It was to be our family’s first time to see the Grand Canyon, but we only had one day to spend, and we wanted to make the most of it. In our research we found Canyon Ministries Tours. We were so excited, we decided this was the route to go in just a few minutes. We booked an all day South Rim Tour.
We met Nate Loper our tour guide at the visitor center where we found out we were the only group on the tour that day and were upgraded to a personal tour!
We walked right over and there she was–the Grand Canyon. The day we were there there had been fires and it was pretty hazy in the morning. I’m told that happens quite often. It was such a strange thing. The ground all around is flat. From several yards back and through the trees you don’t see anything. Then you walk up to the rim and WOW! This was our first look at the Grand Canyon, except for the squirrel that interrupted us!
I loved having Nate Loper show us the Grand Canyon. He was so great with the kids. Mostly he drove us around and walked with us explaining details of what we were seeing and answering our 1001 questions, but at three different times during our tour there was a teaching time. Isn’t that the greatest way to learn about the Grand Canyon? As your gazing at its beauty?
I love this photo of the family at our first lookout. My boy’s face–so typical that it doesn’t ruin it at all. It’s perfect!
Nate showed us all the great photo spots and told us what to look for and where things were in that great expanse!
Don’t you just want to walk right out there? From our point at the canyon it looked crazy scary, but it’s actually a pretty wide path out there to the end. No. We didn’t do that, not with the kids. 🙂
So about the T-shirt. Isn’t it awesome? I swooned when I saw it and begged him to buy it. In case you wondered. It was probably pretty hard for him to say no, but he does wear it…even when I don’t ask him to. 🙂
It was really hard not to just keep saying, “Wow!” the entire day.
Nate Loper also leads rafting tours with Canyon Ministries down the Colorado River! This always seemed so scary to me, but after having Nate tell us about the days in the canyon and that he’s never lost anyone or flipped a boat (insert smile here), I want to go! Who’ll join me?
Snoopy Rock! One of the kid’s favorite views at the canyon.
Duck Rock is another one of their favorites.
Our day came to an end with more teaching about the Grand Canyon. We loved learning so many facts, explanations of the layers and how they got there, as well as how the Grand Canyon may have been formed from a Christian perspective. It was fascinating! Nate Loper is also the founder of CreationTrip.com and the Genesis Creation Science Institute. We didn’t just have a tour guide, but a geologist and creation science expert teaching us throughout the day. It was truly amazing!
Nate was also happy to take family photos for us and I loved the shots he captured so I’ll add photographer to his list! 🙂
What a wonderful day with the family exploring God’s creation!
Watch the video for a sample of the tour we took with Canyon Ministries and tour guide Nate Loper!
Hey, awesome write up! This was one of my favorite tours of this season. I was just a blessed to have met and spent the day with your great family!
Guess I’ll never make it now. Glad I get to see it through your camera lens! I love those shirts, by the way.