Can you imagine anything better than a family vacation that includes visiting the fabulous Grand Canyon? It's one of the most spectacular places on the planet. Seeing the Grand Canyon in all its natural glory, witnessing its majestic, untouched vistas and enjoying the area's other sightseeing opportunities have found their way onto millions of people's bucket lists. I've been there often, but I plan on returning again and again.

The National Park offers fantastic opportunities for fun for your entire family. Youngsters, seniors and everyone in between find the Grand Canyon a uniquely appealing and exhilarating place.

Grand Canyon West, for instance, is where you'll find the fabulous Grand Canyon Skywalk(also called the "Glass Bridge"). This remarkable U-shaped glass structure lets you walk out over the edge of the canyon. At the apex you'll be standing more than 70 feet out over the canyon, with the bottom far in the distance below.

The South Rim, which is located 270+ miles from Las Vegas, features a number of wonderful lookout points (e.g. Mather Point, Yavapai Point, Yaki Point), dramatic Dragoon Corridor (the widest and deepest portion of the canyon) and historic Grand Canyon Village, with all its restaurants, hotels and shops.

Matter of fact, regardless which rim you visit, the only way to really do the National Park justice is by taking one of the guided trips. If you don't, you'll risk missing something you really want to see.

I'm totally convinced that all-inclusive Grand Canyon tours are the best options for family vacations at the National Park. Everything's arranged for you, including hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch (except on air-only helicopter and plane flights), and Park fees and taxes. You'll also have a professional tour guide, and let me tell you that guided trips are a lot more interesting (and educational for the kids!) than going to the canyon on your own. Your tour guide will share all sorts of fascinating facts and stories about the canyon and its sights.

There are four main types of Grand Canyon tours: helicopter tours (the most expensive type), airplane tours, bus tours (the least expensive type), and rafting tours. Each kind has its advantages.

For example, an air-only 'copter or plane tour would be your best bet if you're pressed for time. They also give you the advantage of some terrific birds-eye views and photo opportunities (please remember to charge your smart phone or digital SLR prior to departure - you don't want it turning off on you mid-flight. I had that happen once and I still can't get over it). Landing tours take longer but give you a much more comprehensive experience.

For families who'd rather not fly or are traveling on a budget, bus tours are a great option. Unlike buses in the past, today's vehicles are the lap of luxury, featuring fantastic A/C, lounge-style seats, on-board lavatories, oversized viewing windows and multiple plasma-screen TVs. Families on these Grand Canyon tours see the National Park "up close and personal" from the ground.

The guided trips that take you rafting down the Colorado River give you a unique perspective that only a small percentage of the canyon's visitors have experienced. Plus, imagine how much fun your kids will have splashing in the water while you're floating down the river between the canyon's spectacular walls! Trips run from April through November and can be booked anytime of the year.

Please note that all West Rim tours depart from Las Vegas. If you have your heart set on seeing the South Rim from Sin City, I recommend you take an airplane tour versus the bus because flight time is just under an hour compared to buses that can take upwards of six. Depending on the ages of the kids in your group, the time spent on the road might be a bit taxing.

Those travelers coming up from such central Arizona cities and towns like Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona and Flagstaff will want to book South Rim trips. The drive up from Phoenix is quite enjoyable and scenic and many folks end up getting accommodations in either Grand Canyon Village or Sedona and spending the night.

Don't delay too long when making reservations. There are special challenges associated with booking groups of four or more people. This urgency is especially pertinent to helicopters, which only hold six people plus the pilot. If helicopters are booked, definitely go for an airplane ride. These aircraft can hold up to 19 people so there's a much stronger chance that mid-size families fly together. Buses hold up to 40 people but, as noted earlier, require a considerable amount of drive time involved.

So there you have it - guided Grand Canyon tours are fun, interesting and educational. To me, that sounds like the perfect recipe for a great family vacation! The best place to book one of these guided trips is on the Internet. Besides being convenient, you'll find the best prices online, right on the tour operators' websites. Their Internet specials can save you up to 35% off the full retail price of their Grand Canyon tours.

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Make It a Grand Day!