David
@david_travels
The 8 hour drive was worth it
Feb 9, 2020
We’d already been on the road for eight hours by the time we reached the Grand Canyon, so there was a pretty big question in the back of my mind: is it actually going to be worth the drive? You see the Grand Canyon so often in photos, videos and travel guides that you think you know what to expect. But standing there for the first time is completely different. The first thing that hits you is the scale. It’s almost impossible to take in how enormous it is. You can look across the canyon and see the landscape stretching further than you can really comprehend, with layers of rock disappearing into the distance. We spent a good while just standing there taking it all in. There wasn’t really anything we needed to do. No attraction to tick off or itinerary to follow. Just being there, looking out over something that had been shaped over millions of years, was enough. One of my favourite things about travelling is those moments where you realise you’re looking at something you’ll probably remember for the rest of your life. The Grand Canyon was definitely one of them. And somehow, after an eight hour drive, the exhaustion didn’t really matter anymore. Also, so lucky to experience this just before CV-19 hit the world. It was absolutely worth it.
Pass it on
Worth knowing
Don’t expect a photograph to prepare you for the scale. The canyon is one of those places that really needs to be experienced in person.
Don't miss
Give yourself time to simply stop and look. It’s tempting to move between viewpoints and see as much as possible, but some of my favourite moments were just standing there with no particular plan.
Watch out
Don’t underestimate the distances or the environment. Something that looks relatively close across the canyon can actually be miles away, and conditions can change quickly.
What surprised me
Honestly, the sheer scale. I’d seen countless photos beforehand, but none of them really communicated how enormous the landscape feels when you’re actually standing on the edge.
Would I go back?
Without a doubt. There’s so much more to see, and I’d love to experience a different part of the canyon and spend longer exploring it next time.