Adventures by Michele: The Grand Canyon - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I'm excited to read all your plans!! We are also planning a trip to the Grand Canyon- this May. Apparently we have a lot in common..... We also recently did Alaska (this past May w/DCL) and my two oldest(14 & 12) play the trombone. We are also doing Vegas on our trip to the Grand Canyon.... But our trip is a road trip rather than flying that will also include some other national parks with the Grand Canyon being the main destination.....
Sounds like it will be a great trip!
Alaska, the Grand Canyon, the trombone...how funny! Have fun planning your trip, and please share any tips you come across!
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Adventures by Michele: The Grand Canyon Installment 3
Installment 3: A Few Changes and Updates
July 6,2012 - Fly from Columbus, OH to Las Vegas. Rent a car, and drive to Grand Canyon National Park. Change of Plans: We will no longer be staying 1 night at the Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins.
Instead, we're booking a room for 3 nights at the Yavapai Lodge. http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging-413.html
We'll stay in the room the first night, and return to it on the third night. On the second night, we'll stick with our plan and reservation at the Phantom Ranch. Huh? Why the change? My husband remembers hiking out of the canyon with his dad many years ago, and having no where to shower or rest because it was hours before they could check into their lodge. By keeping our room, we'll have a place to go to clean up, cool off, and rest. Also, the El Tovar looks amazing, but we'll actually save money by staying at Yavapai. We'll probably visit El Tovar, and eat a meal there, but we couldn't really justify the cost of the room, especially since we won't spend a lot of time in the hotel.
July 7 -Leave the Yavapai Lodge (without checking out) and hike the South Kaibab Trail to the floor of the canyon. (7.8 miles, about 4.5 hours.)
Stay 1 night at the Phantom Ranch. I'll be alone in the Female Dorm, and Peter and Chris will be together in the Male Dorm. www.grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging-704.html
July 8 - breakfast at 5 am, pick up sack lunches, and begin climbing the Bright Angel Trail to the rim. (9.5 miles, about 8 hours!) Change of Plans: We'll return to our room at the Yavapai instead of checking into ElTovar.
July 9 - After we wake up and eat breakfast, we'll drive to the Havasu Canyon Trail Head. We will once again hike into the canyon, and see the breath-taking water falls. Change of Plans: Instead of staying 2 nights at the Havasupai Lodge, we'll stay 1, and hike out the next morning. http://www.havasupaitribe.com/lodge.html
July 10 - Hike out of the Havasu Canyon and drive to Las Vegas. Change of Plans: Instead of staying 2 nights at Club 36, we'll stay 3 nights. http://www.bluegreencorp.com/explore...px?ResortID=95 Why the change? The offer at Club 36 in Vegas is actually for 3 nights. We decided to save a little cash by staying a free night in Vegas, instead of a costly night in Havasu Canyon. We might live to regret this change. The waterfalls look amazing, but we feel like 2 days there might be too much. In addition to staying the night for free, we will have a kitchen and laundry facilities in our suite at Club 36. Even if I don't like Vegas, I can see the big attractions and then chill in our room with a good book.
I still have to arrange this with Club 36, but I was told that I could add the 3rd night at any time. We won't cancel the 2nd night in Havasu Canyon until I'm sure this will work out.
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Good news for us! We checked with Blue Green, and staying the 3rd night isn't a problem. We now have our 3rd night in Vegas confirmed. We still need to cancel the 2nd night a Havasupai Lodge, which should be easy.
Adventures by Michele: The Grand Canyon Installment 4
Very little to report at this time, but excitement is mounting!
I was able to cancel our extra night in Havasu Canyon, and I booked our flights on Southwest about 2 weeks ago. I'm glad I waited, because fares seemed to be on the rise for a few months, but then I checked them and they had dropped almost $100 per ticket!
Honestly, I've spent almost no time planning this trip since my last update in January. I assumed I would use snow days to do some research and write pre-trip report updates, but we had very little snow/winter in Southeast Ohio this year. In recent years, I've had 5-10 snow days with which to catch up on fun stuff like this, as well as closet cleaning and the like. This year we had only 1 snow day. In addition, I ran my second marathon 2 weeks ago and all of my leisure time seemed to go into training for the race. Though I didn't beat my finish time from my first marathon (in 2011) I gave it my all, and I'm proud of my effort.
Just found your trip report. I have only been to the north rim (pioneer cabins) but I cannot describe the experience. It's like being in a postcard. Every where you look there is natural beauty.
Just found your trip report. I have only been to the north rim (pioneer cabins) but I cannot describe the experience. It's like being in a postcard. Every where you look there is natural beauty.
That's good to know since we are will be staying there for 4 nights....looks pretty rustic but as long as there is a shower and a commode that flushes, I am good!
JuliB, When we stayed the pioneer cabins were very rustic but my understanding is that they have since been renovated. They are clean and a decent size. it was wonderful to be able to get up as the sun came up and walk to the rim of the canyon. We also had all kinds of wildlife just outside out door, including deer.
There wasn't television or internet when we were there and by the time we got to Springdale (after being at GC and Bryce), I thought my kids, who were never big TV watchers, were going to kiss the TV.
There wasn't television or internet when we were there and by the time we got to Springdale (after being at GC and Bryce), I thought my kids, who were never big TV watchers, were going to kiss the TV.
LOL! I am not that much of a TV watcher but I do love my laptop. I guess I will manage to do without it for a few days!
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. Apparently we have a lot in common..... We also recently did Alaska (this past May w/DCL) and my two oldest(14 & 12) play the trombone
. We are also doing Vegas on our trip to the Grand Canyon.... But our trip is a road trip rather than flying that will also include some other national parks with the Grand Canyon being the main destination..... 
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Why the change? My husband remembers hiking out of the canyon with his dad many years ago, and having no where to shower or rest because it was hours before they could check into their lodge. By keeping our room, we'll have a place to go to clean up, cool off, and rest. Also, the El Tovar looks amazing, but we'll actually save money by staying at Yavapai. We'll probably visit El Tovar, and eat a meal there, but we couldn't really justify the cost of the room, especially since we won't spend a lot of time in the hotel. 
PassPorter Guide Author
Adventures by Michele: The Grand Canyon Installment 4
and all of my leisure time seemed to go into training for the race. Though I didn't beat my finish time from my first marathon (in 2011) I gave it my all, and I'm proud of my effort.
JuliB
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