When I went to the Grand Canyon, I stayed in Flagstaff, which is about 70 miles away. The drive there was so beautiful. However, be very careful of deer, insane drivers, and fire. One of the areas that I passed was easy to see where it was destroyed by wildfire. It took about an hour and a half to drive there. Outside the Grand Canyon there is a small town where you can get hotels, airplane rides, food, and park passes. If you are planning to take plane rides, donkey trips, or stay in a hotel, book early. These places fill up fast. Even in Flagstaff. I got my hotel really late, two days before I arrived, and I got the last room. When I arrived in the town, I saw a bunch of cars on the side of the road and people running across the street. BE CAREFUL OF THIS!! People don’t pay attention here. If they see something, cars will stop in the middle of the road or while crossing, or cross without looking, so just be careful. Anyway, on the side were three huge elk, or what I was told were elk. I quickly turned into the parking lot of a hotel and got out of my car. I got within 20 feet of them to take pictures and they didn’t seem to mind. From there I went to the park. I got my park pass form the ranger station for $20. It allows you to access the park for a week. Here they also give you a map of the park and list of the different activities that are taking place that day. Needless to say that my first view of the Grand Canyon was breathtaking. There is no way to put into words the majesty of the park. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to view the canyon from the bottom. I took the shuttle out to Hermits Rest, stopping at several points along the way. The shuttle isn’t a tour bus, but it gives you information about the park and the different stops along the way. One of the advantages of getting there early is that there are fewer people trying to get on the bus. At one point I was at a stop completely by myself. This was by far the highlight of my trip; taking in the scenery with no people near was close to a religious experience. Around the park there are paths set up so you don’t have to take the bus, but you can walk along the rim. There are also maps set up so you know where you are and the distance between each bus stop. The park offers many great lectures and walks from experienced park rangers, who not only know their stuff but also obviously love what they do and where they are. The topics cover a variety of subjects and some offer opportunities to hike along the trails.

I've heard the Grand Canyon referred to as the "Canyon of all Canyons". Once you lay eyes on it, you have to agree. The canyon is unbelievable, but the park is also crowded and a little hectic.

After waiting in line on Highway 64 for about two hours to get into the park, we started at the Yavapai Point View Point. This was a nice place to begin because you can really see and imagine how the Colorado River ate away the rock to form this massive canyon. Next, we headed to the Yaki Point. At this point you can see some of the hiking trails. We didn't have enough to hike around at the canyon, but we prepared before you attempt to hike.

The Grandview Point is one of the better view points. You can identify a few rock formations including the Horseshoe Mesa, Angles Gate, and Vishu Temple.

We also enjoyed the Lipan Point and Desert View. What I liked about the Lipan Point was the Colorado River below makes a huge curey "S" with a some vegetation along the banks. We heard that this is the area where most wildlife (mule deer and white elk) can be seen, but we were only lucky enough to spot a few squirrels. By the time we got to the Desert View, it was late in the afternoon and their was a huge shadow over the canyon and the rocks appeared dull and gray. Although the view was still impressive, it was as brilliant as other view points earlier in the day.

The cost for the park is $25. We chose to purchase a National Park Pass which is $50 for the family and is good at any National Park for 1 year. The Grand Canyon South Rim is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

I entered Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim, at the East entrance. The first stop was Desert View Point. After looking at the canyon from the viewing platform, I climbed up in the round Watchtower building. The view was spectacular both from the tower and from the ground.

The Watchtower, which opened in 1933, was designed by architect Mary Colter to be in harmony with its surroundings. It is five stories tall. The ground floor has park information and a gift shop. You climb up the narrow stairways to reach the upper levels. The center is open so you can look up and down. The interior has a Native American theme, very tastefully done.

The Desert View area also has a shop and snack bar, and a bookstore/information center.

I drove the 26-mile road along the rim, stopping a few times for the views. The squirrels were totally unafraid of people, and a large crow also edged up to me one time as I was taking photos. Near the west end of the road, I stopped and walked about ¾ mile each way on the Rim Trail. Easy walk and, of course, amazing views. Some of the drop-offs were so steep, and people got so close to them, that it made me dizzy.

I stopped at the Grand Canyon Village, which seems to be the central area for tourists. I didn’t get a good impression of it, due partly to confusing signs about where it was and partly to an unfriendly clerk at the gift shop.

There's no question that the Grand Canyon is a must-see. I'm glad I went midweek and in May so it wasn't even more crowded.

The Grand Canyon is one of those places that you really have to see to believe. A typical photo cannot capture its size, or its majesty. Go at different times of the day to see the canyon in different light--sunset and sunrise are the best (and least crowded) times. We took a guided tour from Discover Grand Canyon (discovergrandcanyon.com). While our tour guide was informative and very friendly and accommodating, we could've easily done the tour ourselves, saving us $70 each. The visitor center at the Canyon is informative, with lots of displays, and the rangers there are happy to answer questions and help.

The main entrance from the Grand Canyon National Park is located 80 miles from Flagstaff and 275 miles from Las Vegas. The entrance fee for the park is $20 per car for a week or, if you walk in, $10 for a week. For us and for many visitors, the best option is to buy a National Park Pass. The pass costs $50 and gives you and your family and vehicle entrance into any national park where you need to pay an entrance fee.

The park is split in two parts, the north rim and the south rim, with the Colorado River running in the middle. We visited, like most tourists, the south rim, and all the information we have is about the south rim. When you enter the park, you receive a copy of their free guide and a nice color map. After that you need to park your car and use the shuttle buses. We parked our car at the Mather Point. Here we had our first impression of the Grand Canyon, and it was amazing. Very breathtaking. From here you can walk to the visitor center. You need to visit the visitor center. They have great information about the park, like maps and pictures, but they also provide a lot of information about the activities in the park, like the ranger programs.

From here you can go farther into the park. For this, use the free shuttle buses. There are three routes: Village (blue), Hermits Rest (red), and Kaibab Trail (green). We first took the blue line to the starting point of Hermits Rest. This route runs along the canyon to Hermits Rest, and this part of the park is closed for private vehicles. We got off at several points, and the views were spectacular and unforgettable. At the end point (Hermets Rest), we made a call home (Belgium). It was a great experience calling home with a view of the Grand Canyon.

Then we bought some souvenirs in the village and returned to our car. Because we needed to drive to Zion, we did the Kaibab Trail route by car. There are also some great stops with special views, and at these viewpoints are a lot fewer tourists. We stopped at Yaki Point, Grandview Point, and Desert View.

We loved the Grand Canyon. It has much to offer, but you need at least one day to get a good view of and feeling for this park. If you stay on the main roads, it can be crowded. We regret that we did not have one day more, but once in our lives, we will go back for more than one day. We would like to hike in the canyon to the Colorado River. I think this is the only way to experience the greatness of the canyon. One thing's for sure--we will go back to hike!!!