Grand Canyon / Williams Arizona

Grand Canyon/Williams Arizona 

 We took the Grand Canyon Train from Williams AZ up to the Canyon for my birthday. Before we got on the train itself there was a comical Western skit that prepares you for what the train ride will be like. There are cowboys and a sheriff that stay in character the entire train ride.  They also had live music and on the way back the train “got robbed” by the bandit cowboys. They actually had the cowboys ride along side the train on horse back. The train stops and they board  and “steel” everyone’s money. (Essentially it is their fun way of getting a tip) the kids had great fun “being held up” by these goofy characters.  

It was a rainy and cold day and it began to pour outside the moment it was time for us to get off the train, so we all made our way to the trolley and rode it over to the visitor center.  Once the weather cleared we walked around the rim and snapped a couple pictures before it was time to head back on the train.

That evening we went to dinner in Williams at Pine View Restaurant. Everyone enjoyed the homey atmosphere and the massive and delicious pie we had for my birthday dessert. 

The town of Williams if right off of route 66 and since it was rainy and cold the whole week we stayed in town most of the time.  We walked the rainy streets of Route 66 and went in and out of the shops that touted metal 1950 sighs and southwestern apparel. The kids were happy to swim each day in the indoor pool.

On Friday it began to snow which was concerning to me because Saturday morning I was signed up to do the Grand Canyon Half Marathon. We went back up the the Canyon to pick up my race packet and walk the Bright Angel trail.  This trail descends all the way to the bottom of the canyon. We walked on it for only about 2 miles because it was freezing outside, extremely steep and because watching the kids walk near the sheer cliff made me woozy. 

 The next morning we all got up super early and drove an hour back to the Grand Canyon for my half marathon. It was in the 30s outside and a super high elevation trail run, but the scenery and the joy of running were totally worth the effort.  I was happy to place 56th out of over 1,000 runners whoo-hoo! While I ran the kids and Wes went back into the park and were the only ones on the early morning trolley. They spotted a fox and an elk.

Mid week we drove to Flag Staff to visit Rick Farmers’ Aunt Cindy and Uncle Ken.

It was fun finally meeting them in person, and getting  to know them a little better. They took us to a great BBQ place that was in the heart of down town Flag Staff. We all thought the down town was really cute.