The most romantic time to visit the South Rim is during the winter, when crowds are light and the possibility of being snowed-in beckons. Spring and fall are also pleasant, and in September, the canyon comes alive during the annual music festival. If your sweetie likes concerts, get tickets for a Saturday night. Reserve a room at El Tovar or, for even more atmosphere, one of the historic cabins at Bright Angel Lodge. Some have fireplaces or rim views. The best place for dinner is El Tovar, and you’ll need to make reservations in advance.

Day 1

After breakfast on the first day, pick up a picnic lunch at the General Store deli and spend two or three hours exploring the overlooks along Hermit Road. Leave the shuttle and the crowds and walk along the rim, or take the shuttle all the way to Hermits Rest and head down Hermit Trail for a day hike.

Consult The Guide, the park’s newspaper, for sunset times. Depending on the season and your dinner reservation, you may want to watch the sunset from one of the overlooks before returning to the village. If it’s a warm summer evening, start with a cold drink on El Tovar’s veranda (another fine place to watch the sunset). Follow dinner with a moonlight stroll along the rim, or take in a ranger-guided moon walk or star talk at Mather Point.

Day 2

Sunrise or sleep in? If you decide to greet the dawn from somewhere other than your window, consider taking the shuttle to Yaki Point. En route, you can grab a quick bite at the Canyon Coffee House in Bright Angel Lodge. The crowds are heading west for Hopi Point, and you may be the only ones to enjoy the sunrise from beautiful Yaki Point, east of Grand Canyon Village. Return to the village for a hearty breakfast or early lunch at the Bright Angel restaurant.

Afterward, stroll along the rim to Hopi House, designed by architect Mary Colter in 1905. Inside this historic structure is the canyon’s finest collection of Native American jewelry, perfect if you want to buy a memento of your special weekend. Spend the rest of the day exploring the East Rim by car, watching sunset from Lipan Point or the Desert View Watchtower, another Colter creation. To the west, inner canyon temples and buttes fade to blue and purple as golden light strikes the colorful hills and valleys of Unkar Delta and the sheer limestone walls of Marble Canyon — a dramatic finale for your weekend.