Trying to find a great place to spend you family holiday? Try the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This National Park is packed with a number of physical and educational activities that will appeal to kids of all ages. Here's a list of ten activities to get your planning "juices" started:

Ranger Programs - Gain knowledge from the best. Attend a lecture or workshop by a park ranger. Trained naturalists, they are experts on the Canyon and know how to present it in a fun way. Subjects include geology, archeology, astronomy, among others. The Junior Ranger program takes kids in the field on adventure hikes and teaches them how to use the tools of the trade - binoculars, field guides, and other exploratory tools. Includes games based on the local ecology, too. The course concludes with the kids graduating as certified Junior Rangers.

Museums - There a number of great museums at the South Rim. Canyon View information Center by Mather Point has series of outdoor interpretive signs. More exhibits inside, including a ranger's desk where you can get questions answered. Verkamps Visitor Center, located near El Tovar Hotel, offers similar services, plus a first-rate bookstore. The Yavapai Observation Center's Museum of Geology is the perfect place for understanding how the Canyon was formed (make sure to check out the view from the station's glass wall). Kolb Studio, near Bright Angel Lodge, was built in 1905 and lives right on the Rim's edge. Its home to a huge early 20th Century movie camera used by the famous Kolb brothers and an art museum.

Take a Ride on the Free Shuttle - The Park has an excellent transportation system that's free to all visitors. It stops at the most famous South Rim landmarks (Mather Point, Hermit's Rest, Yaki Point) and trail heads (Bright Angel and South Kaibab). It's comprised of three loops: The Village Route (blue); Hermit's Rest (red); and Kaibab Trail (green).

Day Hikes - There are several great hikes for kids. Bright Angel Trail is located next to Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon Village. The well-maintained trail is a delightful stroll down. It's the hike up via steep switchbacks that will determine how far you will go (consider taking the Ranger-led adventure hikes for kids). Two places to consider: Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse and Three-Mile Resthouse. The South Kaibab Trail, too, is in excellent condition and offers several outstanding lookout points for kids. The Rim Trail skirts the Canyon's edge from Hermit's Rest to South Kaibab. For the most part, it's flat terrain and never goes into the Canyon. It's excellent for strolling and includes access to the key South Rim lookout points. Note: Dress in line with the season and bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and foods like salty trail mix.

Mule Treks - These must be scheduled advance, especially the trips down to the bottom to Phantom Ranch. If you don't have a reservation, check availability at the Bright Angel transportation desk inside the Lodge. Popular day trips for kids is the Abyss Overlook Mule Ride, a three-hour adventure that follows the Rim into Pondersoa, Juniper, and Pinon Pine woodlands.

Horseback Riding - Just outside the Park is Apache Stables, which leads trail rides into the forest outside the small town of Tusayan. Two of the company's most popular trips for kids include twilight and wagon rides.

Digital Photography - Check availability. This workshop is very popular and is led by professional photographers who guide "photo safaris" through the Park, all the while discussing how to best use a digital camera for wildlife and landscape pictures.

Helicopter Tours - Get a bird's eye view of the Canyon. Helicopter tours depart from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan. Routes fly over the South Rim's pine forest and over the Dragoon Corridor, the deepest, widest section of the Canyon. See rock temples and shrines and the North Rim before returning to the airport.

IMAX Theater - Operated along with National Geographic, the Theater features a monster-sized screen that puts you and the kids in the center of the action. See in 34 minutes what would take a lifetime to experience. Budget time for the exhibits inside and outside the lobby. Tickets cost $12.50 for adults and $9.50 for kids.

Grand Canyon Village - The South Rim's been hosting visitors since the early 1900's and has the most amenities of all the Rims. Bright Angel Lodge is the center. It houses the best gift shop (t-shirts, cups, magnets, figurines, and more) and restaurant (huge portions), as well as a museum, snack bar (cheapest eats on the Rim), and lounge. The information center and lodging desk is here, too.

The Grand Canyon South Rim is an excellent place enjoy your next family vacation. The Park features a variety to activities for kids, ranging from the Junior Ranger program and horseback riding to helicopter rides and day hiking. The opportunities to explore are limitless, specifically if you use the Canyon's free shuttle and visit such famous lookout points like Mather Point and Hermit's Rest. The South Rim, unlike other destinations, is easy on your budget, too. So pack up the family and head over to Arizona. The Grand Canyon is waiting for you.