Getting Ready for the Grand Canyon

May has been a whirlwind at work...award ceremonies, Commencement, annual reports, final grades. If you work for a college, then you know that May is your busiest month.  I used to complain, but now I just accept it.  The reality is that once I get over this hump, I have a glorious summer to spend with my family.  Don't get me wrong--I still have to work e-v-e-r-y-d-a-y, but I do take some days off for vacation, relaxing around the house, and having play dates with Lewie.

This year it looks my dream is finally coming true.  We are going to the Grand Canyon!  Seeing the Grand Canyon has been on my bucket list since I was a teenager.  When I met my husband, we went on lots of trips together--Hawaii, San Francisco, San Diego, New Orleans, Lake Tahoe, Spain, Ibiza. Then I had Little Lewie.  Everything changed.  I thought we would become these cool parent jet setters, but instead I became neurotic Mommy--worried about my son's safety at every corner.  A trip to the Grand Canyon certainly didn't feel right then; I was not going to be one of those parents putting my son on a safety leash.

I waited, and waited, and waited, and... well, now with Little Lewie being eight (soon to be nine), what better time to begin our National Park trips?  I booked the trip in December with my fingers crossed.  So far, so good.  No family emergencies--Check!  Everyone's in good health--Check!

So...here's what we plan to do beginning on June 8th:

Fly to Phoenix, AZ...

Drive to Williams, AZ to begin our Grand Canyon Expedition.

Take the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim of the Canyon.  (Lewie still LOVES trains.)

Stay overnight at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

Experience an old-time Wild West Show.

Take a raft down the Colorado River to view the canyon from below.

(Photo courtesy of Viator Tours)

Travel to Scottsdale, AZ.

Desert sunset. (Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Visit family that moved to Phoenix, AZ.

Visit the Phoenix Zoo.

Lounge by the pool.

Relax.  (Well as much as you can do with an eight year-old.)

Enjoy whatever other wild adventure comes our way.

This is definitely not the cheapest of trips, but I've been saving for a long time.  Here's to wishing for good health and a safe journey.  Now it's time to start packing :)