Hike Expeditions in Grand Canyon National Park

Hiking in Grand Canyon National Park can be a fun and rewarding experience as in other national parks. It is a great way to both see and experience the park.

Grand Canyon Field Institute is a program of the official nonprofit park partner, the Hike Grand Canyon Park Association, and serves thousands of Grand Canyon visitors each year. We offer fun and informative educational classes and guided hiking tours for everyone, from seasoned backpackers to families with children on their first visit to Grand Canyon.  

         
Grandview Trail. A 6.4-mile roundtrip with 2,500-foot return elevation gain on this unmaintained trail leads takes you to outstanding views from wooded Horseshoe Mesa. Very strenuous Trailhead at Grandview Point, 12 miles east of village on Desert View Drive.

Hermit Trail. This rocky unmaintained trail leads to views into Hermit Grand Canyon Park and a good day option is the hike to the shade and wild grapevines at Santa Maria Spring. It’s a 4.5-mile roundtrip with 1,760-foot return elevation gain. Strenuous Trailhead 500 feet west of Hermits Rest at the end of Hermit Road/West Rim Drive.

Rim Trail. The one truly level trail on the South Rim, it runs for 12 mostly paved miles with outstanding views along the way. Easy Trail access at viewpoints between Hermits Rest and Pipe Creek Vista off Desert View Drive.

South Kaibab Trail. A less crowded alternative to the Bright Angel Trail, its easiest day hike is the 1.8 –mile roundtrip to views at appropriately named Ooh-Aah Point 600 feet below the rim. It's one of two main routes to the canyon floor, and there is a very strenuous trailhead south of Yaki Point on Yaki Point Road. Access by shuttle bus only

Bright Angel Trail. A good though long day option on this classic route into the canyon is the 9.2-mile roundtrip (with a 3,000-foot return climb) to the spring at Indian Garden. Very Strenuous Trailhead next to Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon Village.

Blending forest and canyon scenery, this trail starts at the Widforss Trail parking area, one mile on the dirt Point Sublime Road, one-quarter mile south of Cape Royal Road turnoff. (10 miles, six hours)

The only maintained trail into the canyon from the North Rim gives hikers an appreciation for the beauty and immense size of the canyon. A full day should be allowed for a trip to Roaring Springs and back. This hike is strenuous. (9.4 miles, six to eight hours).

Australian Geelong Adventure Park For Your Amusement

Awesome family fun all day long, Adventure Park Geelong is home to some of the coolest water rides in Australia.Victoria's hottest and biggest theme park, Adventure Park, located just ten minutes from Geelong boasts exciting rides and attractions, perfect for the whole family.

Adventure Park is an amusement and water park in Wallington, Victoria, Australia Geelong Park. The park contains many attractions such as numerous water slides and water playgrounds. The park is the first water park in Victoria.        

                                     
Geelong has many tourist attractions and travel activities with something to suit all ages, tastes and budgets. From adrenaline-pumping adventure to a relaxing day out, you need never be bored in Geelong.

Take your pick from 4WD off-roading, bungy jumping, white water sports, caving, canyoning, diving, snorkelling, gliding, paragliding, horse-riding, skiing, hunting, jet-boating, mountaineering, skydiving and more.

We visited Adventure Park Geelong with our 15 years old daughter and our son aged 12 years. Getting into the park is pretty pricey charging each one of us $30 and no family tickets were available. The water slide really offered us a good race and we really enjoyed racing one another down.

However, the park seemed over crowded and crappy at the same time and depending with the expensive park fees we had paid, we felt like they had simply robbed us! If it were not for its expensive nature, the park can provide a good day out for the family to enjoy.

Adventure Park is doing it for the kids, too! The Tiny Tots Splashzone keeps the young ones cool, safe and entertained, with waterfalls, mini waterslides and spray cannons throughout. While Bonito's Bay Water Play offers a state-of-the-art aquatic playground including waterfalls, water jets and more pirate-filled water fun.

The families can take a ride on the popular Go Karts and Little Buggy Speedway, try a hand at archery, discover the Galactic Games World, challenge family and friends to a game of mini golf, take a leisurely ride on the new Paddle boats and watch the world go by on the classic carousel.

Bring in a picnic, hire a barbecue and relax lakeside under shaded picnic areas, marquees and pavilions, set amongst 21 hectares of landscaped parkland.

California Disneyland Adventure Parks

The most popular California Disneyland Adventure Parks in California.Between Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park, the family fun in Los Angeles never ends. With your choice of a pass to either park, or a pass to both on the same day, a memorable time awaits you, whether you’re 5 or 95. Downtown Disney, located between the two parks, offers dining and shopping.              

