America's Best Summer Getaways 2009
National Park: Grand Canyon, Arizona
At 5,000 feet deep and 10 miles across, the Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most iconic natural wonders; with 4.5 million visitors a year, it’s also one of the most crowded. Camping there usually means sharing your space with a slew of other trekkers, but veteran tour operator Off the Beaten Path (six-day trips from $2,795 per person) now gives guests the chance to stay in a private camp near the South Rim, set within the world’s largest stand of ponderosa pines. By day, you’ll trek two miles down into the canyon, tour ancestral Puebloan ruins, and bike local trails, all in the hands of expert guides. Come evening, you’ll stay in your own deluxe walk-in tent, outfitted with a memory-foam mattress and mirrored washbasin.
—Bree Sposato
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