Jcoaster vs Sin City and the American Southwest.

[coasterbill]

Is that bridge parallel to the dam new? When we visit about 10 years ago I don't remember it being there. It makes sense though as (at the time) we had to go through security checkpoints to reach the dam (which is annoying if you're just passing through) and I'd imagine the cars provide unnecessary wear and tear.

 

Checkpoint is still there and yes I believe the bridge is relatively new. Im not sure what year (it was my first time there) but there is a new parking area and trail that leads you up there.

 

That's actually awesome since it would provide a really great view of the dam. I assume that's where the last picture was taken from obviously but that would be stunning to see in person.

[Jcoaster]

Yes, its really incredible to look at. From the bridge it gets a great view of Lake Meade in the background as you can see.

[Jcoaster]

Part 6: Monday night we arrived in the Grand Canyon from the way of Las Vegas. I really can't say much about the Grand Canyon besides go there once in your life. Words and pictures can't really do it justice but I will try my best. The Canyon just has an aura and mystic about it that defies human understanding. There is a reason why it is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Enjoy the photography!

We arrived at the Canyon Monday evening and were greeted by some Elk crossing the road.

We got to Grand National Park around 10 am the next day and took the shuttle to Bright Angel Trailhead for some hiking. It's one of the only area's in the park you where you get the chance to descend into the Canyon.

If you don't feel like walking you can travel down the Canyon on Mule back. This may need reservations years in advance though.

Unless you are a professional or expert Hikers there are signs and warnings telling you that traveling down to the Colorado River in one day and back is extremely dangerous and rescue is not guranteed.

You can get permits however to camp overnight in the Canyon once you reach the river. This allows you to head back up the next day.

Hanging rock tunnel.

The beauty of this place is really second to none.

When you look down the Canyon is looks like a painting.

This little guy is a Grey Rock Squirrel. They live up to the name as you can see them hopping around the boulders.

This is the lowest point we reached which was about a mile walking. The Canyon itself is over a mile long at the deepest point with a crazy amount of walking.

On our way back up we spotted a BigHorn Ram hanging out on the side of a cliff. It was amazing.

Once we got back to the top we hiked a few miles west to get a glimpse of the Colorado River and Grand Rapids.

Had to get my face in one picture.

Mars with the Colorado River winding throught it. See, there is water on Mars.

Okay so this next part I do NOT reccomend anyone to do. It was very stupid of me and Im lucky I'm still in one piece. When leaving the Canyon I spotted a full grown buck Elk grazing in the bushes. I was able to get 5 feet away and get some once in a lifetime photos.

He was huge. Had to be around 9 feet tall at the tip of the antlers.

At this point I realized I should probably move away. I was so awe struck, nothing can compare. Thanks for reading, Sedona update coming soon.

[Genx24]

Absolutely breath taking scenery. Everyone stay tuned to see a picture of a tarantula the size of a small child.

[Jcoaster]

Absolutely breath taking scenery. Everyone stay tuned to see a picture of a tarantula the size of a small child.

 

[urzishra]

Just came to post about how much I love El Loco. Packs so much in so little. My favorite bit is how you get off El Loco and right into the line for Canyon Blaster.

 

Wasn't as much of a fan of Canyon Blaster, but it's really intense and fast.

 

I think I went on the rides 4 or 5 times in a row. I did like their drop tower, it was more intense then you think it is.

[Jcoaster]

El Loco had me cackling the entire time. It lives up to the name cause its just a crazy bizzare ride.

 

I was expecting a medicore ride from Canyon Blaster and I ended up really liking it. It is very intense.

 

I agree with your statement about the drop tower. The height is very decieving as well. The launch is more intense than the drop though.

[ElvisLuv]

I love the north rim. It's lots less crowed than the south rim, a1,000 ftm higher and view even better.

 

The drive from the south rim to Cameron during sunset is stunning. The sun lights up the Painted Desert to the east. You get vies of the confluence area of th3 Colorado and Little Colorado and the Navaho Resort portion of the Painted Desert which is it's best part but extremely difficult to get to.

[Alice Kane]

Wonderful photos - both the wildlife outdoors and the wildlife inside The Mob Museum! Thanks for sharing your trip report and visiting tips.

 

Alice

[bert425]

beautiful pics from the Grand Canyon.

 

thanks for sharing!

[Jcoaster]

Part 7: Final Update from Sedona, Arizona and Montezooma's Castle.

 

Wednesday morning we packed up the car and drove two hours from the Grand Canyon to Sedona, Arizona. It is very hard for me to make up my mind on which place had more natural beauty. Both are heavyweights in their own right. I never thought I'd go to a place that could match the Grand Canyon's beauty but the Red Rocks in Sedona give it a pretty damn good run for its money. Sedona is a quiet town made up of mostly retired people, but it is known for being the spaghetti western capital of the world. All those famous 40's and 50's western movies and tv shows that were made, a majority of them were made here. Once you see the pictures you'll see why. Our hotel was very nice and provided an amazing backdrop of the mountains when in the swimming pool. A creek ran behind the rive that provided some wildlife and great photo ops, not much more you can ask for.

 

Once we unpacked and unwound in the pool for a bit we changed and got ready for the Pink Jeep tour. Don't be fooled by the name of the color of the Jeeps cause this tour was bad ass. The guide takes you miles and miles deep into the Sedona wilderness to drive the Jeep up mountains to get you to points where nobody else can take pictures. It was actually quite amazing. The guide was filled with facts and very knowledgeable. He said that the company is very strict and only hires 14-15 drivers a year. They frequently take the tour guides on test runs and give them grades. I agree with this cause you have to remember peoples lives are in their hands. The company became Pink Jeeps cause when the owner moved out there the jeeps were white and business wasn't doing well. He then took a trip to Vegas and saw the color and lights of the Casino's and decided to repaint them Pink and it has stuck ever since. Pink Jeep Tour's own all the trails out in Sedona and maintain them as well. One more fun fact for all you Disney fans out there Walt Disney actually took a trip out to Sedona to survey the Red Rocks which provided his inspiration for Big Thunder Mountain.

