The Grand Canyon 

The trip from Sedona to The Grand Canyon is about 2 hours, and I could not have been more excited as visiting The Grand Canyon was the reason for this trip.

On the way out, I suggest a quick visit to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a beautiful structure built into the red rock canyons of Sedona. As you approach The Grand Canyon, you can stop at the Canyon Village Market, a place to load up on water and food. Several restaurants are nearby, and our choice was Plaza Bonita, an authentic Mexican Restaurant that served delicious tacos and burritos.

My buddy suggested we stay in the park, so we booked rooms in Maswik Lodge. Say what you want about the big hotel or motel chains; they do a much better job than the federal government when it comes to lodging. Maswik Lodge is not aging well, and the staff made us wait 3 hours for our rooms, which was odd as the place was empty. The bonus of finding people in both of our rooms added to the fun of staying here. (Fun Fact they provide no Wi-Fi)

A short drive brought us to our first trail called Mather Point. Neither words nor photos do this justice. It was majestic, serene, and glorious, I could keep going, but for me, a first-time visitor, it was a memory I'll treasure.

Dining options in the park are limited to a few places, but the Maswik Lodge Food Court (normally a buffet) provided several different hot and cold offerings. A must-do is a nighttime visit to the canyon to see the brilliant evening sky. At 6,800 feet elevation, you're above Sedona's Airport Mesa (5,000 feet) and any pollution, and there's almost no light around The Grand Canyon.

We chose the Bright Angel Trail for a sunset viewing and stayed until the Milky Way rose over the nighttime horizon, making another memory to treasure.