Our Grand Circle Tour
CrazyGirl2
Did this trip last Sept/Oct with my significant other - had the best time!
Mar 9, 2007
based on 9 votes
Our trip of just over a week taking in Las Vegas, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon North Rim, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde National Park, Canyon de Chelly, and Grand Canyon South Rim
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Explore locations featured in this goList:
Las Vegas, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Jacob Lake, Monument Valley, Mancos, Mesa Verde National Park, Chinle
- Category: Recent trip
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Traveler type: Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors
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Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Families with teenagers, Tourists
- Seasons:
- Tags: Grand Circle, Grand Canyon
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Ave price:
$268
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| It was my first trip to Vegas and I was just amazed at the size of the hotel! You don't get hotels that size in the UK! We had a nice stay here. |
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| A definate must see when in Vegas... they were just awesome! We had dinner at a restaurant at the Paris hotel, sat outside just across from the fountains... so got to watch the show for several hours! |
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| Another must see - especially at night. Amazing views of Vegas - I got some great pictures. Personally I didn't fancy the rides at the top... they looked rather scary! |
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Very impressed at the organisation of this park, with the shuttle bus service taking you up into it with various stops you can get off at and then hop on another bus later. We spent an evening and a morning here. Did a few of the walks which we enjoyed. Just gorgeous scenery, and enjoyed seeing the mule deer, the turkeys at Zion Lodge, and we even saw a tarantula when doing the Emerald Springs walk! |
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5. Grand Canyon North Rim
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| What can I say... WOW! Wished I could have spent more time here. It does take a little while to get to the North Rim but I felt it was well worth it. It has been an ambition all my life to see the canyon, and I am glad my first view was from the North. It is less touristy here than the South which I liked. We went to Bright Angel Point, and then drove around to Cape Royal in time for the sunset. Remember to take something warm as it can get chilly after the sun goes down (at least it does at the end of September!). I took loads of pictures, although i don't think a photo can really ever do the place justice. |
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| The Lodge at Bright Angel point was rull so we stayed at Jacob's Lake in a cute little cabin which was perfectly adequate. |
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7. Historic Navajo Bridge
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| An interesting quick stop off. Glad we had our binoculors - spotted Condor no. 54 (at the time there were only like 70 in the area as part of a captive breeding program). |
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| Well worth a visit - would definately recommend a guide (see below), rather than driving yourself (as the road is really rutted). |
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9. Simpson's Trailhandler Tours
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| Had a marvellous tour (Jamie was our guide) which I would definately recommend. Jamie took us to sights you can't see on the main self-drive route, and explained various Navajo names for the Mesas and Buttes (as well as their official names). He even played us a song on his wooden flute which somehow just made you feel in harmony with nature. |
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Really great B&B that I would recommend when visiting Mesa Verde. It is only a short 15 or so minute drive away. And stay more than one night if you can! Believe me you will want to! |
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11. Mesa Verde National Park
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| Another big WOW of our grand circle tour. I loved this place and definately want to go back at some point (especially as some parts were already shut for the winter). We did the Balcony House and Cliff Palace tours which I would recommend for the experience, and I was very impressed with our ranger guides. Wished we could have maybe spent a day and a half or two days here. The Chilli soup with cornbread in the restaurant was also real tasty! |
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12. Canyon de Chelly National Monument
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| Another interesting monument.. it claims to have more ruins than Mesa Verde. You have to have a guide to see this as you are not allowed in on your own. We used Canyon de Chelly tours (with Leon Skyhorse Thomas) which was okay but rather commercial and nothing on the tour we had at Monument Valley. In retrospect since our trip was quite short, I think I would have preferred to spend more time at the Grand Canyon North Rim or at Mesa Verde than stop off here. |
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13. Grand Canyon South Rim
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| Again... awe inspiring! Visited the Watchtower at Desert View (great building!), and then drove on to watch sunset at Yavapi point. The next day we walked along the ridge trail to Hermits Rest which was also enjoyable. |
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Compliment CrazyGirl2
