The Grand Canyon Never Grows Old

Though the Grand Canyon National Park tops the list of most popular tourist attractions, it cannot be denied it has a lot of beauty to offer. Breathtaking beauty, in fact.

Down the Canyon you'll see the Colorado River and if you're hardy you may like a hike of one mile down the gorge. Being 275 miles long and between a quarter of a mile to 15 miles wide (average is approximately 10 miles) depending on your starting point.

Because of its massive size, there are two different sides of the Grand Canyon, the more tourist orientated South Rim which is open year around, and the more secluded North Rim which is closed during the winter season.

The South Rim offers more educational value with bus tours around the rim stopping at observation points for photo opportunities, hiking down the trails, rafting along the river, or even taking a flight through the gorge. Wheelchair facilities are also offered as well as shuttle buses when an appointment is made ahead of time.

The commercialism is very slight on the the North Rim wtih beautiful natural sight thrills coming from the light patterns on the Canyon walls as day becomes nighttime.

Accommodation is limited in the Grand Canyon, especially on the North Rim so if you intend to stay overnight in the park to experience both a sunset and a sunrise be sure to make a reservation far in advance of your vacation period.

So there you have both choices of experiencing the Grand Canyon - the North and South Rims. But any way you look at it, the sheer awesome magnitude of the natural phenomenon (maybe the Noah's Flood event really did cause this gorge?!) is enough to turn an atheist into a reluctant believer - maybe.

Boston Attractions - USS Constitution

Do you have some time to kill in Boston? If you do and you are a history buff you are in luck. Boston is home to some great historical destinations. One such place is the USS Constitution Museum. It is a great place to take in a little history and a must see for any serious history fan. Keep reading and learn about what makes this a must see destination.

The USS Constitution Museum was founded in 1972 and opened its doors to the public in 1976. It is located across the pier from the USS Constitution which still floats in the harbor. It contains over 3000 different artifacts which help to explain the rich history of the ship. It stores exhibits that were once on board the ship which has allowed the ship to return to the appearance of an active duty vessel rather than a floating museum. In addition to the artifacts you will also find interactive displays at the USS Constitution Museum such as one about the Barbary War. This display allows you to experience what the war was like for people at the time. Since it was founded the museum has been a popular attraction. Before 1997 it averaged almost 75,000 visitors per year. In 1997 it dropped the entrance fee and it now averages almost 275,000 visitors a year. It continues to expand with cooperation from the National Park Service and will remain a popular attraction for years. If you love history or naval vessels, this place is a must see.

If you would like to visit the museum you can find it in the Charleston Navy yard in Boston. You should call the museum's information line at 617-426-1812 before you go for current hours and to find out about special events that may be happening. Have fun.