Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon

Awesome experience that I will always treasure. What an amazing natural wonder that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.

We visited Grand Canyon South and West rim during the month of november. We throughly enjoyed the trip. Most beautiful place in the world. I have written about my experience in my blog My Scrawls about our Grand Canyon trip.

We visited in late Sept. and had beautiful weather, no crowds. We stayed 5 nights in the park. We just missed the rainy season, however. My 15 yr. old son and I did the day mule trip. It was great and not as grueling as I feared. Be warned however, that there were a couple of elderly people who became ill. I am a 45 yr. old wimpy female and did fine, just a little saddle sore. We want to go back when my daughter is tall enough, so the whole family can ride the mules to Phantom Ranch! We stayed at Thunderbird Lodge in the park and highly recommend it. It was wonderful to walk out your door and have the canyon view right there. We loved the desert view watch tower. It was incredible architecture and had an amazing view. We took a short drive to Cameron and purchased native american items. We then drove to the pueblo Indian ruins, which were awesome! Much better than the Tusayan relics in the park. And also saw the Sunset volcano crater which was great. We spent one final night in Las Vegas at the Goden Nugget which was great! The kids loved their pool with shark tank!

As another reviewer has stated, this really is one of those places you have to visit in your lifetime. However, it is very important to plan ahead. Make sure you organize a hike, or book guided excursions (I would imagine the mule ride is a blast) well in advance. Just wandering aimlessly along the rim trail gets old quickly, even with all of the beautiful scenery.

Plain and simple the Grand Canyon is simply the most beautiful place in the world that I have been. I used to live in Arizona and was there seven times when I lived there. I have been to the bottom twice, on foot. When I was in Arizona last month(April 2008) on a vacation I decided to visit again. It was just as beautiful as I remember it being and I hadn't been there in more than twenty years.

I loved the enviroment, and the trails. Everything is so peaceful there. The only thing I didn't like about it, is how flippin hot it is!!! But it's a beautiful place, I encurage you guys to take your children there!

The Grand Canyon is amazing, a miracle formed by nature. It is breathtaking when you see it for the first time. Or for any time for that matter. My fondest memories are of visiting the Canyon as a child, and I've made many more memories since with visits with my partner. It's colors and patterns and mountains are unreal. It is truly a "must see before you die" place :)

Taking a mule ride (or even hiking down) is to be constantly surrounded by breathtaking beauty. Even the drive from southern AZ is amazing. Considering it's remote location and the fact all hotel rooms are operated by the same company, I didn't feel I was being gouged money-wise. Avoid the McDonald's on the way in and go to one of the independent restaurants.

I live in Arizona and have visited the Grand Canyon fourteen (yes, fourteen) times; many of those visits were to take family and friends, and covered just about every month of the year. Each visit was different but special in its own way. If you plan to hike the canyon, I'd recommend being physically conditioned - its a hike like no other, and you will enjoy it a lot more. Plan also to stay overnight a the Phantom Ranch. Yes, it may be just a 'hole in the ground' but what a spectacular hole ! Time to make it trip # fifteen.

Every American needs to see the Grand Canyon! No one should go outside the U.S. to see anything until they have seen the Grand Canyon. Awesome, breathtaking--there are not enough words. With a fee of $25 for a 7 day pass - it is the best bargain in the world!! I would never tire of looking. And you MUST see the sun rise there. Marvelous! I cannot recommend it highly enough. GO!!