Entertainment
Rangers present evening programs; see listings
in The Guide for times and places; you can find out the day's topics at the
panels outside the Visitor Center or by calling 928/638-7888. Chamber music comes
to the Grand Canyon in September during the Grand Canyon Music Festival,
held at Shrine of the Ages auditorium.
Grand Canyon IMAX
Theatre (Tusayan, 928/638-2468/2203, $10 adults, $7 kids 6-12) projects an impressive
movie, The Grand Canyon—The Hidden Secrets, on a 70-foot screen with
six-track stereo sound. The spectacular photography of the 34-minute presentation
portrays prehistoric tribes, explorers, wildlife, river running, and flying. Shows
take place on the half hour 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. daily March-Oct., then 10:30 a.m.-6:30
p.m. daily in winter. Look for exhibits of the replicas of Major Powell's boats
that were used in the movie. Services include fast-food restaurants, gift shops,
an ATM, and tourist information.
Bright Angel Lodge's lounge
offers live bands some days in spring and autumn. You'll also find lounges at El
Tovar and Maswik lodges, though these don't normally provide entertainment.
Shopping
Grand Canyon Association (www.grandcanyon.org)
has excellent selections of regional books, children's books, topo maps, posters,
and videos in its shops at Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Verhkamp's Visitor Center,
Kolb Studio, Yavapai Observation Station, Tusayan Ruin, and Desert View. Canyon
Village Marketplace at Market Plaza in Grand Canyon Village and general stores
at Tusayan and Desert View sell groceries, camping and hiking supplies, clothing,
books, maps, souvenirs, and camera film. Canyon Village Marketplace is the largest
and offers outdoor gear rentals and some repairs. There's a gift shop almost
everywhere you turn in the developed areas of the South Rim! El Tovar, other lodges,
most motels, helicopter terminals, and the airport have them.
Hopi House, the pueblo replica just east of El Tovar, has an impressive array
of Native American crafts and art from the Southwest; it's worth a visit to see
both the architecture—interior and exterior—and the high-quality merchandise,
especially upstairs. Lookout Studio, on the rim's edge near Bright Angel
Lodge, features curios and books in a picturesque stone building. Other places to
shop in the park include Hermits Rest and Desert View Watchtower, at opposite ends
of the South Rim drives.
Camper Services and Water
Coin-operated showers and laundry
near the entrance to Mather Campground will be a welcome sight to any traveler who's
been a long time on the road or trail! Outside near Camper Services, you'll find
a dump station and a water faucet where you can fill your water jugs. Another water
faucet is just above the Bright Angel Trailhead.
People with Special Needs
National Park Service staff make a big effort
to accommodate all visitors. If you have special needs, contact the park in advance
and ask for the Accessibility Guide. Also check the park's website and
The Guide for accessible facilities and activities. Hearing-impaired people
can use the TDD number (928/638-7804) for park information.
Pets
The Grand Canyon Kennel (near Maswik Lodge, 928/638-0534)
houses animal friends who won't be permitted in the park lodges, on shuttle buses,
or on the Inner Canyon trails; reservations are suggested. Pets on a leash (six-foot
maximum) may walk the rim trails in developed areas. Rodeway Inn/Red Feather Lodge
in Tusayan is the only place near the South Rim to accept pets. Service animals
may be allowed below the rim with a permit from the Backcountry Information Center.
Other Services
Backpackers can stow their bags with the bellman in
the Bright Angel Lodge lobby. The post office (Market Plaza, 928/638-2512,
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.) has stamp machines in the lobby
that are available after hours. A bank (928/638-2437 or 800/226-5663) next
door has a 24-hour ATM; it cannot change foreign currency or cash out-of-town checks.
Another post office is in the general store at Tusayan; you'll also find
an ATM here and at the IMAX Theater across the highway. Print film processing
is offered at Canyon Village Marketplace and several places in Tusayan. Cell phone
coverage is spotty at the Grand Canyon, and cannot be relied upon, especially below
the rims. Grand Canyon Garage (928/638-2225, 638-2631 ext. 6502 after hours)
fixes ailing cars and provides 24-hour emergency service. Walk-In Medical Care
(928/638-2551, closed Sun.) offers medical services. For a dentist, call
928/638-2395. To summon an ambulance or for other emergencies, dial 911.