What can be said about the Grand Canyon that isn’t already known? Famous around the world. Known to every man, woman and child in the United States. The backdrop for photos, Hollywood movies and countless wedding proposals. The iconic symbol of the American West. The mile-deep canyon, 18 miles wide, was carved by the mighty Colorado River over millions of years. What remains is a monument to nature unlike any other in the world.

Established in 1919 and situated in Arizona, the park offers more than just standing on the rim gazing at its awesomeness. You can also descend into the canyon for a totally different experience, or fly over it for a birds-eye view. The park is the 2^nd most visited park in the system for a reason.

But with that popularity comes overcrowding. As much as any park, a visit to Grand Canyon National Park requires planning to avoid the long lines and surge of people. But regardless of when you go, it’s the kind of place that will make memories to last a lifetime. If ever there was a “bucket list” of the Earth’s great natural wonders, the Grand Canyon would surely be on it.