Grand Canyon with kids
 

I am planning a trip to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas in July 2006. Any advice would be appreciated as far as how to get the most experience in 2-3 days. A few questions; the best way to get there from Vegas without renting a car, north rim vs south; best reasonably priced lodging within the canyon; bus tour vs hiking vs mule ride vs rafting. I would like to tie in in with a trip to the Hoover Dam on the way back. Kids are 7 and 14. Feel free to offer any lodging advice in Vegas. I was thinking about the Luxor but read mixed reviews. I am looking for something kid-friendly on the strip. Thanks!

I went to the Grand Canyon Spring 2003 and had a fabulous time! My kids were 13 and 9 at the time. We stayed at Yavapai Lodge within the Canyon (xanterra.com). It wasn't right on the rim, but we liked that because it was a lot less crowded. There was free bus transportation within the park -- we didn't use the car at all for the 3 days we were there. We could walk to the Yavapai Observation Station, we hiked to Cedar Ridge (and at a resting point 1.5 miles down my son recited lines from Romeo and Juliet that he needed to learn by the time we got back -- very cool!), and the day we went by Bright Angel/Maswik Lodge/etc. we were so glad we hadn't stayed among the crowds!

A couple (unsolicited) pointers: food at Yavapai was adequate, but better and the similar cafeteria-style (i.e., no long wait food place) at Maswik Lodge. If at Yavapai, try to get a room on the second floor as far from the steps at possible (so it will be quieter). Book wherever you want to stay NOW -- you could always change later, and rooms do open up later so if you're not at your first choice place, keep checking back. We didn't go on any tours, but the hike to Cedar Ridge was beautiful. Go to the Ranger talks -- they were better there than at any other park we've been to.

We didn't do Hoover Dam. We combined this trip instead with Petrified Forest/Painted Desert (beautiful, but not a highlight for my kids), Scottsdale (for a little pampering), and Arcosanti (about 45 minutes north of Scottsdale and a tremendous treat for us -- we stayed overnight, and it was incredibly relaxing; I can't describe it adequately now, but check out their website at arcosanti.org). I know it was a successful trip; we left with my son saying he wanted to go back to hike GC rim-to-rim, and to go back to Arcosanti for the 5-week internship workshop!

I prefer the south rim because I think you get better sweeping views.

White water raft trips in the Grand Canyon are a minimum of 3 days. There is a float trip out of Page, AZ on the Colorado River, but it doesn't go into the park. It's a lot of fun and your kids would love it. You can also book the float trip from the Grand Canyon. They will bus you to Page, AZ to catch the float trip and then bus you back to the Grand Canyon. It cost a little more to do it from the Grand Canyon than it does from Page.

Utahtea

Las Vegas lodging - I would try Flamingo - centrally located, great pool for kids, usually can get a relatively inexpensive room. That said, Las Vegas gave up trying to be kid friendly - but it sounds like you are just staying there on way to GC anyway.

Check out Action Tours.

We took it a couple years back. Our trip included an SUV that went to Hoover Dam, Route 66, lunch at the bottom @ the Colorado River, West Rim views & Joshua Tree. It was wonderful and our guide stopped wherever we wanted to take pictures. He was also very informative. It was an all day affair but well worth the money.

Thanks everyone for all your insightful information!