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Grand Canyon National Park


-  Page Quick Links:  Gallery  ​|  Second Trip Story  |  Second Trip Gallery  |  Postcard Adventures  -  
Entrance into the Grand Canyon
On January 06, 2015, I visited the Grand Canyon while on my Papa.Bravo.Fourteen road trip. I was very excited to see this amazing place again. It had been many years since my last visit, so it was nice to refresh the images in my memory.

I had only been to the Grand Canyon once before and I was 14 years old at the time. On that trip, I was with a large group of people and it was a very rushed experience. If I remember correctly, we only stayed a few hours.
Plus I was a kid at the time, so all l cared about was candy and G.I. Joe's so I did not appreciate the experience. The scenery and pictures I had in my mind from when I was younger, did not compare to what I saw on this trip.
After parking I took a walking trail, not really knowing where I was going or where it would bring me to. As I walked, I started seeing more and more pieces of the canyon through the trees. Eventually it opened up and I saw my first full view of the Grand Canyon in all its glory! It stopped me in my tracks and I was amazed at what I was seeing. I may have even said a few adult words.

The weather there was beautiful and clear, which made viewing the Grand Canyon that much better. There were no clouds or fog obstructing my view of this massive and mind blowing natural wonder. It was amazing to see what nature had created. 
Viewing point at the Grand Canyon in Arizona
Even though I was there outside of the tourist season, there were still many people visiting the canyon. What impressed me about the crowd that day, is how quiet and respectful everybody was. Everyone seemed eager to help each other out by offering to take pictures for people or maybe it was just a large group of thieves trying to seal cameras and phones. Either way, people were enjoying the experience and capturing their journey on film. 

I was amazed to see people from all over the world visiting the Grand Canyon. I had the opportunity to talk with so many people who I would have never met otherwise. There are many reasons why I enjoy traveling, but meeting new people and hearing their stories is definitely one of my favorite parts.
I stayed on the walking trail next to the canyon. It seemed like every twist and turn of the path lead to new, breath taking views. There are several observation areas along the trail. These areas range in size and can get fairly busy. Most of them branch off and look into different parts of the canyon, but all of them give you remarkable views of the area.

Even though I spent all day there, I only saw a small amount of the Grand Canyon. To truly appreciate the vastness of the canyon and to explore the area, you need several days there.
Selfie at the Grand Canyon
The North Rim and South Rim are the two main parts of the Grand Canyon. Due to the time of year I visited, the South Rim was the only part open. From what I was told, the North Rim has a very short tourist/open season and the South Rim offers the best views and is open all year round. 

I immensely enjoyed my trip to the Grand Canyon. Like I mentioned earlier, there is so much to see and do in this area that on a future visit I would like to dedicate several days for the following activities. 
  • Hike
  • Camp
  • Helicopter ride through the canyon
  • Experience the Sky Walk
  • Raft on the Colorado River 

If you have never visited the Grand Canyon, I would recommend you make at least one trip there. It is a beautiful,  unique place filled with so many adventures. 
  • For more information on the U.S. National Park System and its history, read our article by clicking here: United States National Parks.
  • To learn more about the Grand Canyon, visit the National Park Services website by clicking here: Grand Canyon National Park
Just because this story is finished, does not mean the adventure is. We have additional content down below, along with an interactive comment section at the bottom of the page. Feel free to stay with us a little longer and continue your journey through the Grand Canyon National Park!
Winning at the Grand Canyon
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Gallery

*Papa.Bravo.Fourteen Road Trip, 2014*

Second Trip

On August 10, 2017, Ashlie and I visited the Grand Canyon while on our 10,000 plus mile long West Coast MINI Road Trip. This was the first time Ashlie visited the Grand Canyon and she loved it! 
Scenic shot of the Grand Canyon with Ashlie
However, before this trip she did not know what to expect and figured it was just another "hole in the ground". To be fair, most people I have talked to who have never seen the Grand Canyon in person feel that way. I can understand why that is, because, just like other places, pictures and videos do not do it justice.

It is difficult to capture the size, depth, and feel of the Grand Canyon using a camera. My personal opinion is, to no fault of anyone, this is a destination where pictures can be misleading and cause people to under appreciate the greatness of the area. Most media depicting this area (aside from aerial photography) can not capture the Grand Canyon in its entirety, therefor making it appear smaller than it really is when seen in segments. Having said that, we took a bunch of pictures!

​Side not, if you want to have fun with people there, make it look you are trying to collect an early life insurance payout by kicking your wife into the canyon!
Kicking Ashlie into the Grand Canyon
After telling everyone this picture was just for fun and explaining I would never to this with so many witnesses around, we continued on our journey along the Southern Rim. It was a beautiful day, which allowed for great views and good pictures. Although it was late summer, it was not too terribly hot and surprisingly enough, the park was not too crowded.

We took our time and frequently stopped along the way to appreciate the scenery. It is amazing how time has a way of standing still. Although we spent several hours on the trail, it did not seem like we were there that long, but at the same time, it seemed like we had spent all day there. It is also amazing how the same parts of the canyon viewed from multiple vantage points look so different.
Once we returned back to the car we drove over to the Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower. ​

The walk from the parking area to the watchtower is fulled with breath taking views. Nature never fails to impress, but with the help of a 70 foot tall stone tower, the area is a sight to behold. As we were in the tower, we watched a small thunder storm roll through. All in all, it was a fantastic day and was only made better when we drove to Horseshoe
 Bend and watched the sun set. ​​
Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower
We enjoyed our time there and look forward to future visits. Ashlie has never flown in a helicopter and has expressed interest in her first ride being through the Grand Canyon. Hopefully on the next trip we can do that, along with other activities. 
Together at the Grand Canyon
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Second Trip Gallery

*West Coast Summer Road Trip, 2017*

Pay Day Video

Bourn Adventure Postcards

Not only do we document our travels, but we also sell rad stickers, patches, and other products as a way to help others show off their adventures! Going to the mountains? We have a patch for that! Going camping? We have a sticker for that! Sun beating down on your head? You guessed it; we have a hat for that!

Since we launched our store in 2012, we have shipped products all over the United States and to more than 30
​countries. To see all the places our products are in use,
Our Grand Canyon Bourn Adventure postcard
Click on the picture to see our other postcard adventures!
please click here: BAG Products World Map. We are blessed to have so many people around the globe rocking Bourn Adventure Gear. We wanted a way to personally thank them for their order.

Our solution was to create 
Bourn Adventure postcards. This allowed us the opportunity to give each order a personal touch while continuing to share adventures from all over the world. We breathe new life in our postcards by periodically changing destinations and showcasing new locations. Each postcard series is assigned a number and runs for a limited time. Once that particular postcard is gone, it is done!   

We selected the Grand Canyon to be featured as our BA 2017 postcard series #2 and just like the postcard before it, it was a big hit! Customers have told us of conversations generated by the postcards hanging on their refrigerator or in their office. Hearing that something so simple could spark curiosity and encourage adventure brings a smile to our faces.  

To place an order and get your Bourn Adventure postcard, please visit our retail site: Bourn Adventure Gear

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