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Grand Canyon South Rim - 10 Things to do with Kids Travel Articles | August 17 Cheap Dolphins Shirts , 2010
Going to the Grand Canyon South Rim with kids? Here are 10 activities the entire family can enjoy.


Planning a family vacation and looking for a great place to go? How about the South Rim of the Grand Canyon? There are tons of things to do for kids of all ages at this National Park. To save you time, I've come up with a list of this natural wonder's Top 10 activities:

Ranger Programs - Learn from the best. Attend a lecture or workshop by a park ranger. Trained naturalists, they are experts on the Canyon and know how to present it in a fun way. Subjects include geology, archeology, astronomy, among others. The Junior Ranger program takes kids in the field on adventure hikes and teaches them how to use the tools of the trade - binoculars Cheap Dolphins Jerseys , field guides, and other exploratory tools. Includes games based on the local ecology, too. The course concludes with the kids graduating as certified Junior Rangers.

Museums - There numerous great museums at the South Rim. Canyon View information Center by Mather Point has series of outdoor interpretive signs. More exhibits inside, including a ranger's desk where you can get questions answered. Verkamps Visitor Center, located near El Tovar Hotel, offers similar services Kalen Ballage Hat , plus a first-rate bookstore. The Yavapai Observation Center's Museum of Geology is the perfect place for understanding how the Canyon was formed (make sure to check out the view from the station's glass wall). Kolb Studio, near Bright Angel Lodge, was built in 1905 and lives right on the Rim's edge. Its home to a huge early 20th Century movie camera used by the famous Kolb brothers and an art museum.

Take a Ride on the Free Shuttle - The Park has an excellent transportation system that's free to all visitors. It stops at the most famous South Rim landmarks (Mather Point, Hermit's Rest, Yaki Point) and trail heads (Bright Angel and South Kaibab). It's comprised of three loops: The Village Route (blue); Hermit's Rest (red); and Kaibab Trail (green).

Day Hikes - There are lots of great hikes for kids. Bright Angel Trail is located next to Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon Village. The well-maintained trail is a delightful stroll down. It's the hike up via steep switchbacks that will determine how far you will go (consider taking the Ranger-led adventure hikes for kids). Two places to consider: Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse and Three-Mile Resthouse. The South Kaibab Trail, too Durham Smythe Hat , is in excellent condition and offers several outstanding lookout points for kids. The Rim Trail skirts the Canyon's edge from Hermit's Rest to South Kaibab. Generally, it's flat terrain and never goes into the Canyon. It's excellent for strolling and includes access to the key South Rim lookout points. Note: Dress according to the season and bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and foods like salty trail mix.

Mule Rides - These trips fill up fast. There's a cancellation sheet maintained at the Bright Angel Lodge, and you might get lucky, but it's not likely as these popular trips are booked 13 months in advance. The best trip for kids is the Three Hour Abyss Overlook Mule Ride Raekwon McMillan Hat , which follows the Rim through Ponderosa Pine forest and a Juniper and Pinon Pine woodland chock full of wildlife.

Horseback Riding - One- and two-hour trail rides led by Apache Stables, located outside the Park's main gate in Tusayan. These rides traverse the Ponderosa Pine forest outside the South Rim. Twilight trips and wagon rides are also available.

Digital Photography - Check availability. This workshop is very popular and is led by professional photographers who guide "photo safaris" through the Park, all the while discussing how to best use a digital camera for wildlife and landscape pictures.

Helicopter Tours - Get a bird's eye view of the Canyon. Helicopter tours depart from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan. Routes fly over the South Rim's pine forest and over the Dragoon Corridor, the deepest, widest section of the Canyon. See rock temples and shrines and the North Rim before returning to the airport.

IMAX Theatre - See in 34 minutes what would take a lifetime! The IMAX screen is huge. Seats are stadium style. The cumulative effect is similar to actually being there. The Theater, managed by National Geographic Jason Sanders Hat , features excellent exhibits, an educated staff, and a food court. Raft trips can be booked here as well. Ticket cost: Adults (11 ): $12.50. Youth (ages 6 - 10): $9.50.

Grand Canyon Village - The South Rim's been hosting visitors since the early 1900's and has the most amenities of all the Rims. Bright Angel Lodge is the center. It houses the best gift shop (t-shirts, cups, magnets, figurines Jerome Baker Hat , and more) and restaurant (huge portions), as well as a museum, snack bar (cheapest eats on the Rim), and lounge. The information center and lodging desk is here, too.

If you're looking to do something different this family vacation, consider the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The National Park loaded with activities that target kids ranging in age from six-years-old to teenagers. From the Junior Ranger Program Mike Gesicki Hat , horseback riding, and geology museums to adventure day hikes, an easy-to-use shuttle bus system and helicopter tours, there's something for everyone and every budget.

Article Tags: Bright Angel Lodge, Grand Canyon, Bright Angel Kenny Stills Hat , Angel Lodge, Hermit's Rest, South Kaibab, Pine Forest, Helicopter Tours