Life is a Highway

I love Williams, Arizona. I understand there are a variety of (probably) fabulous places to stay outside the Grand Canyon, but I like Williams! It was our second night on the road, and it’s a cute town along Route 66! I’d be interested to hear about other little towns like Flagstaff, AZ but….I can’t help going back to a place I KNOW I love. This town is great b/c it’s at the base of some mountains, so it’s cool in the evening, it reminds me of CO in the summer. We stayed here the first time around b/c there is a train that goes to the Grand Canyon, which was neat, but we decided to drive these last two trips, and were drawn back to Williams for the atmosphere. There are a row of cute little souvenir shops, motels, and soda shops. There are plenty of motorcyclist, and antique car lovers who stay in the town, which can make for some interesting scenes along the streets. We always eat at a restaurant called Cruisers 66, and thus far, the food has been good, and they have a really neat eclectic atmosphere, and live music at night.


The town has a 50's feel, with only small accomodations (mostly motels, with some inns, and small hotels), but they are all nice, including Motel 6 (it's true) WEST (there are two). Sure, you get some really colorful comforters, and one bar of soap upon entering your room, BUT they have a pretty large, indoor HEATED (yes, it actually isn’t cold AT ALL) pool, AND a good sized hot tub etc etc. I dig it. There is a nice little lobby with sofas and a fireplace you can hang out next to as well (just to emphasize why I’m promoting this as a great place to stay, other than saved money, which should be reason enough!). This go round, we had about enough time for dinner, a swim, and a quick sleep before heading on down the road…

The Grand Canyon and a Few of Her Residents

We stopped at the Grand Canyon on the way to Williams, AZ (our stay Saturday night). This was Jason's first time to see the Canyon, and Mom and I's third trip.

Every time I get to see something new, and the size never fails to amaze me. Yet, I can't retain the 'real' size in my mind, and I certainly can't capture it on film, it's too grand, it just doesn't fit! There are certainly not enough adjectives to capture the experience on a blog, though one verb seems pretty accurate: GO! If you haven't been, you must GO! This trip, we stayed near the first few rims upon entering, and we walked around the Village areas and shops along the rim (you can take a bus and see more sites, but this had to be a shorter trip than last year b/c of the number of things we were squeezing into this week). On the way out of the park this time, we saw some Elk!

Four big guys were just hanging out, munching on grass. We were about the fourth on the 'scene', and were quickly joined by fellow park attendees. People got very close taking their pictures....I stood back, but still got some fun shots. The last thing we spotted before leaving was a much larger group of lady 'elk' or rather, calves a minute down the road.

A Grand Adventure

Yesterday, Mom and I got up early and made the hour drive to the Grand Canyon. We hopped out of our car, and took the bus around the South Rim, stopping at various lookouts, enjoyed the beauty of the Grand Canyon, and snapping pictures. A picture could never do it justice, in fact, logically I know-even the picture I currently hold inside my head doesn't capture how beautiful it is....it's only as I sit and look that I truly 'get' it's 'grand'ness. I think back to the first time I saw this-I was picturing a canyon-singular, steep walls, with a river running through it….and then…my first look. It is no less awe inspiring the second time around…..I can’t help but think-if this is what earth is like, can you imagine heaven? There are just some places that leave exclamation points when it comes to the existence of God.

I Get my Kicks on Route 66

I fell in LOVE with Williams, AZ on my last trip to the Grand Canyon. It’s located at the base of a mountain about an hour away from the Grand Canyon. Old Route 66 runs through it, and you can imagine what is must have been like, and appreciate how it still is walking down the main drag. There are cute little soda shopes, and restaurants that play live music well into the evening hours.