Grand Canyon Vacations

-- Grand Canyon Vacations --

Until you’ve seen the Grand Canyon, you have no idea what big is. Big is actually too small a word for it. Immense might work. Gigantic could do it. Then again, there probably is just no way to put into words just how large the Grand Canyon really is.

If you're planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, check out the Grand Canyon Tour Company for great deals on all kinds of unique tours.

The Facts

It’s hard to believe that the Grand Canyon was formed by water, but that’s exactly what happened. The Colorado River spent six million years carving it out of the Arizona Desert. And considering the time, it’s no surprise it’s so huge. Two hundred and seventy seven miles long, eighteen miles wide at its widest point, and over a mile deep in places, to be exact.

What Makes it Special?

The Grand Canyon is neither the longest, the widest, nor the deepest Canyon in the world. What it is is a slice through time. The river that carved it out of the stone opened up the various layers of the earth that have been forming for billions of years.

Looking at the walls of the canyon show you exactly what happened, and when, in that part of the world. But even if you have no interested in geography, geology, or history, it’s just so beautiful. The same layers that excite scientists so much just make the canyon incredibly beautiful, with colors that seem to be on fire in the right light.

-- Grand Canyon Vacations --

Historic Significance

There are lots of historic sites in the Grand Canyon. Explorers, native Americans, and even the Spanish travelled and lived in the canyon at one time or another.

Some of them even set up home there – like Buckey O’Neill, who built a cabin there in the 1890’s. It’s still there today, and if you want to live a little piece of canyon history, you can book yourself into the guesthouse that runs in the cabin nowadays.

Or you can stay in the luxurious El Tovar hotel, built in 1905. There is a restaurant and curio shop in the hotel too, so after you’ve explored the canyon, you can sit down for a nice romantic meal, before retiring to your room in the rustic cabin style hotel.

There are many other buildings in the area, built between the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s, and many are now museums, art galleries or visitors centers, so they do offer something to do if you don’t feel like walking or sightseeing in the canyon.

-- Grand Canyon Vacations --

Wildlife and Eco Systems

What’s really amazing about the Grand Canyon, particularly if you like the idea of eco tourism, is that there are five different ecosystems at work, ranging from similar to Mexico, to Canadian, thanks to the different in altitudes. That means you can visit the canyon, and see a wide, diverse range of animals, plants and insects. If you like nature, it’s also perfect for bird watching, or photographing wildlife. Then again, with views like that, who wouldn’t be snapping away all the time?

Adventure!

Once you’ve admired the view, watched the setting sun set the canyon alight, and snuggled up in a historic hotel, you might want to do something a little more energetic. This is a great place for it, and if you really like adventure, you can try your hand at white water rafting, or take a mule ride to the floor of the canyon for hiking or running.

If you’re less energetic, don’t panic, there’s also a train, called the Coconino Canyon Train, that winds around the canyon, so you can still do something a little different.

Whatever you do in the Canyon, and even if you do nothing at all but admire the view, you’re sure to remember your visit for the rest of your life. And have some awesome pictures for the album.

-- Grand Canyon Vacations --

Return from Grand Canyon Vacations to Romantic Ideas