Day 28: Tucson

This morning we hopped on the bus at 8:30AM and drove to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The ride was very bumpy as we made our way through the Saguaro National Forest. We later learned that the roads were hilly to disperse water during the monsoon season.

The students took a stroll through the Desert Museum which has about 230 animal species and around 1,200 types of plants. They saw animals such as mountain lions, bobcats, otters, lizards, and tarantulas (eek!). We were very lucky to have such a temperate day and even a slight overcast. Otherwise the desert could have been unbearably hot!  

The crew has a knack for finding snack bars. They found both of the cafes at the museum, where they enjoyed refreshing Icees or ice cream.

Once we returned to the Omni Tucson National Resort, the day was filled with playing tennis, relaxing by the pool, and exercising at the fitness center. This beautiful resort was the perfect place to enjoy outdoor activities and each other's company! 

With a lot of free time in the afternoon, the crew decided to dress up for our group dinner. We dined on the second level of the resort which had a beautiful view of the pool with mountains in the background. It was the perfect spot for pictures too! 

Overall, it was another great night for the Grand Western Tour. Tomorrow we are continuing our journey back east with an overnight stop in El Paso, Texas.

Day 27: Sedona to Tucson

I The long line of Pink Jeeps rolled into the Arabella Hotel parking lot at 7:30AM. The crew divided up and loaded into the jeeps for their ride through the Red Rocks. We drove through town and found ourselves on a four-wheeling road within minutes. From there on it was a bumpy ride over large rocks, through washes, and alongside various desert vegetation as we passed in between the famous red rocks. 

As we drove, our tour guides/drivers educated us on the vegetation we were driving through, talked about various myths of the area, and pointed out famous rock formations. The students even got to see the formation the Disneyland ride Thunder Mountain was designed to look like. Upon returning to the hotel, students had a little bit of time to pack up and load the bus to Tucson. 

The Omni National Golf Resort and Spa welcomed up with a pool party and cookout by the pool. The group enjoyed hotdogs, potatoe salad, baked beans, watermelon, and fresh backed cookies.  Free time in the pool was enjoyed until an Arizona storm blew in and forced us inside. For the remainder of the night students relaxed on patios or inside their rooms. It ended up being just what the doctor ordered for this group after many early mornings during the past week.

 

Day 26: Grand Canyon and Sedona

Day 26 of the Grand Western Tour began bright and early as we left Las Vegas in route to the Grand Canyon. It's hard to believe we will be back in Winston Salem in one weeks time! 

During the morning drive to Arizona, most of the crew caught up on a little sleep. The bus was almost silent! 

As we approached the entrance of the Grand Canyon, it was clear to see that the park was very busy! At the Visitor Center, we took in our first breathtaking view of the Canyon. The crew was mesmerized by its beauty and couldn't get enough pictures! The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and around 1 mile deep. It was created by nearly 2 billion years of erosion from the Colorado River. It's clear to see why it's one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. 

After our first scenic stop, we had a picnic lunch by the canyon's rim. We couldn't have asked for a better view! The crew was blown away by the size of the deli sandwiches. They were enormous! Everyone recieved half of a sandwich, and that was more than enough! 

Our next adventure was at an area called Hermits Rest. The group hiked along a trail to a cliff area that had more spectacular views. They were able to climb a few rocks (safely) or sit and enjoy the scenery. After the hike, there was time to explore a few gift shops or get ice cream! 

After leaving the Grand Canyon we drove to the Arabella Hotel in Sedona. Once there, the group enjoyed Dominos pizza and a pool party. This was a great way to end such an eventful day.