I should really visit this blog on a regular basis. I can't believe this entry was sitting here as a draft. I can't believe that it's been that long since I've been on here.
After dropping off our youngest son at school, his sophomore year in college, we took off on our first vacation alone.
It was a last minute trip and we had no idea where to go, so we reached out to our time share to find out what was still available within the next few weeks. Arizona! We had traveled to Arizona with the kids years ago, so we decided to make the trip out west again and see some new sites that we weren't able to make the first time.
When we arrived I realized that I had forgotton how much I had loved Arizona the first time around and I was excited for the week ahead. Our plans for the week included some desert hiking, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, a visit to the Arts district, and the Wine trail. I'm happy to say that we did it all and so much more. I know what you're thinking....Arizona in August, wasn't it hot? It was glorious. I stand by the assertion that it is a "dry" heat. We had clear skies every day, no humidity, and you are able to breathe even though the sun beats down on you. It is true, that the Arizona heat does dry you out pretty quickly, so staying hydrated is key. There is air conditioning everywhere you go, and the pools are cooled down so taking a dip at the resort pool was a welcoming piece of heaven.
We had an early flight on Sunday morning so we got there around noon, we went straight to the resort and then shopping at the grocery store. We stocked up on some water and gatorades, with a cheap cooler that we kept in the back seat with some ice, since we planned on doing a lot of outdoor activities, and some breakfast foods, fruits, and snacks for our hikes. We decided on an early dinner because we were famished. We decided on a place called "Coopers Hawk Winery and Restaurant". It was a great restaurant, with great food and service. Our waiter's name was "Rizzo" and he was really nice. We had these south of the border egg rolls that were to die for.
Monday we decided to go on our first desert trail for a hike. We drove out to South Mountain and went on there nature walk through the Sonoran desert. You're able to drive all the way up to the summit of the mountain, and to the Hidden Valley, and the Gila Valley. So glad we bought hiking shoes for this trip. After our hike, we drove over to Chamaral Park to walk their Xeriscope Garden which we couldn't find that day. After washing up, we went over to Old Scottsdale and it was a ghost town. Many of the shops were closed, or on vacation, so that was a little disappointing, but that's what we get for traveling there on their off season.
On Tuesday, we left pretty early for our four hour ride north to the Grand Canyon. It was a beautiful ride. As we traveled north, we noticed how the temperature fluctuates back and forth, the difference between the Sonoran Desert and as you move away from it. We arrived there around 9 and we were excited. The entrance fee was $35 for the car, which was very reasonable. You could've had a car full of people and it would be the same price, and you have access to the whole park. The canyon, the trails, everything. They also offer shuttles that will take you to every trail.
The canyon was breathtaking, awe inspiring, massive, there are no words to describe it perfectly, the feeling that comes over you. The colors, the layers of times passed, the silence is almost deafening. You only hear the whisper of the wind, or is it the whispers of spirits past, as they travel along the ripples of stone, every crevice, every groove. You present your small, insignificant, self to this majestic, imposing piece of greatness. I can't describe the feeling that comes over you. It's spiritual for sure. I was overcome with emotion, I felt like I could cry. You realize that you are in the presence of something so much greater than yourself. There are so many areas where you can walk out into the Canyon and look down into its depth. Everything they say about it is true, there are no words to describe it, no photo can capture it's magnificence. We wandered around for most of the day just taking it all in, every last moment.
There aren't that many places to stay right outside of the park, so I took a gamble on the "Red Feather Lodge". I didn't know what to expect but proceeded with an open mind. It was originally just a motel but they had recently opened a hotel right next door, so I opted for the hotel. When we got there, we were pleasantly surprised. It was new, clean, and it was a very nice stay for the night.
They also didn't have too many places to eat on the strip either, they should really rethink that whole area. We ended up eating at this place, "Big E's Steakhouse", another gamble but it wasn't too bad. Reviews were mixed, so we figured we had a 50/50 chance that the meal would be acceptable. It was either that or a place called "We make Pasta". We went with the steakhouse. It wasn't the greatest, but we walked in with no expectations and we were satisfied with what we got.
The next morning was another early morning. We planned to drive even further north to Page, Arizona, to take a tour of "Antelope Canyon". The place next door opened at 630am for breakfast and then we were on our way.
