Grand Canyon

When one thinks of the Grand Canyon, it is tempting to think of just a large hole in the ground, impressive in its size, but just something to look at and then move on. Over the last 24 hours, we have witnessed the full experience of this incredible place.

Yesterday, we drove to the South Rim, entered the Visitors Center and looked at several of the viewing points located close by. The Grand Canyon was indeed impressive and we got some beautiful photographs. We watched the large black ravens that fly around here and marveled at how tiny the Colorado River looked far below.

But today, we experienced this wonderful area anew. We started our day by driving into downtown Williams, a charming little town on old historic Route 66 which has been reborn with the reinstatement of the Grand Canyon railroad. Quaint diners, restaurants and shops line the streets. In the historic area, businesses pay homage to the heyday of Route 66 in the 1950’s.

The Grand Canyon Railroad company is housed in a refurbished hotel and the train cars are completely restored to the luxury that was the trademark of train travel. On-site workshops meticulously restore pullmans, domed observation cars and engines.

We started our day watching the Wild West show that entertains customers waiting on the train. It was a bit cheesy and the characters became a running gag throughout the day. We then boarded the beautiful Domed Luxury Observation car for the two hour trip to the Grand Canyon. While the majestic train gracefully wound through the gorgeous countryside, we were served coffee and a light breakfast, entertained by a charming guitar player for part of the trip, and provided with lots of information about the park, the facilities, itinerary planning, and local wildlife and culture.

Before we knew it, the two hours had passed and we arrived at the canyon in a completely different location than the visitors center we had visited the day before. The difference was astounding. Here the views were absolutely breath taking, far more beautiful than any photograph could describe. We opted to join a bus tour around the south rim. Our bus driver was very knowledgeable, explaining to us what we were viewing and providing information on the buildings in the park as well as the history of the park. We made several stops for exploring and photographing the beauty all around us.

The tour took us back to the train station and we walked over to the El Tovar restaurant, originally built in 1919. This stunning building was built by the Harvey Corporation, creator of the famed Harvey Girls, and operated as one of its premiere luxury hotels and restaurants. The gracious style of those times has been preserved. We had a beautiful lunch in the elegant dining room. We ordered sandwiches and tea and they were presented in such an elegant manner that you felt very pampered. Everything was as delicious as it was beautiful.

After lunch we visited the Hopi house where we were treated to some Navajo dancers. The two dancers shown in these pictures are the great grandsons of one of the Navajo Code Talkers who were so critical to our country’s success in World War II. They dance to honor the memory of their great grandfather and to keep the traditions of the tribe. The young boy is only five and the older one is 23.

At the end of the day, we traveled back to Williams on our beautiful train, complete with a champagne toast. We enjoyed another live guitarist, snacks, and the great company of our fellow travelers as we rolled into Williams around 5:30. It was an amazing day which I will always remember. The golden age of the trains may be in the past, but in Williams, AZ it is still possible to enjoy the opulence.