Expert: Judy Hedding - 8/28/2005

Question
Hello, I would like to surprise my husband by taking him to the grand canyon for his 40th birthday in Dec.  I've been there, but it's been many years, and I don't know where to begin gathering information.  We will likely only be able to make this a long weekend coming from Chicago - flying in on a Friday and out on a Monday sort of thing, and I don't want the weekend to be swallowed by a lot of driving.  Any suggestions for a good guide on lodging and activities at and near the Grand Canyon?  We are active people and will be so happy to be in milder temperatures compared to our usual Chicago winters.  Thank you in advance for any help you can offer!  Best, Jen


Answer
Well, Jen, if you want milder temperatures you are in for a disappointment! The area around the Grand Canyon is at an elevation of higher than 7,000 feet--in December it's cold, and snowy. We have ski resorts in Arizona! Here is a warning from the official web site:
"Be prepared for snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures. Roads on the South Rim are plowed when needed. Canyon views may be temporarily obscured by fog during passing storms. Entrance fees are not refundable because of weather conditions."


Here is an article I wrote about a short overnight trip to the Grand Canyon:
http://phoenix.about.com/cs/daytrips/a/grandcanyon01.htm

The Train/hotel combo might be a nice birthday trip, and you wouldn't have to drive all the way:
http://www.thetrain.com/home.cfm

Here's the official site for the Grand Canyon:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon/south-rim/index.htm

Between those sites, you should be able to find everything you need!

Good luck--maybe you surprise him now with a trip scheduled for the spring????

Judy Hedding
Your Guide to Phoenix
URL:  http://phoenix.about.com

Sign Up for the Phoenix Newsletter. It's free!
http://phoenix.about.com/gi/pages/mmail.htm

Join us at the Phoenix Forum!
http://forums.about.com/ab-phoenix/start?&lgnf=y

Include the Latest Headlines from the Phoenix Site on Your Web Site!
http://phoenix.about.com/b/s.htm