Grand Canyon Vacation With a Fresh Twist
If you’re thinking about visiting the Grand Canyon this winter, why not stay in Flagstaff, Arizona? The Grand Canyon is only a short highway drive away and there is lots for the family to do in Flagstaff. If that isn’t enough to convince you, there are tons of great hotels and hundreds of awesome restaurants. Just in case you’re still skeptical about Flagstaff, consider these ideas for your trip.
This all-day adventure is one the entire family will adore. You and your family get to float down the Colorado River and enjoy the many sights. The trip begins with a tour of the Navajo Indian Reservation which leads you to the banks of the Colorado River where you board the raft and shove off on your adventure. Don’t forget your camera. If you enjoyed the views from the top, just wait until you see the views from the bottom!
Antelope Canyon/Glen Canyon Photo Tour
If you traveled to Arizona for the different sights, the Grand Canyon shouldn’t be the only one you see. Antelope Canyon and Glen Canyon are just as breath-taking, on a smaller scale of course. Intense shades of red, orange and yellow color the landscape and the many colors change dramatically throughout the day. Make sure to bring plenty of film or a blank memory card, because you’re going to be taking a lot of pictures. Not only will you visit Antelope and Glen Canyons, you’ll also be guided through the Lonely Dell and scenic overlooks of Lake Powell and the Vermillion Cliffs.
Petrified Forest, Painted Desert & Meteor Crater
If you’re seeking a tour with more variety, look no further. This tour begins with a trip to Arizona’s Meteor Crater. The on-site Visitors Center will provide all of the information you may need about the site, including info on the astronaut training that took place in the crater years ago. The newly-remodeled Museum of Astrogeology includes displays about meteor impacts and collisions throughout the galaxy. Don’t forget the Meteor Crater Interactive Learning Center’s 24 exciting exhibits.
After Meteor Crater, you will be guided to the combined National Parks of Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. You and your family will hear the fascinating story of how this once-thriving forest turned to solid stone while you enjoy the sights of the spectacularly-colored Painted Desert cliffs, ancient petroglyphs and ruins of prehistoric Native American villages.
Visit National Forests near the Grand Canyon
In addition to the Grand Canyon National Park, there are several other natural attractions to visit in the area during your vacation.
This national landmark adjacent to the Grand Canyon National Park features desert and mountain landscapes, the two split by the large ravine in the center of the park. Kendrick’s Peak is located in the south side of the Kaibab National Forest. Other natural attractions in the forest include Sycamore Canyon and Kanab Creek. An interesting and unique aspect of this park is the ancient writings and signs of civilization left behind by the Cohonina tribe, who inhabited the area from 700 to 1100 AD. Visitors can see pottery, stone houses, stone tools, and more. While in the Kaibab Forest, you can enjoy hiking, sightseeing, and exploration.
Painted Desert and Petrified National Forest
These two natural attractions are highlights to many visitors’ trips to Arizona. Unlike the Kaibab National Forest, the Petrified National Forest does not contain thick groves of tall trees. Instead, this natural wonder contains a field of petrified wood. The petrified trees are thousands of years old. Native Americans also made this area their home, and many artifacts and drawings have been found. The Petrified National Forest is also located on Historic Route 66. The Painted Desert is another one-of-a-kind natural attraction found near the Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon. This desert area is a badlands that stretches across thousands of miles in Arizona. The Painted Desert is still home to the Navajo tribe. The painted aspect of the desert comes from hundreds of mineral and organic layers.
We offer several tours that stop at these national parks, including the Rim Walk & Indian Paintings Jeep Tour, Imperial Helicopter Tour, and the Indian Painting Safari Jeep Tour.
Visit Flagstaff, Arizona During a Grand Canyon Vacation
Although the Grand Canyon is the main attraction in Arizona, nearby Flagstaff offers many attraction opportunities and lodging options. At just about two hours from the Grand Canyon National Park, Flagstaff is a great location as a base for your Grand Canyon Vacation.
If you want to make the Grand Canyon the focus of your vacation, then the Flagstaff’s Grand Canyon Experience vacation package is perfect for your trip. This package includes three nights of lodging in Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon Scenic Rim Full Day Tour. The tour is a day long tour that includes transportation to the Grand Canyon, admission to the Grand Canyon National Park, lunch, and a guided tour. The tour guides will take you to various sightseeing points in the Canyon and discuss the various natural features of the Canyon area.
If you have already seen the Grand Canyon and would like to see some of the other natural wonders in the area, the Flagstaff Weekend Vacation Package is an excellent choice. This package includes two nights’ lodging in Flagstaff and the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, and Meteor Crater tour. On the tour, you will see the Meteor Crater and visit the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Parks. The tour includes guided tours of each stop, transportation, and admission to the national parks. The tour is a full day experience. Whether choosing this package as a weekend getaway or in addition to a vacation at the Grand Canyon, you will surely enjoy the beautiful sights on this vacation.
Unforgettable Vacation Experiences in the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon can be explored on the ground through hiking, riding in an all-terrain Jeep, or enjoying a scenic ride in a retro train car. All of these methods will provide great views of the Grand Canyon and a memorable experience, but for a truly unforgettable vacation, consider exploring the Grand Canyon from the air with a thrilling helicopter tour. Vacations Made Easy offers two helicopter tour options, both of which will provide an amazing time at the Grand Canyon.
The North Canyon Tour is a 30-minute long tour, approximately. Your experienced pilot and tour guide will take you up in the air in a helicopter, entering the Grand Canyon at the Dragon Corridor near the North Rim. Your flight will allow you to see much more of the canyon than you would with a hiking tour or Jeep tour. You will be able to fly into the canyon, see the river, and even watch for native wildlife. Sights include the Kaibab Forest and the Tower of Ra.
The Imperial Helicopter Tour provides a flight in the Northern and Eastern parts of the Grand Canyon. The length of this tour is approximately 50 minutes long, which will give you ample time to see the canyon. In those 50 minutes, you will be able to see more than you ever thought possible. This tour provides views of the Painted Desert, the Colorado River, and the unique features of the Eastern Canyon. Be sure to have your camera and digital recorder on hand to document the beautiful sights you will see during this flight.
Another bird’s eye view option is the Monument Valley Tour, which is a combo experience that combines the best of the air and land. The tour includes an airplane flight over Monument Valley. After exploring the valley from the sky, you will disembark and enjoy a 4 x 4 ride and a guided ground tour of the area, in which your tour guide will provide information about the various sights in the Valley, as well as historical information on the Navajo Indians who made this land their home. This tour conveniently includes a box lunch. The tour in total lasts approximately four hours.
