If you are looking for a fantastic Spring Break destination, look no further than the Grand Canyon National Park. There\’s plenty of great stuff to do, but smooth-water Grand Canyon float tours are really popular with couples, families and other groups.

You won\’t have to worry about scary whitewater rapids because these float trips stay on gentle waters. If you choose a smooth-water tour, it will stay on the portion of the river that is always calm and safe.

A lot of people are convinced that rafting trips last at least three days and up to two weeks, and that they\’re only for diehard adventurers with loads of free time. That is not true. These smooth-water rafting tours only take part of the day so you will be back to your hotel for a good night\’s sleep.

There are two general types of smooth-water rafting trips to the Grand Canyon. Basically, what I call the \”deluxe tour\” is an upgraded version of the standard trip. The standard version\’s itinerary reads like this:

1. Bus ride from Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCA) to Glen Canyon Dam at Page, Arizona;

2. A 19-passenger pontoon raft awaits you at the dam to begin your journey down the river;

3. Sit back and enjoy the sights as you float 15 miles down the Colorado River to historic Lee\’s Ferry;

4. Hop on a bus to return to the South Rim.

When you are on the raft, you will see some breathtaking scenery. You will pass through Horseshoe Bend and stop at some interesting beaches. You will enjoy lunch on the beach and get to see actual Native American cliff drawings.

Upgrade to the deluxe float tour and you get to go on a 4×4 Jeep tour through Antelope Canyon where you can view the slot canyons, plus you get to substitute a plane ride for the bus ride to Glen Canyon Dam. Sure, the upgraded tour is more expensive, but with what you get I think it\’s worth the extra cost.

A float tour of the Grand Canyon is the ideal getaway idea because the entire family can participate, including young kids and grandparents. Young kids are welcome as long as they are at least four years old. You don\’t need to be a highly trained athlete ? or even in great shape – to enjoy Grand Canyon rafting trips!

All you need is included in the trip such as the flotation vest, fees to the Park, lunch, and a river guide. Having an experienced river guide with you makes the trip a lot more fun since he educates and entertains you during the adventure.

What do you need to bring with you? Not a whole lot. You are supplied with drinks and lunch but you should probably bring along water. I\’d also bring a hat, a swim suit or trunks, sunglasses, sunblock, a towel and a spare set of dry clothes.

They\’re expecting this year\’s Spring Break to be busier at the Park than last year\’s, so I strongly suggest booking at least a week ahead. You don\’t want to wait until you arrive to buy tickets for your float tour. Plan on getting your tickets at least a day before your tour date.

The internet is the best place to get good deals, although don\’t bother looking at sites like Expedia, Priceline, or Orbitz. The tour companies have the best deals. So book your reservations on the tour company\’s website and buy your tickets there too. When you do that, you will get an exclusive Internet discount.

Spring Break is the perfect time to take a scenic float trip through the Grand Canyon. I am ready to go. You just might see me gliding by on my way down the Colorado River!

Travel author Luke P. suggests these Grand Canyon smooth-water float tours in addition to this web page for a promotional code that reduces the price on these outings: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/float-tour-promo-codes

Travel writer Luke P. recommends using this promo code to lower the price on Grand Canyon smooth-water float tours: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/float-tour-promo-codes

Author Bio: Travel author Luke P. suggests these Grand Canyon smooth-water float tours in addition to this web page for a promotional code that reduces the price on these outings: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/float-tour-promo-codes

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, rafting, float tours, smooth water rafting, spring break, south rim, national parks