Grand Canyon Experience Tour

Posted on March 23, 2011 by

T501 1024x436 Grand Canyon Experience Tour

Experience one of the 7 wonders of the world on this unforgettable Sedona Grand Canyon adventure!

The package includes two adult tour admissions for a world famous Pink Jeep Tour of the Grand Canyon. The full day tour lasts approximately 10-11 hours giving you plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking Canyon vistas.

Pink Jeep Tours will pick your party up from the Sedona Real Inn & Suites in a luxury “Tour Trekker” and take you on a this unforgettable scenic adventure. Experience the South and East Rims of the Grand Canyon in a single day! Not only will you see the Grand Canyon but experience the majesty of scenic Oak Creek Canyon, the Pine Forests of Flagstaff and the San Francisco Peaks. Visit the historic Trading Post in Cameron on the Navaho Reservation.

Your Sedona Grand Canyon tour package will also include a two night stay in either a Real Double Queen Suite with a deck or a Royal King Corner Suite.

Grand Experience Tour Includes:

  • Two night stay in a Real Double Queen Suite w/patio or deck (RDQD) or a Royal King Corner Suite (RYK)
  • Expanded Continental Breakfast
  • Deluxe Grand Canyon Tour for two

*72 hours advance booking is required. Tours are subject to availability and must be confirmed with the concierge. Package rates are based on two adults. Additional people may be booked by our concierge separately from the package.

Promo Codes:
GCDQ: Reãl Double Queen Suite with patio or deck – $600 plus tax
GCDK: Royal King Corner Suite – $630 plus tax

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Artists for this year’s Grand Canyon Artist-in-Residence program announced

Posted on January 18, 2012 by

Grand Canyon National Park’s Artist-in-Residence program is pleased to announce its South Rim Artist-in-Residence (SR AiR) selections for the October 2011 – September 2012 season, and the North Rim Artist-in-Residence (NR AiR) selections for the May – October 2012 season.

Grand Canyon’s artist-in-residence program welcomes not only artists who work in the long-honored traditions of representational landscape photography and painting, but also encourages the involvement of artists working in new or experimental mediums, and whose art is in direct advocacy of the Park’s environmental, cultural and historical values.

While in-residence, the South Rim artists have the opportunity to live in the historic upstairs apartment of the Verkamp’s Visitor Center, perched on the rim. The North Rim artist space is in an historic and rustic two-room cabin in the cool shade of the ponderosa pines.

A panel of professional artists and administrators along with National Park Service representatives selected this year’s artists from a pool of 98 applicants on the South Rim, and 70 applicants on the North Rim.

 

The SR AiR program is honored to be hosting the following artists for the October 2011 – September 2012 season.

  • October 6, 2011 - Cellist Rhonda Rider returned to present Grand Canyon-inspired compositions created by contemporary composers for her residency (SR AiR February 2011)
  • October 16 – 23- Night sky photographer Stan Honda – New York City, NY
  • October 24 – November 21 - Sculptor Michael Yinger – Brooklyn NY
  • November 21 – December 21 - Filmmaker, animator, screenwriter Lares Feliciano – Oakland, CA
  •  January 6 – 31 - Drawer and painter Michele Lauriat – Wakefield, MA
  • February 1 – 29 - Jeweler Georgia Orme – Bath, England
  • March - 2012 marks the inaugural year of a Master Artist residency, inviting well-established artists to spend one to two weeks at the South Rim working on their art, gaining inspiration from the canyon and presenting one public program.
  •  Pete Fromm, award-winning Montana outdoor/fiction writer, will be in-residence  March 14 – 18, and will read from his work in an Evening Program on March 17, 7:00 p.m. at Shrine of the Ages.
  • Shonto Begay, renowned contemporary Native American painter, will be in-residence March 19 – 31, with an evening artist talk on March 24, 7:00 p.m. at Shrine of the Ages. This will be the keynote presentation for the annual Archeology Day celebration, and will focus on Shonto’s work in-context with his strong ties to Navajo tradition, art and culture.
  • April 8 – 30 - New media, digital photography and designer Jing Zhou – Ocean, NJ
  • May 1 – 31 - Paper and ice sculptor/photographer Deborah Bird – Leicester, England
  • June 1 – 21 - Composer James Romig – Macomb, IL
  • June 22 – July 15 - Painter Melinda S. Esparza – Tucson, AZ
  • July 16 – August 7 - Composer and sound artist Erik DeLuca – Charlottesville, VA
  • August 8 – 31 - Composer Linda J. Chase – Arlington, MA
  • September 1 – 30 - Fabric artist Bobbie Sullivan – Scituate, MA

 

The NR AiR program is honored to be hosting the following artists for the May – October 2012 season.

