So, you're in Las Vegas on vacation and you're considering a side trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Wise decision. Between the South Rim and the West Rim, it's the former is famous for it's incredible natural beauty.
What's the easiest way to get there if you are with limited funds? By tour bus, of course.
The price per person ranges from to 0 depending on where you book your trip. Book online - the best deals are on the Internet. For more infornation about pricing, please see link at bottom of article.
Forget your old impressions of buses. These are new and ultra-modern. For instance, these state-of-the-art vehicles feature these amenities:
Bathroom
VCR's
Deluxe, reclining seats
Maximum leg room
Comfortable arm rests
Climate control (air conditioning and heat)
Large custom windows
The majority of bus tours depart Vegas at around 7 a.m.
These are all-inclusive trips and come with free shuttle service to and from your hotel, as well as a delicious box lunch (I've sampled them all and they're quite satisfying).The drive to the South Rim includes such sights as Lake Mead, historic Hoover Dam (there will be a brief stop for photos), the Colorado River, and Black Canyon, exclusive habitat or big horn sheep.
The scenery changes significantly when you arrive at the gates of Grand Canyon National Park. It's situated on the Kaibab Plateau, home to the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine on earth.
Inside the Park, you'll head to Bright Angel Lodge, which is the hub for all things in historic Grand Canyon Village.
Built in the 1930's, the Lodge is the anchor for a number of excellent restaurants, museums, more accommodations, and the amazingly resilient Bucky O'Neil Cabin, which owns the distinction of being the oldest building on the South Rim.From the Lodge, it's easy to hop aboard one of the Park's many fine free shuttle buses to visit such exciting lookouts like Mather Point, Yaki Point, Yavapai Observation Station, and more. Typically, you'll have three hours to enjoy the South Rim and The Village.
Here are a couple of canyon facts that I think will enhance your South Rim experience:
It took the Colorado River 5.4 million years to create the Grand Canyon.
The canyon's greatest width is 18 miles. Lengthwise, it's 277 miles. It's depth reaches more than one mile.
At 8,200 feet (2,500 m) above sea level, the North Rim is 1,200 feet (350 m) higher than the South Rim.
The canyon was presented with national park status in 1919.
Five Million visitors annually.
It's populated by five Indian tribes.
Going back to Vegas, you'll most likely make a stop at the town of Kingman, AZ. It's most well-known for the piece of Route 66 that runs through it. Otherwise, it's a good spot to get off the bus, stretch your legs, grab a snack, or have a smoke. Then it's back over the new Hoover Dam Bypass bridge and into Boulder City. It is usually evening around now, so as you drop into the Las Vegas Valley, you'll be excited by all the bright lights and neon.
Trip duration from the time you are picked up to the time your are dropped off at your hotel is about 14 hours.
If you've longed to discover the magnificence of the South Rim, consider booking a trip with one of Las Vegas' many tour bus operators. Trips run every day, all week, including holidays. The price is right, too, if you shop and book on the web. Now there's no excuse to leave this Seventh Wonder of the World on your "bucket list" anymore.