We went up to the Grand Canyon yesterday, reducing our bucket lists by one. It was a beautiful day, a great adventure and an incredible place. But it deserves its own post, which will take a little time to assemble. So I will devote this post entirely to Williams.
We chose to stay at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park which, as the name implies, is adjacent to the depot for the train that would take us to the Grand Canyon. It was convenient, but it was also a very nice RV park. Another attraction: it had a kennel. We ended up not using the kennel, opting instead to let the dogs lounge in Patience for 9 hours while we traveled to the Grand Canyon, but the fact that a kennel was available was one of the reasons we chose the place.
Patience at the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park
Grand Canyon Railway RV Park, with tracks to the left
Good things about the campground? Clean, well-designed, well-maintained, nice dog walk, nice sheltered common area with picnic tables and an “eternal flame” fire pit. Not-so-good things about the campground? No pool (not that it mattered with the chilly weather), the playground was across a road, the laundry was small and expensive and the railroad tracks were active during the night – there is a regular 5am freight train (think My Cousin Vinny).
Common area
Dog walk
And cold. That isn’t the campground’s fault, but it made the stay memorable. Especially the first night when we ran out of propane (well, not exactly out) and I had to step outside at 5am in 25-degree temperatures to switch the tanks. This was the first campground on the GTW where we woke up to frost.
The other reason for choosing a campground in Williams was Williams itself. Its main street is a fragment of old US 66 and is dripping with all the nostalgia that “Route 66” conjures up for Baby Boomers. It has done a pretty good job of maintaining the spirit of the time, though not so well as Hot Springs. Much of Route 66 in AZ no longer exists, having been replaced by I-40. Williams seems to take some pride in being one of the last towns to be on the old Route 66.
Williams declaration of pride
Old Route 66
The town is expensive. I am speaking mostly of diesel fuel ($4.49 per gallon) and food ($12 for a burger, $18 for a continental breakfast for us); I can’t speak to the pricing of the motels that line the main street (which is the old Route 66) – more than a dozen of them, most of which look like they should rent by the hour. We did enjoy the (expensive) food we consumed at Cruiser’s Cafe 66 which is a quality restaurant and a souvenir shop that sells shlock, but very interesting and high-quality shlock. We also enjoyed the animated, joke-telling bear across the street. Typical line: “Sorry about your wife. I didn’t realize that her beehive didn’t have any honey.”
Cruiser’s Cafe 66
Animated bear
Williams is a small town. We ran into the campground clerk at the Safeway and the cafe waitress at the laundry. If you live here, don’t do anything embarrassing because everyone will know about it.
The architecture is interesting, some authentic native american shops exist (and I encountered a Navajo at the gas station), and there are little scenes all around that catch your eye. An interesting place, but very small. A half-day visit is recommended.
Williams bank
Vintage Bronco