Let’s leave finance aside for one month and talk about some summer fun. I have written in the past about the great American West. I am truly sad to hear how few people have seen our fantastic national parks. Perhaps it is because many of us do not know how to choreograph trips to these far flung paradises. I would therefore like to plan a sample getaway for you.
Many people nowadays have accumulated frequent flyer miles, which allow you to fly for free. My favorite credit card for miles is the Southwest Visa card by Chase. It gives you the greatest flexibility when it comes to booking travel. This past summer, I used some of my miles to take a wonderful vacation to Arizona. This trip is not expensive when done with these free points, and collecting enough miles to pull it off is quite manageable.
Sedona and the Grand Canyon
We left on a Monday morning at 6 a.m. and flew into Phoenix. We rented a car at the airport and grabbed a quick bite at a Phoenix kosher eatery. Since we travel with only the kosher essentials, like meat, we made a quick stop at a supermarket to get groceries and fruits and vegetables.
We then drove two hours to Sedona, a big tourist spot. We had investigated various destinations in advance. There are thousands of reviews as well as photos and YouTube videos that people post from their vacations, so you can decide what you prefer.
In Sedona you are looking at fantastic rock formations that are hundreds of feet tall. The popular way to see them up close is by jeeping. We didn’t have time for that, but it seems to be worth the price. I would book the jeep before you go.
A warning about Sedona: Many tourist information centers are really timeshare selling operations. Let’s talk about that for a moment. I would not attend a timeshare selling event no matter what they were offering me as a prize. I feel that timeshares are a horrible investment and indeed a dangerous proposition. I have seen people who have been stuck owning these things. They cannot get rid of them and are thus forced to pay annual maintenance charges for the rest of their lives. So make sure that you are not dealing with a kind of timeshare deal.
There is a lot to see in Sedona and furthermore it is on the way to your main destination: the Grand Canyon. This was the second time I have been to this awesome place, and it was as great the second time as the first – a truly magnificent spot. The Grand Canyon is very accessible and easy to navigate once you get there. I have constantly been warned to expect unmanageable crowds of people but have never found that to be the case.
When you are at the Grand Canyon, you are on top, looking down at the Colorado River, one mile below. If you want to hike down, you will be walking eight miles, since the path snakes back and forth. Do not assume that you can make it to the bottom, as that is only for the hardy. In addition, you have to go down and back up on different days. Most people just hike down for a while and return right away.
Various hotels and cabins are located within the park, all run by the government, with no competition and no typical hotels. Commercial hotels do exist outside the park boundaries, but I believe you should always stay in a national park; otherwise, you will waste a lot of time traveling back and forth. The Grand Canyon also provides stores and even a supermarket, so you can be quite self sufficient during your visit.
There are many popular vantage points, and a lot to see, as the canyon runs on literally hundreds of miles. A free bus drives along the rim road. We took the bus to a lookout called Hopi Point to watch the sunset, and it was truly magnificent. Hundreds of people were there, from all over the world – all dazzled by the fantastic display. The Grand Canyon is an easy place to fall in love with, so you should spend at least a day-and-a-half at the park to enable yourself to see the sunrise as well. Note that, since you are so high up, it can get quite chilly at night, so plan accordingly.
We also made it to huge Hoover Dam, which is truly a great wonder. It dams the Colorado River, creating Lake Mead. At 112 miles long and 500 feet deep, Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the States in water capacity. Its gorgeous blue color is an amazing contrast with the stark desert surroundings! We also got a bonus: The temperature at the dam hit 128 degrees F. Yes, folks, we got to experience heat that was just six degrees shy of 134, the hottest temperature ever measured on planet earth. That was an experience all right.
Shabbos
When it comes to frum travel, the major question is whether to include Shabbos. We flew home on a Friday morning and, because of the time difference, made it back to the BWI airport by 1 p.m. This plan allowed us to see quite a bit without running into Shabbos complications. (If we had left a day earlier, on Sunday, we would have had even more time.)While you can see a lot in six days, if you do decide to spend Shabbos at your destination, you will have more time away and get to experience Shabbos in a different locale. However, you have to deal with the logistics of lodging, food, and perhaps even a shul.
Other Destinations
Head to Utah for its lineup of amazing parks, such as Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Arches. All three are considered fantastic.
Go to San Francisco, where you can see Chinatown and ride the cable car. Take a side trip to Yosemite Park, with its own grove of giant Sequoia trees. There are redwood trees growing in California that are estimated to be 5,000 years old! Yes, folks, that dates to before Abraham!
Yellowstone and Grand Teton are in Wyoming. Yellowstone was the first national park to be created, and it continues to exhibit mind-boggling wonders of the natural world. To see Old Faithful geyser erupt is fantastic!
Those who do not have free miles are not precluded from enjoying great vacations. You can drive to Great Smokey Mountains Park in Tennessee (537 miles), Acadia Park in Maine (684), or the Mammoth Caves National Park (672) in Kentucky. Kentucky also has great factory tours; you can watch them make bourbon, cars, and baseball bats. (See freefactorytoursusa.com.)
Yes it is a lot of driving, but these places are worth it. Assuming a day-and-a-half for travel, if you leave on Sunday morning (be packed by Friday), you will arrive on Monday, late morning. That gives you half of Monday and all-day Tuesday and Wednesday for touring. You will need to leave on Thursday to make it back by Friday midday. It can be done.
Packing
Pack light! You will need one suitcase for food preparation tools, such as a small barbeque grill or electric burner, a pot, etc. You will also need two ice chests, for meat and milk; you can buy ice everywhere. Dealing with the food is really not bad, and even adds fun to the trip. (Nebech for the non-Jews who have to eat at McDonalds.)
Disneyworld? Really?
How people can spend upwards of 100 bucks per day per person and wait on line all day to see Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck is beyond me! How do they pass up the beautiful sights that are a gift from our Father in Heaven to instead see such nonsense? Dear grandparents, it must be great to take grandchildren on a special trip, and sometimes you choose Disneyland. But please ponder how amazing it would be for grandchildren to receive from you the legacy of combining a vacation with the opportunity to praise our Creator and His wonders.
For $80, you can buy an annual pass to every national park in the country for everyone in your car. Seniors can pay $10 for a lifetime membership! Campsites cost $17 per night; cabins and hotels range in price but are priced below market. Many people book these accommodations a year in advance for fear they will sell out.
So take my advice: With so many beautiful parks in this country, find a book in the library and do your research online. Plan your dream vacation, and may your dream become your reality.