  •  May 21 – June 11 - Painter Elizabeth Black and photographer Chris Brown, Boulder, CO
  • June 12 – July 2 - Painter Dennis Farris – Fort Worth, TX
  • July 16 – August 6 - Silk painter Nancy McKay – Ann Arbor, MI
  • August 13 – September 3 - Encaustic painter Rodney Thompson – Redding, CA
  • September 4 – September 24 - Textile artist Bobbie Sullivan – Scituate, MA

While in-residence, each artist will present a minimum of three public outreach programs, presentations or performances that are free, family-friendly and open to the public. For information on these programs, please check at a visitor center information desk or contact the AiR coordinators:

  • Rene_Westbrook(at)nps.gov (SR AiR program coordinator), 928-638-7324, and
  • Robin_Tellis(at)nps.gov (NR AiR program coordinator), 928-638-7739.

Grand Canyon’s NR AiR program began in 2003 and invites up to six artists each May – October. The SR AiR program began as a winter-seasonal program in 2006 and has been hosting artists year-round since 2009, inviting twelve artists (or collaborative groups) per year.

Both programs will be accepting new artist proposals between February 1 and April 1, 2012. For complete application process details, information on this year’s selected artists (including biographies, work samples and links to their websites), or more on Grand Canyon’s AiR program, please visit the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/grca/supportyourpark/air.htm.

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Grand Canyon National Park to Waive Entrance Fees for Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend

Posted on January 4, 2012 by

Grand Canyon, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park will be joining national park sites around the country in celebrating the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday with a fee free weekend.

Entrance fees will be waived for all visitors to Grand Canyon National Park January 14 – 16, 2012. Visitors arriving in the park on any one of those three days will be allowed to enter free of charge. Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond the 16th will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay.

“Winter can be a wonderful time to visit the Grand Canyon,” says park Deputy Superintendent Palma Wilson. “There are fewer people in the park and the pace is slower, more relaxing. Fee free days are a great opportunity to discover a new season in your favorite national park.”

The fee free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours or use of concessions. Park entrance stations will have Interagency Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them.

Park visitors are reminded that Grand Canyon’s South Rim sits at approximately 7,000 feet and that winter weather and driving conditions are always a possibility during the month of January.

The National Park Service will be offering additional fee free day throughout 2012, including April 21 – 29 (National Parks Week), June 9 (Get Outdoors Day), September 29 (National Public Lands Day) and November 10 – 12 (Veterans Day weekend.)

For more on what there is to see and do in Grand Canyon National Park, please visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/grca. For more on National Park Service fee free days, go to www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

Did you know that the Grand Canyon is a quick two hour drive from the Sedona Real Inn & Suites? If you’d like to drive yourself, it makes a great day trip. Once up there, you can choose from a large menu of adventures. Many of our guests come back raving about the helicopter and airplane rides. Some folks just want to see it with their own eyes!

For great tips on creating your own intinerary, ask our concierge.

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Grand Canyon National Park to Celebrate National Native American Heritage Month

Posted on November 3, 2011 by
DSC 0247 1 Grand Canyon National Park to Celebrate National Native American Heritage Month

The Dishchii'bikoh Apache Group performing at Grand Canyon's 2010 Native American Heritage celebration. NPS Photo by Erin Whittaker.

Grand Canyon, Ariz. — On, Wednesday, November 16, Grand Canyon National Park will be celebrating National Native American Heritage Month with a day of special presentations and demonstrations.

Each year, November is recognized as National Native American Heritage Month. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are a special part of the tapestry of our Nation’s history. As keepers of a rich and ancient cultural heritage, Native Americans share with all of us the beauty of their art, power of their songs and grace of their people.

Grand Canyon’s Native American Heritage Month celebration will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Shrine of the Ages located on the South Rim.Visitors are encouraged to utilize the Village Route (Blue Route) Shuttle which stops both eastbound and westbound at the Shrine of the Ages.Parking may also be available nearby in parking lot A.

