Our family, when the kids were very young, visited the Grand Canyon south rim. Since we were camping, I’m sure we also stayed at the campground, I don’t remember. As the years went by, I visited with my AZ bro and his wife in the winter, and several other times on my own during my full-time RVing years. Eventually I also visited the North Rim, and found it to be even more delightful with the terrain of the higher elevation much more to my liking, and fewer visitors to contend with. Even last summer on my way to WY, I camped in my Astrovan a coupl
e of days at the GC. I never get tired of it. It is like visiting an old friend, albeit one who changes colors, moods, and weather at whim.
Amazingly, with several visits to Arizona under their belt, her parents never took her to the Grand Canyon so I had the privilege o
f taking 23-year old granddaughter, Becca, for her first visit. She was properly awed of our spectacular hole in the ground and made great use of all the Canon camera filters (That I was too lazy to use) I gave her from my old camera that actually fit on her new Canon. That was almost as amazing as the GC.
I did more “dropping her off,” and meeting her than I did actual hiking but she did a good bit of the rim trail over the two days. We had perfect fall weather, perfect ice cream, and a perfect time. We were not able to get a room at the Canyon so we stayed in Tusayan which is still pretty convenient. Although my youngest daughter and grandson stayed there also a few years ago, I didn’t remember how expensive it is at the local eateries including the fast food ones.
With no longer having an RV, I am far more aware of food prices and have used motels more often than in the past. The Red Feather Lodge had no cooler, microwave, or even a continental breakfast, three things that have become rather standard in motels these days. I suspect none of the Tusayan hotels had them.
Do not miss going to the IMAX Theatre in Tusayan. It will take you places in the Grand Canyon you are unlikely to see or experience on your own. It is such a magnificent depiction of the canyon, it always makes me cry.
We watched the sunset at Yavapai Point. That night the bus did not go on out to Hermit’s Rest so we were waiting for one to take us back to the Visitor Centre when Becca said, “Grandma, the moon is coming up” and sure enough, this big white disc was making its way above the rock wall of the canyon in all of its full glory. We were there at the right time. God Bless until next week.
Minshall’s RVing Alaska and Canada (A “How to” and “Why not” book) is available thru Amazon.
At 45, Widow Minshall began 20 years of solo full-time RVing throughout Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Sharlene canoed the Yukon, mushed sled dogs, worked a dude ranch, visited Hudson Bay polar bears, and lived six months on a Mexican beach. She lectured at Life on Wheels, published six RV-related books and wrote a novel, “Winter in the Wilderness.”
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