Going over the edge, and into the Grand Canyon

Hoover Dam
Motor coach, airplane and helicopter tours are available through various companies in Las Vegas and Arizona. Permits are available for canoeing, kayaking and rafting through the Bureau of Reclamation. A float trip that begins at the base of the Hoover Dam and travels down the Colorado River for 11 miles is also offered. The Bureau of Reclamation also has a Discovery Tour that takes visitors into various sections on top of the dam that do not conflict with security regulations. For more information, call (866) 730-9097 or visit usbr.gov.

‘Grand Canyon IMAX Movie’
The Grand Canyon IMAX Theater is located in the National Geographic Visitor Center. The “Grand Canyon IMAX Movie” is screened on a seven-story screen, and it gives you an overview of vistas, a history of explorations that have occurred at the Grand Canyon, and hidden canyon experiences that are not available on tours. For more information, call (928) 638-2468 or visit http://www.explorethecanyon.com/.

And what about the newly opened skywalk attraction? The Skywalk in the Grand Canyon is run by the Hualapai Tribe (pronounced WALL-uh-pie) on tribal lands. It is not located in the Grand Canyon National Park. This is a common misconception visitors make. Skywalk is actually located around 250 miles away from the park.

Skywalk construction began in March 2004. For people who need assistance, a wheelchair ramp is being constructed and is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2007. Remember: You cannot bring a camera or any personal belongings on the bridge.

The Spirit Package costs about $80 for an adult (about $60 for children), but it includes a Hop on Hop off shuttle that takes you to all of the view points, such as Eagle Point, a horse-drawn wagon ride at the Hualapai Ranch, Native American performances, and also a walking tour of the Indian Village. For more information on Skywalk, visit destinationgrandcanyon.com.

Train ride
The Grand Canyon Railway offers vintage train rides from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park. Choose from five classes of service: Budd or Pullman Coach, Club, First, Observation Dome and Luxury Parlor. This historic train, one of the first ways to see the Grand Canyon, offers everything from sunset rides to the Polar Express, a winter ride that departs in the evening for the “North Pole.” The usual route is 65 miles between Williams and the South Rim and takes 2 hours and 15 minutes each way. For more information, call (800) THE-TRAIN or visit http://thetrain.com.

Apache Stables
Apache Stables offers horseback rides that trot in the ponderosa pine forest not far from the Canyon’s rim. Although you won’t see the Canyon’s vistas, the horseback ride is a great way to view the countryside. For more information, call (928) 638-2891 or visit apachestables.com.

Grand Canyon Field Institute
Grand Canyon Field Institute offers many courses at the Grand Canyon, such as family-friendly “Meet the Canyon,” educational tours and strenuous backpacking trips. Some of the topics include geology, ecology, archaeology, history, photography and others. For more information, call (866) 471 4435 or visit grandcanyon.org.

Havasupai Indian Reservation
Havasupai Indian Reservation is located in the Grand Canyon, but it is only accessible by foot or helicopter. It is also the only place in the United States where the mail is still delivered by horseback. The reservation has waterfalls, and the water temperature is 70 degrees and remains around this degree year-round. The Navajo Falls, which were named after a Supai chief, fall 75 feet into a pool that is a great location for swimming. The reservation also has a village, campgrounds, hiking and horseback riding. For more information, call (928) 448-2731 or visit their Web site.

Accommodations
There are multiple affordable options for families. The Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, Yavapai Lodge and Maswik Lodge have motel-style rooms with two queen-size beds ranging from $98 to $152 per night. The $152 rooms are located on the rim with a canyon-side view. For more information, visit http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/.

The most coveted accommodations are the view suites on the north side of the Grand Canyon at the El Tovar hotel. It celebrated its 100^th anniversary last year, and it has been recently remodeled. The view suites are a more costly $322 per night.

Peter Greenberg is TODAY’s travel editor. His column appears weekly on TODAYshow.com. Visit his Web site at PeterGreenberg.com. 

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