Travel Realizations

Celebrating Experiences

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon – Journal of a journey!

It is hard to wrap my journey from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon in just one sentence. My first visit from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West was a few years back on a tour bus. My second trip which I took recently from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim was by car. Two different journeys and different experiences. Today I will reflect on my recent journey during which I stopped at several points along the way, some known and some unknown and in turn experienced this trip uniquely.

It is hard to wrap my journey from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon in just one sentence. #Travel #Wanderlust Click To Tweet

 

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon – the feeling!

Las Vegas the man-made city has its charm no doubt. But when I started for Grand Canyon, one of the most iconic places in Arizona, I was all set to let the grand new vistas, new horizons, and magical landscapes yank me into some unexplored part of my consciousness.

 

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim – first stop!

My first stop was Lake Mead National Recreation Area, America’s first national recreation area. After parking the car, the bright blue water greeted my eyes and the soft breeze welcomed me. The view of rocky canyons afar and the blue water of Lake Mead was beautiful.

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, Lake Mead national recreational area
A signature shot! After moving to the USA, the very first thing I endeavored to learn is the meaning of the symbol of the National park logo.
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, lake mead
Red, brown and blue – a beautiful and unique array of colors.

I read all the information boards about the lake, the Hoover Dam and the surrounding area, framed some shots and some remained unframed and uncaptured. To save me from the indiscriminate flood of total recall, I prefer keeping some lacunae which in turn inspire me to exercise imagination.

I prefer keeping some lacunae which in turn inspire me to exercise imagination. #Travel #Wanderlust Click To Tweet
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon -journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, lake mead, chirasree
 

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon – the roads!

Layers of rocky mountains remained constant in our vicinity. It was interesting to note the various shades of color in the rocks. Although I was inside the car and the AC inside was at its maximum, I felt an eerie feeling. Amidst the vast landscape, cars were crisscrossing and sometimes trucks. I had to put some effort to look for another human being and that too confined inside a car. At traffic signals, I saw a few people driving the car but most of them were checking their mobile phones instead of fellow humans. Although I know this is a commonplace truth of human existence nowadays, still I felt uncomfortable. Was it due to the large rocky mountains and the desert? I know not.

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, roads
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, roads

 

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon – wildflowers amidst desert!

I pressed on the switch beside the window inside the car and let the glass down. The sun was glowing bright and the temperature was hot. When did the afternoon slip in I didn’t notice, but when I saw the beautiful flowers amidst the cactus-filled desert, I stopped the car. I stepped out of my car and could feel the air on my face. The wind was dry. Very dry. In the desert, the afternoons are different! It’s harsh.

While standing amidst the desert and seeing the blooming wildflowers in front, a thought struck and then a realization revitalized me. Flowers can beautify even a vast barren land by just blooming, by just spreading their sweet fragrance. Ephemeral but divine.

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon -journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, desert, wildflowers
Flowers add color even to harsh deserts!

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, arizona, desert, wildflowers

 

Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things towards you ~ Maharshi Mahesh Yogi

 

 

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon via Route 66 –
one of the most famous roads in the United States

Before taking the I-40, we took a detour and drove on Route 66 from Kingman to Seligman to taste a classic American experience.

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, colorado river

The beautiful Colorado River flowing silently!

 

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, route 66

The historic Route 66!

Travel Tips: Explore the ghost towns on Route 66

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - journal of a journey, Travel Realizations, las vegas to grand canyon south rim, route 66

At Seligman on Route 66!

 

 

Travel Realizations

Being constrained by time, we could not visit Hoover Dam and the free Hoover Dam Museum but if you have time, consider visiting them. This journey from Las Vegas, the man-made heaven to Grand Canyon, nature’s grandeur, gifted me some beautiful moments among wildflowers in the desert. Sequences and consequences in life are omnipresent. The extras that we can add to our lives are some beautiful and unexpected moments. It doesn’t take much. Seeing things out of our list of must-see places and feeling perhaps are the ingredients to enjoy such moments and make the journal of one’s journey unique and beautiful.

Until next post, Adieu!

 

Similar articles from Travel Realizations

Get my latest articles in your inbox and join 10,000+ other subscribers!

If you enjoyed reading this article, spread the love!

Pin It!

Chirasree Banerjee

Hello. My name is Chirasree. I have been traveling for almost 11 years to places all over the world. I enter into a separate reality during my travels and enjoy the allure of escape from the mundane. I seek beauty through nature and human-made creations. Because beauty is powerful. I seek knowledge. I observe, absorb, and write about the places I visit and the profound realizations and inspirations that each place has to offer.

Previous

Upgrade your travel with Upgraded Points!

Next

Rendezvous with Redwood trees in the Redwood National Park, California – The tallest trees on earth!

3 Comments

  1. Lovely photos and it’s truly amazing how much life there really is in the desert.
    I haven’t been to Las Vegas. Would love to go one day, but I would much rather see nature than man made structures. I have been within a few miles of the Grand Canyon, flying from Chicago to Orange County. One day, before I get too old, it would be lovely to go down into the canyon and do a trek.

  2. It looks like you had a great time exploring and appreciating the environment. You made the most of the iconic route 66 and I’m loving your pictures! Very good.

  3. All incredible pictures! Although I have lived in the US my whole life I have never visited the Grand Canyon, and this post just made me want to get there even more. Between the two routes you have taken which do you recommend?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Loading Facebook Comments ...

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén. Read our Privacy Policy and Affiliate Disclosure Policy.

Subscribe to Travel Realizations

Enter your email and be the first to get notified when I post an article.

Subscribe!