The Grand Canyon is spectacular. Magnificent. Awe-inspiring. “Grand” just doesn’t seem to be a big enough word to describe it. Carved by the Colorado River, the 277 mile long canyon is up to a mile deep and up to 18 miles across. The oldest rocks date to 1.84 billion years ago. Yes, billion…with a “B.” The Grand Canyon National Park has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and each year almost five million visitors enjoy its incomparable beauty.

Danny Dietz, Corporate Support Specialist at Covington Travel, recently took a cross-country road trip from Virginia to Arizona, culminating with a visit to the Grand Canyon. Below, Danny  shares his experience at the Grand Canyon.

Incredible views at Grand Canyon

While the incredible vistas and views of the Grand Canyon are the most popular draw, it also offers a wide range of activities: hiking, river rafting, mule trips, camping and scenic air tours. A free shuttle system connects the lodges with restaurants, shops, trailheads and visitor centers and the National Park System offers free interpretive programs, so there is something to be found for every age group and physical ability.

 

Hotels at Grand Canyon

Grand Hotel Lobby in Tusyan

There are seven lodging options inside the park, each with their own distinct style. Travel Maestro tip: Accommodations get fully booked up to a year in advance, so you must plan ahead to stay in the park. We stayed just outside the park in Tusayan, away from the crowds, yet still convenient via the shuttle route. The Grand Hotel was a moderate hotel with an impressive restaurant and bar modeled after an old saloon. As much as I enjoyed being in Tusayan out of the somewhat crowded Grand Canyon Village, it seemed that staying up in the village or at the multitude of cabins along the rim is the best bet for accommodations.

 

Just in time for the solar eclipse!

On the first day we made it to the highly recommended sunset viewpoint, Yavapai point in time to get a few photos of the Canyon. We were pleasantly surprised by a large crowd equipped with an assortment of telescopes, cameras and filters for viewing an eclipse. During our road trip, we had heard some about a solar eclipse occurring, but did not grasp how rare this event was until at the Grand Canyon. 

 

Not only was this the first annular solar eclipse in 18 years, but the only area the eclipse was visible in the U.S. was in the western portion of the country, meaning we would have missed it back home in Virginia. It was evidently important enough for professors and enthusiasts alike to travel from all over and set up their telescopes, binoculars, and homemade filters to view. I have all these nice people to thank for letting me use their equipment to get a few pictures, as I was completely unprepared,

Dining at Grand Canyon

After sundown we made our way to El Tovar Hotel where we had dinner reservations.  The hotel was constructed in 1905 with the wooden and stone decor lined with a wide assortment of wildlife on the walls. Entering it was like taking a step into the past. The hotel continued to impress with an amazing restaurant, from the service to the food, all the way down to the table setting with commerative china. 

Sightseeing at Grand Canyon

We began the next day with a three-mile hike and ended with a very easy, yet similarly beautiful, bus ride along the South Rim. The hike down to Cedar Ridge is perfect for those looking for a moderate hike at 1 1/2 miles each way. It was somewhat taxing, but by no means dangerous; approximately 95% cleared path with some stairs. The only thing you have to worry about is staying out of the way of passing mules. The amazing views included a 270 degree panorama of the Canyon from the Cedar Ridge plateau; you get a whole new perspective of the size of the canyon with just a short descent.

The bus ride to Hermit’s Rest trail offered some remarkable views and our first good view of the Colorado River. Unfortunately, we found out that there is less visibility later in the day and the pictures we took just before sundown were not the best quality. The bus stopped multiple times with other buses following every 15 minutes so everyone has time to wander around at their own pace without worrying about being left behind. The trail ends at a 1914 structure that was built as a tourist stop at the most western point of paved road on the South Rim.

 

The Grand Canyon offered everything I expected and more. It was definitely a highlight of our cross-country road trip and I can’t wait to go back to camp at the bottom! If you would like to visit the spectacular Grand Canyon independently or on a tour, contact the vacation experts at Covington Travel to plan your trip.