Grand Canyon National Park, located in Arizona and visited by more than five million people annually, is one of America's most popular travel spots. Nowhere else will you find such a spectacular landscape teeming with a plethora of plant and animal life. It's this combination that makes the destination the crown jewel of the National Parks system.

Grand Canyon Village

Declared a national park in 1919 by an act signed by President Woodrow Wilson, Grand Canyon National Park is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a World Heritage site. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is where most people enter the park. Just north of the rim's main entrance is Grand Canyon Village, commercial hub and home to:

• A ranger station
• Various restaurants (the one in Bright Angel Lodge is the best)
• Museums
• Gift shops
• Churches
• Lodging (El Tovar is the crowd favorite)
• A supermarket
• RV Park
• Campground
• Hospital

Grand Canyon Village offers some great rim-side views of the Dragoon Corridor and is a great place to plan a hike or arrange for a guided tour of the area.

Naturally, people come to Grand Canyon National Park for the amazing views. The best lookouts are Mather Point, Yaki Point and Yavapai Observation Station. But what makes the park great for vacations is that there are things to do and see that will appeal to a wide spectrum of interests and fitness levels.

For example, you can drive a car along the edge of the Grand Canyon via the South Rim. Head eastward and be sure to use the Navajo Bridge to cross the Colorado River's Marble Canyon. The stunning views of both the river and the canyon will give you a glimpse of the more remote areas of this national park.

Grand Canyon National Park - Things to Do

If you are physically active and looking for challenging ways to interact with Grand Canyon National Park, you can arrange to walk and hike the many trails that crisscross the area. The most popular trails are Bright Angel, right behind the lodge, and the South Kaibab Trail. Do not hike to the Colorado River and back in a day. Those who try often succumb to heat exhaustion. Mule rides are another way to get to the bottom but these trips are popular and need to be booked up to a year in advance.

The West Rim of the Grand Canyon has recently become a popular place for Las Vegas visitors to experience the canyon. This rim is on Hualapai Indian land and borders the national park. There are no direct flights between the two rims. I don't recommend trying to do both by car, either. The distance is too great and you'll end up spending more time in the car than at the canyon.

Grand Canyon West

The West Rim, also know as Grand Canyon West, is home to the world-famous Grand Canyon Skywalk. The Glass Bridge extends 70 feet past the edge and lets you enjoy 360-degree views of the canyon. Many say it feels like your are surrounded by the canyon's walls. The other neat thing about the Sky Walk is that you are 4,000 feet above the raging Colorado River. I definitely recommend getting your picture professionally taken on this incredible horseshoe-shaped structure.

Grand Canyon Tours

Grand Canyon National Park tours include:

• South Rim Helicopter
• South Rim Airplane

Grand Canyon National Park is a wonderful vacation destination. The natural beauty alone will enthrall you. But when you throw in the fact that there's so much to do for kids, parents, hikers, couples and groups, it's irresistible. The South Rim can be reached from Phoenix, Sedona and Flagstaff. Vegas travelers can reach it by bus or airplane. Regardless of how you get there, this part of the canyon is renowned for creating memories that last a lifetime.

Make It a Grand Day!