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Started By
Message
Need suggestions on where to go on vacation
Posted on 9/18/26 at 3:34 pm
Posted on 9/18/26 at 3:34 pm
Wife and I have flight vouchers that must be used before mid April 2027. We’re leaning either the Grand Canyon or DC sometime mid March to April. Any other suggestions?
Posted on 9/18/26 at 4:39 pm to lsushelly
We enjoyed our trip to Sedona for a short trip. I would combine with GC for a week long trip.
Posted on 9/18/26 at 5:12 pm to lsushelly
Friend,
We love the Grand Canyon most especially in those early weeks of April when both the weather and the crowds remain mercifully reasonable. There is a particular crispness to April that seems almost created for the Canyon, and we find that visibility is often at its finest then, with the great chasms and distant mesas appearing with an almost preternatural clarity. Moreover, the sun lingers considerably longer than it does in the similarly temperate month of October, which makes those long afternoons upon the Rim all the more agreeable.
And it is difficult to improve upon sitting on the porch of El Tovar with an early April snow still upon the ground, looking out over one of God's great terrestrial spectacles. I only recently discovered, to my considerable amusement, that El Tovar was also a filming location for the bawdy Family Vacation, in which the hapless patriarch Clark Griswold takes his family to Wally World, not the one on Tchoupitoulas, mind you.
April is about as close to perfection as one can get for a Rim-to-Rim hike, particularly if you are blessed to spend a couple of nights at Phantom Ranch. Reservations there are notoriously difficult to obtain, even for those who dutifully enter the lottery month after month and year after year, but I would offer one small piece of advice: always stop at Bright Angel Lodge and inquire about cancellations. People do cancel, and our merciful God smiles upon the persistent.
The floods of last month did tremendous damage down in the Canyon, but the wonderful National Park Service staff is already doing great work in the aftermath, and, barring another calamity, we should expect the affected facilities and trails to be substantially operational by April.
I would strongly encourage anyone who loves the outdoors to give the Grand Canyon a full week rather than treating it as some sort of roadside attraction to be consumed in few or even 48 hours. A couple of days may suffice for the casual tourist, but for those who actually wish to know the Canyon, however, a week is scarcely enough. I could easily devise two weeks of activities there without once resorting to filler.
While Sonoma is certainly lovely, if you are compelled to choose between it and Havasu Falls, I would choose the latter. Havasu is one of those places that seems almost numinous, as though God’s brush briefly forgot all restraint and decided to display our Lord’s capacity for beauty. The water, the travertine, the canyon walls, and the astonishing blue-green pools combine into one of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth.
Sonoma is wonderful for hiking and its people are generally quite friendly, although some of them can be rather lapidarian in their devotion to rocks, vineyards, and the various terrestrial objects to which they have inexplicably assigned near-religious significance.
My ideal 10 day itinerary would therefore begin with two leisurely days upon the South Rim, hiking, exploring, and simply allowing the Canyon to reveal itself rather than rushing about in the manner of tourists who seem determined to photograph everything while missing the present and presence. I would then descend into the Canyon for two nights at Phantom Ranch. On the second day at Phantom, I would make the journey toward the North Rim and return to the Ranch that evening, before ascending the South Rim the following morning.
From there, I would devote another two days to exploring the South Rim and its environs, which possess a deep and life changing character that is too frequently neglected by those who believe they have somehow “seen the Grand Canyon” after standing beside a railing at Mather Point for 20 minutes.
Then comes the drive onward to Havasu Falls, where I would spend a beautiful few days amid that almost preposterously turquoise water, before finally concluding the journey with no more than a day or two in Sonoma.
There are few places in America where ten days can be spent with such little repetition and such enormous reward. The Grand Canyon is not merely a place one visits; it is a place one gradually apprehends and sees God’s mighty handiwork in every moment.
Yours,
TulaneLSU
We love the Grand Canyon most especially in those early weeks of April when both the weather and the crowds remain mercifully reasonable. There is a particular crispness to April that seems almost created for the Canyon, and we find that visibility is often at its finest then, with the great chasms and distant mesas appearing with an almost preternatural clarity. Moreover, the sun lingers considerably longer than it does in the similarly temperate month of October, which makes those long afternoons upon the Rim all the more agreeable.
