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Message |
    
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 4987
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 5:10 pm: |     |
We'll be in Lake Las Vegas at the end of September & I'd like to see the Grand Canyon. I Googled it, but as you can imagine, there are a gazillion tour operators.
Has anyone every used Papillon Tours? How about overall helicopter, cruise, etc. experiences? Anyone to avoid, etc.?
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eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1181
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 5:22 pm: | |
Helicopters are things I wouldn't fool around with. If I remember right you are staying at the Ritz? I would go with their designated vendors - at least you know they have been vetted. |
Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 1368
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 5:53 pm: | |
Greenetree,
I rented a car in Vegas and drove out to the Grand Canyon, it's a nice drive, can't recall how long it takes, either 2 hours or 4.
I also went to Zion Nat'l Park and Bryce canyon on the same trip - both are really cool too. Zion is all huge mountains and waterfalls and tons of gorgeous hiking trails - mostly easy, I wore Keds and I felt fine. If you're going off-season it's basically empty, we rented an apartment for under $100 a night.
Bryce was under water millions of years ago - it's all huge red stalagtite (stalagmite?)formations and it had snow - my Keds were soaked, but I didn't need boots.
I went in October - we gave each place a day - so three days and drove back to Vegas late afternoon.
One of my fave trips ever -
Hmmm, you're giving me an idea for another girls' vacay...
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Eric Wertheim
Citizen
Username: Bub
Post Number: 108
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 5:57 pm: | |
I second the circle tour of GC, Bryce and Zion. Check out the lesser known Grand Canyon Caverns along the way on Route 66 as well as slot canyons in Arizona. |
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 3780
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 7:15 pm: | |
Lydia -- I'm up for it! Let's go!!!
Call me. |
msg
Citizen
Username: Msg
Post Number: 35
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 9:26 pm: | |
When you do the GC, be careful which rim you sign up to visit. If you're expecting to see the same view as the usual pics, it's the other rim. That's farther. Papillon is a good company. There are bus trips too if you're worried about helicopters. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 4992
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 9:22 am: | |
Well, at $250 pp, helicopter tour may be out. Correction - is out. So, MSG, please tell me more about the rim near Vegas. Since we are paying for a place in the resort & I have no intention of checking in & out for a night, can we do a day trip & see some cool parts of the canyon? |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 763
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 2:45 pm: | |
Second or third the GC/Bryce/Zion loop, or any part of it. North Rim of the Grand Canyon is my favorite, possibly less crowded than the South Rim. Either one has a great old lodge right on the edge, probably booked but what would it hurt to ask? North Rim is 1,000 ft (?) higher, anyhow considerably higher, and I believe it's closed over the winter, don't know about Sept.
All easy driving if you're there before snow, and spectacular views everywhere.
Enjoy!!!
Edit: Oops, I didn't read to the end of your 9:22 post. Regarding day trips, I'm not sure about distances/travel times, why not check with your hotel? I'm pretty sure traveling out of L.A. we used to make the first night in/near Vegas and the second at Zion, but it's been a long time. Off season, I wouldn't be surprised if you could find places to stay at these parks (except maybe GC) for so little $ it would hardly matter. |
ril
Citizen
Username: Ril
Post Number: 367
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 5:27 pm: | |
Grand Canyon is probably too far for a day trip (unless you just want to drive drive drive, look at the view, then drive drive drive back). You might want to take a little longer and do a couple of short rim hikes, at least.
If you really don't want to make it an overnight, then try Zion--much closer, and the nearby town, Springdale, has lots of great restaurants, shops, etc. You park outside either park, and shuttle buses take you to the various viewpoints, trailheads, lodges., etc.
We did the grand loop (Vegas to GC to Bryce to Zion) at the end of September last year, and the weather was great. Zion is a little cooler than the Grand Canyon & Bryce; bring a sweater if you'll be there after dark.
PL me if you want info on places to stay, eat, etc.
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Lydia
Supporter
Username: Lydial
Post Number: 1369
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 6:02 pm: | |
Algy - yay!
Day 1: Fly into Las Vegas -
Day 2: spend part of our winnings renting a Winnebago to go to Bryce and Zion.
Also let's solve crimes along the way and educate the locals with our big city ways - (time permitting)
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bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 2274
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 11:02 pm: | |
Ahem - may I go, too, please? With Lydia and Alg, not Greene and TS.
I don't know if I have big city ways, though. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 5007
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 11:10 pm: | |
Whew! I didn't want to have to say "no".
TS and I have just had quite the discussion on spending $600 on a chopper trip. Looks like the $20 pp boat ride on Lake Mead instead. I'm picturing cheesy tourist.....  |
ril
Citizen
Username: Ril
Post Number: 368
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 8:52 am: | |
Actually, the lake is nice, esp. on a hot day. If you want to get in a little hiking, there's Red Rock (I think that's the name) right outside Vegas. A nice contrast to the bright lights of the Strip. |
msg
Citizen
Username: Msg
Post Number: 39
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 11:52 am: | |
We looovvveeee Red Rock. We go there every time we go to LV no matter what the weather. We rent a car so if you don't, you need to look into tours. Valley of Fire is awesome too, same as above with transportation. I second the Lake Mead trip. Loved the Dam too |
bets
Supporter
Username: Bets
Post Number: 2289
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 1:05 am: | |
Okay, I can be small big city. I shower daily, know how to pack, promise not to pick up greasy biker types, and am dying to visit the Grand Canyon and am a single woman (no pesky late night cell phone calls during the Chippendale shows).
Plus, I haven't had a day off since my restraining order and October is the first opportunity. It sounds like fun. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 998
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 9:26 pm: | |
greentree...you & TS should stop in and say Bonjour to Celine & Rene at their home on Lake Las Vegas...
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