As the summer of 2019 was coming to an end, we decided to see if we could make a road trip somewhere we've never been. The boys enjoyed driving to the
Pacific Northwest a few years back when Jordyn was visiting college campuses. They were game for trying it again, so Mom and Dad decided on the Grand Canyon. It didn't appear as if we were going to be able to drive the entire
distance so we opted to fly into Las Vegas where we would rent a car and drive to both Bryce Canyon in Utah and then the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
On Monday, Aug. 5 we flew out of San Jose and landed in Las Vegas in the morning. We rented a pretty nice car (BMW X1) and immediately made the 2-hour drive to Grand Canyon West. This remote part of the canyon has
one extremely incredible attraction - the Skywalk! Operated by the Hualapai Tribe, the glass Skywalk extends 70 feet beyond the canyon rim offering a 4,000 foot bird's eye view of the canyon floor. It can be somewhat nerve-wracking,
but the experience is one of a kind and not to be missed. Afterward, the tour also included a visit to Guano Point where we were exposed to more panoramic views of the West Rim, and where miners used to dig for
guano (bat droppings) to use for fertilizer. Finally, the tour ended with a stop at Hualapai Ranch, a replica of an old west town, where one could visit a jail, saloon, general store (gift shop), or try your hand at using a lasso.
Later, we drove back to Las Vegas where we ate dinner and stayed the night at the Rio.
Entering the building.
On the Skywalk in front of Eagle Point.
Eagle Point sign.
Home of the Eagle.
Selfie with the eagle on the right.
Home of the Hualapai.
Hearth.
Wikiup sign.
Inside the Wikiup.
Sweat Lodge sign.
Mom checking out the sweat lodge.
Hogan sign.
Outside.
Inside.
Guano Point sign.
In front of the crane.
Hualapai Ranch
Have you seen these two?
Got 'em.
Nachos at the Rio.
Chocolate puff from the past weekend's Las Vegas Star Trek Convention!
On Tuesday we got up bright and early and started our drive north to Bryce Canyon in Utah. The drive was about 4 hours and we got into the park just after lunch. Mom scheduled a tour at 1:30 so we looked
around at the Visitors Center for a bit before we met our tour bus. For the next 3 hours or so our guide showed us some of the major landmarks, all kinds of different plant-life, and we even got some up-close views of
the native fauna. When the tour ended we got into our car and hit some of the bigger viewpoints. We were very lucky that the late afternoon sky was clear so we were offered some spectacular views as the sun was setting.
In southern Utah this is the speed limit.
This is just like Radiator Springs (Cars)!
Agua Canyon
Agua Canyon.
The Rabbit.
The Hunter.
Family photo.
Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge.
Natural Bridge.
The Olympic Torch.
Holding the Olympic Torch.
Farview Point
Farview Point.
Panoromic of Farview Point.
Mule Deer.
Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point.
Panoramic.
Mom at the first viewpoint.
Guys at the very top.
Selfie.
Resting.
Sunset Point
Sunset Point.
Sun beginning to set at Sunset Point.
Wednesday morning started with breakfast at the lodge in Bryce Canyon and then we hit the road southward travelling along what would eventually be the
eastern side of the Grand Canyon. Along the way we stopped off at the iconic Horseshoe Bend. Horseshoe Bend is near Page, AZ and is part of the Glen Canyon National Rec Area. The Colorado River essentially bends
around this enormous out-cropping and is truly breathtaking to behold.
Sign.
Guys in front of the Horseshoe.
Horseshoe Bend.
Selfie.
Boys at the top.
Connor walking.
Horseshoe.
We finished our drive by finally entering the South Rim of the Grand Canyon from the east. We took in as many viewpoints on this side of the
rim as we could, explored the Yavapai Geological Museum, and visited the Grand Canyon Visitors Center before checking into our hotel in Tusayan and eating dinner.
Desert View Watchtower
Desert View Watchtower Plaque.
