Grand Canyon, Route 66 Shopping Regrets and a Night in a Wigwam!
Today was shaping up to be another big day on our American adventure. We were heading to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, before continuing on to Holbrook, Arizona, where we had booked a night at the rather unusual Wigwam Motel.
But first, there was the small matter of recovering from the previous evening!
After sampling our way through the alcoholic offerings at Cruiser’s Cafe, I was feeling a little worse for wear. Let’s just say I wasn’t firing on all cylinders that morning.
Note to self: Don’t go shopping after you’ve spent the night drinking!
Why? Because the following morning, I discovered a rather impressive pile of Route 66 memorabilia in our motel room. Apparently, my shopping enthusiasm had remained fully operational, even if the rest of me hadn’t! 😂
With that little mystery solved, we went looking for somewhere to grab breakfast and, more importantly, a decent flat white. We managed to find somewhere to fill our bellies, but the coffee was sadly lacking.
For those of us accustomed to a proper Australian flat white, American coffee can sometimes be a bit of a lottery. Breakfast was sorted, but the caffeine department still had room for improvement.
Once fed and watered, we hit the road.
A Surprise Stop at Valle Airport
On our way towards the Grand Canyon, we passed Valle Airport and spotted the Wings of Fame Museum. Well, you know how it goes on a road trip – if something interesting catches your eye, you may as well pull over and have a look!
So, we made an unplanned stop to check it out before getting back on the road towards one of America’s most famous natural attractions.
The Grand Canyon – Absolutely Magnificent!
Eventually, we arrived at Grand Canyon National Park and made our way to the South Rim.
Now, we’d all seen photos and videos of the Grand Canyon before, but there’s a big difference between looking at a picture and standing there in person.
Photos and videos simply don’t do it justice.
The sheer scale of the place is incredible. The vast canyon stretches out before you, with layers of rock and enormous distances that are difficult to comprehend until you’re actually standing there looking at them.
It’s one of those views that makes you stop talking for a moment and simply take it all in. And judging by the number of visitors, we certainly weren’t the only ones who thought so!
We took plenty of photos and videos, but I reckon you’ll have to see it for yourself to truly appreciate just how spectacular it is.
If you ever get the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon, put it on your must-see list. It’s absolutely worth the trip.
Winslow – Standing on a Corner
After soaking up the incredible scenery, we continued our journey and later stopped in Winslow, Arizona, to visit the famous Standing on the Corner attraction.
The spot was made famous by the Eagles song Take It Easy, which includes the line about standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.
Naturally, we had to check it out. It’s one of those iconic Route 66 stops where music, American road-trip culture and a little bit of sightseeing all come together.
Another photo opportunity ticked off, and another memorable stop added to the growing collection of Route 66 experiences.
Tonight: A Wigwam Motel!
Our destination for the day was Holbrook, where we’d be spending the night at the Wigwam Motel.
These distinctive motels were part of a chain developed in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. Instead of the usual motel room, guests stay in individual structures shaped like wigwams – certainly a more interesting option than your average roadside accommodation!
After a day of spectacular scenery, famous landmarks and a few unplanned stops, it was time to settle in and enjoy another uniquely American experience.
All in all, a fantastic day – although next time, I might try to exercise a little more restraint at the bar and keep my souvenir shopping to daylight hours!
The Thirsty Tourists – Touring is thirsty work! 🏍️🇺🇸🍻
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