I haven’t been posting too much lately about the California Central Coast. That’s because…I was out of the state for almost a month and a half. I’ve had this urge to be anywhere except at home lately, and I’ve decided to view the pandemic regulations and changes as an opportunity instead of a confined box with limitations.
Along with everyone else, I found myself looking back at 2020 on New Years Eve and found myself inspired, motivated, and frankly…Just proud of everything that I made it through. I’m proud that I’ve grown and evolved. I survived a mentally and physically draining year, and so have you! I’ve realized that NOW is the time to do *whatever*. I’m not the same person I was a year ago and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s to come.
Although I’m taking advantage of the opportunity, I’m still being safe. Awareness of my surroundings, wearing a mask, listening to my body when it’s telling me to slow down, and ensuring I have 6 feet between myself and others is how I’m remaining healthy, while being considerate of everyone else.
I got an annual National Park Pass while Kristine and I were in Montana and Wyoming last fall. I’ve been trying to use it as much as I can, so while I was in Arizona, I decided to convince my sister and brother-in-law to head up to the Grand Canyon. I’ve never been before, believe it or not!
One secret I have to share with you all is that our national parks are seemingly EMPTY due to the international travel ban! If you’ve ever wanted to experience their beauty and honor their history, I highly recommend a road-trip sooner rather than later. Kristine and I rarely encountered too many other people in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons while we were in Montana and Wyoming, and it felt like we had the Grand Canyon to ourselves as well.
We left from the Phoenix area on Friday after work and stayed in Flagstaff in order to cut the drive a little shorter after a long day of work. When we woke up in the morning, I realized how CUTE Flagstaff was. We wanted to get to the Grand Canyon early, so we didn’t have much time to explore Flagstaff, but I cannot wait to go back someday and check it out. We were at the South Rim entrance of the Grand Canyon by 10:30am, which was a great time to enter the park.
We drove straight to Mather’s Point on the Rim Trail, which was one of the top places I wanted to see! We missed the sunrise, but my friend Jess says this is the best place to experience the sunrise in the Grand Canyon. There’s a Visitor Center at this point, so I snagged one of my National Park pins that I collect.
When we were heading out from Mathers Point, we came across some signs that shared suggestions from the Grand Canyon’s Rangers on what to do with a limited amount of time.
- Walk to Mather’s Point — Check!
- Explore the Grand Canyon Village
- Go for a scenic drive along Hermit Road or Desert View Drive
We decided to drive along Hermit Road because of what it offered! 7 miles of scenic views of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River down below. Exploring the entire length of the Hermit Road can take upwards of 2-3 hours. On this drive, there are plenty of places to pull over and check-out the various views/angles of the canyon. You can even see the Colorado River rapids and people hiking the Bright Angel Trail in some spots if you look closely!
My favorite scenic viewpoint was Hopi Point. Personally, I feel like it had the widest view of the Grand Canyon in the South Rim area. It was larger than life. Every view of the Grand Canyon QUICKLY makes one realize how small they are and how small their problems are, but this view really nailed it in. The view is a sensory overload and left me speechless.
When I go back to the Grand Canyon, I want to stay in the El Tovar hotel. It has rich history in the Grand Canyon, dating back to 1905 before the Grand Canyon was a formally protected Federal park. It’s near their historic train station, as well! This is a great area to hop out of your car and explore if you don’t stay in this hotel. Lots to see!
Because nobody was in the park, we had extra time to be spontaneous, so we decided to drive towards Sedona and catch the sunset. Driving south from the Grand Canyon to Sedona takes you to the 89A highway, which has incredible views. This part of the state makes you feel like you’re in Oregon. There are lots of dense trees and windy roads.
To be honest, Sedona was really crowded, so we stuck to ourselves. We grabbed acai bowls to go and drove to Airport Mesa, which is a common place to watch the sunset with a gorgeous view of their red rock mountains. I will say — this view is absolutely stunning, but does not compare to the Grand Canyon, so if you’re catching this view AFTER visiting the National Park, you might feel a little “meh.” I still recommend checking it out and exploring Sedona when things are safe again!
After watching the sunset, we hopped in the car and drove back to the Phoenix area. If you have an extra day to spare, I would tell you to stay in Sedona and go on the Devil’s Bridge hike.
While we were in the Grand Canyon, I tried so hard to get an amazing photo. I realized that the experience isn’t capturable, which is a great reminder to be present in the moment and take it all in. Some things are meant to be felt, not photographed.
Just a reminder before finishing up this post: happiness is a choice. You have the ability to determine how your day will be. Do the things that bring you happiness. They don’t have to be big monumental adventures, they can be simple things, like drinking your coffee with your favorite candle burning, going for a walk to see the sunrise, or even reading a book in your favorite comfy chair. I choose happiness. What do you choose?
