Grand Canyon-who's been there?

[flyingcow]

It won't happen for a few yrs, but my wife and i would like to go see the Grand canyon and surrounding areas. I would like some input from people who has done this. Especially people from this site, who are generally grounded in reality/spending. Is the cost of tours and the trip a concern for us? Not really, but we don't like to spend money on a wasted adventure. It happens once in a while, but don't loose sleep over it.

We went to Niagara Falls last yr and had a blast. Was amazed with all of it. We drove with another couple. Stopped on the way back in Lake Placid for a day then onto Burlington. Took the ferry across Lake Champlain to Burlington, but before we got on the ferry, we went to Ausable Chasm NY. The whole trip was very fun.

Since i live in Maine, probably won't drive to the Grand canyon. looks like you fly into Las Vegas? Just curious of opinions, sign up for the tours? Or rent a car drive it?

 

[BrotherBart]

I would drive it from Las Vegas and check out Hoover Dam on the way. We only drove up to the edge of the Grand Canyon and took a look. It took my breath away just like the water flow on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls did.

 

[tigger]

I have done it twice from Vegas. I would definitely rent a car and drive. Stop and check out the dam. It's imaging to think about the labor that went into building that. Seeing the topography and lanscape on the way to the canyon is part of the trip. It will look a bit different than the trees in maine!

 

[Warm_in_NH]

Agree with both posts above. I hit the South rim briefly on my way to Vegas on the bike.
As far as a canyon goes, it's big and colorful, and packed with bus loads of tourists from other countries.
I was happy I saw it.....big.

Hoover dam, to me, much more interesting. Topography and mountain goats pretty cool, giant cat fish swimming along the dam, neat, wondering what the ride would be like through one of the over flow tubes, fun, riding out motorcycles over the ridge at dusk and seeing vegas all lit up as we rolled into town, awesome.

IF I were to do it again, and had a week. I would consider flying into Denver, renting a car and driving to Vegas via Rocky mountain Nat park, moab utah, the canyon and the dam then fly back home from vegas.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

drove out there in 2006 from Va. made it in 2 days. had to go to prescott valley Az. to look at a truvckload of stoves that had gotten damaged in shipping. we had 3 days to drive out there before we could get into the warehouse on the 4th day. so, we drove it in the 2 days so we would have the 3rd day to go to the canyon. was well worth the trip. there simply isnt any way to describe the views, even pictures do no good at all at depictiung the sheer magnitude of the place

 

[flyingcow]

I really appreciate the reply's. And i would like everyone's response on this question. I am hoping to get 7 days off from work. It's a bit aggravating, but being a small self employed company/person, I'm at the mercy of the few guys that help me. Sorry. got of on a grumble.. back to the question-----We liked seeing the wonders of Niagara. But 2 full days we did it all, pretty easily. How many days to see the Canyon and see all it's wonders? 1 or 2? Or more?

I like the idea of flying into one area and traveling and flying out of another. Or even flying into Vegas and doing a 5 day trip staying at various places. Vegas has some good air fairs. BTW...we don't gamble, but my wife does like the glitzy shows Vegas may offer.

Thanks again for everyone's input. i flew out to boise a few weeks ago and went to a convention for a few days.....Good lord this is a big Country.

 

[firefighterjake]

Haven't been to the Grand Canyon ... but would like to do so some day.

Going to Vegas and using that as a base would also put you within striking distance of Death Valley and some other southwestern national parks.

 

[Doug MacIVER]

three times while in college. first thoughts,WOW. after that it is so expansive it lost me. i'm not the type to look for hourly changes . impressed, then let's get going to vegas

 

[jdinspector]

I flew over the canyon in a private plane about 6 years ago. Not sure if that is still allowed. Really cool to see from a small plane. Paid about $300, I recall.

 

[BrotherBart]

Yeah the WOW factor of standing on the rim of the Canyon was the thing for me. Don't know that doing anything else would have added to it. We parked in a lot that had a hedge blocking the view. Walked through the hedge and there it was. Took the breath away.

Doing seven days you should probably turn around and see a piece of Death Valley and then fly back out of Las Vegas.

Our last one was picking up the new convertible in Santa Monica, CA and driving up through San Francisco to Reno and back down through Las Vegas, Arizona and back home to Texas. The rear end in the new car started cratering between Reno and Las Vegas and we limped into the shop in Albuquerque to wait for parts. First and last two week vacation I ever had and the last time I will ever take a driving one that long.

 

[Warm_in_NH]

I agree with the "wow factor" of seeing the giant hole in the earth. Glad I saw it, no need to go back. Although the helicopter tours I see advertised when in Vegas always perk my interest.

Plenty to do in Vegas even if you don't gamble. If you like seeing some amazing architecture, and just cool stuff, merely walking the through the casinos is a good time. Good restaurants, tons of shops, great pools, thrill rides, shows (can be pricey though) people watching, make sure you go to "old vegas" Freemont street, neat overhead light show every hour at night. I know I could easily kill a week in Vegas combined with the Hoover dam, canyon, would check out death valley too. Like you said air fare and hotels can be found at some good prices out there. If you do your homework before you go you can eat and drink very inexpensively as well.

 

[Flatbedford]

My sister in law lives in Scottsdale, AZ. We flew out there for about a week back in the spring of 2007. We only had a few days so we rented a car and went driving. We spent about 4 hours at Grand Canyon. We pretty much drove in, went to the visitor center, and then drove the rim road East stopping at every pull off. It was absolutely incredible! It on big gosh-darn hole in the ground. Photos are impressive, but can never capture the magnitude of the place. I love heights and the Grand Canyon has some great places to sit on a cliff hundreds or even thousands of feet above. Just the sound of being on one of those cliffs is awesome! If I could go back and spend a month there it still wouldn't be enough time. Also check out the Little Colorado River Gorge, East of the Grand Canyon off rt. 64. We just happened to stumble across it on the way back to Flagstaff. http://navajonationparks.org/htm/littlecolorado.htm
We found a little turn off from the highway that led to a parking lot with some souvenir shops and a walking path to the gorge. When we saw this sign, we knew it would be something big.

The sign was right. Sheer cliffs with spindly little pipe railing and nobody else around. possibly even more spectacular the Grand Canyon because if its remoteness and solitude.
For a North Easterner, just about any place West of Kansas is so different from anything we are used to. After seeing the Grand Canyon, I can't help but imagine what the first Europeans thought when they got to the edge. While they may have been amazed by the beauty and grandeur of it, I think they were even more devestated when they realized that they would have to go around it to continue west and, hopefully, get the hell out of that desert.

 

[flyingcow]

Really appreciating everyone's comments.
Thanks

 

[BrotherBart]

Flatbedford needs a stroll on the Sky Walk.

 

[Flatbedford]

The Sky Walk looks cool, but I think I'd be much happier to find my own quiet precipice.