Grand Canyon, 10/03 (Very Long, 5 Parts)

[Turn Key]

Grand Canyon Trip

South Rim

October, 2003

[/b][/size][/font]As always, I will take the time to do a review of our most recent trip. This one is going to be rather long as it was a 7 day trip and covers some side trips. To help you get what you may want out if it and to stave off any boredom, I am going to divide this into headed sections. That may help some to keep from dozing off as I ramble. Also, we did not camp on this trip but stayed in motels and spent two nights with my dad in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Due to this, rather then take

[Turn Key]

US Route 180

One thing DW and I had decided to do on the spur of the moment was to follow US Route 180 out of Flagstaff rather then going west to Williams and then north on State 64. This turned out to be a real boon for two reasons. The first being that it brought us past the Pioneer Historical Museum. It is located on the east side of 180 as your leaving Flagstaff and is well worth a short stop. The artifacts dating back to the founding of the state are housed in a building that was once a charity hospital back in the early part of the century. The structure itself is worth the time and small cost to see. Further, there are many interesting items dating from the founding of the state. One that I found very fascinating was an

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Day 4, Sunday, 10/19

Out to the park by 8 am. We now have a little better handle on where we want to go and what we want to see. Saturday evening I was able to secure reservations on a guided tour for Monday. I knew that this tour was going to take us towards the east rim so we went west on Sunday. Had heard and read about the free shuttles that run through the park but had not used them as yet. Found them to be a great asset! The very best way to get around the park. There are three routes; The Village Route runs in the center of the park between the Canyon View Information Plaza and Hermit

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Day 5, Monday, 10/20

Guided Tour of East Rim

As I mentioned earlier, we had booked a guided tour of the East Rim of the park. This tour was offered by an outfit called American Dream Tours out of Flagstaff. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we made on the whole trip. For the cost of $80.00 per person (Book in advance on the internet and I believe the cost is only $66.00!!!), we were picked up at our motel and treated to a well guided tour that gave us access to places and information that we probably would never have been able to find on our own. Blain, our driver/guide saw to it that we had all our questions answered. He was well versed in the history and lore of the Canyon and had no problem sharing it in a way that made it very interesting. He also went out of his way to make sure that his charges were comfortable at all times. A very good buffet lunch was served at our stop at the Tusayan Ruins and Museum. Also, sodas and bottled water was available whenever we wanted it.

I believe my favorite part of the tour was our stop at

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Day 7, Wednesday, 10/22

Well, we left Moriarty, New Mexico very early, headed for home. We had considered another side trip to Carlsbad Caverns but decided to put it off for another trip. It sure was nice to hit that Texas border. It really doesn

[Gone-Camping]

Great stuff, and you tell it well. Living here in the east, the Grand Canyon has always been one of those far off places we only dream of visiting. Perhaps when I'm old and gray (wait a minute, I'm already there...) we can take a couple of weeks to go visit these places.
 
I learned far more from reading your review than I've been able to discern by reading other reviews or even most of the published material. Which leaves us just one question, when do you plan on visiting Yosemite? Can hardly wait to read one of your reviews on that place!!!

[Turn Key]

Thanks, Cliff!  Glad you enjoyed it.  Looking at Carlsbad for next fall and Yosemite may be on for the year after.

[ForestCreature]

Wonderful recap of your trip , Thanks for letting us enjoy your travels !
 We are headed west this coming summer , now you have me thinking about making the Canyon one of our stops.
 
 
 
 

[Turn Key]

Do it Marcy!  You'll never regret it!

[tlhdoc]

Thanks for sharing.  We have been to the Grand Canyon several times and reading your post brings back memories.

[B-flat]

Very helpful information was given about some possible campgrounds. (For some reason, my posts was dropped and only the smilie showed.  I thought there had to be 5 characters or it would be rejected.)Your trip report is awesome and it is sure to be "a guide" for some who are planning to travel there in the future. And, we know to which motel and food places to avoid, too.:rolleyes: That's a trip that you will remember for a long time.

[jpreiser]

WOw sounds like you had a great time. We hope to get out that way someday....

[Gone-Camping]

Looking back, I did see the Grand Canyon once! But it was from the air, at about 30,000' and the air lines pilot graciously turned the Boeing 737 just about on it's side so everyone could get a glimpse of it from the window. From up there, it looks like a big crack right in the middle of the earth!!!

[Carmel & Ramona Adkins]

New at this posting stuff but had to let you know that the memoirs were great!  We pulled the PU from SC to the GC campground this past May.  The park was everything we dreamed it would be,:) the campground however,wasn't .  We stayed in a full hook-up site and were packed in like sardines.  If we're ever fortunate to go back, I'll think we'll check out the tent sites!

[popupcop]

Great trip recap.  We'll go the Grand Canyon in AZ some day and I hope to use your info as one of our guides.