Disneyland California Adventure Park is the original Walt Disney theme park and a Los Angeles staple. From Dumbo the Flying Elephant to Indiana Jones, more than 60 attractions for all ages provide endless fun for your family. You’ll embark on a journey through the “happiest place on Earth,” with rides like the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion and the Jungle Cruise. And don't forget to meet those lovable Disney characters - Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and more.      

Disney's California Adventure is a 55-acre theme park located right next door to Disneyland. There are five themed lands to enjoy: Sunshine Plaza, Paradise Pier, Hollywood Backlot Pictures, Golden State and A Bugs Land. Discover a world of bugs in the hilarious It's Tough to be a Bug! 3D movie. Ride the looping California Screamin' roller coaster. Fly over some of the state’s biggest attractions in Soarin' over Disneyland in California, an amazing virtual experience.

Located just outside the front gates to both theme parks, Downtown Disney is a shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Here you will find more than 30 unique shops, live entertainment and an array of fine restaurants including Rainforest Cafe, ESPN Zone and the House of Blues.

The main attraction in Condor Flats is the ride Soarin’ Over California. Soarin’ is my husband’s favorite ride. In it you take a simulated hang glider ride through different places in California. That description really doesn’t do it justice, it is an awesome ride and it actually feels pretty real. We took Gordie (4.5) on it and it was a little too scary for him even though he met the 40″ height restriction. If you have a younger kid who is on the cautious side you may want to wait until they are a bit older.

Blaze a trail towards Grizzly Peak for an outdoor adventure surrounded by majestic evergreen trees, roaring rapids and rugged mountains. Take a thrilling, spinning plunge on Grizzly River Run or explore wilderness paths, march across rope bridges, climb over rocks and zip down suspended slides.

Visit Paradise Pier and discover an exciting land filled with boardwalk thrills and Disney and Pixar characters. Journey beneath the waves on Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure, zoom above the pier on California Screamin', play the game that's a ride on Toy Story Mania! and learn to fly at Goofy's Sky School. After the sun sets, Paradise Bay springs to life with music, light and magic at the World of Color nighttime water spectacular.

Camping At Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park encompasses canyons, river tributaries, and surrounding grounds. The Grand Canyon is situated in Arizona's northwestern quadrant. With five million visitors making the trip to the canyon each year, Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. In addition, the park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

The Grand Canyon Park had a long and arduous road to becoming a national park, beginning in the 1880's with several failed congressional bills. After making multiple visits to the area, Theodore Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon a National Monument in 1908. The bill to grant national park status to the area was passed in 1919 and signed by then-President Woodrow Wilson.                

           

Despite having more than million annual visitors, Grand Canyon National Park has only four campgrounds in its developed areas. These campgrounds frequently fill up during high season. By calling 800-365-2267, you can make reservations at the two largest ones Mather and North Rim—both of which are located near showers, laundry facilities, and stores. These campgrounds, and the first-come, first-served Desert View Campground (located on the South Rim near the Desert View Overlook), all offer comfortable tent camping, fire pits, and at least partial shade. There's also an RV-only campground, Trailer Village (303-297-2757), on the South Rim.

The South Rim is the more accessible part of the park, with many opportunities to see the Canyon from the comfort of your car. 90% of visitors only visit the South Rim. Along the Rim there is the Grand Canyon Village which is the center of activity and the transportation hub of the South Rim. It is the only spot where the railroad reaches the Canyon. Grand Canyon Village also has a historic district which was primarily built by Santa Fe railroad workers in the first half of the 20th century. All along the Grand Canyon Village, there are museums, areas to view the Canyon, and a free shuttle service.

Mather Campground is the only place for tent campers to stay in the Grand Canyon village.  This large campground also has space for small RV's, but hook-ups are not available.  The South Rim shuttle system comes right to the campground, and Market Plaza as well as laundry and shower facilities are within walking distance.  This is also a very busy campground so advanced reservations are advised. Pets are allowed, but must be leashed at all times, and may not be left unattended. Wood and charcoal fires are only permitted in provided campsite grills. No gathering of down wood - wood may be purchased at the general store.

The North Rim campground is a tent campsite located in the North Rim village.  This is your only option for a drive-in campground in the North Rim village area.  Sites can be booked via an advanced reservation system, and for those don't make a reservation you will usually find all the sites full. Pets are allowed, but must be leashed at all times, and may not be left unattended. Wood and charcoal fires are only permitted in provided campsite grills. No gathering of down wood - wood may be purchased at the general store. Coin operated laundry and showers are located at the entrance to the campground. Accessible campsites and restrooms are available.