This Thanksgiving 2023, we decided to ditch the norm and road trip to the Grand Canyon. And before you came to me, our kids were not available this year for our yearly celebration. As most of you know, we are empty-nesters and have a blended family. Seems like getting together over the holidays is becoming more challenging as they move away, work holiday hours, or have to split time with the other parents.
So we packed a few things and headed out in our Tesla. The initial plan was to do a Grand Canyon hike, then go to Scottsdale, and end up in New Mexico. Road trips are invaluable. No delays, no long waits at the airport, or massive holiday crowds. The other benefit is that you can change plans easier.
The first day we stopped in Grand Junction, CO for the night. We did a wine tasting at Carlson Vineyards and then a cozy dinner at a local Irish pub called the Goat and Clover. At the end of the night, we soaked in the hotel’s hot tub under the cool night stars. The next day, we drove to Arizona for most of the day and arrived around dinner time. We decided to stay at the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel to maximize our time there.
Due to the cold, we had to modify our plans to hike the lower level of the Canyon. Nevertheless, we took the South Rim trail and walked 8 miles for five hours. This paved trail extends from the village area to Hermits Rest which is the last stop. We had the option to take a free shuttle that runs every 15 minutes which we did at this last stop.
The panoramic views of the canyon and Colorado River were breathtaking, even from above. I can only imagine how much prettier they are down below. The colorful rock layers give this site a magical insight into the vast canyon below that’s both fascinating, mysterious, and terrifying. We are hoping to return at some point during warm weather to hike the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom.
The next day, we changed plans. It started to snow, so we decided to head to Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico for a couple of days.
During our stay, we visited museums and local shops in Santa Fe. Once again, due to weather conditions, we cut our trip short and left after spending a half day in Toes. The highlights of these stops were The Boxcar, a local sports bar, and Casa Chimayo Restaurant in Santa Fe. The Ally Cantina was great for lunch in Taos.
The ride home was uneventful, but due to the unpredictability of the weather at the Gran Canyon and New Mexico, winter is not the right season to visit if you want to experience the outdoors.