The Grand Canyon

In a perfect world, every American would see the Grand Canyon at least once. It inspires the best of human sensations--awe, joy, humility, wonder, serenity, curiosity with every visit, whether it's your first or fiftieth.

It demands that you step out of your daily existence and acknowledge the unfathomable forces at work that shape our planet, both massive and miniature. Size and scale take on new meanings here, and empty space becomes as significant as solid rock. Watching a winter storm drift in and out of the snow-frosted Canyon walls, making massive rock faces appear and dissappear in seconds, is a truly transcendent experience.

The Grand Canyon is an opera, a roller coaster, safari, space flight, and profound prayer all in one, open to anyone who wants to experience it. Everyone who visits the Canyon shares one strange sensation: the inability to take it all in with your five senses, due to its sheer vastness. But there's a special thrill that comes along with it, simply feeling its presence around you, even though you can only piece it together visually by relative "snapshots" in your mind.

At its deepest point, the Canyon is 6,000 feet from the rim to the Colorado River below, and it's fifteen dizzyingly empty miles from rim to rim at its widest point. It contains seven different life zones, and is home to 1,500 plant, 355 bird, 89 mammalian, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian and 17 fish species.

The South Rim of the Canyon is only about 2 hours by car from Sedona, making it possible to explore the Canyon as a day trip from the Verde Valley, if time is short. If you have more time, consider a Grand Canyon journey with a more historical flavor and take the Grand Canyon Railroad trip out of Flagstaff and stay at a historic hotel on the Rim. If you're more outdoorsy, there are plenty of hiking camping opportunities along the Rim and down below. True thrill seekers can sign up for a rafting trip down the Colorado to get to the heart of the Canyon as realtively few people ever have or will.

However you choose to experience the Grand Canyon, you'll be glad you did. For more information on the Grand Canyon, including transportation, lodging, outdoor activities and more, visit www.grandcanyongateway.com.