Even though the Northern Arizona skies are just partly cloudy today, it’s beginning to look a lot like 
Christmas! Last week in Page, city work crews were busy putting up decorations on Lake Powell Boulevard. Stopping in at some of the local hotels, you can definitely see who’s ”into the spirit” and who gets a kick out of trying to go the most over the top with their decorations.
Christmas was always a special time to us when we lived at the Grand Canyon. When I worked at the El Tovar in the late ’80’s, the staff would literally ”deck the halls with boughs of holly,” and the lobby would just be swimming in poinsettias, and at the center of it all, a hand-selected Christmas tree. In those days, they’d usually get a really tall tree and put it right in front of the front desk. The top of the tree would stretch all the way up to the top of the mezzanine, which has a cutaway section right in the middle of the room where you can look down on the front lobby (if there’s a proper architectural term for this “hole,” feel free to chime in!).
When I was there the Christmas tree decorations at the El Tovar had a semi-Victorian look, with pale pink glass ornaments and lace bows dominating the theme. Or maybe it was because the “Fergie bow” was all the rage. Of course, all the Grand Canyon hotels, restaurants and shops had Christmas decorations, but in those old buildings, like the El Tovark, Bright Angel, Hopi House, Lookout Studio, Christmas always created such a magical atmosphere, or more accurately, added to the “magicalness” that was already there. Memories of Christmas at the Grand Canyon are amongst those I cherish the most.
Flagstaff and Sedona are also really neat at Christmastime, with the world-famous Red Rock Fantasy at Sedona’s Los Abrigados resort drawing visitors from all over the world. Flagstaff’s Little America Hotel also has a beautiful Holiday Lighting display. Here’s what I love - both of these displays remain in place through New Years! Little America leaves 
theirs up for a few days afterward.
Like everywhere else, Christmas is a crazy time out here, too. It’s one of a few times during the winter when the park can get as busy as the summer months. Hotels sell out, restaurants fill up… in fact, I heard that El Tovar’s Christmas Dinner is already booked up, dang it. You might want to check out the Arizona Steakhouse at Bright Angel, or the Coronado Room at the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn. Flagstaff and Sedona have some great restaurants too.
Lines at the gates can sometimes get a little long, too, but with 2 prepaid lanes, those with a National Park Pass or those who prepay their park entrance fee at the Valle Travel Stop or the IMAX Theatre should be able to get through more quickly.
Now if you’re thinking, ”maybe I’ll take a little trip up there for the holidays” you need to make your hotel reservations ASAP. It’s definitely too late to get rooms on the rim, but Maswik or Yavapai inside the park may have some rooms left – they’re located 1/4 mile and 1 mile from the rim respectively. To check availbility for in-park hotels, visit www.grandcanyonlodges.com or call 888/297-2757. There are 5 hotels in Tusayan (10 minutes away), which are also filling fast. To check availability there, or in Flagstaff, Sedona or Page, visit www.grandcanyon.com/hotels.html
And of course, you’ll want to keep an eye on the weather. So far our winter has been mild, but we’re still waiting for that El Nino to show its face and maybe give us a “white Christmas.” That would indeed be a beautiful Christmas gift. The Grand Canyon is incredible by itself; but the geologic layer cake that is the canyon is exquisite with a little “white frosting.”
Til next time – Happy Travels! 
Alley Kaye
P.S. This weekend if you’ll be anywhere near Prescott, don’t miss the chance to take part in that venerable Christmas tradition, “The Nutcracker.” Ballet Etudes will be performing the Tchaikovsky classic at Yavapai College the 15th and 16th.
Related posts:
- Grand Canyon Weather: SNOW! OK folks,
- Roadwork Advisory for popular Flagstaff to Grand Canyon route Good morn
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