Grand Canyon Railway Train and Hotel

                         For our Great Grand Canyon Adventure we chose to stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams and take the train up to the Grand Canyon.               

                                       

The Hotel was very nice and included dinner the night before and breakfast the next morning at the Fred Harvey Dining room.

  Beginning in 1876, Fred Harvey introduced a new standard of service and quality with his “Harvey Houses” along Santa Fe Railroad routes throughout the West, including the world-famous El Tovar Hotel at Grand Canyon’s South Rim.

Fred Harvey was also responsible for bringing young women, whom he called "Harvey Girls", out to the wild west to serve as cooks and waitresses at his many restaurants.

The meals were served buffet style, and were extremely delicious!

The hotel had a really nice pool and hot tub, which we enjoyed immensely!

We were given a coupon for a free photo.  We went to the spot where the camera was located and there was no backdrop, which I thought was terrible.  Being the old lady I am, I had no idea that they would superimpose a backdrop digitally.  The woman told us that as soon as you scanned the QR code, the camera would snap the picture.......so be ready!!!   We got in front of the camera, scanned the code, and I panicked!!  I tried to move so Tag and I would be standing side by side, but when I moved to the right, the photo was moving to the left, etc.    And here is the result:

Before boarding the train in the morning, we were treated to a "Wild West Show".   It was the silliest, hokiest thing I've ever seen.....so of course, it was hilarious!

Then it was time to get on the train!  We chose the Mary Coulter car, with its glass domed ceiling for the best viewing!

We were able to move about the train and sit in a parlor car or visit the dining car.  We loved the domed car because they served  complimentary snacks and drinks!

There was a platform on the back of the train and we were able to go out and stand there as the train was moving.

On the way to the Grand Canyon we were serenaded by a cowboy with a guitar.

We reached the Grand Canyon in about an hour and a half and stayed there for a night. (next blog)

On the return trip we were attacked by bandits!

We had to give up all our worldly possessions......or a dollar if that's all you had.

Luckily, the sheriff was on the train and he caught 'em!

We celebrated with a champagne toast!

Being the tourists we are, we bought the picture the photographer took on the train.