rim to the Grand Canyon, and although they're only ten miles apart, it's a five-and-a-half hour drive. When people speak of the Grand Canyon, they are most likely referring to the South Rim.
The main attraction at the South Rim is the Rim Trail, a paved, wheel chair and stroller accessible path full of tourists snapping photos and giving you dirty looks as your kids wander precariously close to the edge. If you have young children, bring a stroller or a leash, or chain them to a bench. For maximum enjoyment, look at a map and find a few scenic overlooks or easy hikes to drive to.
For families with older children, plan a hike. The National Park Service warns that there are no easy hikes into the canyon--over 250 hikers are rescued annually--so prepare accordingly. For hikes lasting more than a day, a permit is required.
Preparation
There are places to eat inside the park. They're expensive and the food isn't all that good. The best way to enjoy the Grand Canyon is to bring a picnic lunch. Restaurants abound in Tusayan, about seven miles outside the South Rim, and in Williams about 60 miles south but restaurants near the North Rim are scarce.
The Grand Canyon is far from civilization. Here are Sears Imported Autos's Preparation tips.
- Bring an extra set of car keys. Remember how angry you were when you locked the keys in the car at the grocery store? Doing so at the Grand Canyon will add hours to that anger.
- Bring a lot of water. Nothing ruins a family vacation faster than dehydration.
- Keep the gas tank full because, correction: nothing ruins the family vacation faster than running out of gas in the middle of nowhere without any water and dying from dehydration.
- Be humble. Staring at the canyon is humbling, but so is hiking beyond your capabilities and needing to be rescued by paramedics as your family looks on in embarrassment.
Lodging
If you plan well enough in advance and don't mind shelling out a few extra (hundreds of) dollars, you can stay in the actual park--well worth the money, if you plan a multi-day visit. Several hotels are located inside the park at the South Rim. The North Rim has only one. Camping inside the park is also available at Mather Campground on the South Rim. Reservations are required between March and October. During the winter the campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
There are an abundance of hotels in Tusayan, just outside the South Rim, and Williams, the self-proclaimed gateway to the Grand Canyon. Tusayan offers a free shuttle into the park during the summer months. Williams has the famous Grand Canyon railway. The North Rim has fewer accommodations and the North Rim Campground is open from May to October, as are several campgrounds nearby. For those who enjoy (very) cold-weather camping, there are a limited number of campsites available starting in October that remain open until snow makes the North Rim inaccessible.
