The "mother road" is full of sites and scenery. We are also planning to take a few side trips as we travel. I am defining side trip as one that takes ,for an extended amount of time, off the Route 66 trail.
Although, I have not exhaustedly covered all that we might see along 66, I have covered all the states the we plan to see, in one shape or another. Hopefully, I have whetted your appetite for a road trip of such magnitude.
In trying to keep the first part of this blog truly on the preparations and research for the Route 66, I have not given you a chance to see some of the side trips we are also planning and some of the history found there.
Although, I have not exhaustedly covered all that we might see along 66, I have covered all the states the we plan to see, in one shape or another. Hopefully, I have whetted your appetite for a road trip of such magnitude.
In trying to keep the first part of this blog truly on the preparations and research for the Route 66, I have not given you a chance to see some of the side trips we are also planning and some of the history found there.
The Grand Canyon is sort of a side trip. I say that because Route 66 does not go all the way to the Grand Canyon, but it was indeed one of the main attractions that brought people to travel the "mother road" back in the day.
"Although first afforded Federal protection in 1893 as a Forest Reserve and later as a National Monument, the Grand Canyon did not achieve National Park status until 1919, three years after the creation of the National Park Service."
"Although first afforded Federal protection in 1893 as a Forest Reserve and later as a National Monument, the Grand Canyon did not achieve National Park status until 1919, three years after the creation of the National Park Service."
I love the Grand Canyon and cannot drive that close to the Grand Canyon without staying there. This will be my 4th visit and only the 2nd time I have seen the canyon......
When I was in elementary school our family traveled to Colorado Springs. It was one of my favorite vacations growing up. One of our day trips was to see the Grand Canyon. We traveled for what seem like hours along this narrow winding road of the North Rim. Finally, we arrived , we all got out of the car, it was rainy and foggy and you could not see a thing. Dad piled us all back in the car and left. What a waste of time!
The next visit was my senior year in college, 6 of us rented a van and drove to the January 1,Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA . Along the way , we decided to drive up from Flagstaff and see the south rim of the Grand Canyon. What we found was the canyon had had 6 inches of snow the night before. Each pine tree was covered in snow. It was beautiful, but the canyon filled with a cloud! We could see the other side, but no canyon.
Finally, as our kids were in high school we finally got to spend about a week at the Grand Canyon. We stayed at one of the cabins. We were able to hike down into the canyon, see sunsets, and take plenty of tours. It is definitely a place that everyone should visit at least once in their life time!
When I was in elementary school our family traveled to Colorado Springs. It was one of my favorite vacations growing up. One of our day trips was to see the Grand Canyon. We traveled for what seem like hours along this narrow winding road of the North Rim. Finally, we arrived , we all got out of the car, it was rainy and foggy and you could not see a thing. Dad piled us all back in the car and left. What a waste of time!
The next visit was my senior year in college, 6 of us rented a van and drove to the January 1,Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA . Along the way , we decided to drive up from Flagstaff and see the south rim of the Grand Canyon. What we found was the canyon had had 6 inches of snow the night before. Each pine tree was covered in snow. It was beautiful, but the canyon filled with a cloud! We could see the other side, but no canyon.
Finally, as our kids were in high school we finally got to spend about a week at the Grand Canyon. We stayed at one of the cabins. We were able to hike down into the canyon, see sunsets, and take plenty of tours. It is definitely a place that everyone should visit at least once in their life time!
We have reservations at the Bright Angel Lodge on March 19th and 20th.
The Lodge was designed by Mary Jane Colter in 1935. She designed it to utilize the stone and timbers that were natural to the area. It is the most rustic lodges on the rim. It does not have all the modern conveniences, but the scenery is fabulous , it right on the rim! We will have a full day at the canyon before we head out on to our next side trip!
My hope is see the sunrise and the sunset from the lodge.
The Lodge was designed by Mary Jane Colter in 1935. She designed it to utilize the stone and timbers that were natural to the area. It is the most rustic lodges on the rim. It does not have all the modern conveniences, but the scenery is fabulous , it right on the rim! We will have a full day at the canyon before we head out on to our next side trip!
My hope is see the sunrise and the sunset from the lodge.