....after a couple of aborted attempts here is a TR of the roadtrip we undertook in the 2-3 weeks before we hit Disney World.
Our aim was 14 National Parks of the West in 14 days.................
Day 1 and we had the Kia rental packed to the rafters, as the Mad Uncle and myself headed for the Grand Canyon. Our home base south of Vegas is the perfect setting off point for the roadtrip we were about to attempt. Cheap petrol (filling up at $2.65 a gallon as it turned out the cheapest gas of the whole trip), the wife and daughter left with Grandpa and Nana for the 2 weeks of the roadtrip to spend some quality time, the new camera primed and ready, the HDD camcorder juiced up and ready to whir, and we were on our way.
The Canyon is a 4 hour drive east on the I-10 from the tri-state area where we left from. Leaving about 9am we found the first 2 hours to be the typical southwest type topography......rocks, more rocks, even more rocks and no trees or shrubs whatsoever. A bit like the surface of the moon actually. But as you get closer to the town of Williams from where you head North to the south entrance of the park, you enter the Kaibab National Forest as the elevation rises. Most people are surprised to learn that the South rim of the Grand Canyon is approximately 6000 feet above sea level. Pine trees are suddenly in abundance as you forget the desert conditions an hour behind you. Lunch at a typical diner in Williams (chicken strips, fries and a bottomless softie), and we headed the 55 miles for the entrance.
An $80 annual National Parks pass was purchased as the $20 entrance fee per car per park, made it a sensible decision considering the amount of parks we were planning to hit. The first viewpoint that you reach once into the park is the Mather point viewpoint. Unfortunately Obama's stimulus money was in full force as a new visitors centre and increased parking at said viewpoint was partway through construction leading to traffic chaos, and commuters heading every which way they could to get to the rim.
The first view that you get of the Grand Canyon is one of those moments in your life when you feel extremely small (tiny actually) and utterly humbled. Even standing on the edge of the 280 mile long, 18 mile wide, 1 mile deep abyss that stretches out before you, seems surreal and looks like you are looking at the world's biggest painting. This was my 5th time to the canyon and the uncle's first.....and he was suitably humbled. ...k Me is a common reaction from most people.....as it was from him.
After photos and wandering we headed for our campsite for the night at the Mather Campground. An online booking 2 months earlier reserved a spot for $18 for the night. The site was easily big enough for 3 large tents or an RV or Caravan. Great Value. An abundance of restroom blocks, a shower block near the carpark of the campground, and as full as the MCG on grand final day with not one spare spot in the entire park. Not one hotel room to be had either....welcome to summer at the Grand Canyon.
We caught the NPS shuttle out to Hermits Rest at the west end of the rim drive (as private cars have been banned for the past 4/5 years now in that particular part of the park), and saw the sunset from there. Photos galore along with a thousand or so of our closest new friends (mainly european, either French or German). The bus back, a late dinner at the campsite which consisted of Pringles and fruit (and a couple of Miller's finest) and our first night under the stars was undertaken about Midnight.
As with all the parks, you could easily spend a week at each park, hiking mainly along the humdreds of miles of trails that dot the entire national park system. But we had decided to hit as many parks in a superficial way, rather than hit 3 or 4 parks intensely. Not everyone's cup of tea, but we were certainly comfortable with our modus operandi.
Day 2 and on towards Utah.....
))) 
You took your time for this roadtrip. 
