In the spring of 1993, I asked my then 12 year old son where he wanted to go for our summer vacation. He had a choice: Disney World or a road trip out west to the Grand Canyon. To my surprise, he didn’t even hesitate–he wanted to see the Grand Canyon! So that June, we set off on a 2-week road trip from Texas to all places west, with the Grand Canyon as our main objective. My parents had taken me on a similar trip when I was about my son’s age, and it had made a lasting impression on me. It seemed only fitting for history to be repeating itself. My son’s first reaction to seeing the majesty of the Canyon was caught on video. This photo is a bit after he had stopped jumping up & down and had “soaked it in” for awhile! Since that trip in 1993, we both have made trips to several of our beloved national parks. I’ve even been back to the Grand Canyon 3 times since that day, and it’s never the same and always amazing. These beautiful, wild & welcoming spaces truly feed the soul. I thank my parents for starting my life-long journey to our national parks, and am most proud to have established the same in my now 31 year old son. One day, I have a feeling he’ll find history repeating itself yet again on a family trip of his own.
Sincerely,
Grand Canyon National Park
America’s Southwest is full of breathtaking canyons, but none as famous or as widely visited as the Grand Canyon. This world-famous landmark offers wondrous views, spectacular hiking, exhilarating whitewater rafting and countless adventures. One look across the enormous chasm confirms just why this inspirational place is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a must-see destination for so many travelers. The park also protects a wealth of biological diversity, including numerous endemic and threatened species and several rare ecosystems.
State(s): Arizona
Established: 1919
“Our national parks are precious spaces in an otherwise crowded, noisy and hectic world. A visit to any of these national treasures puts things into perspective and replenishes the human spirit. Just knowing they are "out there", and that I can experience their magic whenever I can get away, is somehow reassuring. I never want that to be lost.”
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Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park
Twelve years ago, my husband and I spent 3 days visiting the Grand Canyon. One of those days I suggested taking a hike down into the canyon on the South Kaibab Trail. It was amazing! You don’t realize the vastness of the canyon until you’re down in it, looking up,…
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Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park
I returned to the Grand Canyon a few months after my father passed away. I hiked solo down the crumbling switchbacks below Horseshoe Mesa and across the stark plateau to Hance Rapids. My dad introduced me to the Canyon; as a reluctant teenager we hiked down to Bright Angel campground.…
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Greetings from Grand Canyon National Park
We’re a family of four from South Carolina that includes a son in fourth grade and a daughter in college. A tradition of ours is to take at least one vacation each year to a national park. For Christmas 2021, we planned to visit Grand Canyon National Park and Saguaro…
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