I left Flagstaff at 6:30 this morning for the 90 minute drive to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. I got there a little after 8AM and there were no lines and easy close parking. It was a gorgeous day so I decided to go for a five mile hike on the rim trail. This trail is 14 miles in its entirety, but there wasn’t enough time to do the whole thing on this visit.

I took pictures of course, but even the best photos cannot convey the otherworldly depth and vastness. You have to see this place with your own eyeballs.

After spending about four hours at the canyon, I had some lunch and embarked on the four hour drive to Las Vegas. The route from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas takes you right past the Hoover Dam. I didn’t have time to stop today but it will certainly be on the list for next time. One thing I found amazing on the drive to Vegas was the temperature change. When I left the canyon it was 88 degrees outside. The temperature rose steadily all the way to Vegas, topping out at 121 degrees when I got to the city limits. It definitely felt hot, but no warmer to the skin than 100 degrees feels like in Florida. The lack of moisture in the air makes a big difference.