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03-05-2007, 07:41 PM
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Join Date: May 1999
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,000
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Grand Canyon
Anyone been to the Grand Canyon?
DH and I were thinking of going there in October. I was wondering how expensive everything is in that area. I've been searching for vacation options, and found what seems like a good deal. But, I'd like some opinions from someone who has been there. Here's the package I'm looking at: http://www.thetrain.com/packages_canyonexpressplus.cfm .
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"I don’t know of anything prettier, than a scissortail flyin’ through the sky." Geraldine Page - The Trip to Bountiful 
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03-06-2007, 08:31 PM
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Super Ultra Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Branson, Missouri
Posts: 9,242
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Bumping this to the top because it seems as if someone posted something about the Grand Canyon.
I'll ask Cher. If they haven't been there...someone they know probably has... 
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......  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month .......  A Yellow Ribbon for Mr. Critter!
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03-08-2007, 11:44 AM
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Join Date: May 1999
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,000
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Thanks Mel!
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"I don’t know of anything prettier, than a scissortail flyin’ through the sky." Geraldine Page - The Trip to Bountiful
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03-08-2007, 12:38 PM
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Local Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Branson
Posts: 99
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lodging
I've been several times to the grand canyon,
so lovely. Always stay in Williams Az, as prices are wonderful, train leaves from williams, so convenient. If you do the train, you MUST also do the drive, nothing like it. Plan on several days if at all  possible.
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LauraI've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, t he faster it goes. |
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03-08-2007, 03:28 PM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SOUTH ARKANSAS
Posts: 428
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We went in several years ago. It was truly awesome. We went in April and was pretty busy. We only had about 3 hours to spend then we went on to Hoover Dam and Las Vegas. I recommend it to anyone. Sorry but we didnt stay there so cant tell you much about prices. Just go and youll love it.
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03-08-2007, 05:36 PM
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Super Ultra Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Branson, Missouri
Posts: 9,242
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Quote:
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...... October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month....... A Yellow Ribbon for Mr. Critter!
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03-08-2007, 05:56 PM
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Super Ultra Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: North of San Antonio TX
Posts: 2,618
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That's so weird Mellie - it worked for me the other day... (I didn't respond then though)
It's been years since I've been - but we loved going to the Grand Canyon - I remember thinking it would just be a big hole in the ground - but it is SO beautiful and awesome (as in you are in AWE when you see it... ) I haven't ridden the train - but my husband and kids did a few years later. They LOVED it and talk about it 'til this day! It must have made a HUGE impression on them. When we went we stayed at a Comfort Inn in Williams ... We were NOT impressed - and unless it's changed hands I woud NOT stay there again. There was a good restaurant across the street from it though if I remember correctly... It may have been the one at the train depot. I would love to go out west again - it is so interesting to me to see such interesting scenery ... The Painted Desert and Meteor Crater aren't to be missed either. And Hoover Dam is so interesting... Have a great time!!! I think the 3 night train deal sounds like so much FUN!!!
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03-08-2007, 06:15 PM
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Super Ultra Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Branson, Missouri
Posts: 9,242
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Quote:
ERROR OCCURED WHILE PROCESSING REQUEST File Not Found: /packages_canyonexpressplus.cfm [etc, etc, etc.] I'll have to do a search...it looks very interesting!
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...... October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month....... A Yellow Ribbon for Mr. Critter!
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03-08-2007, 06:20 PM
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Super Ultra Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Branson, Missouri
Posts: 9,242
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Well, I just went to thetrain.com and that worked...I'll read about it from there. WOW...I can't believe those package prices...
Starting at $109 for:
The highest starts at $239 for:
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...... October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month....... A Yellow Ribbon for Mr. Critter!
Last edited by Mellie : 03-08-2007 at 06:29 PM. |
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03-08-2007, 08:02 PM
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Join Date: May 1999
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,000
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Quote:
Quote:
Sorry that link didn't work! I finally got to the page with my bookmark. The page has totally changed, since I posted that link!! So maybe that's why it's not working.  There was a lot more detail about the packages, before.  .
