Grand Canyon

Over Memorial Day weekend we went on a very short and quick little getaway to the Grand Canyon. M's parents are visiting. And while they come often, well because they come often and stay for extended periods we sort of forget to make a big deal out of it. So this time we thought to take them somewhere.

We left Saturday early morning. Thanks to the time difference it was still morning when we landed in Phoenix and sweltering hot. We rented a car via Turo - its like an AirBnb for cars. Our initial 3.5 hour drive very quickly turned into an almost 5 hour drive to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Thankfully we were prepared with books, music and snacks and managed to check in around 3pm. We stayed at the Red Feather Lodge just outside the Grand Canyon in the Grand Canyon Village. 

After getting a park pass we parked and boarded the Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route shuttle. I was impressed with how well organized the park was. I had researched all the trails to make sure they were fun enough for the kids but doable by M's parents. Our first stop on the shuttle was the South Kaibab Trail. It was a 0.9 mile hike to the Ooh Aah Point. It was steep hike and very windy. While the hike down was a little uneven we were more concerned about his parents ability to make it back to the top. They managed it, huffing and puffing. It took us 50 minutes down and another 50 minutes up.

Afterwards we hopped back on the Orange Shuttle and got off at two more stops. First Yaki Point and second the Pipe Creek Vista before boarding the shuttle and heading back to where our car was parked.

We had dinner at the hotel restaurant, Plaza Bonita which was a bright and colorful Mexican restaurant, look at those chairs.  

The next morning we headed back to Plaza Bonita for breakfast. Choices were very limited in the area. Afterwards we had a big surprise planned for everyone. We drove to the Grand Canyon airport for an airplane tour of the canyons. We flew with Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines. Very smooth process, super nice pilots. 

Look at those smiling faces.. those smiles did not last very long.. but before I get into that a few pictures from above.

We barely got a few pictures when the flight got a bit bumpy. Normal they assured us. But I wasn't feeling too good. I clutched D's hand to steady my nerves. Behind me M was breathing into a bag and that just made my head spin more. Now I am breathing in a bag as well. I am practically squashing D's poor little hand. M throws up in his little vomit bag. Everyone else is doing fine btw. Now here's the worst part.. and this may be TMI but I didn't just have the urge to throw up I felt the very strong urge to go to the bathroom as well. This was a freaking 50 minute flight and I didn't know how I was going to survive. I just prayed and took deep breathes all the time still squeezing D's hand. I turn to make sure I am not hurting him and he is sleeping. He slept through a 50 minute turbulent flight, above the Grand Canyon! We finally landed.. thank heavens. M and I rushed everyone to the car and back to the hotel to relive ourselves. Funnily enough my MIL has vertigo and gets sick in the car, so does H on occasion yet they were all perfectly fine. We later concluded that it may have been part turbulence and part food positioning as M and I had shared our meals and no one else had ordered what we had. 

Once we felt a little better we caught the Purple shuttle across the street from our hotel, it took us into the national park and saved us the trouble of long lines, parking etc. Once inside the park we took the Village (Blue) Route. It took us to the Bright Angel Trail. 

Before heading to the trail there was a nice little lookout and gift shop we stopped at. The pictures really don't to justice to the magnificence of the canyons. So when we spotted this mug we thought it perfectly surmised the sentiment. 

Now to the Bright Angel Trail.. it is a long long trail that goes all the way to the base. It is not advised to attempt to go down and come back up in a day. I am in awe of the people who not only want to do that but are also capable of such a thing, I also think you are a psychopath for wanting to do such a thing. 

The winding serpentine line was the trail and it went further than the eye could see. We saw so so many teeny tiny little dots going down the trail.. We only hiked as far as the first little tunnel. 

Afterwards we boarded the Hermit Road (Red) Route. We got off at various view points. M and I walked between some of the view points while the boys stayed with their grandparents and they took the shuttle, they were still a little tired from the Ooh Aah Point. At the last stop Hermit's Rest we got some ice cream and hung out for a bit. 

We took the red shuttle back to the blue shuttle and from the blue shuttle took the purple back into town. After not eating much all day M and I thought pizza seemed like a safe bet plus we were starving now. 

The next day we had breakfast at the Food Club and headed back to the airport and back home.

a side note - I am not into sports. We go to sporting events and the atmosphere gets me interested.. but afterwards I don't care too much. I never wear team jerseys etc. But recently M convinced me to get this tie dye Rangers hoodie. It is cute and comfy so I got it. We do attend multiple Rangers games through out the year so why not. Well for those of you who don't follow ice hockey they are doing really well right now.. in the semi finals so I decided to wear the hoodie one day. I have never been stopped to have so many random conversations. I had to nod along and pretend I knew what they were talking about most of the time but it was weird and cool how sports brings people together. 

                  Etsy           Instagram           Twitter           Bloglovin