You won’t see a fireworks display at the Grand Canyon due to safety reasons but there are still plenty of ways for you to enjoy the 4^th of July. If you want to see fireworks the towns near the Grand Canyon will often have firework displays, depending on the weather conditions. Sometimes, it’s too dry to set off fireworks since these areas are surrounded with a thick forest so it will depend on the how dry everything is.

Every year the community of the south rim has a parade and fundraising auction just outside of the park on state road 64 in Tusayan. It’s hot and humid during this time of year so it’s not uncommon for the visitors and the people on the floats to be spraying water at each other. The marchers you encounter at the entries will have signs saying “water” and “no water”. This will let you know which way to go depending on whether you want to get wet or spray someone else or stay dry.

There will be musical events to enjoy along with horseshoes, tug-o-war, 3 legged races, gunny sack races and a dunk tank. You can take part in the hotdog eating contest or just enjoy the Mile Deep BBQ and live auction. As the sun sets you can watch the Electric Light Night Parade on highway 64 and then enjoy live music and dancing after the parade.

You don’t have to watch a fireworks display to enjoy the 4^th of July. Make plans to spend a couple of days celebrating Independence Day at the Grand Canyon. It will be lots of fun for the whole family with something for everyone to enjoy. It’s going to be an exciting time for all.

Going on a vacation trip to the Grand Canyon is fun and exciting but planning the trip can be difficult. Planning your vacation trip in advance can help to make your day trip more fun and enjoyable. All of the details will be taken care of and you can concentrate on having a great time when you plan in advance. Since you will only be spending a day at this amazing park you’ll want to take advantage of every minute instead of spending time taking care of details.

How to plan a family day trip to the Grand Canyon:

• Decide which part of the canyon you want to visit.
• Learn as much as you can about the South and the North Rims so you can choose the one you want to visit on your day trip.
• Decide how you’re going to get to the Rim of your choice. Most people choose to fly to their location because it’s faster but you can choose to drive if you prefer. However, driving will limit the activities you can enjoy on your day trip considerably.
• Decide which activities you want to take part in while at the canyon. You can choose from rafting, hiking or you can take advantage of the scenic drives.
• Dress appropriately for the time of year you’re visiting the canyon. It can be cold in the mornings and hot during the middle of the day so it’s best to dress in lightweight layers. Always wear comfortable shoes you can walk in easily.
• Take along accessories such as sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and plenty of water. Dehydration can be a real problem in this type of environment. Take along a well-prepared first-aid kit just in case you run into problems.
• Have your vehicle checked out before you head to the canyon to make sure it’s in good shape and keep the gas tank full. It can be a long way between gas stations.

Exploring the Grand Canyon first hand is an amazing experience that creates memories your family can share for a lifetime. Proper planning will ensure you have the best time.

When you visit the Grand Canyon it’s important to be comfortable. You can’t enjoy yourself and have a good time when your clothes are too loose or too tight and when your shoes are rubbing blisters on your feet. This is a trip in which comfort will make the difference between having a good time and a great one you’ll never forget.

There are so many wonderful things for your family to enjoy at the Grand Canyon that you’ll want to stay at least one night. It’s important to pack correctly to ensure you get the most out of your visit.

What to pack for an overnight trip to the Grand Canyon:

• Make sure you have the proper footwear. If you don’t have a pair of shoes that is comfortable and easy to walk in, it’s recommended that you buy a pair or two before you go on your trip. You also need to have the right type of footwear. For example, if you plan to go hiking, invest in a good fitting leather hiking boot so you don’t have trouble on the trails.
• Bring enough clothing to dress in layers. It will be cooler in the morning and evening than it will be in the middle of the day. Bring along both shorts and long pants because the weather can change quickly and you may need to switch off.
• Take along a waterproof light-weight jacket, heavy coat and an umbrella. It’s also good to have extra clothing in case you get caught in an unexpected rainstorm.
• Carry along a lightweight pair of pants and long-sleeve shirt made from breathable fabrics to wear on hot days to help prevent sunburn.
• Pack plenty of accessories to make your trip more comfortable such as a wide-brimmed hat with strap, sunscreen and sunglasses. It can be very hot and humid in this desert climate.
• Bring along containers for water because it’s recommended you drink about one quart of water per hour to prevent becoming dehydrated.
• Take along a first aid kit and pack some emergency supplies. The emergency supplies should include a flashlight, fresh batteries, whistle, high-energy snacks and a set of spare car keys would be a good idea.
• Don’t forget your camera and charger because you’ll want to get as many pictures of your family enjoying the sights as you can.

The more prepared you are, the more enjoyable the trip will be. Take some time and go over your list of items before you head out for your stay at the Grand Canyon. This will help to make sure you have the best time possible in this beautiful park.

When you are searching for a fun and educational family vacation idea set your sights on a mule trip in Grand Canyon National Park.  The Grand Canyon vacation experience is made much more interesting and exciting when your family can take a mule trip from the South Rim of the Canyon all the way down to the Colorado River and back up. However you can fit in a mule trip without devoting that much time to the trek.

