we've never been...wife wants to go. advice solicited from the experts here...

best times, must-do's, what to avoid...

Thanks!

Stay on the North side, not as many people.

Western Wildlife Services

williams is a nice little town

Don't look down?

Don’t jump?

Don’t pet the big humped back fluffy cows. But if you do, have someone record it!
Don’t shoot anything protected while there either. But if you do, don’t record it!

The Indians glass walkway out into the canyon is cool and scary.
Williams is a fun town, you could ride the train to the canyon from there ( always call that the west side)
Busses take you around and stop often for the next stop
Definitely would not go in August
You can ride a donkey to the bottom ( don’t tell left lane, he would be all over that)
Lots of info shacks on the different stops ( great to read history)

Watch for the illegals Don. Not a place I would want to go unarmed.

South Rim is a zoo in the summer, buses of foreign tourists. I prefer to visit off season. Getting up one day for sunrise is worth it.

We’re planning the same thing in February. Hoover Dam & probably the West side I think. Probably get to Hoover and do the $30 tour, then Grand Canyon another day. Be nice to take a chopper if they can land there.

Off season is best if you plan on going to the national park or south rim. Lodging can be expensive due to the only one nearby town, Tusayan, and limited hotel space. If your not on a budget, no problems. Either way, its definitely a must see. If time permitted, I would have loved to reach the bottom of the canyon and taken in the beauty looking up. It's suppose to be a whole different kind of amazement. We took a helicopter ride which was my wifes idea and it was kinda cool. I think I've flown non-stop across the country cheaper tho

The north side has some rustic cabins, I think they are government owned. There is only 1place to eat so pack a cooler and camp stove. Getting there you go thru big Forrest areas I would guess that’s where the giant elk and mule deer live. I drove around to the south side , it’s a pretty long drive. The south side was terrible. People everywhere. We did see the big birds they are trying to re-establish there forgot what they are. Just too many people. Hoover is cool, the tour is worth it. There are bighorn sheep that frequent right there on the highway.

Western Wildlife Services

Float trip outfitters are booked solid for years in advance.

Only advice I can add is if your on the south side don't try the main entrance, come in from the east in the Indian reservation,