All are invited to participate in this special day of programs and demonstrations as we recognize and celebrate the many accomplishments, contributions, and sacrifices made by First Americans.

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Grand Canyon National Park to Waive Entrance Fees for Veterans Day 2011

Posted on October 26, 2011 by

Grand Canyon, Ariz. - Grand Canyon National Park will be joining national park units across the country in celebrating Veterans Day with fee free entry into the park.

This year, the fee free designation will apply to the entire Veteran’s Day weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 11 – 13. Visitors who arrive on November 11, 12 or 13 will be allowed to enter the park free of charge. Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond November 13 will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay.

Park visitors are reminded that the fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours, or use of concessions. Park entrance stations will have Interagency Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them.

Although these will be the final fee free days for 2011, fee free days for 2012 have already been announced and include: January 14 – 16 (Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend), April 21 – 29 (National Parks Week), June 9 (Get Outdoors Day), September 29 (National Public Lands Day) and November 10 – 12 (Veterans Day weekend.)

For more on what there is to see and do in Grand Canyon National Park, please visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/grca. For more on national park fee free days, go to www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

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Many Facilities on Grand Canyon’s North Rim to Close for Season on October 15

Posted on October 10, 2011 by

The staff on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will begin to shut down most visitor services and facilities on Saturday, October 15; but the North Rim will remain open to visitors through November 27 or until snow closes Highway 67 leading into the park.

Reservations for the Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim, operated by Forever Resorts, will be accepted through the night of October 15. All other concessioner-related visitor services, with the exception of the gift shop and gas station, will close at the end of the day on October 15. The last meal served at Grand Canyon Lodge will be breakfast, which ends at 10:00 a.m. on October 16. The final day for mule rides on the North Rim will be October 15. Self service gas and diesel fuel will continue to be available in the park through November 27 or until Highway 67 closes.

The National Park Service’s North Rim Visitor Center and Bookstore as well as the Backcountry Permit’s Office will remain open through November 27. From October 16 until closure, operating hours will be 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Regularly scheduled ranger-led programs, as advertised in “The Guide,” will be offered through October 15. Starting October 16, campsites with limited services, such as portable toilets, will be available for a $12 fee on a first-come, first-served basis. Water will only be available outside the National Park Service administrative office. Entrance fees and campground fees will be collected through the end of the day on November 27 or until snow closes Highway 67.

Starting November 28, at 8:00 a.m., the gates to the park will be closed to motorized vehicles. Hikers and cross country skiers are still welcome to enter the North Rim of the park throughout the winter months, providing backcountry permits have been obtained through the park’s South Rim Backcountry Information Center or at the Visitor Center at Pipe Spring National Monument, located in Fredonia, Arizona. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open year-round and can be reached by calling (928) 638-7875, Monday through Friday, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST. Permit requests can be faxed year-round to (928) 638-2125. Backcountry information can be found on the park’s Web site at http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm .

The Kaibab Lodge, located four miles north of the park boundary, will have full services through October 31. The Kaibab Lodge will close for the season after breakfast November 1. The North Rim Country Store, also located outside of the park boundary across from the Kaibab Lodge, will remain open until noon November 1, weather permitting.

Jacob Lake Inn, restaurant and gas station, located 45 miles from the North Rim developed area, remains open year-round. The Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center at Jacob Lake will have reduced hours starting mid-October.

Arizona Department of Transportation officials will try to keep Highway 67 open through the end of November, but a major storm with heavy snowfall could close the road earlier. After October 15, visitors are encouraged to call Arizona Highway information at (888) 411-7623 in advance of their trip to check on the status of Highway 67.

The South Rim and Inner Canyon facilities remain open year-round.

Visitors can contact the North Rim Visitor Center at (928) 638-7864 for additional information on North Rim operations. For additional trip planning information, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/grca or call the park’s main information line at (928) 638-7888.