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"I don’t know of anything prettier, than a scissortail flyin’ through the sky." Geraldine Page - The Trip to Bountiful
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03-08-2007, 08:13 PM
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Super Ultra Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Branson, Missouri
Posts: 9,242
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Well, all I know is I'm pretty impressed with the prices. DH and I are still trying to decide on our vacation...were considering Pigeon Forge, but....
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...... October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month....... A Yellow Ribbon for Mr. Critter!
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03-08-2007, 10:07 PM
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George Strait Junkie
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Central Arkansas, Between Toadsuck and Pickles Gap
Posts: 2,877
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Di you see the video on the news today of the new walk out over the canyon? I don't think I want on it!
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03-10-2007, 02:51 PM
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 15
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We went last June and stayed in Flagstaff. It was a nice drive to the Canyon park, lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery. It had been extremely dry then; guess now they have lots of snow and it would look totally different.
We thought a day was enough to see the canyon from on top. The free shuttles take you to the edge for all the overlooks, but if you want to hike you will need a lot more time to enjoy it. Either way, go early to see all the changing colors as the day progresses. If you stay there, it will be easy to see both the sunrise and sunset. If you take the train, you need to book the "good " times soon, as they get full fast. If you arrive after the first trip of the day, I think you'd miss a lot of the beauty. We bought a National Parks pass for $50 for our family, covering us for 12 months. You can use it for admission to all the National Parks. We didn't price any lodging there, but assume they charge TOURIST prices. The food there was typical of National Park restaurant prices. We had a picnic lunch packed and ate at the park near the East end of the shuttle overlook. It was really neat to sit and look. |
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03-12-2007, 07:32 PM
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 10
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The Canyon is always beautiful!
When my folks retired they went out to the South Rim and worked in the shops there for several years. We were fortunate enough to be able to get out there several times. Maswik Lodge is our favorite as it is an easy walk to the rim, just two or three blocks. Yavapai is about a quarter mile from the rim, still not a bad walk.
If you are set on taking the train, you really should get the package that includes a night at the Canyon. Otherwise all you get to do is spend a few hours at midday along with all the rest of the train riders. If you spend the night, you get sunset, sunrise, you can watch the mule trains leave from the corral in the morning, do some more hiking along the rim, enjoy breakfast in the El Tovar dining room overlooking the Canyon, explore the gift shops more thoroughly, maybe have supper at El Tovar or the Arizona Steakhouse (those two, and the Bright Angel dining room, are the only table service restaurants, everything else is cafeteria style), or just sit and watch the Canyon. That's my favorite thing to do. The Canyon is different everytime you look, but she's always beautiful! If you decide not to ride the train, try to stay as close to the rim as you can. The Grand Canyon National Park Lodges are inside the park and are our first choices. However, there are more room available in Tusayon, which is about a 15 minute ride from the rim. Honestly, if you're going to see the Canyon I wouldn't stay in Williams. Stay somewhere close to the rim so you don't have so far to drive after watching the sun set! |
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05-27-2007, 12:12 PM
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Super Ultra Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,322
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I was on a business trip and stopped in Williams. The hotel room had some info on the train ride and I had an extra day. I took the train ride. It was great. They only thing I didn't care for was the dining car. Too cramped (I am a big guy) and the food I got (burger/fries) wasn't too good.
Everything else was wonderful. I had a nice relaxing day. I leaned back in the glass top car and watched the scenery. I dozed off once because the motion of the car rocked me to sleep. I saw some of the nicest landscapes you can imagine. I then drove toward Las Vegas and stopped at the dam and toured that. It was great. If you are going across the Hoover dam, right on the far side (coming from east) you climb the hill out of the canyon and you will find a helicopter ride place in a parking lot. TAKE IT. It is fairly cheap (4 years ago it was $35 for a flight over the dam, I paid $75 to fly down the Grand Canyon) it is a wonderful trip. I am sure with gas prices up so high, it will cost more but well worth it at any price. The price is a LOT more expense in Las Vegas because they have fly all the way from town so it is good to do the one at the dam/canyon. |
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