You should not go to the Grand Canyon without a meal at the El Tovar!

The El Tovar is by far one of the best restaurants we have ever been to! If you are not a guest at the hotel, you can make reservations 30 days ahead of time, which we did. The building is beautiful with much interesting history. The dining room has some great views and the dining was an experience in luxury. I had the duck, which was unsurpassed in flavor, my husband had the trout and he said he had never had better trout, and my daughter had the brucettia for supper. It was all delicious. The prices were lower than if I had the same meal in Atlanta, and the service was the best. (more…)  Read More →

Grand Canyon Lodging

My wife and I stayed in a Western Cabin on July 21st, 2004. We liked this place very much. The cabins are grouped in quads and we had one that was in the middle of all the Western Cabins. The cabin was almost identical to the Western Cabin we stayed at Bryce NP. It was great being able to stay within walking distance of the Rim and Lodge. There is very little other lodging available near the North Rim. The views from the Lodge were outstanding! (more…)  Read More →

I hope heaven is this good

Just got back from trip to the southwest (Sequoia, Zion, Grand Canyon, etc) - Zion Mountain Resort was the highlight. We came across it by accident (driving by - the buffalo herd caught our eye). Wanted to do some horseback riding somewhere and thought this would be something different. My 4 boys (ages 5-14) and wife agreed it was the best day of the trip. Staff was great - horsetrail guides Guy (a postcard cowboy) and Jeff (an outgoing college student) were friendly, wonderful, and made us feel at home. May not be for everyone - but we enjoyed it immensely. Horseback riding was awesome - rode to the canyon edge, Indian Hill (site of an old Indian village), and within a couple hundred yards of the buffalo herd in a large prairie-like area. Even on a short 1 hr ride, we covered a variety of terrain. Longer rides are available. Friendly and accommodating owner went out of his way to make sure we were entertained. (more…)  Read More →

Staying at the Grand Canyon

We could not get a reservation on the North Rim Grand Canyon Lodge for summer of 2004, so made the reservation last year for 2005. Well worth the wait! We had a pioneer cabin - 2 rooms separated by a bathroom, sleeps 5. The pros: - unbelievable location! quiet! views! deer grazing nearby! Totally well worth staying there. That being said, the cons: they are pretty rustic, one plug per room (with digital cameras, and laptops, charging batteries, etc., it gets to be quite a juggle), poor lighting (the lamp above the bed practially blinded us..terrible for reading, no desk lamp), our bathroom shower and floor were pretty grimy and we should have complained but didn’t, parking could be a problem if you have excessive stuff (one main lot and a walk to your cabin.) All this can be dealt with because it is so fun to stay in these cute, “back in time” cabins. The staff was helpful and friendly and accomodating. We ate in the main dining room one night - excellent service and views.... (more...)

Gateway To The Grand Canyon

Flagstaff is a mixture of college, tourist, local town. Many different types of people live and visit throughout the year. The best time to go is probably spring and fall. During the summer and winter, Flagstaff becomes overrun by tourists because of both the Grand Canyon and skiing. If you visit during the off seasons, hotel rates are excellent, there’s a small town charm in the air and the weather is unbelievable. Quick Tips/Suggestions: Forget about making hotel reservations. There’s no need when you’re traveling during October. You can pretty much get a great deal no matter where you go and nothing’s full. Best Way to Get Around: Walking is great in the downtown area. If you’re staying on the strip that runs through Flagstaff, you can easily walk to a restaurant or shopping. A car is essential if you’re visiting the Grand Canyon.  Read More →

Watch a Grand Canyon sunset from Hopi Point

Watch a Grand Canyon sunset from Hopi Point. Many places along the South Rim, indeed anywhere along the rim, will let you be spectator to one of the most spectacular sunsets on earth. My favorite happens to be at Hopi Point. Get there early to get a good spot and don’t forget your tripod. In the off-peak season, generally November to March, you can drive your car along the rim road. The rest of the year you’d have to take a bus in order to protect the fragile environment from excessive traffic. I’ve yet to hike to the bottom, but that’s on the list.  Read More →

Grand Canyon Sunset

I love sunsets and this Grand Canyon Sunset I will never forget. I started that day very early in the morning, leaving from Las Vegas. I only had a few hours of sleep that night. I was in Las Vegas, and of course I had to enjoy the nightlife as much as I could! Well, that is what I did, but I had to pay for that the next day. It is a long drive from Las Vegas to The Grand Canyon, and I arrived at there at the end of the afternoon just in time for the sunset. One of my biggest wishes of this trip was to see the sunset and the Grand Canyon, and I was just in time for that. I dumped my luggage in the hotel when I arrived and ran to the bus that brought me to the lookout point. Ooooh, never have I seen something as beautiful as that. It was not just the sunset, but the whole atmosphere. It is a magical place to watch the sunset. All those people gazing with amazement at the sun going down. I made so many pictures of the sunset, but please don’t even try to do the same. It is impossible... (more...)

I took a trip to Arizona and stopped at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon

In November, 2001, I took a trip to Arizona and stopped at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, almost as an afterthought. Since I was in the area, I figured I’d stop by and see this “must see” place known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. I read somewhere that the average visitor spends 8 minutes looking at the Grand Canyon. I headed over on a day trip, thinking the couple of hours allotted for the excursion would be sufficient. Something changed in me forever when I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time. I don’t remember those 8 minutes going by or the time that followed. I was awestruck, utterly fascinated by the sight that lay before me. By the time my now clearly too short visit was over, two things were apparent to me. I knew I had to return. I also knew that I had to hike to the bottom. Two years later, the dream came true. In November, 2003, just days after my 30th birthday, I set out from the Grand Canyon South Rim in the pouring near freezing rain... (more...)

Grand Canyon South Rim is open 24 Hours

The Grand Canyon is one of the greatest natural wonders and should be visited by all at least once in one’s life. My personal tip is to bring along a picnic lunch and find a bench. Who could ask for a better view? Be sure to go on at least one guided tour. We listened to a guide lecture on the different birds at the Grand Canyon. Another described to us the geographical history of the natural wonder. The South Rim is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It is *our* park. Quick Tips/Suggestions: (more…)  Read More →

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