And it is difficult to improve upon sitting on the porch of El Tovar with an early April snow still upon the ground, looking out over one of God's great terrestrial spectacles. I only recently discovered, to my considerable amusement, that El Tovar was also a filming location for the bawdy Family Vacation, in which the hapless patriarch Clark Griswold takes his family to Wally World, not the one on Tchoupitoulas, mind you.
April is about as close to perfection as one can get for a Rim-to-Rim hike, particularly if you are blessed to spend a couple of nights at Phantom Ranch. Reservations there are notoriously difficult to obtain, even for those who dutifully enter the lottery month after month and year after year, but I would offer one small piece of advice: always stop at Bright Angel Lodge and inquire about cancellations. People do cancel, and our merciful God smiles upon the persistent.
The floods of last month did tremendous damage down in the Canyon, but the wonderful National Park Service staff is already doing great work in the aftermath, and, barring another calamity, we should expect the affected facilities and trails to be substantially operational by April.
I would strongly encourage anyone who loves the outdoors to give the Grand Canyon a full week rather than treating it as some sort of roadside attraction to be consumed in few or even 48 hours. A couple of days may suffice for the casual tourist, but for those who actually wish to know the Canyon, however, a week is scarcely enough. I could easily devise two weeks of activities there without once resorting to filler.
While Sonoma is certainly lovely, if you are compelled to choose between it and Havasu Falls, I would choose the latter. Havasu is one of those places that seems almost numinous, as though God’s brush briefly forgot all restraint and decided to display our Lord’s capacity for beauty. The water, the travertine, the canyon walls, and the astonishing blue-green pools combine into one of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth.
Sonoma is wonderful for hiking and its people are generally quite friendly, although some of them can be rather lapidarian in their devotion to rocks, vineyards, and the various terrestrial objects to which they have inexplicably assigned near-religious significance.
My ideal 10 day itinerary would therefore begin with two leisurely days upon the South Rim, hiking, exploring, and simply allowing the Canyon to reveal itself rather than rushing about in the manner of tourists who seem determined to photograph everything while missing the present and presence. I would then descend into the Canyon for two nights at Phantom Ranch. On the second day at Phantom, I would make the journey toward the North Rim and return to the Ranch that evening, before ascending the South Rim the following morning.
From there, I would devote another two days to exploring the South Rim and its environs, which possess a deep and life changing character that is too frequently neglected by those who believe they have somehow “seen the Grand Canyon” after standing beside a railing at Mather Point for 20 minutes.
Then comes the drive onward to Havasu Falls, where I would spend a beautiful few days amid that almost preposterously turquoise water, before finally concluding the journey with no more than a day or two in Sonoma.
There are few places in America where ten days can be spent with such little repetition and such enormous reward. The Grand Canyon is not merely a place one visits; it is a place one gradually apprehends and sees God’s mighty handiwork in every moment.
Yours,
TulaneLSU
This post was edited on 9/18/26 at 5:20 pm
Posted on 9/18/26 at 5:30 pm to lsushelly
Arizona. Fly into Phoenix or Flagstaff and stay in Williams, AZ and take train excursion to/from Grand Canyon. Route 66 runs right through Williams. Close enough to drive down to Sedona.
Posted on 9/18/26 at 6:21 pm to TulaneLSU
You make a strong case. Thanks for the info
Posted on 9/21/26 at 11:22 am to lsushelly
If you like history and have not been to DC you need to. IMHO.
I can't wait until my kids are old enought to go and see the Smithsonian's, monuments, ride the metro ect.
I have been to the GC and Redwoods multiple times. IMHO the Redwoods are more impressive and beautiful. But I am a forestry nerd.
I can't wait until my kids are old enought to go and see the Smithsonian's, monuments, ride the metro ect.
I have been to the GC and Redwoods multiple times. IMHO the Redwoods are more impressive and beautiful. But I am a forestry nerd.
Posted on 9/21/26 at 1:17 pm to lsushelly
quote:
Wife and I have flight vouchers that must be used before mid April 2027. We’re leaning either the Grand Canyon or DC sometime mid March to April. Any other suggestions?
VRBO Eleuthera or another Bahamas Out Island.