The South Rim mule trips offer two options:

Overnight: Riders travel to the Phantom Ranch, have dinner and stay the night, getting an early start the next morning to head back to the South Rim. Overnight trips are lots of fun for the family as you will get to see all the facets of the canyon up close.

Day Trip: From the South Rim you will travel part way down into the canyon stopping at Plateau Point on the Bright Angel Trail. This is an easy way to get in touch with the canyon without spending two days in the saddle.

The North Rim mule trips do not go to the river, but offer a few different options to allow your family to experience the mule trip in the Grand Canyon. Just think of the stories and photos these mule trips will provide your family.

One Hour: mule ride along the rim.

Half Day: mule ride along rim and inner canyon

Full Day: mule ride into the canyon including lunch.

Any of these options will help your family experience the Grand Canyon National Park in a unique way. You will see the beauty of the natural canyon, the wildlife and plant life that the canyon has to offer and spend quality time exploring with your family. The tour guides are very informed as to what to expect in terms of the wildlife you may encounter, the weather which tends to change rapidly, and the mules themselves which may take a bit of getting used to.

There are a few restrictions to keep in mind when planning your mule trip in Grand Canyon National Park. Riders cannot weigh more than 200 pounds and have to be at least 4 feet 7 inches to ride. All riders must speak and understand fluent English. Pregnant riders are not allowed. Riders should not be afraid of heights or large animals. While riding experience isn’t necessary it may come in handy to have a basic knowledge.  A sore backside or aching thighs are common after a mule ride and you may want to postpone any other strenuous activity, or plan your mule trip at the end of your vacation.

One of the best places to visit by car is the Grand Canyon. It’s fun, it’s exciting and even if your kids have already seen it, they’re going to love it again and again. There are many scenic tours and other paths available but many people travel to the Grand Canyon by car or at least take an automobile tour before heading in for other sites to see.

If you’re planning on taking the kids to the Grand Canyon by car, you might want to do some planning first to make sure everything goes how you want. This is because children, especially younger ones, are going to get restless in the car.

Proper planning will ensure your trip to the Grand Canyon goes just as planned. Here are some tips:

• Consider the ages of the children you are taking
• Consider how long the trip to get there will bring
• Bring entertainment for in the car and on the ride there to prevent boredom
• Give your kids facts and fun information about the Grand Canyon so they understand why it is unique and important to visit
• Plan the trip and where you will go and stay
• Remember it’s at high altitude and plan accordingly
• Try to time a visit at sunrise or sunset for a breath-taking site the kids will love
• Give the kids their own cameras so they can take pictures of the trip
• Consider making a scrapbook together later with the pictures they took

There are several airports within a half day’s drive of the Grand Canyon so you may be either driving to the canyon or flying to a nearby airport and then driving out from there. Most families traveling with children are going to want to travel to the South Rim because this has more opportunity in hotels, services as well as activities for the family. It’s open year-round which means you can travel any time you choose, even in the winter.

With these tips, taking the kids to the Grand Canyon by car does not have to be a hassle. It can be a fun and exciting trip that your family will use to make memories that last a lifetime.

Mule rides into and out of the Grand Canyon are great for tourism, but they are hard on the trails.

via Fewer mule rides likely in Grand Canyon.

What do you think about this decision?

The Grand Canyon is an amazing vacationing spot with approximately five million visitors annually. It’s a natural wonder that continues to intrigue people after all of these years. It’s the perfect place for families to visit and the breath-taking view can be appreciated by the young and the old alike. It’s a vacation memory that will last forever but if that’s not enough for you to make plans to visit, below are 5 more reasons to take your family to the Grand Canyon this year:

1. Educational Reasons – Learning about the Grand Canyon, it’s history and the important role it plays in our world today can be very educational. Your family can use the programs designed by the National Park Service to understand why preserving this mysterious canyon is so important. You can also learn about the erosion that formed the canyon, the types of rock found here and even about the desert habitats.
2. Wildlife and Nature – Visiting the canyon will give you a close up view of wildlife and nature at it’s finest. Not only are there hundreds of birds to view but there are reptiles, amphibians, fish and mammals to see and learn about.
3. Hiking and Camping – If your family is active and you enjoy hiking and camping, there is no place more beautiful, peaceful and exciting than the Grand Canyon.
4. Air Tours – Seeing the canyon from the overlooks is one thing but seeing it from an aerial view is something that you’ll share with friends and families for a lifetime.
5. Activities – There are many fun and exciting activities to take part in that the whole family can enjoy. Everything from fishing, biking, whitewater rafting to sight-seeing is available.

These are just a few of the reasons why this natural wonder is an excellent place to visit and spend a family vacation. If you’ve been searching for a new family adventure that is perfect for all ages, you’ve found it. The Grand Canyon is truly a magnificent sight to see that you’re sure to always remember.

Visiting the Grand Canyon is certainly a site to see with so many things to do it’ll be a trip that you’ll remember for a lifetime. It’s a wonderful adventure for kids where they can see the wonders of nature first hand. It’s truly an event the whole family will enjoy with so many things to do. Nevertheless, this is not a place where you want to allow your children to go roaming around unsupervised.

