But most travelers think of the South Rim as being the "real" Grand Canyon. The West Rim's known for its thrills and adventure, but some people think the South Rim's where it's all at, with awesome landscapes and more than enough action!

Here's some info about some of the big South Rim points of interest and things to do:

Lookouts

There are several reasons why the South Rim is known for its scenic vistas and spectacular natural beauty. For one thing, Dragoon Corridor is the deepest, widest section of the whole canyon! You can take an exciting chopper flight from the South Rim to the North Rim and back by way of Dragoon Corridor, but more on that later. The South Rim also has 20 or so lookouts for catching some truly breathtaking scenery. Some of the biggies are:

• Yavapai Point Observation Center - from here you'll have a clear view of the mighty Colorado as it winds its way along the bottom of the chasm. It took the Colorado River countless millions of years to carve out the canyon from the rock of the Kaibab Plateau. You can also see the North Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Canyon.


• Mather Point - this observation point is the closest to the Park's main entrance, making it a popular stop as travelers start looking for the dramatic views they've heard about. From here you can see Vishnu Temple and other Grand Canyon landmarks.


• Yaki Point - a terrific place for watching the sun come up, but access is by Park shuttle only. From here you get views of Bright Angel Trail, the South Kaibab Trail and Tonto Trail.

Activities

In addition to the lookouts, there are a number of activities you'll want to consider. Hikers, for example, will enjoy the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails (just make sure to bring plenty of water!). If you enjoy cycling, the Park now offers bicycle rentals that include equipment! Ranger-led workshops are always a hit, and range from Junior Ranger programs to photography workshops. Outside the Park, there's the National Geographic Center, which hosts the IMAX® movie theater. Finally, there's Grand Canyon Village, which is the commercial hub of the South Rim and home to restaurants, souvenir shops and museums (Kolb Studio & Lookout Studio are your best bets).

Air Tours

The South Rim has an excellent selection of flights from which to choose. Here are the best:

• Basic Helicopter - Fly over Kaibab National Forest and the South Rim to North Rim and back.


• Deluxe Helicopter - Includes all that the half-hour tour does plus everything up to the Park's eastern boundary, which means you'll see Zuni Corridor, Imperial Point, Tower of Ra, Painted Desert and much more.


• Plane Tour - This airplane tour does the same route as the 50-minute helicopter but at a higher altitude. Planes hold up to 19 people and feature lots of cabin space, oversized viewing windows and recliner-style seats.


• Plane & Float Trip - Take off from Grand Canyon National Park Airport and go east before landing at Page, AZ, municipal airport. Transfer to a Jeep and take a 4x4 tour of Antelope Canyon (slot canyons!) then head to Glen Canyon Dam for a 15-mile pontoon-rafting trip.


• Bus & Float Trip - Bus departs from the airport and goes direct to Glen Canyon Dam for 15-mile river rafting trip. Includes Horseshoe Bend and multiple beach pullouts, including one where you walk into a canyon and view ancient Indian rock paintings.

Reservations

If you plan on spending a night or two inside the National Park, I recommend booking your rooms now. There are a number of fantastic lodges, the best of which are El Tovar, Maswick and the Bright Angel Lodge (and cabins). Oftentimes, rooms get booked out at least a year in advance! But don't fret. Plans change and there's a steady flow of cancellations. If you don't get a place to stay the first time you call, follow up until you do.

Air tours, too, are quite popular and require advance reservations. Unlike rooms, airplane and helicopter rides should be booked at least a week in advance. You might be able to get away with nabbing them 72 hours prior to your desired departure date and time but I'd still play it safe with the one-week rule, especially from April through November. Avoid same-day bookings. You'll pay more and most likely not get what you want.

Deals

Everyone is pretty much aware that the best deals on tours (and rooms, for that matter) are on the Internet. However, all that glitters is not gold. I've run into a number of readers who have purchased travel on the Internet at a price that's no different than what you can get it for offline. What it boils down to is knowing where to go to get the best online offer. Where's this, you might ask? It's purchasing direct from tour suppliers as opposed to using one of the "big box" travel sites like TravelZoo, Travelocity, Expedia and Priceline.

If you avoid the name brand travel sites, you have shot at great prices, but there's still one more step: you must book your trip online in order to qualify for that special Internet rate. This means:

1. Completing the ordering process using the site's "shopping cart," submitting your order for processing and then getting a confirmation letter/receipt email in your in-box;


2. Now, with that letter in hand, your rate is locked in;


3. And, if you have questions about your trip, you are now free to pick up the phone and call without being upsold or having your great rate challenged by the commissioned salesperson.

I hope you found this article about the South Rim helpful and that it gave you ideas about what to do when visiting the National Park. Lastly, as you continue to research your trip, go here for my list of the best tour companies. It's a huge time-saver and will save you money.

Click Here for South Rim Tour Prices & Availability

Make It a Grand Day!

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