Welcome to the South Rim, aka Disney Land

As I was getting ready to leave the North Rim area of the Grand Canyon, an attendant asked where I was heading next.  I told him I was driving in the direction of the South Rim.  He said, "Oh, you're heading to Disney Land"!  At first I laughed and said yeah, I guess so but as I was driving, I figured out what he meant.  The North Rim is an area without many extras, no ice cream shops, just a couple of places to eat and then you have the campground and lodge.  Without all the frills, you also notice the absence of children.  Yes, there are some but not many.  This is a more natural area and it's surroundings.  "Disney Land", or the South Rim, has many frills.  Shops, restaurants, ice cream shops, shuttle buses, etc.

Driving the 180 miles to the South rim, yes, I could see it from my hike only 8 miles away from the North rim but the roads don't exist between the 2.  You have to travel through the Vermilion Cliffs, or as I figured out, the side walls of the canyon as it spread out in distance from each side.  The cliffs were tremendous and everywhere.  When I finally reached an elevation of about 3,000 feet, I passed over the Colorado River that runs through the  Grand Canyon. 

After the river, you are mainly in the Navajo Indian reservation.  It's mostly barren with some tattered shops thrown in along the road with the Navajo were selling their crafts.  I had driven from over an hour and finally saw a sign for a McDonald's.  Now I was looking for a bathroom, the closer I got to the sign, I finally saw that it was advertising for a store another hour down the road.  I could only think of all the locals whom lived around there and had to see that sign everyday and not even have one close by.  lol
After I stopped to fill up the tank, the prices weren't as bad as other places due to the Navajo not having any taxes on fuel,

Colorado River

I entered the Eastern side of the park to the South Rim.  The park ranger at the entrance gate asked where I was headed and I told him I was in search of a camping spot for the night.  He politely told me there was one that had about 15 empty spots still not far away.  I had actually planned to drive through the park to the other side to find a spot in the National forest but this was a treat, at at $12/night, was a bargain.
I ended up in the campground next to the Desert View Watch Tower.  I had never heard of it but glad I made the 3/4 mile hike to find it.  It's views were extraordinary. 

A woman named Mary Colter designed the tower.  She hand picked every stone's placement and each and every mural inside.  It was amazing to go inside and climb the tower for it's views.  I however enjoyed more the views I made of the tower with the canyon in the background.  Next up, Hermits Rest...