Winter usually means high-season rates in Arizona or anywhere in the Desert Southwest, but a winter trip to the iconic Grand Canyon offers a nice, family-friendly exception: Fewer crowds, and some lower prices. Starting January 1, tickets on the Grand Canyon Railway become 36% cheaper for the train-plus-hotel packages that give you a scenic day trip to the Grand Canyon plus a stay in a nearby hotel for one or both nights.  The roundtrip train ride to and from the  South Rim—in restored railroad cars, some nearly a century old—lasts about two hours each way, giving you about four hours to explore at the Grand Canyon.  You'll stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, Arizona, just east of Flagstaff. The 287-room, which  neighbors the train depot, has an indoor pool, hot tub, and game room.

You can choose packages for one or two nights, with or without meals. When we checked Janurary dates, the basic Railway Express Plus package came to  $328 for a family for four. It includes:

• One or two nights at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel (usually $109/night this time of year)
• Round trip for four on the Grand Canyon Railway ($70/adult x 2 + $40/child under 12 x 2 = $220)
• Optional: Breakfast and dinner buffets at the Grand Depot Café (add $92/day)

After March 14, that  package’s price goes back up to $514.

The best part about a winter visit: when you buy the package rather than booking the components on your own, your savings go beyond the seasonal discount. A standard room at the hotel this time of year is $109 a night. If you booked the hotel and train yourself, you'd pay $438 for two nights, so the $328 package price offers a 25% savings over the regular low season price. Basically, you're getting a free night at the hotel.

The winter rates are good through mid-March. You can book packages on the Grand Canyon Railway web site or by calling 800/THE-TRAIN.