I joined a pack of tourists at the Watch Tower on the South Rim, where, for a quarter, I could go up to an observation deck. As I climbed the tower's steps, I heard comments of awe swirling about me. The whole canyon just doesn't seem real. When I turned a corner, my eyes fell on a plaque along the railing. Of course, when I learned of the rattlesnakes and scorpions slithering and crawling down below, I wondered if the romantic notion of sleeping under the stars would be such a good idea anyway.
Visitors have several overnight options.
Reservations are needed for those operated by the national park system. I took the latter option and headed to Williams via the Grand Canyon Railway. Onboard entertainment includes roaming musicians and a heist by bandits. The town also exhibits memorabilia from the 1950s, thanks to its status as a stop along the famous Route 66. Also in town is the Museum of Northern Arizona, which houses an intriguing collection of exhibits on the area's geology, archaeology and American Indian culture.