Posted on 9/21/26 at 2:13 pm to paulb52
quote:
Williams, AZ and take train excursion to/from Grand Canyon
Only downside is this greatly limits your time in the park. Iirc, the train only stays at the park about 3 hours before it goes back south. If you have your own vehicle you can set your own pace go out towards the eastern end of the park and see Desert Watchtower and places that the shuttle doesn't go.
quote:
Route 66 runs right through Williams
They have done a great job making a few blocks look like it did back in the peak of Route 66: travel with a diner and filling station, etc.
Posted on 9/21/26 at 2:29 pm to TulaneLSU
Friend,
Maybe I'm missing something. I have a friend we just visited this weekend who serves on the board there and goes to the Grand Canyon regularly. My impression has always been that an early-April Rim-to-Rim involving the North Rim is a considerably different proposition from an April South Rim trip, even in a normal year.
You describe early April as about as close to perfection as one can get for a Rim-to-Rim hike, including a couple of nights at Phantom Ranch, and then say that despite last month's flooding we should expect the affected trails and facilities to be substantially operational by April.
That seems pretty optimistic. The North Rim didn't open this year until May 15, and the North Kaibab Trail likewise didn't reopen until May 15 following the Dragon Bravo fire. Then the August 29 flood closed the entire North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and the river bridges again. The Park Service presently says there is no estimated reopening date.
Have you actually done your Rim-to-Rim/Phantom Ranch trip in early April? If so, what year and what route did you use?
I'm genuinely curious, because you've seemingly been just about everywhere, and sometimes I have trouble separating your firsthand experiences from your recommendations based on research.
Yours,
NoleMan
Maybe I'm missing something. I have a friend we just visited this weekend who serves on the board there and goes to the Grand Canyon regularly. My impression has always been that an early-April Rim-to-Rim involving the North Rim is a considerably different proposition from an April South Rim trip, even in a normal year.
You describe early April as about as close to perfection as one can get for a Rim-to-Rim hike, including a couple of nights at Phantom Ranch, and then say that despite last month's flooding we should expect the affected trails and facilities to be substantially operational by April.
That seems pretty optimistic. The North Rim didn't open this year until May 15, and the North Kaibab Trail likewise didn't reopen until May 15 following the Dragon Bravo fire. Then the August 29 flood closed the entire North Kaibab Trail, Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and the river bridges again. The Park Service presently says there is no estimated reopening date.
Have you actually done your Rim-to-Rim/Phantom Ranch trip in early April? If so, what year and what route did you use?
I'm genuinely curious, because you've seemingly been just about everywhere, and sometimes I have trouble separating your firsthand experiences from your recommendations based on research.
Yours,
NoleMan
Posted on 9/21/26 at 2:29 pm to TulaneLSU
NM
This post was edited on 9/21/26 at 4:24 pm
Posted on 9/21/26 at 8:53 pm to Nole Man
Friend,
The NK is open throughout the year, but facilities are limited (although it is really and truly closed now due the Katrina anniversary flood this year). When the NPS says NK opens May 15 they really are announcing when facilities at the trailhead will be open. In other words, there is no where to camp or lodge and there is no vehicle access at the North Rim until May 15. If the NPS didn’t announce the closure, they would have likely hundreds or thousands of day tourists driving hours to the North Rim assuming, before May 15, that they can do some hiking at the North Rim. And that is not the case until, as you said, May 15.
If you are really in shape you can do the Rim to Rim to Rim starting from the South Rim in one day and will not need road access or lodging on the North Rim. People who are in excellent shape do this trek in the winter months even.
Alternatively, and what we do, is reserve a room for two nights at Phantom Ranch so that we can split the hike. South Rim to Phantom, maybe explore Ribbon Falls, and sleep. Next morning start at Phantom early and go up NK to the North Rim and come back and hopefully make it for dinner at Phantom before going back up to the South Rim the next day. The second day is arduous and unless you want to be incredibly sore for a few days, be sure to do elevation training ahead of time.
We have done RtR in April twice and May once. I cannot more highly recommend you do it April. Yes, you may have a little snow on both rims in early April, but it is anything but treacherous on the trails. If you are really concerned bring microspikes with you. We found the weather in April ideal, but I suppose there is a small chance of heavy snow, but it has not been a problem for us.
We have done both Bright Angel to North Kaibab and South Kaibab and North Kaibab in April. We did BA to NK to SK the second week of May about ten years ago and it was miserably hot for much of the hike and more crowded. October is a great month for hiking the canyon, but RtRtR becomes a little tougher due to shorter days and the fact that everyone in retirement wants to try it in October. October Phantom Ranch reservations are the rarest of the rare and we have never been blessed with them.