Toddlers are curious and it’s a natural instinct for them to want to reach out and touch anything near them or wonder around in areas they are suppose to stay out of. They’re too young to understand the dangers that these areas pose but the following tips can help you keep them safe while on your Grand Canyon adventure:

• Provide constant supervision for your toddler and don’t let them out of your site or reach for any reason.
• Take along the proper clothing, especially shoes. You’re going to be doing a lot of walking and you don’t want your toddler ending up with sore feet and blisters. Dress according to the weather with warm and cool outfits depending on what time of the year it is when you visit and during the summer, don’t forget the sunscreen.
• When hiking, make sure you stay on the path and keep your toddlers away from the edges because there are areas on the trails where toddlers can fall off if they get too close and there are many other dangers as well.
• Pay attention to the weather because during certain times of the year thunder storms can pop up quickly and without much warning.
• Don’t let your toddler get dehydrated. The climate in this area is very dry and it wouldn’t take much for a child to get dehydrated so carry along plenty of water.
• Don’t let your children feed the animals because wild animals are unpredictable and they can be very dangerous plus, human foods can make them sick as well.
• Take along extras that will make your visit more enjoyable such as spray bottles of water to keep cool, snacks, toys and so forth.

It’s up to parents to protect their children so you’ll only have fond memories of your vacation and the tips above can help. The Grand Canyon is a wondrous place filled with excitement, adventures and plenty of things for the whole family to enjoy. Stay safe and have a great family getaway!

The Grand Canyon is one of 2010′s top family vacation spots. If you’re looking for a great place to take your family this season, the Grand Canyon should top your list. Even if you’ve been here before, it’s such a beautiful and exciting place to visit, it’s well worth a second trip. There are also so many great things to see and do that you can visit different parts of the Grand Canyon on subsequent trips.

If you have kids, no matter what their age, they will love this “Wonder of the World”. Nothing is cooler to a kid than getting a close-up view of this amazing canyon. This is the type of thing a kid will remember their whole lives. It’s also great to bring your camera and get pictures of the canyon as well as of your family there.

If you visit again the future or even if you return every year to this 2010 family vacation hotspot, you can keep all the photos of your growing family from each time you visit. One trip to the Grand Canyon will show you why this is a 2010 hot spot for families.

Here are some sites you want to see when you go on a Grand Canyon family vacation:

• Helicopter ride around the Grand Canyon – the EcoStar 130 helicopters that take you into the canyon are a smooth ride and they can seat 7 passengers so the whole family can go together. They have extra large windows for taking in all the sights of the canyon and each rider gets a headset with mic so you can hear the pilot and ask questions throughout the ride.
• Hike the Grand Canyon North Rim- Hiking can be for kids, too. Try taking a family hike on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It’s lightly traveled and you can take your time and allow the children to explore as much as they’d like.
• Grand Canyon Jeep Tours and Safaris- Here’s another great idea for the whole family because those cannot walk for long periods will enjoy seeing it all from the comfort of a safari ride.
• Junior Ranger Program- Designed for kids aged 4-14, the Junior Ranger Program lets kids and their families take part in hands-on exploration at the Grand Canyon.

Of course this isn’t all that the Grand Canyon has to offer families so if you’re planning your own trip, do your research, plan ahead and even allow the kids to get in on the action of planning your trip.

Grand Canyon Rock Tower

One of the most favorite places for families to visit on vacation is the Grand Canyon. It is estimated that nearly 5 million travel to this 1 mile deep canyon each year. Most of these people go to the South rim to see the canyon from their car at overlooks along the way. This is the most accessible part of the park and it’s open all year. From Grand Canyon South you can see a great deal of the park such as from Grand Canyon Village, Desert View or Hermits Rest.

There are a smaller number of people who visit the Grand Canyon through the North Rim which is only open during certain times of the year and it is less accessible. If you plan a trip to the Grand Canyon, your first step is to determine which way you will be going.

What is known as the “Inner Canyon” contains everything below the rim and this part of the Grand Canyon is seen mainly only to hikers, mule riders or river runners. If you are an adventurous person, this may be a place for you to consider.

If you’re planning a trip with the fam to the Grand Canyon, you may not be up for canyon hiking or river running. You want to stick with something a little safer for children and other members of the family. But don’t worry because there is plenty to see and do.

Here are some ideas:

• Attend free ranger programs
• Visit and information center and learn about the Grand Canyon
• Visit a museum
• Visit scenic Hermit Road
• Listen to park rangers give 2-minute audio tours via your phone
• Visit the scenic Desert View Drive
• Climb 70 feet to the top of Watchtower for an amazing panoramic view
• Visit a Grand Canyon “hot spot” and take some fantastic photos to remember your trip
• Check out whitewater and smooth-water rafting on the Colorado River
• Enjoy hiking on the many different types of trails

It can be helpful to plan all the events you want to take part in before you leave but remember to be flexible once you arrive. Don’t be so rigid in your planning that you pass up the opportunity to see something new or experience some interesting that might be happening once you arrive.

Planning a trip to the Grand Canyon South is something the whole family can take part in. Encourage your children to give ideas and if you have never been before, have them help you with the research and tell you about the things they would like to do so you can work it into the itinerary.