A GRAND ADVENTURE

A Grand Adventure:

Tusayan and the Grand Canyon

By Christine Ward

Tusayan is a small town located in Northern Arizona, 1 mile from the South Entrance to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. Many people may say they have never heard of the town of Tusayan. Still, if they have driven to the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim at any time since the pandemic began, they have driven right through it. Since the East Entrance to the National Park has been closed since March, the only way to go to the South Rim is through Tusayan.

When the pandemic struck, Tusayan jumped right in to support the businesses in the town, all of whom depend

on tourism for their livelihood. They provided masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and dispensers, disinfectants, and also supported the local Food Bank, which saw a huge increase in demand because of the pandemic.

All of the businesses in Tusayan struggled while the Grand Canyon National Park was shut down to visitors in April 2020. These businesses have been working hard to recover since the reopening of the park in June 2020. They are eager to welcome visitors back in 2021.

Tusayan is a great place to stay for your next Grand Canyon Adventure; it offers Lodging, Dining, Shopping, an Imax Movie, Hummer and Jeep Tours, Helicopter and Airplane Tours, Electric Bike Rentals, and RZR Rentals. It is the perfect base for visits to other Northern Arizona vacations, including Page/Lake Powell, Flagstaff, and Sedona.

Special Events were always a large draw for visitors and locals alike. For 2021, if vaccinations continue at the great pace they have so far, and if Federal, State, and Local Guidelines allow, special events in Tusayan will be back and better than ever.

SPECIAL EVENTS These are some of the Special Events in the planning stages for 2021:

4th of July Celebration The parade is always a huge crowd-pleaser. Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that guidelines will allow it to occur in 2021. Along with the parade, the 4th of July events will include food, live music, raffles, and lots of exciting entertainment.

Grand Canyon Half Marathon The 3rd Annual Grand Canyon Half Marathon is set to take place November 6, 2021, in Tusayan. Participants can walk or run a half marathon, a 5k, or the Family 1 Mile. The (about) 13.1-mile trail loops through the beautiful forest and high desert of the Kaibab National Forest, while the 5k is an outand-back, partially on a paved multi-use path through the forest and partially on a forest service road. The courses do not descend into the Grand Canyon. Still, all race participants can purchase a National Park Service pass and, from the race site, easily enter into the Grand Canyon National Park.

THINGS TO DO

Tusayan is located approximately 1 mile from the entrance to the Grand Canyon South Rim. It offers the closest lodging to this Natural Wonder, outside of the in-park lodging. Below are some of the fun things you can do in and around Tusayan during your Grand Canyon Adventure. We have not included ‘visiting the Grand Canyon National Park’ because, of course, that is the number one activity!

IMAX Movie In only 34 minutes, you’ll discover a Grand Canyon that would take a lifetime to experience. This IMAX movie opens with the beginning of man’s fragile kinship with the twisting 277 mile Grand Canyon in Arizona. It then transports you through time with brief glimpses at the stone pages of human history. Showtimes are every hour on the half-hour, beginning at 9:30 am and last showing at 3:30 pm (times may change seasonally). The movie is located at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center 450 State Route 64 Tusayan AZ 86023. In addition to the Imax Movie, the visitors center offers Explorers Café with excellent quick food, ice cream, and a fabulous Gift Shop.

Hummer / Jeep Tours Of course, anyone can drive themselves to the Grand Canyon National Park’s viewpoints, but participating in a guided tour provides many benefits for visitors. When you take a guided tour, you do not have to worry about driving, parking, or missing out on some of the canyon’s lesser-known viewpoints. You also get guided narration from a local professional who will provide you with history and information that you just cannot absorb as well from the brochures or kiosks. There are 3 Tour Companies located in Tusayan that will show you the best parts of the Grand Canyon National Park.

Helicopter and Airplane Tours Enjoy an air tour over the Grand Canyon National Park with one of the local operators in Tusayan. You will get a bird’s eye view of the South Rim, North Rim, Colorado River, and the Kaibab National Forest. Choose a helicopter or airplane, with flight times ranging from 25-50 minutes, and experience the Grand Canyon from a whole new perspective.

Electric Bikes and RZR Rentals Rent an E-Bike or a RZR and explore on your own. The RZRs are street legal and can be driven into the National Park and

provide opportunities to explore the off-road trails in the Kaibab National Forest that surround the park. E-Bikes can also be taken into the park using the amazing Greenway Trail System that starts in Tusayan.

Dining and Lodging Tusayan offers many local motels and one RV Park, with great amenities, excellent customer service, and local employees who can help you find the best areas to explore in the Grand Canyon. Dining options are plentiful, including on-site restaurants and pubs at the motels, and several stand-alone restaurants offering Pizza, Pasta, Steaks, Sandwiches, Burgers, and more.

2020 was a tough year for everyone, but 2021 is starting to provide some hope and a return to more ‘normal’ travel plans. Visiting the Grand Canyon National Park is a great way to get outdoors with your family and friends and spend some time exploring the amazing locations in Northern Arizona.V

For more information about the Grand Canyon National Park and the surrounding areas, visit the Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce Website at https://grandcanyoncvb.org/adventure.