Grand Canyon: The Long Car Ride & Christmas

Grand Canyon National Park
Distance: > 1,600 miles
Drive Time: +/- 24 hours.


Grand Canyon National Park is perhaps the most spectacular of all the National Parks. Maybe that is just an old Arizona boy talking. But nobody can visit the Grand Canyon without being blown away by the awesome wonder of the grandest of all the National Parks. Walking the Rim Trail or down the into the canyon itself, one cannot help but be struck by God's creative majesty.

The Official Grand Canyon Website gives a fair description, "A powerful and inspiring landscape, Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size. Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep."

Grand Canyon Brochure:
Part 1
Part 2

Since a total of 11 people went to the canyon with a possibility of 2 more, we rented a cabin in Williams, AZ, a small town nicknamed the Gateway to the Grand Canyon. The cabin was a spacious 4 bedroom double wide trailer. It was perfect for our large group and although it was an hour away from the canyon, it worked out great for our family.

But before we get into the canyon itself, it is worth noting the car trip. Since Christmas was at my parents, we didn't take the most direct route to the Grand Canyon (Interstate 40 from Memphis to Williams), instead we went to Tucson first making the trip from Huntsville to the park an exciting 1,960 miles. On the way, we stopped at Arizona's one and only "The Thing". We have traveled I-10 many times and finally the temptation was too great. So like so many curious tourists before, we paid our dues to the most famous tourist trap on I-10.

The museum was an assortment of old collectors items. There were old cars, guns, completely random stuff, and of course The Thing. There was also a lot of metal twisted into different shapes. Usually we weren't sure what they were supposed to represent. Stacy found a Toledo scale with the words "No Springs, Honest Weight" inscribed. She burst out laughing and had to explain to me that she grew up hearing the old John Denver song Saturday Night in Toledo OH and never understood when they said "No Springs, Honest Weight". So a special Thank You to The Thing giving Stacy the information she needed to get a song nearly 60 years old. It was a quick trip through all the exhibits, but for $1 a person, it was worth it.

We arrived in Tucson, AZ late Monday night and spent the next couple of days celebrating Christmas with my family. Tuesday evening we decorated the Christmas tree with Mom, Dad, Sarah, Hector, Baby Sophia, and Aunt Ann. I also had my first opportunity to practice our Christmas piece with Dad, which turned out to be much more difficult than playing by myself.

On Wednesday, we went to Paul & Crystal's house for a great Pre-Christmas dinner. Their church was having a Christmas Eve service, where many people sang Christmas songs, recited poems, and played on their instruments. For the service, Crystal arranged a great version of We Three Kings, I Wonder As I Wander, and March of the Wise Men. Our first practice with all instruments together occurred that afternoon, just a few hours before the service. We arrived at Desert Foothills Baptist Church early to practice again, and soon after got to play it for the Christmas Eve service.

Thursday was Christmas day, and we had the whole family at Mom's house. Even Mike and his Dad arrived later for Christmas dinner. It was a great Christmas and a wonderful time with family.

Friday morning we drove from Tucson up to Williams Arizona to start our few short days at the Grandest National Park in the United States. On December 26, after a full week of vacation, we finally made it to our rental home. With only 3 short days at the Grand Canyon, we would do everything we could to make the most of this vacation.