Spring Break adventures 2007

We decided to take our family vacation over spring break instead of summer this year. We started researching where we could fly without giving up an entire day to get there - vacation time is a precious commodity in the corporate world. Allegiant Air offers direct service to Las Vegas from Knoxville for a reasonable fare, so that's where we started planning.

We flew out of McGhee Tyson airport after work on Friday evening and landed in Vegas around 9:00pm their time . This was a first experience for both of us. The airport was buzzing when we arrived, but we found nothing but friendly and helpful customer service reps at the car rental desk. We rented an SUV, then headed towards Boulder City. Boulder City is the town that was built up in the early 1900s as workers from all over the USA moved there to assist with the building of Hoover Dam. We merely crashed in our hotel room, woke the next morning, and at the continental breakfast at our hotel met two very nice families from Mississippi who were heading out to Utah to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks for hiking and camping before they headed to the Grand Canyon and returned to Vegas. We took time on Saturday morning to drive around Lake Mead National Recreation area. It was beautiful - topography very different from what we are accustomed to in East Tennessee. Next, we headed on to Hoover Dam. What a feat it was to build this powerhouse! The tour and walk around the dam is well worth your time, especially if you arrive as we did at 9:00am as they open the doors.

We left the dam and headed cross country towards the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The drive was very interesting, but desolate. We stopped about an hour into the drive for lunch and decided when we couldn't find a local restaurant to eat at a Quizno's. While I normally don't like to eat at chain restaurants when on vacation, this stop was interesting because we were able to observe the local population and lifestyle. The area was very sparsely populated and there really weren't many options for dining, much less entertainment as we know it. However, it almost seemed like a cowboy town from the old west. The place seemed to be running on a much slower pace and that was a welcome sight.

Next, we drove across I-40 towards Williams, AZ which is where we started heading north towards "THE CANYON". The Grand Canyon, AZ is definitely a place that all Americans need to try to see during their lifetime. I'd suffice it to say that one visit is sufficient for most, but the sight is breath-taking and is one of the only natural wonders that I can report truly puts things into perspective. As you stand at the edge of the abyss, the sheer magnitude of the canyon (average width across is 10 miles and is one mile deep) makes one realize what a small presence we have here on this earth. As you stand in awe looking out over the intense jagged cliffs, the peaks, and the depths of the canyon, you can't help but be amazed at the past fortitude and strength of the mighty Colorado River. Admiring the sight from the south rim, I stood amazed at the grandeur of God's creation. The Californian Condor soared high above while we could only imagine what creatures made their home down below. The trails down into the canyon were very intimidating and narrow, especially treacherous on a windy evening with no safety railings to provide a sense of security. One slip of the foot and it would be a long way down. I have a new admiration for the mules that habitually haul tourists into the canyons and a new respect for those brave enough to hop on their saddles.

I highly recommend a stay in one of the lodges in the National Park. We opted to stay at an older set of rooms in the South Rim, but removed from the edge of the canyon. Although the park donned all the commericalism as one would expect, it was tastefully managed by Xanterra. The restaurants were all top notch and the gift shops were tastefully represented. Lodging, while not overly pricey, is hard to come by unless you plan far in advance. There are shuttle buses that run continuously throughout the south rim overlooks and visitor's center. These are a great option. We opted to drive to the far eastern point on the South Rim on Sunday afternoon. It was a long drive, but a very beautiful one. A climb up into the Watchtower provides a vista of the plains to the east. We also recommend taking time to walk along the top of the rim trail, visiting El Tovar Lodge Restaurant for breakfast, and walking inside the Bright Angel studio on the rim for a remarkable view. Take time as well to find a nice spot to sit and take in the canyon's magnitude and the palatte of colors displayed, especially at different dayparts. You definitely need time to sit still and reflect on all around you.

After two peaceful and contemplative days at the Canyon, we turned westward and headed for Las Vegas. En route, we stopped in Henderson, NV for a visit to a Cactus Botanical Garden and to Ethel's Chocolate factory where we were introduced to the new line of Ethel M's boutique chocolates with stamped flavors like Peanut Butter and Jelly and Merlot. Next, on to our home for the next two nights: Treasure Island (TI) located right on "The Strip".