"Living near the Grand Canyon! " a Grand Canyon National Park Travel Page by jumpingnorman

One of the first national parks (whose preservation was supported by President Theodore Roosevelt who loved hunting and enjoying its scenery), the Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River over a span of six to maybe even seventeen million years. The vista views are unmatched in the world, making it easily tagged as one of nature's greatest wonders.

I don't even know how many times I have visited the Grand Canyon, but it's always a relaxing experience for me. I drive (only four hours each way) usually to bring friends and relatives to the South Rim, entering the national park from the East side at the Cameron Trading Post. The latter is a great stopover to start filling up with food in a Native Indian restaurant loaded with many affordable souvenirs to take home.

One of my nurses was involved with the re-introduction of the California condor, a project which needed quite a bit of money and time from volunteers. In addition to these preservation efforts, park administrators and rangers also have a lot of responsiblities, making sure that the 5-million visitors a year are safe and follow the rules.

There are several hotels at the Grand Canyon Village. My wife claims she had the best steak filet at The El Tovar Hotel which was built in 1905 and is the most luxurious lodging on the South Rim. The hotel, designed by Charles Whittlesley, consists of 4 stories with a rustic chalet appearance. Sometimes, we see deers just outside the hotel.

But my wife is partial to the North Rim which has magnificent pine trees and a totally different view less seen by tourists.

Temperatures vary wildly throughout the year, with summer highs within the Inner Gorge commonly exceeding 100 °F (37.8 °C) and winter minimum temperatures sometimes falling below zero degrees Fahrenheit (-17.8 °C) along the canyon's rims. I have seen the canyon with rain, snow and extreme heat - so know the weather before going, bring closed shoes, drink a lot of water and suntan during summer, and remember the road can get slippery in winter!

A warning to visitors from Wikipedia (as of 2008):

About 600 deaths have occurred in the Grand Canyon since the 1870s. Some of these deaths occurred as the result of overly zealous photographic endeavors, some were the result of airplane collisions within the canyon, and some visitors drowned in the Colorado River. Many hikers overestimate their fitness level, become dehydrated and confused, and must be rescued. The Park Service now posts a picture of an attractive and fit young man at several trailheads with the caption "Every year we rescue hundreds of people from the Canyon. Most of them look like him", in an attempt to discourage hikers from feats which are beyond their abilities.

But don't let the above stop you from visiting this great natural wonder! SEE YOU THERE - you know how I look!