United States
Grand Canyon National Park
October 2021 • There's no disputing the bucketlistiness of this place, nor its machine-like efficiency in herding the masses. The machine was extra busy this fall because of a late-season rush of the pandemic weary, so hotels nearest the park were booked up. Staying in Williams, 50 miles out, seemed like a big miscalculation at first because a round trip to the park meant two hours of driving. But Williams grew on me fast, despite its kitschy Route 66–themed storefronts along the main drag. Karaoke Night at the venerable Canyon Club had a Star Wars cantina vibe that'll inspire me way longer than anything I saw at Mather Point.
