sremsing
Maumelle, Arkansas
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Planning on a trip to the Grand Canyon with my wife and 16 year old daughter this comeing June or July. I see there are not any full hookup sites in the Grand Canyon camping grounds. I see there is one called Trailer Village that does have full hookups. Can anyone recommend this place, or know of a better one ? Also, things to do, best areas to see the canyon, and possibly things to do along the way. We will be leaving from Arkansas. Not sure if there is enough to keep a 16 year old female occupied for two weeks at the Grand Canyon itself. Any suggestions are very welcome !
What is your preference if you have been there before, the North rim of the South rim ?
Thanks !
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trop-a-cal
Palm Coast Fl
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That's the under statement of the year. It's just a day trip for most. Unless you are in great shape and have resevations to stay at the bottom overnight. The trip should include Santa Fe,Taos,Las Vegas,and why not Hollywood.
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TexasShadow
Spring Branch, TX USA
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get reservations at the Trailer Village campground inside the park. It has full hookups. do it several months in advance if you can.
seeing the canyon: do it by shuttle, and do both shuttles, east and west.
there are hiking trails along the canyon rim.
there is horseback riding.
in the town of Tusayan, there is an IMAC theater with good presentation.
if your budget allows, have lunch or dinner at the lodge.
in my opinion, there isn't enough to keep anyone occupied for 2 weeks at the canyon, much less a 16 yr old. 2 or 3 days is plenty.
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eubank
Angel Fire, NM, USA
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We stayed a week and did most trails except any going to the bottom. It was nice. I would recommend Trailer Village. It's an ok park, but it's escpecially nice because you're just a stone's throw from the rim (and from the grocery store, etc.).
Two weeks might be a bit much, though. Maybe several days at the south rim, several at the north rim, and a touch of some of the other fun areas nearby.
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aslakson
Fulltiming in the Lower 48
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Add in a day trip to Flagstaff for the Lowell Observatory, or a run down to Sedona and the mountainside town of Jerome. Check out some of the prehistoric Native American villages. The canyon itself changes dramatically depending on the time of day and angle of the sun. Spend a morning at the canyon, then go someplace else. Next day, do an afternoon at the canyon and catch a sunset. We spent a week and wanted more. But then our age is measured in multiples of 16.
al
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Hi,
Grand Canyon Camper Village is just outside of the south park entrance, near the I-Max theatre. THey also have nearby helicopter tours. 520-638-2887. Restaurant and other services.
Grand Canyon Trailer Village is within the park, and offers only 80 full hookups with 30 amp service. 303-297-2757.
I would recomend staying at least one or two nights inside the park, even though there are not hookups, because it is a short walk from the RV to the rim of the canyon, and the view changes a lot.
There are a lot of other things to see in Arizona, besides the Grand Canyon. Canyon De Chelley, Monument Valley, and Page are nearby. The longest rock arch is a short boat ride from Page to Rainbow Bridge National Monument. They have commercial boats that give a one day tour to the monument.
If you go to Monument Valley, I highly recommend the Indian campground, it overlooks the mittens in the park.
Fred.
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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You could also go to Williams, AZ and stay at the full service are relatively new Grand Canyon Railroad Campground. Take the train to the South Rim, stay over for three hours, and take the train back. Includes a humorous pre-trip show at the CG and the train is `held up' on the way back.
That's the normal length of time for visitors to the South Rim. If you plan to hike, to see more of the park, stay closer to the Park.
After the South Rim you can drive around to the North Rim and easily spend a day, or two.
Unless you do a lot of hiking you can't spend two meaningful weeks at the GC.
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havedreamwilltravel
Southern California
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2 weeks at the Grand Canyon? NO WAY. I'm an adult and i'd be bored! 2 maybe 3 days tops. Instead of making the Grand Canyon your main destination - stop there for 2-3 days and move onto Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. All gorgeous areas with a bit different feels and a beauty all their own.
Trailer Village inside the National Park is the best. Full hookups, easy walk to the rim. Shuttle service second to none. Close to small market (for ice cream of course). Was nice to go to the canyon edge early in the morning and sit and drink our coffee, walk back, have breakfast, relax, see the canyon in late morning light, hike the south rim trail to the hotel area etc. Loved the ability to come and go to and from the rim whenever we wanted and to see it in different light at different times of the day.
Definitely arrive early and take the shuttle up to Hopi Point for the sunset!
There's a reason almost EVERY SINGLE PICTURE you ever see is from the South Rim, though crowded with tourists during the summer, it has some of the grandest and most breathtaking views.
Camper Village outside the park is a dump.
If you want to spend more than 2 to 3 days at the Grand Canyon I will recommend the mule ride down to the bottom, stay at Phantom Ranch and come back up the next day. Not for the faint of heart though!
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tvman44
Southwest Louisiana
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Do take a flying tour over the canyon.
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Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Dick_B wrote:You could also go to Williams, AZ and stay at the full service are relatively new Grand Canyon Railroad Campground. Take the train to the South Rim, stay over for three hours, and take the train back. Includes a humorous pre-trip show at the CG and the train is `held up' on the way back.
That's the normal length of time for visitors to the South Rim. If you plan to hike, to see more of the park, stay closer to the Park.
After the South Rim you can drive around to the North Rim and easily spend a day, or two.
Unless you do a lot of hiking you can't spend two meaningful weeks at the GC.
Grand Canyon Railway Resort is very nice. It's very close to old Route 66 and there are a lot of cool restaurants in town.
ETA: the campground is mighty close to the rails. The train goes through twice a night and it scare the bejeezus out of my kids. The looks on there faces alone was worth the price of admission
(I know, there goes my Mother of the Year crown.)
I would vote for spending a day in Grand Canyon--we went with our 14yo and really, she could take it or leave it. Since we were so close we also ran over to Las Vegas. The kids LOVED Vegas!
Much as I'd love to spend more time in the Canyon, I think 2 weeks would drive me buggy. I'd like to go back sometime and explore Flagstaff & Sedona, but not with my teens, I think.
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
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