It's almost a cliché that many Phoenicians have never made the three-hour car ride to the Grand Canyon while millions of tourists fly around the globe just to snap a photo of the stony abyss.

The good news is that if you’ve never been to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, you’re not too late. Amazingly, the national park has remained virtually unchanged since the Fred Harvey Company brought passenger trains and built a hotel there in the early 1900s, instantly turning the canyon into a tourist destination. And winter is a great time to take advantage of paltry crowds and off-season rates.

The South Rim’s relative consistency should delight preservationists and nature lovers. Of course, today’s attention-deficit tourists – always looking for a new adventure – may be disappointed to discover that a trip to Grand Canyon National Park is little different than when they were kids.
You won’t find pillow-top mattresses, complimentary breakfast buffets, Pay Per View movies or even cell phone reception here. There’s nary a tennis court, swimming pool or spa in sight. The modern glass Skywalk constructed by the Hualapai Tribe earlier this year isn’t here, either; it’s hundreds of miles away on Native American land, a fact that has surprised many South Rim guests.
So, get a massage before you leave town, pack up a duffle bag, strap on your hiking shoes and be prepared to get in touch with nature sans the modern indulgences of a typical American vacation. This is the Grand Canyon, after all, not Disneyland.