A Grand Christmas!
You’d think that with Tim and my recent avoidance of winter that we wouldn’t go seeking out snow for Christmas. But when it came time to decide where to spend December 25th, we couldn’t imagine a more beautiful place in Arizona then the snow covered Grand Canyon.
After a week of camping along Black Canyon Trail north of Phoenix, we said goodbye to our buddy Rob and drove north towards Flagstaff. The temperature dropped 30 degrees as we drove from 3000 to 7000 feet but the scenery easily made up for the chill.
Christmas at El Tovar
Oh Christmas Tree
Our goal was to find a few couches in front of a fireplace where we could read, relax, and get our Christmas on. El Tovar is perfect. This century old Grand Canyon lodge has it all. With it’s dark log walls, granite fire place, poinsettia filled lobby and 3 story Christmas Tree, El Tovar is a Christmas sanctuary on the Grand Canyon South Rim. Even the elk get in the spirit.
Elk or Elf?
We spent Christmas Eve in Mather Campground. Christmas Story playing in the background as we fixed a feast of homemade crab cakes, sweet potato fries and Tim’s favorite, tomato, basil, mozzarella salad. We ate until we couldn’t move, but were ready for Crab Cake Benedicts on Christmas morning. It was my first venture into homemade hollandaise, but we officially now have a new holiday tradition.
Christmas Eve Crab Cakes
Christmas by the Fire
Christmas morning we checked in to El Tovar, found our fireplace and relaxed. Today we may actually go for a hike, but on Christmas, we were content to take in the view from above and let the season be merry!
Sunrise over the Grand Canyon
Making the Photo