Phyllis Borchardt
Special for The Republic
Aug. 17, 2007 12:00 AM
Too often, we think a vacation needs to be an extended trip to a faraway place with an exotic name.
But there are lots of natural wonders in our backyard, and short overnight trips can be a real shot in the arm to a spirit in need of a recharge.
Recently my husband and I had the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon and booked a trip on the Grand Canyon Railway. In my book, the Grand Canyon is one of those places that take your breath away. Friends and acquaintances we have met since we moved to the Phoenix area a couple of years ago have given this trip rave reviews. We were not disappointed.
After our drive to Williams, we stayed at an inn and, when we arose in the morning, enjoyed our breakfast at a local diner. Promptly at 9 a.m. we boarded our assigned coaches. When we arrived at the South Rim, we were directed to the various tours and programs. We opted for the Grand Canyon Historic Village Walking Tour and gleaned some history of the Canyon prior to returning to the El Tovar Hotel for coffee on the patio while we waited for our return trip.
The train departed promptly, the trip back to Williams included a Wild West surprise, and upon our return, we were greeted by a brass band playing music in keeping with the theme.
The three-hour drive back to Phoenix went by quickly, and we returned home with new memories about the Grand Canyon and plans to return for another visit, perhaps a raft trip on the Colorado River, to again enjoy the majesty of "our" Grand Canyon.
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