National Park Service at 100: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

My youngest daughter used to joke that the Grand Canyon was “a big hole in the ground.”

Now, as an adult, she was excited to visit Grand Canyon National Park on the south rim during our recent trip to Arizona.

We had debated going to the Skywalk west of the park. However, we didn’t read a lot of positive reviews about it. Those reviews played a role in not wanting to spend $80 each to possibly be disappointed. Plus – a major negative in our minds – cameras are not allowed on the glass-bottomed skywalk. What’s the point of walking out over the Grand Canyon if you cannot visually document it?

Instead, we decided to drive to the national park. We were not disappointed.

I’ve been to the Grand Canyon once before. About 10 years ago, my wife and I went there on a bus tour from Las Vegas. The purpose of that trip was to see the Grand Canyon. We got to spend about 20-30 minutes there before having to board the bus for the trip back to Vegas. I remember telling Lisa then that if I were to go there again, I’d want to drive because that way you can spend as much as you want there.

My daughter and I arrived at the park about 4:30 p.m. It was perfect timing for the nearing sunset hours. We ended up spending almost 2 hours there.

The National Park Service (http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm) has done a lot of renovations to the park since my first visit. The campus has new buildings. There is an overlook and walking trail. The overlook doesn’t have a glass floor, but it’s a nice viewing area. The overlook juts out a few feet into the canyon.

The Grand Canyon is breathtaking! I can’t see how someone can stand there and not be impressed with the majestic view. It stretches across for miles (18 at its widest mark) and is about a mile deep. The Colorado River that runs through the canyon looks like a dirt trail from atop the canyon.

The colors that peak out from the sides of the plateaus and cliffs are vibrant against the sun’s rays. You can see history by looking at the different levels of rock sediment.

It’s amazing to think how many years – estimated at 17 million – it took to make the Canyon what it is today.

There is no one perfect spot to view the Grand Canyon. You can walk along the trail and stop every few feet to get a new photo opportunity. It’s just great to walk and enjoy the view.

After seeing the Grand Canyon, my daughter laughs at the thought of it being a giant hole in the ground. She was amazed by its beauty.

The Grand Canyon should be one everyone’s bucket list.