The best day in Vegas was, I think, the day we left Vegas. After spending time walking the strip and wandering in and out of hotels and fighting crowds of people, it was heavenly to hop on a bus and head to the Grand Canyon. With a short stop at Hoover Dam of course. You know the line from the Chevy Chase movie about going on the dam tour and taking some dam pictures. So now we’ve been there, done that. It was incredibly impressive.
The new road bypassing the dam has been completed, so that is the route we took. Past Mead Lake, with a water level down so low that what used to be the largest man-made lake with 550 miles of shoreline is now the largest man-made lake with 500 miles of shoreline. Dire things are predicted for the dam if the water levels in the area continue to drop. But like I said, incredibly impressive.
The bus driver, Steven, was a little disconcerting as he drove one-handed the entire way down the scary, winding road to the dam. The other hand was needed to hold the microphone, into which he talked non-stop for hours. Interesting stuff, though, about the evolution of Las Vegas from small town to mafia town to family vacation town to the current trend back to adult playground.
But the highlight was the amazing Grand Canyon. Really, there are no adjectives grand enough to describe the sight at Angel Bright lookout where the bus stopped and let us off for three short hours. Eighteen miles across and a mile deep.
They had received ten inches of show the day before, and the juxtaposition of the fresh white and the ancient rose and pink was just … beauty.
I kept thinking, I wish the boys were here. They would have loved it. I don’t really feel Vegas calling me back, but the Grand Canyon? Yes, I’d definitely go there again. I’d take the boys and stay in one of the old hotels on the rim and try some of the educational tourist things that are offered there. Helicopter tours and hikes and rafting and such.
That would be grand.
Creation SingsStuart TownendCreation sings the Father’s song; |
March 5, 2012 at 11:58 am
The Canyon looks amazing! I’m sure pictures don’t do it justice. I’m thinking you’re right, your boys would LOVE that place!
March 5, 2012 at 1:35 pm
The pictures definitely don’t measure up to the grandeur of the place. Incredibly beautiful.
March 5, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Being a boy and having hiked through that Grand Canyon I can affirm that yes, they would absolutely love it! If you go back there and are not the tenting type, there is a very cool little cabin camp in the base of the canyon that would be cool to stay in. If you feel very adventurous, backpacking down there can be amazing! (I have some photos from the bottom of the canyon on my blog if you want to see it from down there!)
March 5, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Loved you pictures, Nathan. I would love to take my boys hiking in the canyon one day.
March 5, 2012 at 2:58 pm
I am sure they would love it. Its so cool to see adventurous moms!
March 5, 2012 at 4:56 pm
a few years ago, Mom and Dad went on a tour of the Grand Canyon with John Clayton.
March 5, 2012 at 5:15 pm
I remember. They borrowed my backpack, the one I took to Australia after high school, for their trip. I thought of them when I was there last week.
March 7, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Janelle, we were just there! Stayed overnight in Grand Canyon Village. Awesome! Did you look at the Kolb Brothers cabin and display? Not far from Angel Bright lookout. At least I am thinking we were in the same place. We were at the south rim. Beautiful, peaceful country, esp after Vegas. I felt the same as you about Vegas – what a terrible waste in so many ways.
March 7, 2012 at 3:09 pm
How funny that we were at the same place! Did you wander through the Hopi House? I bought Kokopelli earrings there, and Lyndon and I had the best homemade nachos in the lounge of the old lodge next door.
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