Grand Canyon - best approach/trip??

[Ranger 6]

Planning on doing a road trip next year which will have a couple of days in Vegas. I'd like to get opinions from those who have been about the various options.

Eg.
Helicopter tour
Jeep tour
Donkey ride down to the river
Own vehicle - drive to canyon, then get a tour
Tour all the way from Vegas hotel
Etc etc

We will have an SUV as our rental, so that's a factor in getting to the canyon.

Also - what else to do around Vegas. I've found a jeep rock crawling trip and a buggy through the desert. Suggestions welcome.

[Ranger 6]

This is all fantastic advice - thanks

Keep it coming as it's all feeding our plans. Which are changing, my thoughts are that a 4+ hour drive each way from Vegas wastes so much of the day and staying close would be better - either El Tovar or Msawick Lodge.

[Ranger 6]

Thanks again - all useful.