 

The final day on the way back to Vegas we stopped at Montezooma's Castle. Cortez found it during Spanish exploration of SouthWest North America and thought it belonged to Montezooma when it actually belonged to the Sinagua and Hopi Indian tribes. The ruins are over 700 years old and quite a site to look at.

 

Thanks for reading the trip report and I will be back with another adventure soon TPR!

Not a bad view from the back of the hotel right?

This little guy is called a Plateau Fence Lizard. He was hanging out on a rock by the creek behind the hotel.

He was that creek I was talking about.

Kinda like Jurassic Park, minus the dinosaur tour.

I sat shotgun. All the Jeeps are customer made at the shop. They just order the parts from Jeep.

Welcome to Mars.

Or should I say, Welcome to BigThunder Mountain?

Driving up the Rocks.

The photos don't do it justice which is the crazy part.

This Desert Tarantula had to be the size of a small child. This picture was taken from the Jeep 10 feet away....So yea.

Quickly down the mountains so I can eat dinner!

Duck Confit with Wild Rice, String Beans and Green Apple Chutney because I have a taste for the finer things. I actually had a Prickly Pear Margarita with this that I forgot to photograph. Restaurant's name is Creekside. I recommend to anyone in Sedona.

The next morning we ventured out to Montezooma's Castle. Those red fruits on top of the cactus are the prickly pear fruits. They are extremely sweet and delicious. Javelina's which are little native hogs eat them cause their saliva melts the needles. (Im serious I did not make it up). Not seeing a Javelina made me sad.

We made it.

Some of artifacts found at the site.

It really was incredible.

They used to sleep in those holes. I'm sure it looked better 700 years ago. Thus concludes my trip to the SouthWest United States, I had a blast and I hope you all enjoyed the PTR.

[Nrthwnd]

^

So where does the "Revenge" come in, with Montezooma?

 

And that coaster, of course?

 

Great awesome TR! So much natural beauty out there in the USA. We got to visit Yellowstone way back in the 1970s,

and I shall never forget that trip. Camping out near the Grand Tetons. And free camping before "the season" started, too!

 

Thanks for sharing this. And any themeparks/coaters/rides, too.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

This is a pretty awesome trip! I've thought about doing a trip like this, with Vegas as a base, but going to all the national parks around that area. I don't have any interest in gambling. I went to a casino once in Kansas City, and the gambling part wasn't all that great to me. I spent most of the evening at their comedy club. I have a lot of interest in national parks, and this trip report is definitely fueling that. I'm glad you had a good time!

[Jcoaster]

This is a pretty awesome trip! I've thought about doing a trip like this, with Vegas as a base, but going to all the national parks around that area. I don't have any interest in gambling. I went to a casino once in Kansas City, and the gambling part wasn't all that great to me. I spent most of the evening at their comedy club. I have a lot of interest in national parks, and this trip report is definitely fueling that. I'm glad you had a good time!

 

I'm glad I can inspire a future National Parks trip. This was the first one I've ever been on and it was worth every second of it. I advise everyone to go to any of these places in your lifetime. Sedona gets 4 million visitors a year and the Grand Canyon averages 1,400 a day!

Vegas was fun but it could be dangerous for more than 3 days at a time if you like to gamble. I came back to New York +250 so it was kind to me.

[djcoastermark]

Wow, the Sedona area looks incredible. Very cool TR.

[ElvisLuv]

Mesa Verde, Meza Verde, Mesa Verde for cliff dwellings if you can make it one day.

[Jcoaster]

Mesa Verde, Meza Verde, Mesa Verde for cliff dwellings if you can make it one day.

 

Thats what I was told, just couldn't fit it all in. But hey that gives me a reason to go back.

[VegasBaby]

Great trip report, I always enjoy reading about people's adventures in my hometown of Las Vegas. Plus, there really is more to Vegas than the casinos and you really captured that.

[SFOG1991]

This has been such a wonderful trip report to read. Makes me really want to take the exact same trip sooner rather than later.

[Password121]

I've been really busy so I haven't been posting lately and missed this... but wow this looks like an amazing trip and the Grand Canyon looks incredible. Just awesome in every sense of the word. Thanks for posting!

[Jcoaster]

Great trip report, I always enjoy reading about people's adventures in my hometown of Las Vegas. Plus, there really is more to Vegas than the casinos and you really captured that.

 

Thank you. Yes so much more to do, it is a wonderful town with a lot to take in.

 

This has been such a wonderful trip report to read. Makes me really want to take the exact same trip sooner rather than later.

 

Thank you very much! The Grand Canyon is a natural treasure, Its something I think everyone should go see once in their lifetime.

 

I've been really busy so I haven't been posting lately and missed this... but wow this looks like an amazing trip and the Grand Canyon looks incredible. Just awesome in every sense of the word. Thanks for posting!

 

Thanks dude. Yes it sure was incredible. I'm very thankful to have had the opportunity to do this.

[viking86]

Awesome trip report, thanks for sharing! Always fun to see stuff you normally don't see much of, at least on this site.

 

Firing those WW2 guns must have been an awesome experience!

[Jcoaster]

Awesome trip report, thanks for sharing! Always fun to see stuff you normally don't see much of, at least on this site.

 

Firing those WW2 guns must have been an awesome experience!

 

Thank you, and yes it was a great experience.

 

You learn a lot about the weapons that help win the war.