Day 3 on this year's trip is a little different. After leaving Sedona we stopped at Bearizona. It was late morning and we did what was essentially a drive through safari on a bus without windows. We had Bearizona guides on board who pointed out the animals. There were a number of different areas but I think everyone liked the bears the most. After that we had lunch on site (another buffet with barbecued pulled pork and chicken and some salads) and then we had some time to look around an area with walking paths to see more animals.
We then made the same stop in Williams but didn't make the pizza/IMAX stop in Tusayan. The Grand Canyon reveal was the same but it was more complicated with 38 people. It was difficult to find space for all of us at the railing because there were so many other people around.
We stayed at the Thunderbird lodge which is right on the rim. The bedroom area was updated recently and was good sized. The bathroom was quite small. I had more need for heat than air conditioning and that worked fine. I was just as happy staying there as I would have been at the El Tovar since all my free time was spent outside as we were just steps from the rim. Our GC arrival dinner was just upstairs at the Thunderbird and it appears to have been in the same room as Chirples'. There was an outside patio from which to watch the sunset.
We then made the same stop in Williams but didn't make the pizza/IMAX stop in Tusayan. The Grand Canyon reveal was the same but it was more complicated with 38 people. It was difficult to find space for all of us at the railing because there were so many other people around.
We stayed at the Thunderbird lodge which is right on the rim. The bedroom area was updated recently and was good sized. The bathroom was quite small. I had more need for heat than air conditioning and that worked fine. I was just as happy staying there as I would have been at the El Tovar since all my free time was spent outside as we were just steps from the rim. Our GC arrival dinner was just upstairs at the Thunderbird and it appears to have been in the same room as Chirples'. There was an outside patio from which to watch the sunset.