Grand Canyon Area Hotels

Grand Canyon Area, AZ

‘Party Town’ is one phrase that you would never use to describe the Grand Canyon Area in Arizona. This isn’t a Spring Break resort destination, by any stretch. However, if you are a lover of the Wild West and enjoy camping, hiking, river rafting and looking at gorgeous desert scenery, you cannot go wrong with a trip to the Grand Canyon Area.

The Grand Canyon National Parkmakes up most of the Grand Canyon Area, and you will find most of the tourist attractions within the park boundaries. There are several distinct areas of interest within the Grand Canyon Area. The North Rimis at a higher elevation and offers more greenery than the lower areas. The places where you will have the best views are Bright Angel Point and Cape Royal, where you can see the Colorado River. The highest point on the North Rim isPoint Imperial Drive. The South Rim is home to the Hualapai Reservationand features Hermit Drive, which is a scenic drive that leads up to a gorgeous old watchtower.

Grand Canyon Area’s Top 10

10. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a glass-bottom walkway on Eagle's Point in the Hualapai reservation. You can safely walk out over the rim and look down into the canyon.	5. You can experience the breath-taking Havasupai Falls as well as the serene desert while visiting the Havasupai reservation.
9. There are a few Ranger programs for children and adults alike that offer guided walks along the rims, museum trips, and films for those who want to learn more about the Grand Canyon Area.	4. Bright Angel Trail is one of the most travelled hiking trails in the Grand Canyon Area. It starts at Bright Angel Lodge and winds through many of the favourite nature sites.
8. The Grand Canyon Area is one of the most perfect places for star gazing due to its clear skies and excellent vantage points.	3. Visit the Western Discovery Museum for its ever-changing art exhibits of Grand Canyon art and tribal artefacts.
7. Mule rides are a favourite activity amongst tourists in the Grand Canyon Area, and many local companies offer cheap guided tours via mule-back.	2. The Desert View Watchtower is a picturesque old relic that offers a wide view of the Colorado River as well as the Grand Canyon Area.
6. Hermit’s Rest is a quaint little rest stop on Hermit Road designed to look like an old hermit's house.	1. Grand Canyon Village provides a lot of places to view the landscape, and there are many historic buildings in the town.

Grand Canyon History

Original Navajo Bridge – This 1929 bridge spanning the canyon is still open to pedestrians and horses.
Buckey O'Neill Cabin – This longstanding cabin was constructed in the 1890s and is now a guesthouse for those visiting the Grand Canyon area.
Grand Canyon Railway Depot – This log-cabin railway station was built in 1909.
El Tovar Hotel – This luxury hotel was built in 1905 and is a National Historic Landmark.
Phantom Ranch – This popular destination on the canyon floor sits on a site once used by Native Americans and has a kiva dating from around 1050.

Grand Canyon Art & Culture

Hermi’s Rest – This Mary Coulter-designed building made to look like a natural formation was originally a resting area for tourists.
Kolb Studio – Built in 1904 by brothers who were photographers, the studio is now an art gallery with a local focus.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center IMAX Theater – Learn about the history and culture of the Grand Canyon area in this theatre with high-impact visuals and sound.
Desert View Watchtower – This solid structure designed by Mary Coulter replicates an Anasazi watchtower and offers great views of the canyon.
Grand Canyon Music Festival – Taking place annually in August or September, this festival features notable chamber musicians.

Grand Canyon Shopping

Verkamp’s Visitor Center – This small souvenir shop in a historic building offers everything from postcards to books to DVDs.
Lookout Studio – This architecturally significant shop sells souvenirs and artwork and has nice canyon views.
Canyon Village Marketplace – The most comprehensive general store in the Grand Canyon area selling groceries, souvenirs and supplies for camping and trekking.
Cameron Trading Post – The gift shop is a good place to score unique Indian pottery, jewellery and handicrafts.
Hopi House – This shop sells traditional Hopi Indian arts and crafts and is a performance venue for traditional dances.

Gay & Lesbian Grand Canyon

Spirit Journeys – This gay travel outfit specialises in multi-day Grand Canyon white-water rafting trips for men.
Alyson Adventures – Explore the Colorado River by raft on this company’s separate trips for gay men and lesbians.
Mather Campground – This large and popular campground is a way to fully enjoy the outdoors in the Grand Canyon area.
Charley's Pub – This is a gay-friendly bar in the Flagstaff area with a relaxed atmosphere.
Monte Vista Lounge – Located in the Hotel Monte Vista, this gay-friendly bar in Flagstaff offers a DJ, live music and karaoke.

Grand Canyon Area Events

If you are visiting the Grand Canyon Area in the summertime, you should go see one of the Wild West Rodeos in Williams. These classic equestrian and bull-riding events are always sure to please even the rowdiest bunch.

Wild West re-enactors don their spurs and six-shooters for the Summer Cowboy Gunfights that take place in Grand Canyon Area every summer.

Route 66 Fun Run Car Rally is quite a scene with thousands of beautifully restored antique and vintage cars on display. It takes place at the start of May in the Grand Canyon Area.

If you are trick-or-treating in the Grand Canyon Area, you should check out the Halloween Tours at Riordan Mansion State Park. Guests can enjoy a guided nighttime tour and spooky ghost stories.

The Fourth of July Parade is pretty straightforward. It happens on the 4th of July in the Grand Canyon Area: fireworks, picnics, parades – you get the picture.

The Cowpuncher's Reunion Rodeo is a real treat for anyone visiting the Grand Canyon Area who enjoys this traditional Western entertainment. The rodeo takes place every August in Williams, AZ.

Annual Festival of Lights Boat Parade rolls out in November at Lake Powell in the Grand Canyon Area, and there are many fun activities leading up to the grand parade.

If you enjoy classical entertainment, you will love the Grand Canyon Chamber Music Festival that takes place every September at the Shrine of the Ages.

The Grand Canyon Area celebrates the Peach Festival each year in August, featuring carnivals, musical entertainment, contests and much more.

If you decide to spend your Memorial Day weekend in the Grand Canyon Area, you are just in time for awe-inspiring Tribal Dances that take place in the Grand Canyon Village.

When To Go

The Grand Canyon Area experiences drastic differences in climate between the high and low-lying levels, and this can be very dangerous for even the most experienced hikers. Overestimating one's physical capabilities can be deadly, so use great caution and common sense when hiking or riding.

Temperatures in the North and South rims are typically cooler than around the river, with winter lows dipping below 20°F (-7°C) and summer highs reaching the upper 70s/lower 80s F (21-27°C).

The river area can get as hot as 107° F (42°C) in the summer and typically stays above freezing level in the winter.

There is not a lot of rain in the Grand Canyon Area, but the winter months will bring a few inches of rain or snow (6-7 cm) per month.

Getting There

Most visitors from within the US will drive to the Grand Canyon Area via Arizona Route 64, which junctions with US 180. Travellers arriving at the south entrance can also take I-40 West to AZ 64, and those coming from the east can use US 89 to AZ 64.

The nearest airport to the Grand Canyon Area is Pulliam Field in Flagstaff. Most people flying in to this airfield come from either the Las Vegas or Phoenix airports via chartered flight.

Many major tour bus companies in Arizona, California and Nevada offer special trips to the Grand Canyon Area. There is also an option of taking an Amtrak train to Williams Junction and connecting from there to the Grand Canyon Railway.

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