Considering Las Vegas and thinking about adding a day trip to the Grand Canyon's South Rim?

Wise decision. Of all the "Rims," it's the South one that's got all the world-famous views.

What's the easiest way to get there if you are with limited funds? Take a deluxe bus tour from Las Vegas.

Prices at the time this article was written ranged from $80 to $160. I suggest you shop the Internet for the best deal. The link at the bottom of this article will take you to a webpage where I go more in-depth on pricing.

These aren't the motor coaches of yore, either. They are state-of-the-art vehicles, and they come pre-loaded with the following:

1. Restroom

2. VCR's

3. Plush, lounge-style seats

4. Lots of leg room

5. Comfortable arm rests

6. Personalized A/C stations

7. Large custom windows

The majority of bus tours depart Vegas at around 7 a.m. These are all-inclusive trips and come with free shuttle service to and from your hotel, as well as a delicious box lunch (I've sampled them all and they're quite satisfying).

The trip to the South Rim is packed with famous sights. Highlights include Lake Mead, Hoover Dam (check to see if your tour includes a photo stop), the Colorado River, and majestic Black Canyon, home to many of Nevada's beautiful Big Horn Sheep.

The entrance to Grand Canyon National Park features quite a dramatic change in scenery: You'll be up on the Kaibab Plateau, home of the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine in the world.

Inside the Park, you'll head to Bright Angel Lodge, which is the hub for all things in historic Grand Canyon Village. Built in the 1930's, the Lodge is the anchor for a number of excellent restaurants, museums, more accommodations, and the amazingly resilient Bucky O'Neil Cabin, which owns the distinction of being the oldest building on the South Rim.

It's also here at the Lodge that you can board one of the many free shuttles and discover such key viewpoints as Mather Point, Yavapai Point, Yaki, and more. Typically, you will have three hours to enjoy the South Rim and The Village.

Here are a couple of canyon facts that I think will enhance your South Rim experience:

1. The Canyon was created by the Colorado River over a 5.4 million-year period.

2. The canyon's greatest width is 18 miles. Lengthwise, it's 277 miles. It's depth reaches more than one mile.

3. At 8,200 feet (2,500 m) above sea level, the North Rim is 1,200 feet (350 m) higher than the South Rim.

4. The canyon was presented with national park status in 1919.

5. More than 5 million people visit the National Park each year.

6. It's populated by five Indian tribes

The return trip to Vegas usually includes a break in Kingman, AZ, where you can stretch your legs, grab a snack, or smoke (coaches are smoke-free). Then it's back over the new Hoover Dam Bypass bridge and into Boulder City. It's usually evening around now, so as you drop into the Las Vegas Valley, you'll be excited by all the bright lights and neon.

Total trip time from pick up to drop off is around 14 hours.

If you've ever thought about experiencing the Grand Canyon's South Rim, then definitely consider booking a bus tour with one of Vegas' excellent bus tour operators. Tours run daily, seven days a week. The price is right, too, if you shop and book on the internet. No trip to Las Vegas is complete without a trip to the canyon. Bus tours to the National Park are comfortable and cheap. So go ahead and cross off the canyon from your bucket list. It's one of the easiest and most enjoyable trips you can do from Las Vegas.