April 2019
Day 3 was all about the Grand Canyon. We got up and headed right into the park. Thanks to the National Park Service's great system of shuttles we got in easily and headed up Hermit Road first since we knew it gets crowded. We then worked our way along the entire South Rim. Even with the shuttles, we did a ton of walking. We managed to cross nearly everything off our list and made it out of the park in time to go have a steak dinner in Tusayan and then make plans for the next day.
Beginning the biggest day of the trip. An entire day at the Grand Canyon.
Looking down on what was a uranium mine at the bottom of the Grand Canyon
Beginning the biggest day of the trip. An entire day at the Grand Canyon.
Beginning the biggest day of the trip. An entire day at the Grand Canyon.
Beginning the biggest day of the trip. An entire day at the Grand Canyon.
Beginning the biggest day of the trip. An entire day at the Grand Canyon.
No two views of the Grand Canyon are the same
The trees here look like props from a movie set. I've never seen anything like this in person before.
Prickly Pear cacti growing wild in Grand Canyon National Park
Thanks to zoom lenses, I'm not nearly as close to the edge as it looks in this picture.
This monument honors John Wesley Powell, the first to traverse the Grand Canyon for the federal government
This monument honors John Wesley Powell, the first to traverse the Grand Canyon for the federal government
Every time you look into the Grand Canyon you see a color that you didn't notice before
A quick panorama of the Grand Canyon
We're finally able to see the Colorado River flowing through the Grand Canyon
Hermit's Rest is the farthest west we are heading in the park
The chimney on Hermit's Rest is still looking pretty good considering it's over 100 years old
Walking around Hermit's Rest
The massive fireplace in Hermit's Rest is in what is now the gift shop
The National Park Service has a fantastic shuttle bus system to get around the massive South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Looking at it from this view you start to get an understanding how the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon
Looking at it from this view you start to get an understanding how the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon
Looking at it from this view you start to get an understanding how the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon
A closer look at the Colorado River
I always had the impression that the Grand Canyon was just one big canyon but it is a maze
Another peek at the Colorado River
It's hard to convey a sense of the scale of the Grand Canyon
The layers of rock tell centuries of stories
I always had the impression that the Grand Canyon was just one big canyon but it is a maze
Looking across to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Yes, those are storms over there. They mostly stayed over there and luckily we were inside when they passed.
Looking across to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Yes, those are storms over there. They mostly stayed over there and luckily we were inside when they passed.
We stopped at Bright Angel Lodge for lunch since it looked like the storm was going to pass over us
We stopped at Bright Angel Lodge for lunch since it looked like the storm was going to pass over us
We ate lunch at the famous Harvey House. We ordered flatbreads.
Dessert at the Harvey House was bread pudding
The view from Lookout Studio is, not surprisngly, spectacular.
The next stop on our list was Lookout Studio
The next stop on our list was Lookout Studio
The El Tovar hotel and dining room is over 100 years old. We'll be making our way over there to check it out up close later on.
The Buckey O'Neill Cabin is the oldest structure on the South Rim of the park and predates the park. O'Neill was instrumental in getting the park and railroad built
Yet another spectacular view of the Grand Canyon
The Historic Hopi House
The Historic Hopi House
The historic El Tovar hotel and dining room is over 100 years old.
The El Tovar hotel and dining room is over 100 years old. We're just visiting it's rustic lobby and grabbing a quick drink.
The porch of the El Tovar is a nice place to relax out of the sun
The historic Grand Canyon Railway brings in thousands of visitors to the park
The historic Grand Canyon Railway brings in thousands of visitors to the park
The historic Grand Canyon Railway brings in thousands of visitors to the park
The Grand Canyon Railway Depot is the first thing many visitors see when they ride into the park
Stopping by Verkamp's Visitor Center for some souvenirs
The Trail of Time traces the history of the Grand Canyon's geology
Grand Canyon even has its own post office
We just happened to be here during the 100th anniversary of Grand Canyon National Park
We stayed in Tusayan, right outside the park gates and conveniently on the shuttle bus route
We had dinner at the Big E Steakhouse in Tusayan. We thought it might be too touristy but the food turned out to be great and it was a lot of fun.
We had dinner at the Big E Steakhouse in Tusayan. We thought it might be too touristy but the food turned out to be great and it was a lot of fun
I couldn't resist digging into my steak before remembering to take a photo of it!
I guess this is good advice...