Tour the Grand Canyon.
Las Vegas' flashing lights, screaming neon and noisy casinos can be fun, but for some, a yearning for clean air and the quiet outdoors takes hold. Only 270 miles away, the Grand Canyon is breathtaking; it is 18 miles wide and a mile deep, with the 277-mile Colorado River flowing through it. Booking a bus tour from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon is the way to get away.
Instructions
1. Choosing a bus tour requires research. Most tours pick up from the major hotels on the Strip and downtown. Most last 12 hours, include breakfast and lunch, have add-on options such as lunch at an Indian reservation or rafting trips, and are one-day trips. Decide first; South Rim or West Rim? This directs your selection process.
2. Choose the South Rim to see the section that is part of the National Park Service. The canyon is 18 miles wide and one mile deep there. Tours to the South Rim might include breakfast, a sit-down lunch, and stops at the Hoover Dam, the historic Grand Canyon Railway, and rim walks to Yavapai Point and Bright Angel Lodge.
3. Visit the West Rim to see the part closest to Las Vegas (about 120 miles east) and is owned and occupied by the Hualapai Indians. It is smaller than the South Rim. Walk the popular "Skywalk," a unique glass and steel cantilever walkway that sits 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. People walk "suspended" over the canyon rim and look directly to the water below. Bus tours to the West Rim can include a photo stop at the Arizona lookout with views of the Hoover Dam, a ride through the 900 year old Joshua Tree Forrest and the Hualapai Indian Nation, and rim walks to Eagle Point and the Indian Village to see a Native American cultural performance.
4. Plan to take a hike. Most bus tours allow three hours in the canyon, which allows enough time for hiking. There are free shuttle vans within the park that can take you from point to point. Hike the Rim Trail or The Bright Angel Trail in an hour or less.
5. Book your tour. With your choice of Rim in mind, book your tour online, paying special attention to add-ons such as special meals, helicopter and limousine excursions, overnight stay options and special photo stop spots. Look for discounts for senior citizens and seasonal specials.
Tags: Grand Canyon, Bright Angel, Colorado River, include breakfast, mile deep
