Flying over the Grand Canyon

Writing about the Grand Canyon may seem random, but wait until you see the pictures!

We flew OVER the Grand Canyon the other day and it was so fun, I want to share.

I first saw the Grand Canyon as a child, with my mother anxiously trying to hold us back from getting too close.

My father, typically, had already stood at a dangerous spot to take a photo and she didn’t want us to follow suit.

I read Brighty of the Grand Canyon as a child, and marveled at anyone wanting to ride a donkey down those steep and narrow trails. I’d much rather hike it myself.

I always dreamed of rafting down the river far below, or hiking the eight hours to get there.

But the river trip has never happened and my difficulties with heat, it gets as high as 105 degrees  in the canyon, meant it would never happen to me.

We returned several times while I grew up and my husband and I visited on our honeymoon.

We brought a new tent in October, but as the rain fell from leaden skies, we discovered we should have sealed the seams.

Decamping quickly, we spent the night in Flagstaff.

Children in the Park

I returned with my parents and four children of my own many years later.

Dad was just as daring, but my children obeyed and stood back.

I had the same reaction I’ve had at every visit: something so grand and overwhelming as that canyon, can only be viewed out of the corner of my eyes.

It’s just too big to take in!

With a baby on my back, I directed the boys into the visitor’s center, where they enjoyed learning about the Native Americans and how they regarded that enormous crack in the earth designed by God and the Colorado River.

During that visit, my father, as usual, found money on the ground–in this case a $20 bill–and bought us all ice cream on a hot June day.

From the Air

Which brings us up to date.

We were flying home on Southwest Airlines from Nashville and I’d just finished my book.

We were slated to arrive in Las Vegas soon, so I glanced out the window.

I gasped.

The Grand Canyon, silent and timeless as ever, stretched below the plane.

While I’d seen it from the air in photos, I’d never seen it in person.

I practically shouted, “Look! The Grand Canyon!”

No one looked up. Not even the husband beside me.

So I took photos.

Enjoy!

Tweetables

Family vacations and the Grand Canyon. Click to Tweet

The Grand Canyon seen from air! Thanks Southwest! Click to Tweet

Gorgeous photos of the Grand Canyon. Click to Tweet