Grand Canyon National Park

"It's like trying to describe what you feel when you're standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon or remembering your first love or the birth of your child. You have to be there to really know what it's like."
-Jack Schmitt 

You have to be there to really know what's it like. This is what we tell all our friends who have asked us to describe the Grand Canyon. It is difficult if not impossible to express the canyon's sheer pristine beauty with pictures or with words. It is an experience that can only be felt by standing at the canyon's rim.

We set off from Page (Arizona) towards one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World - The Grand Canyon.

This pic is taken from the Desert View Grand Canyon National Park

This was my 3rd visit to the spectacular National Park, but the first for my parents and son Rishi. I had visited the North Rim with friends while working in Phoenix and I had loved it as well.

Personally, I feel nothing can beat the grand overlooks and scenic walks from the South Rim. The first time hubby and I visited in Nov 2004, we took the Bus tour from Las Vegas. Below is what I had written in tripadvisor in 2005 after our vacation in Nov 2004. 

Reviewed May 3, 2005

Bus Tour in Nov 2004. All tourists were given the yellow raincoat :)

"Incurably addicted to Nature? My husband and I are, and so we took a bus tour from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon and it was totally worth it. The bus tour costed us $75 per head. Tour Bus picked us up from our hotel - Stratosphere (good rooms and attractions but we lost on all slot machines there!!) at 7 AM.. the bus stopped at other hotels and picked up the rest of the visitors. It was a diverse crowd and the bus tour guide being so funny had all of us talking and interacting with each other in minutes.
Our first halt was at the Hoover Dam. After a quick tour of the dam, we left and reached the magnificent Grand Canyon. Its a totally unimaginable place. Grand Canyon is an erosional feature that owes its existence to the Colorado River. If we choose to walk - which all us of did, it was a total of 2.3 miles walk along the south rim.
The view, the walk along the rim, the serenity, the breeze, the colors of the rocks, the vastness, the depth, the look of nature, the sunshine on the Canyon, the old trees and woods, I think I could go on and on about the spectacular Grand Canyon.
How many of you go to Vegas and miss this trip to the Grand Canyon - I just have one thing to say - You will be awed the beauty and feel the serenity when you see the place.
Go Grand Canyon!!"

Little Colorado River Gorge - 
This vacation was different experience since we were driving down and we could stop at all the hidden scenic points. On our way to the Grand Canyon, we stopped at Little Colorado River Gorge. No one had informed us about this and this was a stop worth making. The gorge is so remarkably narrow and steep that when my dad approached the edge, he was astonished at the deep abyss view below and kept asking us to be careful as we held onto the rails to walk down. 

We had our lunch at one of the shelters there. One of the best picnic spots to have our home cooked Indian lunch with yogurt and fresh salad. :). There are numerous Navajo native vendors selling handmade jewelry and my hubby got me some beautiful earrings. This was so worth the stop for the scenic beauty and for the gifts I got ;)

Picnic tables at the Gorge 

Superb lunch with a superb view

Grand Canyon Desert View - Watchtower
We entered the Grand Canyon National Park from the Desert View on the east. We walked to the watchtower. We got the first view of the grandeur of Grand Canyon. We climbed up the tower for more pictures and scenic look outs. This was when we were all awestruck.  

Watch tower 

Inside the beautiful watch tower. Try to spot us in the pic.

Pic from the watchtower

Fish eye lens to capture the beauty  

Our next halt was at Grand Canyon Village. We were searching for our lodge - Yavapai Lodge. We wanted to stay inside the national park itself and we were lucky to get a reservation at Yavapai Lodge. This lodge was less than a mile to the South Rim. We checked in, had some coffee and left for Yavapai Point where we walked around the rim and sat to see the sunset with happiness in our hearts at the beautiful natural wonder of the world.

After a restful night, a hearty breakfast and a walk in the Yavapai store, we went for a walk down the South Rim. After a long walk, pictures, fun and constant admiration for the Grand Canyon, we set out for our longest drive till now - Back to Las Vegas with a stop over at Hoover dam.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas or does it... ?? :)