*I copied this entry from my old blog about our vacation to Grand Canyon National Park, 2011.
A journey to the nature! We planned this vacation for a month. We booked airline tickets early for cheap fares, Alhamdulillah, all the plans run smoothly, although some undesirable things happen. Many thanks to Allah. Syukur.
Our flight was on 1st July, 2011, at 8.30pm. Papa still working on that day, and we went to Sioux Falls Airport at 5pm. We were fortunate to escape from the storms and strong winds. It happens 30 minutes early. Alhamdulillah. What a nerve breaking moment.
Our flight to Phoenix/Mesa Airport took 2 hours and 30 minutes. We arrived at 10pm (followed the mountain time which is late 2 hours than Brookings time).Upon arrival at the airport, we took the rental car and moved to Knight Inn Hotel for five hours overnight slept. We headed to Sedona as early as 5am on July 2nd, 2011. Another 5 hours drove to Grand Canyon.
On our way to Grand Canyon, we really stunned to see the cactus tree all over the mountain at Phoenix. We passed by a stunning view of Sedona Subhanallah, the pine forest was so gorgeous.
After two hours drive, we arrived at Montezuma Town for a visit to Montezuma Castle (the remains of old stone building). But unfortunately, the place opened at 8am and we were one hour early. Without wasted any time, we moved to Sedona. We went through the rocky road for about 30 minutes. It's really adventure indeed but luckily Aliya slept all the way to Red Rock Hill.
We arrived at Sedona at 8am, a place filled with red rock hills. Subhanallah, the place was simply stunning. We stopped at Visitor Center for some info about the place. Aliya just woke up and she seems so happy to run and move.
After that we went to the place called as Chapel of Holy Cross (a chapel built in the rock hill). Upon arrival at this place, Aliya puked due to car sickness, poor her! huhu a long way to go. After cleaning up and changed the clothes, we moved to Oak Creek Canyon, but we had to stop a few times because Aliya kept vomiting all the way there. *mode worried!
We stopped at Starbucks Cafe for ice-blended for Mama & Papa and juice for Aliya. And once again she puked! huhu Aliya looked so tired and weak and she fell asleep. After 30 minutes drive, we arrived at Oak Creek Vista lookout point. The view was so beautiful. We can see the pine forest up from the hill. No words can describe it...Subhanallah. It was too hot here (about 40C plus) and we managed to dried our wet and smelly clothes...hehhe
From Oak Creek Canyon, we moved to Flagstaff for gas and freshen ourselves.
We hit the road after 10 minutes at gas station and headed to Sunset Crater Volcano. We paid $10 ($5 each person) for the entrance fee. Here lies an inactive volcano. It was erupted few hundred years ago and has destroyed five villages. And now, it became a national monument. The larva and black soil are all over the place. Subhanallah, the view was so beautiful. I just can't describe it by words. * and Aliya still sleeping here.. poor her, :(
The next stop was at Wutpaki National Monument and Aliya started to puke again, and again and again :( She will thrown out everything she ate, huhu :( We're so worried but the closest clinic was miles away. We tried to keep her hydrated all the time. Back to Wutpaki, the place lies with the ruin of natives who lived here thousand years ago. The 'desert' was too hot, we can't stay longer and plus we need to rush to our destination. Aliya really need a break from the car and the road.
We arrived at Grand Canyon National Park at 4pm. Alhamdulillah. A long way to go though.
Our first canyon stop was at Desert View The Watchtower. The architect was a lady and it was build more than hundred years ago. The awesomeness began! Subhanallah, the canyon was so beyond. Alhamdulillah, thanks to Allah who gave us this opportunity to make this happens. We went to Lipan viewpoint for the sunset. We arrived there an hour early and it gave us times for solat, dinner and stretching our legs. The sunset was at 7.50pm. There was nothing better to experience sunset at the canyon. *speechless!
We headed to Yavapai Lodge at 8 and we arrived after 45 minutes. Alhamdulillah, Aliya looked much better when she can laid down on the bed. We freshen ourselves and ready for bed. Alhamdulillah.
July 3, 2011. We planned to get up early for sunrise at 5.15am, but we were too tired. So , we cancelled the plan and just stayed at our lodge for rest. We checked out at 7.30am and we went to general store nearby to buy some foods. After that, we headed to El Tovar for breakfast and tours to the canyon.
On our way to El Tovar, we saw elks by the road. We pulled over the car and without wasted the time, I grabbed my camera and excitedly photographed them. Actually it is illegal to approach the wildlife here, so, we made a bit distance and tried not to disturb that huge mammals.
After breakfast at El Tovar, we parked the car and took shuttle bus to Hermits Rest Route (red line). The bus provide transportation along the canyon with nine overlooks. We stopped at first overlook (Trailview point). We walked about 1.5km along the canyon to Powell point. We can took the bus instead of walking but we want to explore and spend more times at the rim trail. At Powell Point, we took the bus to Hermits Rest, the last overlook point. After rest for a while and having lunch with sandwiches and tuna, we went back to El Tovar. When we reached the bus stop,all of sudden the wind blew so strong and we barely walked along the path to the lodge. The wind pushed us so hard. After 15 minutes struggled, finally we reached the El Tovar lodge. Alhamdulillah, nothing bad happens to us and Aliya was fine.
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| Overlook point along the canyon |
We waited until 2pm to check in at El Tovar lodge, got some rest, solat, and ate. At 4pm, we went back to shuttle bus and took the bus to Village Route (blue line). We spent our evening at Mather overlook point. Alhamdulillah, our day one at Grand Canyon well as planned.
In the morning of 4 July, we managed to experienced sunrise at El Tovar...we planned to go to Mather overlook point for a good view of sunrise, but Papa was lost and can't find the place, so, we went back to the lodge and viewed the sunrise from El Tovar. We check out at 8am and moved to Phoenix. Our flight was at 3.45pm. We went through the straight highway instead of zigzag road of Sedona... And Alhamdulillah, Aliya was free from the car sickness... We arrived at the airport on time, Alhamdulillah. We arrived home at 9.20pm.
Alhamdulillah, thank you to Allah. Alhamdulillah! We really had a great vacation.
Notes: This trip was planned mostly based by advises from tripadvisor.com forum. Suggestions, recommendations and tips from this forum really help us to plan and make the trip memorable and unforgettable.