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Grand Canyon National Park to Celebrate Earth Science Week

Posted on September 28, 2011 by
Grand Canyon National Park to Celebrate Earth Science Week

Allyson Mathis, Science and Education Outreach Coordinator showing visitors Grand Canyon fossils. NPS, MICHAEL QUINN

Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate Earth Science Week and National Fossil Day by offering a variety of special programs and events during the week of October 9 – 15, 2011. Earth Science Week promotes understanding and appreciation of the value of earth science research and its applications and relevance to our daily lives. Grand Canyon National Park is an ideal place to celebrate Earth Science Week, as the park is a natural classroom and laboratory for the earth sciences, and is one of the world’s most well known and most scenic geologic landscapes.

National Fossil Day is Wednesday, October 12 and is a part of Earth Science Week. National Fossil Day is a celebration organized by the National Park Service to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational values.

Grand Canyon National Park will offer a variety of other special programs to commemorate Earth Science Week. Daily Fossil Walks will be offered from Sunday, October 9 through Saturday, October 15. Fossil Walks begin at 10:00 a.m., meet at the patio behind Bright Angel Lodge and will visit a fossil bed containing the remains of a variety of marine organisms exposed near the rim of Grand Canyon. The programs will last approximately one hour and include an easy ½ mile walk.

Ranger evening programs offered during the week will be on the earth sciences. Evening Programs begin at 7:00 p.m. and last approximately one hour and are presented in the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium. Topics include the geology of the canyon, the age of Grand Canyon rocks, caves, and weather.

On Tuesday, October 11, the park will celebrate No Child Left Inside Day as part of Earth Science Week by offering a special family-oriented Fossil Walk at 4:30 p.m., meeting on the patio behind Bright Angel Lodge.

The Junior Paleontologist Program, a self-guided activity booklet for kids ages 5 through 12, will also be available at Park Headquarters and Visitor Centers. Kids can learn about ancient life, complete fun activities, and explore some of the national parks that offer a look into the past in the Junior Paleontologist booklet. Upon completion, Junior Paleontologists will receive a Junior Paleontologist badge.

Grand Canyon Association, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, will have a special sales promotion of 20% off selected geology titles in their bookstores and online at http://www.grandcanyon.org/. Proceeds from sales benefit the educational, scientific, historical and research efforts of the National Park Service.

Superintendent Dave Uberuaga said, “Grand Canyon National Park is very pleased to offer special programs in recognition of Earth Science Week. The earth sciences are essential tools that the National Park Service uses to preserve and protect

Grand Canyon . Participation in Earth Science Week is one way the Grand Canyon marks its heritage as the world’s most famous and most celebrated geologic locale.”

You can also follow Grand Canyon National Park’s celebration of Earth Science Week on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/GrandCanyonNPS. Park staff will be posting park geology-related information on Twitter throughout the week.

To learn more about Earth Science Week activities at Grand Canyon National Park, please contact Allyson Mathis, Science and Education Outreach Coordinator, at (928) 638-7923, or Donna Richardson, Deputy Chief of Interpretation at (928) 638-7835, or visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/earth-sci-week.htm.

-NPS-

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Grand Canyon to Celebrate National Public Lands Day with Fee Free Entry

Posted on September 19, 2011 by

Grand Canyon National Park will be joining national park units across the country in celebrating National Public Lands Day (NPLD) with fee free entry into the park.

National Public Lands Day began in 1994 and is intended to encourage shared stewardship of our nation’s public lands. Today, NPLD is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance federal, state and local public lands. In Grand Canyon National Park, volunteers and park staff will be working with the park’s Vegetation Program on native plant restoration and exotic plant control.

This year, NPLD will be celebrated on Saturday, September 24. Visitors who arrive on the 24th will be allowed to enter the park free of charge. Those who plan to spend time in the park beyond the 24th will need to pay the regular entrance fee for the remainder of their stay.

Park visitors are reminded that the fee-free designation applies to entrance fees only and does not affect fees for camping, reservations, tours, or use of concessions. Park entrance stations will have Interagency Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them.

Additional fee-free days in 2011 will include Veteran’s Day weekend (November 11 – 13.)

For more on what there is to see and do in Grand Canyon National Park, please visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/grca. To learn more about National Public Lands Day, please visit the NPLD web site at www.publiclandsday.org.

-NPS-

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Update on North Rim Fires

Posted on September 13, 2011 by

Date posted Sep 12, 2011

The Point Fire, located approximately 10 miles due west of the North Rim developed area in the vicinity of Point Sublime and Walla Valley, is approximately 4,195 acres in size and is burning in ponderosa pine and occasional small patches of mixed conifer.