They canceled all Phantom reservations through October 31, but there is hope from the locals we know that November could be open. I believe one of the bridges survived, so hopefully NK will open soon. I heard though that there was significantly more damage to NK this year compared to previous flood years like ‘95 due to the fires scorching the shrubbery, allowing far more rain induced erosion. We are planning an April trip this year, and we believe it will be open. If it is not we will still make our way to Phantom Ranch and hope we can snag a room.
We have hardly been everywhere, but where we do go we go without hesitation and make the most of our trips. Perhaps we could have a Travel Board RtRtR hike one day.
Yours,
TulaneLSU
The NK is open throughout the year, but facilities are limited (although it is really and truly closed now due the Katrina anniversary flood this year). When the NPS says NK opens May 15 they really are announcing when facilities at the trailhead will be open. In other words, there is no where to camp or lodge and there is no vehicle access at the North Rim until May 15. If the NPS didn’t announce the closure, they would have likely hundreds or thousands of day tourists driving hours to the North Rim assuming, before May 15, that they can do some hiking at the North Rim. And that is not the case until, as you said, May 15.
If you are really in shape you can do the Rim to Rim to Rim starting from the South Rim in one day and will not need road access or lodging on the North Rim. People who are in excellent shape do this trek in the winter months even.
Alternatively, and what we do, is reserve a room for two nights at Phantom Ranch so that we can split the hike. South Rim to Phantom, maybe explore Ribbon Falls, and sleep. Next morning start at Phantom early and go up NK to the North Rim and come back and hopefully make it for dinner at Phantom before going back up to the South Rim the next day. The second day is arduous and unless you want to be incredibly sore for a few days, be sure to do elevation training ahead of time.
We have done RtR in April twice and May once. I cannot more highly recommend you do it April. Yes, you may have a little snow on both rims in early April, but it is anything but treacherous on the trails. If you are really concerned bring microspikes with you. We found the weather in April ideal, but I suppose there is a small chance of heavy snow, but it has not been a problem for us.
We have done both Bright Angel to North Kaibab and South Kaibab and North Kaibab in April. We did BA to NK to SK the second week of May about ten years ago and it was miserably hot for much of the hike and more crowded. October is a great month for hiking the canyon, but RtRtR becomes a little tougher due to shorter days and the fact that everyone in retirement wants to try it in October. October Phantom Ranch reservations are the rarest of the rare and we have never been blessed with them.
They canceled all Phantom reservations through October 31, but there is hope from the locals we know that November could be open. I believe one of the bridges survived, so hopefully NK will open soon. I heard though that there was significantly more damage to NK this year compared to previous flood years like ‘95 due to the fires scorching the shrubbery, allowing far more rain induced erosion. We are planning an April trip this year, and we believe it will be open. If it is not we will still make our way to Phantom Ranch and hope we can snag a room.
We have hardly been everywhere, but where we do go we go without hesitation and make the most of our trips. Perhaps we could have a Travel Board RtRtR hike one day.
Yours,
TulaneLSU
Posted on 9/22/26 at 11:50 am to lsushelly
Grand Canyon is great. But it's a 1.5 day trip at most unless your hiking down and camping in it. How long are y'all going for?
Posted on 9/22/26 at 3:36 pm to hashtag
Five days
Posted on 9/22/26 at 4:23 pm to lsushelly
For 5, I'd take the suggestions for Sedona along with the GC. We stayed for 3 nights in Sedona and it wasn't enough for us.
Tip for the Grand Canyon, do the drive along Desert View Dr from the east entrance to the south. A ton of different viewpoints. We did it the evening we arrived and got to see a beautiful sunset from a few different spots.
Then go grab dinner.
Then return to the south rim visitor parking lot and look up at the stars. It'll be nice and dark and you'll see more stars than you've ever seen your whole life.
Tip for the Grand Canyon, do the drive along Desert View Dr from the east entrance to the south. A ton of different viewpoints. We did it the evening we arrived and got to see a beautiful sunset from a few different spots.
Then go grab dinner.
Then return to the south rim visitor parking lot and look up at the stars. It'll be nice and dark and you'll see more stars than you've ever seen your whole life.
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