Adventure Worth Repeating

ByMillerSarah Freelance Travel Writer

by. I wave back and return a big smile, feeling quite like a child myself. The conductor is an older gentleman with a dry wit who knows how to tell a story. He pauses, “If you look to your left, you’ll see an animal native to this area–a bobcat!”

We all whip our heads left, and there’s a BobCat construction vehicle on a ranch. Everyone laughs and moans good naturedly. “If you look really hard, you can sometimes spy a prairie dog,” he continues.

“I see one! I just saw a prairie dog!” I shout excitedly. My outburst pierces the silence, and my fellow passengers start laughing out loud. My husband smiles at me, he’s used to my enthusiasm. Our son looks a bit embarrassed. Being swept away in the excitement of it all is what makes it special. My mother-in-law is enjoying a complimentary snack with her grandson. This ride can make you feel like a kid again.

Then, a crooning cowboy joins our adven- ture. He’s got the classic ten-gallon hat and mellow voice that keeps rhythm with his strumming guitar. Only this cowboy sings silly songs about a pug with opposable thumbs and a hobo in a rowboat.

All of this is leading up to “the moment.” After our two-hour train ride, we arrived. For some reason, I thought we’d see the canyon from the station. That’s not the way it happens. Rather, the train pulls into the South Rim Grand Canyon Depot and lets us off at the adjacent Historic Village. I look around, “Where is the Grand Canyon? It looks more like summer camp with just a few outbuildings and a sprinkling of pines.” A short walk, and voila–there it is–The Grand Canyon.

My first thought was “this can’t be real.” The conductor had said some people weep the first time they set eyes on the canyon. I can now understand why. My reaction was a visceral one, the canyon is so vast and deep. The canyon’s colors seem to change by the minute, turning different shades of burnt oranges and shadowy purples with the shifting sunlight.

What’s wonderful about the South Rim is that it’s highly accessible to all. People can push strollers and many bodies can maneuver over the wide walkways with unobstructed views. Yes, the views are unobstructed which means there is a short stone wall between you and the drop off of the canyon. The wall itself is shorter than your center of gravity, so if you have a fear of heights be forewarned. Luckily, there is a wide berth for plenty of distance from the wall. While we were there, a teenage boy jumped on the wall and pretended to fall backward while his mom was snapping his photo. His mom was understandably angry, and he was lucky his stupidity didn’t kill him. Our son was just the right age, but I probably wouldn’t take an adventurous toddler (unless strapped in a stroller).

Going over spring break, the park can be busy. That being said, we still had plenty of quiet spaces to relax. Our three-hour train stop at the Grand Canyon was just the right amount of time for our multi-generational group. We had no intention of taking a long hike into the canyon. Instead, we strolled the wide berms that meander through the village. Dining at the El Tovar Hotel, a historic national park lodge and restaurant, is a must. Here you can savor authentic Native American and Southwest cuisine all while overlooking views of The Grand Canyon.

The train departs the canyon at 3:30 pm for the return trip back to Williams. Don’t be late. And, I won’t spoil the ending for you. Just a word of advice: keep your eyes peeled for vigilante cowboys on horseback.

At least once in a lifetime, a person who appreciates national parks will be served well if they visit Joshua Tree National Park. It is 127 miles from Los Angeles, 160 miles from San Diego and a mere 30 miles from Palm Springs.

This 800-acre national park has 79 miles of paved roads where one can get up close and personal with the Cholla Cactus Garden and rock formations such as Skull Rock, made of granite called Monzogranite has been the subject of hundreds of thousands of photos. Yet, there is much more to explore outside the park’s borders.