The fire has generally been trending northwest and this has resulted in the closure of part of the W-4 Road that connects the North Rim developed area with the Swamp Ridge Road to the west of Point Sublime. The closure on the W-4 Road extends from its intersection with the Range Road near the Widforss Trailhead westward to the junction with the Swamp Ridge Road.

Swamp Ridge Road is not affected by any closures and it is not expected that it will be. Access to Swamp Point is still possible and both the North Bass and the Powell Plateau Trails begin here. These are good alternatives along with Widforss Trail for visitors who wish to explore this area west of the North Rim developed area. Also, the Rainbow Rim Trail north of here is located along the rim of Tapeats Amphitheater within the Kaibab National Forest and it is also a good alternative to visiting Point Sublime.

A lightning storm August 27 ignited the Woolsey Fire a half mile north of Point Imperial. The fire has burned about 360 acres. The Ken Patrick Trail is temporarily closed between the Cape Royal Road and Forest Road 610. The closure does not affect Forest Road 610 or Nankoweap Trail, only the section of Ken Patrick Trail between Point Imperial and the park boundary. Alternatives to hiking this closed area would be to hike south from Point Imperial along the Ken Patrick Trail or the Cape Final Trail in the vicinity of Cape Royal. Point Imperial Road is open.

Updated fire infomation can be found at www.nps.gov/grca/parkmgmt/fire_info.htm

Plan your trip to the Grand Canyon in Sedona, stay at Sedona Reál Inn & Suites, the Sedona Hotel offering affordable luxury & superior service.

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Drinking Water in the Cross-Canyon Corridor

Posted on September 13, 2011 by

Purified drinking water is available year-round at Bright Angel and Indian Garden Campgrounds and at Bright Angel and South Kaibab trailheads.

The list below reflects seasonal changes and will be updated when water is turned on or off.

  • North Kaibab Trailhead: water turned ON
  • Supai Tunnel: water turned ON
  • Roaring Springs Day Use Area: water turned ON
  • Cottonwood Campground: water turned ON
  • Bright Angel Campground: ON year-round (except when being repaired)
  • Indian Garden: ON year-round (except when being repaired)
  • Bright Angel Trail, Three-Mile Resthouse: water turned ON
  • Bright Angel Trail, Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse: water turned ON
  • Bright Angel Trailhead: ON year-round
  • South Kaibab Trailhead: ON year-round

Water available (year-round) on the South Rim at the Backcountry Information Center in the lobby. Water available (year-round) on the North Rim outside the Backcountry Information Center. Additional water bottle filling stations can be found on the Go “Green” and Refill Your Water Bottles web page.

Plan Ahead and Prepare: A backup method to treat water, should the pipeline break, must always be included as part of your first aid kit. Backcountry hikers should always carry extra water.

Plan your trip to the Grand Canyon in Sedona, stay at Sedona Reál Inn & Suites, the Sedona Hotel offering affordable luxury & superior service.

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Nature, Culture and History at the Grand Canyon

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

NATURE, CULTURE, AND HISTORY AT THE GRAND CANYON

(Click the headline link to visit the website)

This website explores 400 years of Grand Canyon history through the eyes of Native peoples, European-American explorers, miners, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, tourists, tour guides, and park managers. We examine how the Canyon has influenced American history and culture and how people in turn have shaped the physical, political, economic, and cultural landscape of this remarkable place. We hope visitors to this website will gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between people and place in this iconic landscape of the Southwest.

This website is designed for anyone who is curious about Grand Canyon history or who may be planning a trip to the national park. There are tools and resources on this website especially designed for students and educators. See the K-20 section if you are planning classroom curriculum. If you expect to visit to the park you can learn about historic buildings you will see at the Grand Canyon Village, the park’s trails, and colorful characters in early canyon history. We provide numerous historic and contemporary photos, maps, a digital audiotour, and links to many other resources. Please also visit the Grand Canyon Association website or one of their many bookstores at the Park for more resources on Nature, Culture, and History at the Grand Canyon.

Plan your trip to the Grand Canyon in Sedona, stay at Sedona Reál Inn & Suites, the Sedona Hotel offering affordable luxury & superior service.

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