Picture: Rainbow and sunlight from the South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Pop Quiz; What’s the most obvious vacation spot to go to after you’ve already fallen off a cliff once this year. A: The Grand Canyon, of course! That’s right, my psycho brain has determined that my ideal vacation spot that calls out to me should be a place almost entirely filled with super-high deadly cliffs.
Actually, I’m headed off for a week for a first-time adventure to take my kids someplace really special for their summer vacation. It’s because of my fall in February and the resulting hospital stay that wiped out a lot of the funds we would have used so the kids could do daycamp with their friends. Instead, they got stuck staying home with Daddy for a good chunk of the summer. This is my present to them for having had a kind of lack-luster summer.
In addition, this is the first time that it will be just me and the kids going off by ourselves. To make it a true adventure, just like one of my photo trips, all we have is a destination, and a time when we need to be back. We have no reservations for anything, or anywhere. My mind is already racing with “we could go here, we could do this…”. But whatever we do, it will be off-the-cuff and spur of the moment.
The real test will be seeing how well they do when I wake their butts up at 5:00am for sunrise shoots, with granola bars and gatorade for breakfast. No hanging out in the hotel or camper while Daddy goes to take pictures on this trip. Nope; this time they’re coming with me every step of the way.
Wish me luck, both in dealing with the kids, and the cliffs.
So you are not going to try one of those pictures of someone
standing at the edge of a cliff ? This was done on self-timer, and has sold well 🙂 Good luck with the kids ! How old are they ?
Be safe Gary! I hope the kids have a great time.
Have a great trip Gary. If you can handle the kids then the canyon should be a piece of cake.
Gary – great post! It sounds like a lot of fun. Sometimes the best trips are when you allow yourself to be spontaneous.
Have a great time with your kids and don’t get too close to the edge!
Have a great time with your kids. Allow them to experience what dad and his photography is all about. Sending them to camp may be great, but spending time with dad will also make a great summer.
Gary–I have the most fond memories of summer vacation with family. Most summers we would just get in the car and go. With relatives in all four corners of the 48 states, I’ve seen them all that way! Couldn’t give a kid a better trip!
Have fun! Be careful!