Grand Canyon National Park (Lonely Planet National Parks Guides) [Paperback]

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK by Yanagihara and Denniston is a 254 page guidebook about Los Vegas, Flagstaff, Sedona, Pariah Canyon, with some information about Grand Canyon. Twenty-two color photos are found on pages 2 to 17, but from pages 18 to 254, there are no color photos. The color photos include: (1) A large photo of a white parrot; (2) A road sign that reads, "The Museum Club Flagstaff, AZ;" (3) A man having fun riding his bicycle on a gentle trail in a forest; (4) A ring of stones that resembles a typical ring of stones around a typical campfire; (5) A locomotive engine; (6) A little house made of stone; and (7) A close-up of a rubber raft. There are also a few color photographs of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon photos are excellent. But as one can see, the author's attempts to encompass everything results in a failure of the book to encompass anything. This fault is also found in the text, as documented below.

LAS VEGAS. Las Vegas is covered on pages 118-128. There is a page or so each on casinos, spas, hotels, and restaurants. For example, we learn about a bar called DOUBLE DOWN SALOON (page 126). This bar serves a drink called, "Ass Juice." We learn about a restaurant called LAVO, described as "the sexiest new Italian restaurant" where you can "dance among reclining Renaissance nudes." As a general proposition, I wonder if the authors of this guidebook realized that travelers interested in GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK are NOT LIKELY TO BE INTERESTED in "ass juice" or in dancing among reclining nudes.

FLAGSTAFF. The chapter on Flagstaff (pages 98-109) describes an arts and crafts museum (Riordan Mansion State Park) and Lowell Observatory, which has tours for the public. We learn about nearby ancient dwellings at Wupatki National Monument, and at Walnut Canyon National Monument, and we learn about Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

SEDONA. Sedona (pages 110-117) is famed for its red-colored stone mountains, which are similar to those found in some of Utah's national parks. The guidebook states that these red stone formations can be found in SLIDE ROCK STATE PARK and RED ROCK STATE PARK. But only four sentences are devoted to these two parks. There are no photos. Most of the chapter on SEDONA is devoted to motels and restaurants. This illustrates a general fault in this particular book, a fault not found in other guidebooks from LONELY PLANET series, or from other vendors of guidebooks (FODOR'S and FROMMER'S). This fault is minimal coverage on the raison d'etre for traveling to a particular place, and too much coverage on ordinary cafes, ordinary motels, and ordinary eateries.

PARIAH CANYON. The book contains material on Pariah Canyon, and associated or nearby VERMILION CLIFFS, COYOTE BUTTES, and a spectacular location known as "THE WAVE" (pages 156-158). But there are no photos. THE WAVE is arguably the most astonishing and beautiful spot in the United States of America. However,from this guidebook, the reader would not have any awareness that anything is spectacular in this particular park. In this reviewer's experience, the best available book that shows photos of THE WAVE, is Stone Canyons of the Colorado Plateau by Jack W. Dykinga. Mr.Dykinga's photographs are of the highest artistic merit, and any person interested in the Grand Canyon, at least for its scenic aspects, might consider visiting nearby Vermilion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes, and The Wave.

NORTH RIM OF GRAND CANYON. The writing on the north rim (pages 129-146) discloses destinations with great scenery, e.g., Toroweap, Cape Royal road, Marble View, North Kaibab, Point Sublime, and Cape Final. These spots can be found on maps on pages 131-133. Also, the reader is treated to a half-page blurb about each of these scenic points, and learn, for example, that the road to POINT SUBLIME can be driven with a 4-wheel drive vehicle, but not with a 2-wheel drive auto, and that hiking on foot is recommended instead.

SOUTH RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON. South rim (pages 52-87) reveals that there are two entrances to Grand Canyon National Park, namely, one near Flagstaff and one near Cameron. Many maps are found in this chapter (pages 54, 56-57, 60-61, 63, 64-65, 68, 69, 71, 74, 75, 77). These maps are good, in that they pinpoint various scenic outlooks, such as, Mohave Point, Yaki Point, Mather Point, Lipan Point, and points along the desert drive (Shoshone Point, Tusayan Ruins), and points along the Bright Angel Trail (Kaibab Bridge, Yavapai Point, Jacob's Ladder). Most of the maps are covered with dark blue ink, and the dark blue ink makes it difficult to see the little lines that indicate trails, and makes it difficult to read the printing. Another problem, is that most of the maps are slightly smaller than a credit card (or ATM) card. The result is that the maps are difficult to read. The overall result is that this guidebook, as a whole, is irritating and unattractive.

TIMELINE. Pages 181-182 contains a time line of events relevant to the Grand Canyon. These events include the arriveal of explorer Garcia Lopez de Cardenas (1540), and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848), where Mexico transferred ownership of Arizona to the United States. Page 180 mentions the movie THELMA AND LOUISE, where two women commit suicide by driving over a cliff and into the Grand Canyon. Page 180 also mentions that this scene was actually filmed in a totally different location in Utah, that is, near Canyonlands National Park. In my opinion, I don't think that many readers want to know that Thelma and Louise did not really drive their automobile into the Grand Canyon. In my opinion, it would have been much more appropriate, more relevant, and more interesting to mention GRAND CANYON SUITE, composed by Ferde Grofe.

CONCLUSION. The text frequently goes off point, and concerns things that have no relevance to GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK. The photographs in the first several pages of this book were poorly chosen, and will fail to inspire or educate the tourist on what to see in GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK. The disclosure of "ass juice" and of dancing among reclining nudes means that the book is not suitable for children. The maps are not adequate. The maps are too small and the blue background makes the maps difficult to read. Better luck with the next edition.

I have long enjoyed and much appreciated the work of Lonely Planet in bringing safely into our hands the knowledge we require to travel to strange places and not feel lost.

Here we find an excellent guide to our greatest national treasure, the Grand Canyon.

Ok, so it's not as great as the much larger canyon in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico.

Still, it's mighty grand.

Makes me want to send it to my mom, who used to ride mules down these slopes with her family in the forties.

See if she is ready to make another trip here, to use her knowledge and expertise.

But things might have changed some.

Better read Lonely Planet first.

Then ask mom.

Great guide.

More detailed descriptions are available elsewhere upon this page; I am very glad and grateful to have this book, and to share it with my mom.

You will too.

All you need to know to get by.

Moms may differ.

If only Lonely Planet would do my favorite vacation spot, Ciudad Juarez!

I could show them around the town!

The Introduction has a superb map of the park. It shows all the roads within and for the surrounding towns. Color photos and description describe the 20 top park experiences. Good list to choose from.

I think the scenic drives and hikes are described in an easy to follow guide. What you will see, the difficulty, travel time, wildlife viewing, and the facilities available help you decide what is in your interest and whether you have the physical stamina.

The campgrounds, RV parks, and hotels are detailed along with the restaurants. You will probably stop in one of the nearby towns either coming or going and they are covered just as thoroughly.

Another group of nice additions is information on the history of the region, Indian tribes, Colorado River expeditions, and backpacking necessities.