Grand Canyon Road Trip

Every American (okay, every human for that matter) owes it to him/herself to head to Arizona and visit the Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetimes. It's truly amazing to see how a little trickle of water eventually turned into the Colorado River, which eventually carved out the Grand Canyon.

You can approach a trip to the Grand Canyon in many different ways. One way is to stay within the park at one of the lodges on the South Rim and take time to experience all the different things the park has to offer. The South Rim is the part of the Grand Canyon most people are familiar with because it's in lower elevation and can be accessed all year round. The North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May, and is not as visited as the South Rim.

For those staying on the South Rim, there are numerous trails down the canyon, as well as a trail along the top of the Canyon. If you're staying on top in one of the lodges and are planning a day hike into the inner Canyon, just be aware that you probably cannot make it down and back in one day. A good day hike would be about half-way down and then up.

Some people choose to hike down one day and either camp at the bottom or stay in the Phantom Ranch. Be aware, however, that you have to make arrangements well in advance of your trip if you choose to stay at the bottom. Campers require a backcountry permit, and Phantom Ranch is usually booked months ahead. Permits are sometimes available on that day, but why risk it? For reservations at the Phantom Ranch, you can call 888-297-2757.

The benefit of staying within the park is the ability to take your time to view the magnificent Canyon from different viewing points, which you can access by walking the rim trail or taking a shuttle from point to point. For those of you staying for several days, a trip to the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon would be a lovely addition, though the drive is about 4 - 5 hours long. From mid-May to Mid-October a shuttle provides service from the South Rim to the North Rim.

Some people prefer to view the Canyon and move on. There are numerous areas in Northern Arizona where one can stay and take a side trip to the Grand Canyon, such as Sedona and Flagstaff. While such locations are still lengthy drives (an hour from Flagstaff, two from Sedona), it's still close enough for a day trip. Both Sedona and Flagstaff are lovely places to stay, with Sedona being the most 'touristy" of the two towns. Flagstaff, to me, is the quirkier of the two, perhaps because it is a "university town," home to Northern Arizona University.

Sedona and Flagstaff are also visually different. Flagstaff sits amongst a pine forest, while Sedona is in "red rock" country. Sedona abounds with numerous high-end resorts, galleries and expensive eateries. Flagstaff is cheaper all-around, with inexpensive lodging and restaurants. Both are close enough for a day trip to the Grand Canyon.