We’re touring the country and will be making a stop at Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim. Haven’t got on to the Internet yet but am curious if we can roll in and spend the night in one of the Park’s many car lots? Or is there an area for RV’s with hookups in Grand Canyon Village? Also, do you know how many miles it is round trip from Tucson?

We may be going by plane to the Grand Canyon, but where’s the closest airport to the landmark? Should we stay in Utah, Los Angeles or Arizona? What city should we stay in?

Ok, I’m going to the Grand Canyon to go Whitewater rafting down the Colorado river.

We will be taking a tour bus to the rafting destination, then we will go rafting, then we will be taking a helicopter ride out of the canyon and then the bus ride home.

Oh yeah, we will be eating lunch there too.

My question is: What is the proper tip to give to the

1. Bus driver
2. the rafter guide
3. the helicopter pilot

Help, I don’t want to look like a jerk here.

thanks

Las Vegas is 5.5 hours from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Our coach got us there on time. I found the trip to completely enjoyable. The scenery at the National Park is jaw-dropping, especially Mather Point. From the lookout area behind Bright Angel Lodge I could see Phantom Ranch on the bottom. Spectacular!

We went on a day trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. The flight leaves from the North Las Vegas Airport which is about 20 mins out of town and is operated by Vision Air. The flight only took 1 hour but it was very bumpy because of a 75mph crosswind! In this video, there are fantastic shots of the Grand Canyon, the Hoover Dam from 9500ft and the landing into Grand Canyon Airport. Filmed using the Sony HDR-HC5E HDV1080i High Definition Handycam.

A few months ago I had what I’m about 90% sure was an anxiety attack out of absolutely NO WHERE…Felt like I was having a heart attack. I couldn’t eat, focus, anything, just paralized, trembling, chest pains, felt like I was going to “lose it” for lack of a better term. Went out to my car, laid down there for about 45 minutes, felt ok enough to drive and drove home. By the time I got home I felt fine.

After that I felt fine again for a few weeks until I had another one, same situation just sitting in the office working but this time the issues never went away.

It’s been months and EVERY DAY I feel like I’m on the verge of having another one. As a result mild agoraphobia is present (I dread meetings etc) and I’ve noticed a severe problem with motion sickness/stomach sensitivity to movement etc now that I didn’t have before (though I’ve never been fond of crazy roller coasters and/or heights, but it’s MUCH worse now – For instance, I couldn’t handle the space needle restaraunt in Seattle…made it to the table for about 5 minutes then had to go back down).

My doctor tried a few SRRI’s (can’t remember the name of them now, but) and they didn’t work, they actually made the problems WORSE…He tried me on 3 different ones and every time I took the first pill of that type I was unable to work that day due to it magnifying the symptoms rather than eliminating them. Now I have a prescription for Valum (sp?) that I take just before entering a meeting or something, takes the edge off, so works in that sense, but doesn’t completely resolve it.

I can’t figure out how to resolve this, it’s getting REALLY annoying (wife wants to go to Vegas next month and take a helicopter ride to the grand canyon’s sky walk…I’m DREADING that trip for the helicopter ride and the sky walk, both have me freaked out about well, freaking out).

Symptoms seem to be worse in the morning, ease off a bit by mid-day/afternoon and are minimal at night (though still there).

Thinking maybe acupuncture? Therapy? But for the latter would it be phsycologist or phsychiatrist? Willing to try anything to ditch this.

I am going to be staying at the Yavapai Lodge at the South Rim, Grand Canyon with my wife and my 8 year old son. When I look up day hikes, it seems that there are more trails on the North Rim. I’m wondering if I will be able to do any of the North Rim trails from where I am staying. Too late to change my reservations.

A view of a rainbow that appeared after a thunder and hail storm at Mather Point in Grand Canyon National Park in October 2009.

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See as much of the South Rim as possible in a day? Take a Grand Canyon Airplane tour. In under an hour, this flight covers half of the national park. When it comes to canyon sightseeing, no other trip tops it.

Flights leave year round from Grand Canyon Airport, located in the Tusayan, the small town just 10 minutes from the national park’s main entrance. The airport is a flurry of activity (including helicopter) and serves as the primary base for incoming and outgoing South Rim air traffic.

In most cases you’ll board a Vistaliner, a sightseeing aircraft equipped with specially designed windows that offer full, unobstructed views. In addition, most planes include in-flight narration about fascinating facts and history about the Grand Canyon as you fly above it.

Air tours start by heading for the eastern part of the Canyon. On this part of the flight you’ll cross Zuni Point and the Zuni Corridor, fly past the Desert View Watchtower, skim the Painted Desert, and hover over the Navajo Indian Reservation.

The airplane will turn at majestic Temple Butte and begin its return flight along the North Rim to the South Rim, where you’ll get great aerial views of the Kaibab Plateau and Kaibab National Forest. Imperial Point, the highest in the canyon, will come into view as the tour wends its way westward then south over Dragon Corridor, the widest and most open part of the canyon.

Total tour time averages about 50 minutes. If you want great photos and the best views, get a seat on the right side of the plane. Prices are usually around $125 for adults and $90 for children. Get the best price by booking online.

There’s a Las Vegas Grand Canyon South Rim airplane tour that leaves from Sin City and arrives at the South Rim in 45 minutes. The flight over follows the Colorado River, letting you see all of the West Rim area. At Grand Canyon Airport, you’ll transfer to a luxury bus and drive to the edge. The guided bus tour lasts up to three hours and includes stops at some of the rim’s excellent lookouts like Mather Point, Hermit’s Rest, and Yavapai Observation Center.

If you want to see the most Grand Canyon in a day, airplane tours are the way to go. The basic flight takes in three rims and flies as far east as the Navajo Indian Reservation. The Las Vegas South Rim flight lets you see all of the West Rim before touching down at Grand Canyon airport. With tours like these, why scratch the surface when you can cover the canyon to the max?

Grand Canyon plane rides are the best way to explore the South Rim. Before you go, check out travel writer Keith Kravitz’ tour operator reviews at: http://www.GrandCanyonAirplaneTours.net

day hiker enjoys the view of the grand canyon via the rim trail in grand canyon village, south rim.

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