Ever since Francisco Vásquez de Coronado and his party first set eyes on the Canyon in 1540, it is a safe bet that no visitor to the area has come here to sit in his or her hotel room and watch television. There is just too much to do and see. And, of course, the Canyon itself is the first and foremost point of interest.

Avid outdoor enthusiasts enjoy a myriad of options when it comes to exploring the area, which encompasses nearly three thousand square miles. The Visitor Centre, located near the General Store and not far from the Historical District/Grand Canyon Village is a valuable source for planning your adventure. There, you will find exhibits and information to help you map out your strategy, whether it includes backpacking down into the Canyon via Bright Angel Trail, scaling the steep and strenuous South Kaibab Trail to the suspension bridge, or a casual, carefree stroll along the paved Rim Trail.

To, quite literally, get the "big picture" on the Grand Canyon's history and natural wonders, the Grand Canyon IMAX Theatre, showing "Grand Canyon -- The Hidden Secrets," is a must-see cinematic sensation. You will almost feel the spray of the rapids as the early expeditions forge their way down the Colorado!

From the theatre, venture north, toward the Canyon, to the Historical District/Grand Canyon Village, which is the heart of the South Rim's lodging, dining, entertainment and shopping. Plan to spend a couple of hours wandering through the Village's historic, rustic-yet-elegant lodges, starting at the El Tovar Hotel. Renowned restaurateur and hospitality-industry pioneer Fred Harvey built this grand dame of the Grand Canyon in 1905 to accommodate and entertain visitors who came from the East via railroad.

When the Babbitt brothers first set up shop at their trading post in the late 1800s, it operated out of a tent. Today, The General Store & Deli, located on the east side, is the Historical District/Grand Canyon Village's headquarters for souvenirs, camping and hiking equipment, supplies and foodstuffs. They also operate two outposts of the store, on the North Rim at the Watchtower at Desert View, and south of the Park in the village of Tusayan. Several other retail outlets offer everything from memorabilia to Western-wear.

Just outside the South Entrance to the Park, in Tusayan, are a number of other exciting entertainment opportunities for visitors. On weekends, between Memorial Day and Labour Day, Moqui Lodge treats guests to real western cookouts in the Kaibab National Forest, complete with live country music and chuck-wagon chow. The lodge also offers horseback trail rides and wagon rides at its Apache Stables. Nearby, the area's newest lodging location, The Grand Hotel, introduces visitors to the area's original cultures with nightly performances by Native American dancers. Navajo teacher, artist and medicine man James Peshlakai and his troupe both entertain and educate in their colourful, authentic costumes.

Hop back on the highway and head to the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon," as Williams has long been known. Named for trapper and mountain man "Old Bill" Williams (a statue in his honor can be seen on the west end of town), this historic burgh offers a full spectrum of sights and activities for the visitor. Shop for antiques, jewelry and souvenirs, and dine in turn-of-the-19th-century buildings in the downtown business district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Relive the lore of America's "Mother Road," Route 66, which runs right through the centre of town. Have a moment of nostalgia at the Small Town America Museum, featuring dioramas of life in the 1950s and Old West Arizona. And be sure to stop into the Fray Marcos Hotel, Arizona's oldest and largest surviving concrete-poured building, which now serves as a depot for the Grand Canyon Railway. The railroad itself is, by far, the most memorable way to get to and from the Grand Canyon. Travel in a restored 1920s coach, pulled by a turn-of-the-century steam engine on a 75-minute journey through time from downtown Williams to the South Rim. Musicians and Western characters add to the festive atmosphere.

Throughout the year, special events in the Grand Canyon and Williams area provide residents and visitors with even more entertainment. On the first weekend of May, the Route 66 Fun Run Car Rally cruises through Williams, featuring more than a thousand classic and vintage automobiles in shiny, mint condition. Independence Day in Williams is pure Americana. The Small Town Fourth of July features a Main Street Parade and a variety of events including, of course, a fireworks extravaganza. Throughout the summer, local, regional and national cowboys compete in Wild West Rodeos held each weekend and, in August, the working hands get their chance to shine at the Cowpuncher's Reunion Rodeo. The Williams Labour Day PRCA Rodeo attracts many of the sports' top cowboys from around the world, and October's All Indian Rodeo provides a unique twist to the rodeo schedule. More than a thousand Harleys roar into town in late June for the annual H.O.G. Rally and street dance and, later on in the summer, classic vehicles vie for spectators' attention during the Williams Cool Country Cruise-in and Williams Route 66 Festival. In September, the Grand Canyon Music Festival presents concerts by the nation's finest chamber musicians at the Shrine of the Ages Auditorium at the South Rim.

There is no more spectacular sight than the Grand Canyon itself. But to focus on this wonder alone would be doing yourself and your family a grave injustice. Northern Arizona's High Country affords visitors an array of activities, sightseeing and entertainment opportunities nearly as broad and deep as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Explore, discover and create your own uniquely Arizonan memories.