- Catch the IMAX movie at the Visitor Center at Canyon View Information Plaza. We saw it the night we arrived. You can buy online in advance and save 10% which we didn’t know then.
- Be there at sunrise at see the beautiful rays of the sun spreading over magnificent colors early morning. Hike a short distance down the Bright Angel Trail in the morning. Walk a portion of the green way between Grand Canyon Village and Mather Point, provided it’s not smoldering hot weather.
- Attend a ranger presentation, for which times and locations are posted at the visitor centers.
- Take the Hermits Rest Route shuttle (free shuttles to move about in the park) along Hermit Road.
- Lo and Behold there is food at Hermit’s rest (you will know what I mean after the hot and strenuous hikes)
- From any of its stops, walk a short distance along the Rim Trail to quiet spots where you can savor the canyon. If possible, watch the sunset from Hopi Point.
- Absolutely do the Desert View Drive, a 25 mile long drive with beautiful vantage points for breathtaking views.
- View sunset from the Historic watchtower at the end of the drive.
- Carry water and light snacks and make sure you keep yourself hydrated at all times.
We stayed at the Red Feather Lodge which is a couple of miles away in Grand Canyon Village. The hotels in the Village are much more reasonable priced unless you want to stay within the Canyon itself! There are also plenty of food options in the Village.
What we didn't do
- The helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and also the Strip spanning approximately 2.5 hours. (We prefer the road/foot experiences)
- The North Rim (both rims are 210 highway miles apart) and that would have meant adding at least 2 more days to the schedule which was impossible.
- The West Rim where the SkyWalk with Grand Canyon West is owned by the Hualapai Indian Tribe. There are no gas stations, convenience markets or fast food services at Grand Canyon West. It is about 118 miles from Las Vegas and almost 350 miles to the South Rim. The horseshoe walk is a glass bridge that juts-out 70 feet into open space from the canyon's edge. Sounds pretty cool!
- There are multiple hikes to climb into the Canyon (some with camping options and requiring more than a day). Do explore those options if you are up for it.
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