Grand Canyon News

Now, please don’t sic those guys on “What Not To Wear” on me…. but I trotted out my nice warm flannel shirt this morning.  It was cold out there!  But, it’s been warming up nicely in the afternoons and we’re looking forward to a sunny, slightly brisk Thanksgiving weekend here at the Grand Canyon.

Now, a couple of weeks ago our colleague Sandy J. talked about clarifying what to expect from your Grand Canyon vacation, what you wanted to take away from it in terms of experiences, feelings, etc., and how that might influence where you go, what you do, etc.  And what with the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, and all the accompanying pressures to create a “Norman Rockwell-esque” type of family get-together (and  the fallout from all the attempts that fail), I thought it appropriate to discuss the opposite of what Sandy talked about, in other words, what NOT to expect from your Grand Canyon vacation. 

Now you’re probably saying, “hooooold on a minute, Al, are you implying that I’m going to be disappointed?”  Heavens, no, not at all.  Most people – even those who just take a quick look-see at the Grand Canyon a la Chevy Chase in “National Lampoon’s Vacation” – are moved in some small way.  But a sure-fire recipe for disappointment is to try to accomplish an unattainable goal on your Grand Canyon vacation, which, in my 20 years experience in this business, I’ve seen happen far too often. 

Something I’ve discussed a time or two on this blog is how differently Americans and Europeans view leisure time, particularly vacations.  My pen pals in the U.K. (this was back in the ’70’s, people, cut me some slack here!) talked of “going on holiday” almost as if it were a chore, but a necessary one, kind of like a yearly physical.  The execution of the thing – the planning, the tickets, reservations, etc. - was sometimes a bit of a pain, but they knew in their hearts that they would pay a much higher price for not enduring it.   

I concluded that the difference boils down to this: in Europe, vacations are viewed as a right; in the US, many of us (yours truly included), I’m afraid, tend to view them as a privelege - a luxury, a treat, an indulgence, in other words, something we have to EARN.  We can’t allow ourselves a vacation until the bills are paid up, things at the office settle down, the kids are doing well in school, etc., and in my years at the Grand Canyon and elsewhere, I saw so many people pay a price for that attitude.  Again, been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and sent home the postcard!  

So many of us put off taking vacations for so long, and when we finally do, we’re so frazzled and worn that the vacation itself is given an unspoken, unachievable agenda: heal a broken marriage, unite a dysfunctional family, de-compress a loved one who’s teetering on the brink of overload.  People actually go on vacation thinking that 5 years of burning the midnight oil can all be undone with a week’s relaxation.  I actually remember overhearing a frustrated father, lamenting his kids complete disinterest in his long-awaited Grand Canyon vacation, saying ”this trip was supposed to solve our problems!” 

I’m here to tell you that that rarely happens.  In fact, sometimes, the opposite happens.  Sometimes the isolation, the newness, the lack of distractions will actually push some people over the edge.  I’ve seen it.  Pile on the complications of airport security, lost luggage, long driving distances, activities that are booked, hotels that are sold out (because no one thought to make reservations), or – God forbid – BOREDOM, and the problems your vacation was supposed to solve get bigger, and worse yet, they go home with you. 

That being said, it has been my experience that while going on vacation may not solve a problem outright, sometimes a little peace and quiet (like you’ll still find in many National Parks [despite what some people say]) can help you think more clearly towards finding a solution.  A trip to Rocky Mountain National Park years ago was beneficial to me in that regard…

So am I saying that if you’re stressed out burned out and tuckered out that you shouldn’t bother going on vacation?  No.  A weekend away might be just what the doctor ordered, IF you keep your expectations of your family, and your vacation, realistic.  That applies whether you’re going to the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, the Bahamas, wherever.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen the Grand Canyon change lives, I’ve seen it move people to the very core, I’ve seen it work miracles, usually on those who least expect it.  You run into trouble when you COUNT on it.  If the Grand Canyon has that kind of effect on you, though, that’s wonderful – cherish it! 

Once again, I’ve rambled too long and I appreciate you all for indulging my long-windedness.  We at GrandCanyon.com wish all who celebrate Thanksgiving a happy one.  Wherever you celebrate, be safe out there! 

Alley Kaye

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