klymkibo

... what would those 6 things be? I'm planning to stay at both the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn near the South Rim, & the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim with my best friend in the late spring. I'm trying to figure out how many days to reserve, and how many day-trips to take.

Myer

I'm not sure what you consider a day trip.

It's 2 1/2 hours to Page, AZ.

You hace Horseshoe Bend and the famous Antelope Canyon.

Also "The Best Dam View".

Bill_H

what would those 6 things be?

Here are my choices ... http://www.hiltonphotography.net/sw/canyons/ ... most from Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Coyote Buttes etc ...

Bill

planning_ahead

how many days/nights do you have. Where do you fly in/out. We are planning a trip next Sept and have tried very hard NOT to try to see too much as distances are far and we want time to soak up the views etc without driving all day everyday and changing lodging each night.

canyonjane

The North Rim and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon are not destinations to use as bases to take day trips. They are the destinations in themselves.

Both the North and South Rims have numerous trails you can walk along the rims as well as ranger talks that I highly recommend. As you will be staying outside the park at the South Rim, you should plan on at least several days to drive into the park, leave your car at the Visitor's Center or the General Store parking lot and take the shuttle bus along the western rim. This shuttle allows you to get on and off whenever you like. There is also a relatively flat walk along the rim that goes quite a distance from Grand Canyon Village where the hotels and restaurants inside the park are located to Hermit's Rest. If you have not made your reservations yet, you should try to get accommodation inside the park on the South Rim. The most expensive hotel is the El Tovar but my own personal favorite lodging places are the cabins at Bright Angel Lodge (1st choice) and the cabins at Maswik Lodge (2nd choice). There is nothing to compare to getting out of bed at sunrise at the south rim to watch the sun come up with dozens of other people who are peering into the canyon, watching the sun illuminate the side canyons and the red walls, overcome with silence at the wonder of the experience.

The drive to both rims is really long so I would recommend that you plan to stay for several days at least at each rim. As for your question about things to see, there are some points of interest on the way (recently mentioned in postings about the canyon) but I would more specifically ask you a question, which is, are you hikers? if so, there are day hikes to take into the canyon that are out of this world and afford views you cannot get from the rim. If you are up for hiking and are reasonably strong, then you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity to do one or more of these hikes. Late spring is still an acceptable time of year to do this in terms of temperatures at the canyon.

Jane

LordBalfor

Antelope Canyon for sure. While you're in Page, take a look at the dam. There is a very nice lookout just south of it.

Ken

SuzieTrue

Check on when the North Rim opens for the season. I remember hearing/seeing May for an opening date.

TRY to get reservations in the park for the South Rim. That is definitely a don't miss in my book.

rm_mn

You need to reserve 365 days a year, except for leap years. There are lots of things to see and do within a day's drive of either rim. ;^)

desertduds

Navajo National Monument, one night in Monument Valley and one night in Canyon de Chelly.