TRAVEL // GRAND CANYON

Hello!

How many times in your life have you looked at a view and just stopped for a second,  completely in awe of what you are looking at. Fortunately for me this has happened multiple times with the most recent being the Grand Canyon. I saw it when I was younger but it's really not something you can appreciate when you are more interested in the new Darren Shan book. I decided to see it again and yeah, it was worth it!

After a very  early (like 4:30 am!) start, we got picked up from our hotel and taken to a bus depot before heading off to the canyon at about 6am. I have never been able to sleep on a coach but I think I have been cured of that now because of this trip! Our first stop was a quick picture taking opportunity at the Hoover Dam. Considering that it is just 2 hours out of Vegas it is amazing how deserty (that's totally a word) everything is. It's crazy to think how much would just be ruined if the dam broke. That saying - it has to be pretty darn strong.

Another two hours later and we made our way to the canyon. My sister and I chose the West Rim tour (with skywalk!) to save the time driving. Apparently the South rim is more beautiful but it's an extra couple of hours on a coach and I do think 4-5 hours there and back is enough for me! 

We were dropped of at the Hualapai Ranch, owned by the Hualapai nation who are not governed by US state law. They have set up their area to view the canyon with no safety rails at all, giving the best view of the canyon and river running through. It is absolutely stunning but petrifying with strong winds (my sister MAY have almost had a heart attack). We started off at the Ranch, had a yummy lunch before following the bus round to the skywalk. You have to wear funny shoe covers and cannot take any cameras with you but it was worth it. If you don't like heights please do not bother. You'll end up wasting $35 on a 2 minute trip on the skywalk. Fortunately, booking it actually decreased the price of my trip and I got to spend a good 20 minutes looking over the canyon from the safety of a glass bottomed platform. It was amazing. 

There are three stops on the bus with plenty to do in the 4 or so hours you get for an average trip. This includes two different views of the canyon. Sure, it just looks like a big hole in the ground, but it's a pretty hole in the ground. Look at that rock!

After a lovely time at the canyon, we jumped on the bus home (we went with Gray Line tours - I'd highly recommend them!) and slept all the way home. Waking up at 4:30 should not be legal, but for the Grand Canyon is probably worth it.

Have you been to the Grand Canyon? What did you think? Let me know!