When your family put you in charge of planning your Grand Canyon vacation, all you could say was "Help!" This article will show you how to plan a trip to the Grand Canyon.
- Realize that long drives are a fact of life in the American Southwest. Example: Flagstaff, the nearest city to Grand Canyon South Rim, is a 90 minute drive from the park.
- Be aware that the Southwest is probably drier than you are used to. Be ready to carry water and drink it. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen year-round. Contact lens wearers should pack a spare pair of glasses in case the climate makes your lenses uncomfortable. Pack plenty of your favorite hair conditioner, moisturizer and lip balm.
- Plan to dress casually and comfortably. The attitude toward attire in the southwest is generally relaxed, and even the more upscale restaurants will usually have a very relaxed dress code. Wear comfortable shoes for walking.
- Purchase or bring flashlights or headlamps. Artificial lighting is deliberately kept to a minimum in national parks, making nights extremely dark. Some Grand Canyon hotels are situated in wooded areas.
- To find Grand Canyon South Rim on MapQuest, Yahoo!, Google Maps, etc., enter "Grand Canyon AZ," Zip Code "86023" or airport code "GCN."
- Remember to pack a first aid kit just in case of any injuries.
- Although they can be prohibitively expensive, you may wish to consider bringing a satellite phone if hiking, especially without a guide.
