Looking down towards Phantom RanchA good portion of the last few days, have been spent on the transit buses, exploring the many venues here at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. On previous visits, we never utilized the free buses, and I can remember some difficulty when we looked for parking spaces, particularly around the El Tovar Hotel. With the 4 different bus routes, virtually all of the points of interests are covered, with very little walking involved.
The new transit bus transfer station at the Visitors CenterYesterday, we boarded a purple route bus, that connects the National Park with the small community of Tusayan, just outside the entrance station. We wanted to visit the National Geographic IMAX Theater in Tusayan, and I wanted to familiarize myself with this route that was started last year. It departs from the Visitors Center, and makes 4 stops in Tusayan, including a stop at the airport. Watching all of the activity at the 3 large helicopter companies, reminded us that taking a chopper over the canyon is on our "To Do" list.
The IMAX presentation about the Grand Canyon on the HUGE screen was well worth the price of admission, especially since that price was zero! When I went to purchase the $12.50 tickets, the lady asked where we lived. I replied that we were living & working in the park for the summer. She asked who we worked for, and after I answered, she stated that our tickets were free. Alrighty then, a free ride to the theater, free admission to the IMAX presentation, and a free ride back into the park. Considering the above, I thought that it might just be a little too over the top, if I asked for a free bag of popcorn.
The IMAX presentation about the Grand Canyon on the HUGE screen was well worth the price of admission, especially since that price was zero! When I went to purchase the $12.50 tickets, the lady asked where we lived. I replied that we were living & working in the park for the summer. She asked who we worked for, and after I answered, she stated that our tickets were free. Alrighty then, a free ride to the theater, free admission to the IMAX presentation, and a free ride back into the park. Considering the above, I thought that it might just be a little too over the top, if I asked for a free bag of popcorn.
The transportation options in, and around the Grand Canyon National Park, are plentiful. Of course you can drive your vehicle to the park, or the daily train pictured above, brings in folks from Williams. We rode the train a few years ago, and not only is it a scenic journey, but it keeps thousands of vehicles out of the park. The third transportation option is the Tusayan Airport that services approx. 40 air taxi's, and commuter airlines. In August of 2009, Air Force One landed in Tusayan, allowing President Obama and his family access to the Grand Canyon. I wonder how much that cost the taxpayers. Oops, I feel my blood pressure going up, I better back away from that subject.We ended the day back at the motor home, catching up on some reading, and planning a drive into Flagstaff this morning.
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