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Marvelous Marv's (Visit this link)

Because the Grand Canyon is the only natural wonder of the world located in the continental United States, it is an intriguing international travel destination. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site administered under the auspices of the United Nations and regulated by the U.S. Department of Interior under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Over-regulation has fostered the development of traffic patterns and transportation systems purportedly designed to efficiently accommodate the annual visitor population of five million. Currently 19 overcrowded shuttle busses operate in the park and transport the public within a four square mile administrative area (the village loop and the Canyon View Information Plaza also known as the new visitor's center) with two additional routes serving the popular Hermit Road (9 mile scenic route one way) and Yaki Point (4 miles one way to the head of Kaibab trail, a canyon corridor hiking trail). Most day visitors travel by private vehicle (embarking on a parking experience rather than a park experience) or they buy a ticket for what they expect to be a ride on a historic train from Williams through the Kaibab National Forest along the plateau to the rim of the canyon (however the historic steam engine is used only from May to October, thereafter it is diesel season, and at best, the 60 mile train trip lasts three hours at 27 miles per hour) . These factors leave most visitors confused, bewildered, unhappy and frustrated. Forward thinking guests of the Grand Canyon book a private tour with Marv and Maggie. These guests are entertained with facts and figures concerning the Grand Canyon touching on cultural history, physical history, geology, anthropology, biology (flora and fauna), biodiversity and more, all combined with a unique brand of western humor that only Maggie and Marv can wield. As our guest, you will ride in a clean, luxury, 15-passenger vans equipped with public address system, air conditioning, video and Maggie and Marv, whose 40 years as a resident and business man of the Williams-Grand Canyon area, provides insight into the political system controlling our national parks as well as a spiritualism incumbent upon those who love and respect the grandeur of the Canyon. Marv & Maggie's Mission is to educate and inform their guests of the wonders of this national treasure and to enlist the support of others concerned with protecting our national heritage.

All of this for a nominal fee which entails a full day of touring, talking, educating, question and answer period, lunch at the Canyon Cafe, a full service cafeteria with no tipping required (lunch is on your own but we accompany you - we seldom leave the tour group except to park the vehicle in little known parking areas and to pick you up at convenient pre-designated spots so you never get lost). There is a shopping opportunity at Verkamp's Curios, one of the finest galleries in the southwest, where one can find anything from authentic handmade Hopi Katchina's to the kooky "cactus pete" vehicle antenna accessory which adorns your tour vehicle. And for those who wish, a short hiking excursion along the rim trail or into the canyon a short distance along the Bright Angel (ravine trail) or the Kaibab (ridge trail) as weather and the press of visitor population permits. The altitude (7000 feet) and the dry climate can be daunting to those guests from sea level however, we watch out for your well-being, taking special precautions for the accompanied mentally and physically impaired guest, the young, and the elderly ( please note that we are not handicapped accessible although seeing eye-dogs are allowed and ultimately one is responsible for one's own safety). After a full day on tour the guest is soothed via audio cassette with native American flute music inspired by the sights and sounds of the canyon, or video entertainment during the van ride back to the point of departure in Williams or Tusayan, Arizona.

http://www.marvelousmarv.com