Why would you want to holiday at home? We’re into travel… adventure! But with the world economy the way it’s been lately, you might find that your budget just won’t take a big international trip.

In the U.S., the press has even come up with a new word for this… “staycation” instead of vacation.

You still need a break from work, so…. you can find fun and adventure close to home. Plan something a little less ambitious this year and save money to get back out into the world next year.

I don’t know about you, but there really are quite a few fun things to do close to where we live; we just don’t take the time to do them.

At the same time, when we visit friends in other states or countries, we find that they take us to fun and interesting spots, but they say they never go because it’s so close to home. (more…)

A Grand Canyon Mule Trip will make your visit to the canyon truly memorable.  None of this “20 minutes at the rim lookout” for you!  You know that you’re not up to a hike into that wonderland, so you’ve decided to sign up for the mule trip.

You can make this just a day trip part way into the canyon.  The mules will take you on a seven hour ride to Plateau Point on the Bright Angel Trail.  Plateau Point offers a panoramic view of the canyon and the Colorado River.

The mule trips can also be for those who want to head into the canyon for a night or two with a stay at Phantom Ranch.  Phantom Ranch is the only lodging accommodation on the floor of the canyon.

It has dormitory rooms and rustic cabins.  They serve dinner and breakfast to mule trip riders.  The overnight trips generally take riders down the Bright Angel Trail and up the South Kaibab Trail. (more…)

If you’re touring the American West, Bryce Canyon National Park will have to be on your list of places to visit.  Located in south western Utah, it’s a small National Park that is big on scenery… and often wins reviews as a favorite for it’s unique geology.

So what’s unique about it?

Hoodoos.

They’re everywhere you look.  Do you know what hoodoos are?  Wikipedia and the National Park Service describe them this way, “A hoodoo is a tall thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badlands.”

Hard rock on top protects softer stone below from rain and erosion.  What you end up with is pinnacles or spires of rock… but hoodoos come in a variety of shapes and sizes and thicknesses. (more…)

The South Rim is the most developed area and where most of the tourists have traditionally gone.  The South Rim is open all year, though some facilities may be closed in winter.

The North Rim is your second choice.  It has fewer visitors and is closed to visitors in the winter.

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is located at the third point of access to the canyon… Grand Canyon West.  This is quite far from the other entrances.  The land here belongs to the Hualapai Nation Indian Tribe.  When we first saw pictures of the proposed bridge on the internet, we thought it was a hoax, but it is real.  It has been built, and it is operating. (more…)