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North America, Travel
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June 3, 2014

Losing My Breath at the Grand Canyon, AZ

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The immensity and spectacle of colors seen at the Grand Canyon is something most of us have heard about, but few of us can really explain in a way that would do justice to what it is like to actually being there.

During the Whiskey Sister HERstory Tour, we got to stop here. We had planned to only stay long enough to take some photos and have lunch, but it was clear that a quick first visit to the canyon isn’t really something one does.

There are plenty of camping areas, as well as a resorts and restaurants, both in the South and North Rim of the canyon. Even in high noon the views were breathtaking, I can’t even imagine how glorious a sunset there would be.

Sadly, we didn’t stay long enough to enjoy one, though we did manage to get some fun photos. I often found myself just staring out into the vast open space of the canyon marveling at the wonders of nature. I felt so incredibly small here, humbled the power of time, the force of the earth, and the beauty both create together.

Photos from a road trip to the Grand Canyon, USA. _GirlGoneTravel.com

Overlooking greatness at the grandcanyon_girlgonetravelGrand Canyon views_girlgonetravel Overlooking greatness at the grandcanyon_girlgonetravel Grand Canyon views_girlgonetravel Grand Canyon views_girlgonetravel In keeping with the theme of finding influential women of the Southwest, we ventured to the Mary Colter Indian Watchtower, a 70-foot tall tower overlooking most of the canyon from the South Rim. Colter, an interior designer turned architect left her mark in much of the architecture found along the Southwest.

This tower was her way of both celebrating and recreating the ancestral Pueblo Indian watchtowers found throughout the region.

The best views are from the top where it seems you are literally towering over the canyon with views to the Colorado River, the span of the desert, and the depth of the canyon itself. Grand Canyon views_girlgonetravel Grand Canyon views_girlgonetravel Mary Colter Indian Watchtower, a 70-foot tall tower. Grand Canyon views_girlgonetravel Mary Colter Indian Watchtower, a 70-foot tall tower. Grand Canyon_girlgonetravel The stairs to the top are narrow, and it is a bit hot getting up there, but it is so worth the climb. There isn’t really much food here, more like snacks and water, but they do have two gifts shops. Some other activities to enjoy include white water rafting, hiking – which is quite intense and not for the ill-prepared – and even mule rides down to the canyon. I wouldn’t mind an easy hike to the river and have placed that on my bucket list for future family travels.

My kids will love it here! If you are road tripping and just passing through, I would allot at least two days to the Grand Canyon with lots of activities to take on. I would recommend against taking on a hike on your own, and would recommend booking camping and resort lodging earlier on as this area is visited by millions of people from all around the world each year.

I would also recommend water, sunscreen, and a visit to the visitor’s center for more information before taking on any activity, no matter your skill level. Here is a full list of where to go when visiting the Grand Canyon, a wonderful resource to help you organize your visit.

It is so easy to get distracted from all the beauty here and I wouldn’t blame you if you did (you absolutely should allow yourself as much). A good plan before getting there helps you manage your time and get the most out of your visit, which can otherwise become a bit overwhelming. Grand Canyon views_girlgonetravel I know I am not the first to say so, but this is definitely a must see American treasure, and if the Southwest heat is too much for you, then simply consider going earlier in May when most of the park’s amenities and resorts open up for business. Either way, I hope you get there and take your camera, though give yourself a moment to put it all down and just take it in. No amount of pictures will ever replace that moment of total wow, so enjoy it.

 

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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2 Comments
  • thebritishberliner
    June 4, 2014

    These photos remind me of the gorgous views of California. My family and I did a Utah, Nevada, Arizona & California road-trip just 3 years ago, and it was amazing. The glory of the American soul. Lovely. 🙂

    Reply
    • caincarol
      thebritishberliner
      June 4, 2014

      Every time I travel to the West Coast I feel like there is so much left to discover. What a beautiful country I live in!

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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