Watchtower.
Guys in front of the Watchtower.
Inside the Watchtower.
Taken from above.
Taken from below.
Wall painting.
Colorado River.
Guys.
Panoramic from the Watchtower.
Lipan Point
Lipan Point sign.
Lipan Point.
Mom and her boys.
View.
San Francisco Peaks
San Francisco Peaks sign.
San Francisco Peaks.
Grandview
Grandview sign.
View.
Mom, Dad, and da boys.
Grand Canyon Visitors Center
Tyler reading about the Colorado River.
8-minute video.
World Heritage Site.
Connor taking in the sites.
Mom and Dad.
Visitors off the beaten track going right to the edge.
Grand Canyon South Rim Panoramic.
Thursday, August 8, 2019
On Thursday we entered the Grand Canyon early to avoid the crowds and headed as far west as we could. We parked the car and jumped on the first shuttle that would take us to view all the viewpoints on the west side of
the South Rim. We were able to see practically all the viewpoints and even hiked a few miles along the Rim Trail. This was probably the smartest thing we did because later that afternoon the lines to board the shuttles
were absolutely choked with visitors. Not only that, but the weather started getting really warm so it's doubtful we would have been able to hike as much as we did. In the afternoon we took it easy and looked around
the Village where most of the lodges in the South Rim are located. We ate an early dinner and then headed back to the hotel to get ready to come home.
Bright Angel Trailhead.
Bright Angel Trailhead Dedication Plaque.
Bright Angel Trail sign.
Trailview Overlook
After parking the car near the entrance of Bright Angel Trail we hopped aboard a shuttle to take in the sights on the west side of the South Rim.
Our first stop was at Trailview Overlook where we could look back toward the Village where the lodges and Verkamp's Visitor Center are located.
Guys with the Village in the background.
Close-up view of the Village on the ridge.
Maricopa Point
Panoramic looking out over Maricopa Point.
The Battleship.
Powell Point
Major John Wesley Powell.
On the memorial.
Out on the ledge.
Panoramic.
Orphan Mine sign.
Orphan Mine.
Hopi Point
Colonel Claude Hale Birdseye.
Tyler at Hopi Point.
Mohave Point
Resting between Hopi Point and Mohave Point.
Hiking.
Mohave Point.
Panoramic taken at Mohave Point.
Monument Creek Vista
Panoramic taken at Monument Creek Vista.
Connor.
Tyler hydrating.
Hermits Rest
Hermits Rest, designed by Mary Colter, was originally used as a rest stop for a stage line that ran from El Tovar. It now houses a small gift shop and is probably the
western most attraction on the South Rim.
Hermits Rest Plaque.
Arch.
Hermits Rest Fireplace.
Boys by the fireplace.
Colorado River seen through a telescope.
Rim Trail
Along the Rim Trail behind the Village.
Rim Trail view.
Finding landmarks.
Another Rim Trail view.
Kolb Studio
The Kolb brothers, Ellsworth and Emery, took photographs of the Grand Canyon in the early 1900's. This building was their house/studio, and is now a museum.
Connor and Ran checking things out.
How did he get up there?
Hopi House
In 1905 the Hopi House, another building designed by Mary Colter, was created as an "Indian Arts Building" (gift/souvenir shop).
Hopi House.
Grand Canyon National Park Headquarters
HQ.
Random
Aside from the tremendous sights we took in on this vacation, two somewhat random things will stand out in our collective memory. First was the rental car
we got in Las Vegas. We asked for a mid-size SUV and they accommodated us with a BMW X1. We had no idea this was going to happen, but we were really happy with our luck. Second, the folder Mom assembled for our
drive was indispensible. This folder had every bit of important relevent information we needed. Everything from airline, rental car, hotel, and tour information was in this folder. It even had places to stop along
the way where we could get something to eat or possible points of interest. Eventually, the boys were adamant we adhere to the folder's instructions so we wouldn't go off track.
