If you are trying to decide where to spend Spring Break, you should consider the Grand Canyon. There’s plenty of great stuff to do, but smooth-water Grand Canyon float tours are really popular with couples, families and other groups.

These are relaxing, smooth-water Grand Canyon rafting trips — there aren’t any scary whitewater rapids. If you choose a smooth-water tour, it will stay on the portion of the river that is always calm and safe.

Do you think rafting trips last for days and are only for brave adventurous souls? That is not true. These smooth-water rafting tours only take part of the day so you will be back to your hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Grand Canyon rafting trips come in two versions. There is a deluxe tour, which is a standard tout with upgrades. Here is an itinerary for a typical standard float tour of the Grand Canyon:

1. Begins at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport where you board a bus to go to Glen Canyon Dam in Page, Arizona;

2. Board a 19-passenger pontoon raft at the base of the dam;

3. Sit back and enjoy the sights as you float 15 miles down the 4. Colorado River to historic Lee’s Ferry;

4. Bus ride back to the South Rim.

When you are on the raft, you will see some breathtaking scenery. You get to float through the famous Horseshoe Bend, plus your raft will stop at some sandy beaches. You get to see authentic Native American cliff drawings and enjoy a leisurely lunch on a scenic beach.

The upgraded, “deluxe” float trip gives you all of that, but substitutes a plane flight to Glen Canyon Dam instead of the bus ride, and adds an exciting 4×4 Jeep ride to see the unique slot canyons at Antelope Canyon. Of course, you have to pay more for the upgrades, but it is worth the extra cost.

One big reason that Grand Canyon rafting tours are such a perfect thing to do for Spring Break is that senior citizens as well as kids can participate. Four years old is the minimum age. Plus, no training is needed, and you don’t even need to be in shape to participate and have fun.

The tour includes most things you need such as entrance fees, lunch, river guide, equipment, and flotation vest. An experienced river guide is a great benefit because he is educational and entertaining.

What do you need to bring with you? Not much really. Lunch and drinks are included, but I’d still bring some extra water. I’d also bring a hat, a swim suit or trunks, sunglasses, sunblock, a towel and a spare set of dry clothes.

The Grand Canyon is expected to be a busy place during Spring Break this year. So, do not wait until you get there to buy your tickets or you will have to pay more. You want to buy them a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the date of your tour.

The internet is the best place to get good deals, although don’t bother looking at sites like Expedia, Priceline, or Orbitz. You will find the best deals directly from the tour companies. So book your reservations on the tour company’s website and buy your tickets there too. If you do, you’ll get a really sweet Internet discount!

A smooth-water raft trip down the Grand Canyon is an awesome idea for a Spring Break getaway. I am ready to go. Maybe we’ll see each other on the river!