The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the views of her campus.
This article was written by a student writer from MSU's Her Campus Chapter.
The main purpose of our spring break trip to Arizona was to spend time with my mom. But ultimately visiting the Grand Canyon was a close second. Since we decided relatively late to spend our vacation in Arizona, we didn't have time to plan a long trip. Also, Grand Canyon is 4 hours away from the Phoenix area, so we wanted to minimize car travel time. Taking these factors into consideration, I finally decided to discover and book a train service that would shave two hours off my trip from Williams, Arizona to Canyon.
Since the train left early in the morning, my mom and I decided to drive the 3 hours to Williams the day before and spend the night at a hotel. We decided not to stay in a hotel attached to the railway. Since we arrived early, we had plenty of time to explore the city of Williams. The town is located next to historic Route 66, which is evident in the small town's shopping and decorations. My mom and I browsed through a lot of touristy stores and ate at a 60's themed diner. Downtown was small and walkable. One of the perks of train travel is that passengers can see places they would never otherwise see, and that was exactly the case for Williams.
The Grand Canyon Railway is a privately owned rail service that operates one round trip per day, departing Williams at 9:30 a.m. and leaving the Canyon at 3:30 p.m. The parent company, Xantera Travel Collection, owns a wide variety of hotels and owns many. Be located in or near a national park. The railroad offers multiple ticket options at various price points, and some tickets include amenities such as reclining seats and snacks. Our ticket included both of these, adding an extra level of comfort to the experience. The station staff took our drink orders, but soft drinks and snacks were free and self-service.
Trains also have a theatrical aspect. A fictitious robbery occurs on the way back from the canyon, with musicians wandering around the car. As someone who is interested in public transportation itself, the touristy elements were unnecessary to enjoy the ride. The sights were interesting enough to see, especially as we approached the canyon.
The train ride took a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes, arriving at Grand Canyon Station on the South Rim at 11:45 a.m. This gave my mom and I about 3 and a half hours to explore the canyon. This is the biggest drawback of trains. However, this problem can be easily solved by staying in the canyon overnight and returning by train on another day. My mom and I left immediately to make the most of our short time.
It would be an understatement to say that I was amazed when I approached the canyon and looked out over its edge. My mom and I walked a mile and a half around the edge of the South Rim, and I just stared in awe at the intricate caverns. I took a lot of photos, but I tried to spend less time looking at the scenery through the lens and more time looking at it with my own eyes. My favorite moment was when my mom and I pulled off the trail and approached the edge. It's often a bit scary, but here I got a glimpse of what the canyon really is.
One of the things I didn't expect to realize so much was that the canyon was an experience that brought people together. I saw strangers snatching each other's phones and taking pictures of each other. I saw two people taking a nap on the edge. My mom and I, along with a group of hikers, watched three deer cross the road. This experience brought us together. As my mother stood amazed at a group of teens photographing a girl standing on a cliff, I wondered if this group had any prior connections. All they talked about was whether this was the first or last time. Stunning sights like the Grand Canyon are supposed to build community, even temporary bonds among tourists.
After our walk, we stopped at the Yavapai Geological Museum overlooking the canyon. We then took the shuttle to another area with a gift shop and cafe. The shuttle system was essential for us to get back to the train in time. After an exhausting day, he was finally able to get back on the train with 10 minutes to spare.
The ride back was unsurprisingly not as exciting as the trip to the canyon. My mom and I were exhausted from running around for 4 hours and just wanted to relax. The aforementioned “heist” occurred, but this was an interesting addition. We returned to Williams around 5:45pm and prepared for her upcoming 3 hour drive.
As a sightseeing experience, it was my first time riding a train, so it was very new and exciting. I really enjoyed the snacks and the scenery. Our attendant and everyone on board were kind and helpful. However, it was not very practical as a means of transportation. In fact, the itinerary wasn't much shorter, especially for the price. It's also not very convenient for day trips. Due to schedules, my mom and I had to walk around quickly and might not be able to take in all the beauty as much as possible. Additionally, the touristy nature of the train was also not to my liking.
We think the Grand Canyon Railway experience is perfect for families with young children who live near Williams. If possible, we recommend arriving in town the night before and spending at least one night at the Grand Canyon. That being said, we had a great time on our trip to the Grand Canyon and I'm so glad we had this experience.
