Grand Canyon Village

The Grand Canyon needs 2 days: the South Rim viewpoints, accessible year-round, and at least one short hike below the rim (Bright Angel Trail) to appreciate its true scale. March-May and September-October avoid summer heat and winter snowfall that can close access roads. It's expensive for its size, with the limited lodging inside the park booking up months in advance. It's one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, carved by the Colorado River over nearly 6 million years, with a depth of 1,800 meters and rock layers exposing almost 2 billion years of Earth's geological history.