While we live in an RV, we also take many side trips away from “home,” and stay in motels, just like anyone else would do taking a trip from their home. Our method of traveling gives us the best of both worlds! When we visit with the grandchildren, we usually get a motel room with two double beds and let one of them spend the night with us each night. It makes for some pretty fun “slumber parties,” and lets us get to spend one on one time with them. When they come to visit us, we all pack into the RV and have a campfire in the evening. Since we don’t see them often, when we do, we spoil them rotten!
Page, Arizona is a hot place to go in the summer time. However, but husband and I felt we would be cheating ourselves out of some gorgeous scenery if we didn’t go.
Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam was one of our must see places in Page. As a matter of fact, the dam is the reason Page exists. The town was created to house the workers who built the dam on the Colorado River back in the 1950’s. Construction of Glen Canyon Dam began in 1956 and was not completed until 1966. The dam forms Lake Powell, which is a beautiful oasis in the desert.
Carl Hayden Visitor Center
There were lots of interesting exhibits, including a miniature of the dam and surrounding lake area. In addition, there were photographs of the dam construction and videos. The bookstore had a wide range of materials for purchase. We went on the tour of the dam while we were there. We went by elevator to the bottom of the dam with a guide who gave us the history of the construction.
There were plenty of stops along the way to take photos. The tour costs $5 per person. Due to security, we were not allowed to take purses, bags, backpacks, or food of any kind. They did, however, allow us to take our wallets, camera, and clear water bottles.
While we were at the top, we saw what looked like tiny rafts in the water at the base of the dam. They were 22 passenger motorized pontoon rafts that you can take on a half day smooth water float trip on the Colorado River with a tour company such as Canyon Country Online. We didn’t have that in our plans the day we were in Page, but we will be going back to do that this summer.
The float trip starts at the base of Glen Canyon Dam and takes you on a motorized pontoon raft down the river to Lees Ferry, a distance of 15 miles. Your float trip guide will narrate the history of the region while you enjoy the scenic wonder around you. Prices for adults are $81 plus $6 river use fee for each passenger. They have a motor coach or van shuttle to both the departure point of the float trip and back to the tour office from Lee’s Ferry. I can hardly wait to do that!
Antelope Canyon
The second day we were in Page we took a tour of Antelope Canyon. Antelope Canyon is on the Navajo Reservation. From the tour office, we traveled in a 4-wheel drive vehicle with a Navajo tour guide. The guide explained the geology, culture and modern issues of the area on the trip to the canyon. On the day that I went on this tour, there were several tours going on at one time, but each tour guide paced the group they were with so that you were not too crowded in the narrow canyon.
I was very impressed with our young tour guide. He was very knowledgeable of the area, and even took the time to set my digital camera on the proper settings to get good photos. I was so awed by this canyon! It is one of the best places I have ever been. If you have been here in the past, please note that the road to Antelope Canyon has been gated by the Navajo Nation, and you must be accompanied by an authorized tour guide to enter the area. Tour prices start at $35 per person for adults. Call ahead for reservations during the summer months.
There is so much more to see and do in Page, but these were the highlights of our trip.
Article and photos courtesy of Fabgrandma Karen
