Riding the Rails to the Grand Canyon...

Our next stop was Williams, AZ.  We checked in at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park for three days and the very next morning added four more days to our stay!  It is a big, wide-open park, with paved, level sites, full hook ups including cable and WiFi...and they accept Passport America for seven days, so it was quite the bargain.  Since it is located across the street from the Grand Canyon Railway Depot, you do hear a lot of trains...but we loved it.

Williams is a cool, old town right on the Historic Route 66...worth taking a walk around town.  The big draw, of course is the Grand Canyon Railroad which takes you right to the Park.  We debated whether we should take the railroad as it's expensive, but it was highly recommended by a number of other campers so we splurged.

Before boarding the train you are directed to the corral to witness a shoot-out. Anyone can come watch...no ticket needed, just show up at nine.

Kathy with a K

After the shoot-out, you board the train.  These are old refurbished train cars ranging from a Pullman all the way to a luxury car with a glass dome and refreshments.  We opted for a coach car.  It is a comfortable ride to the Grand Canyon and takes about two hours. The scenery along the route is rather boring, but there's plenty to capture your attention inside the train.  A dedicated host for each car will entertain you with history and tips for seeing the Canyon as well as a few party games!  Our host was "Kathy with a K...because that's what everyone calls me around here."  I wish I had as much energy as she displayed.

We were also entertained by two singing, joke-telling cowboys and, on the way back, we experienced a train robbery!  I thoroughly enjoyed it. The cafe car was where the real robbery took place...$17 for a coke, pretzels, peanuts, a danish and some beef jerky!  The jerky was for Jack, I had the danish.

The train robbers on horseback (above) and on the train (below)...and the Sheriff 

We took a bus tour when we got to the Grand Canyon, which allowed us to see more than we would have been able to just wandering by ourselves.  It took us up on the South Rim for some breathtaking vistas.  Benjamin was our guide...he wasn't much more than a kid but he was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. 

After the tour, we had time to wander around the shops. We bought a locally done photo of the Grand Canyon and I resisted the beautiful Native American jewelry! We had lunch at The Arizona Room...on Kathy with a K's recommendation.  She was right...lunch was good and the prices reasonable.

As for the Grand Canyon itself...it's ten miles across, a mile deep and truly awesome.  We took way too many photos...here are a few...I'll let them speak for themselves...

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