Informative/Persuasive Assignment, Essay Example

In the United States “the popularity of the family vacation   rose after the end of the World War II in 1945” (Rugh, 2009) and since then the belief in the family togetherness and strengthening of the family bonds made a family vacation one of the top family priorities all over the country. Nowadays, family vacations are wonderful opportunities for both parents and children not only to get away from the daily routine and on-going chores but also to get to know each other better by means of spending more time together and exploring the surrounding world. In this paper we are going to look at one of the best destination places in the US – the Grand Canyon National Park – and put forward the argument of why this place can be picked as one of the best for the dream family vacation.

The Grand Canyon National Park was created in 1919 and lies between two man-made lakes, Lake Powell upstream and Lake Mead downstream, protecting “all of the Colorado River banks between the lakes and about half of the many side canyons and their surrounding region” (Cone, 1994). Nearly five million people see the 1 mile deep Grand Canyon each year. Most of them see it from their car at overlooks along the South Rim, which is the most accessible part of the park that includes Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest, and Desert View. The North Rim rises a thousand feet higher than the South Rim, and is much less accessible, while the Inner Canyon includes everything below the rim and is seen mainly by hikers, mule riders, or river runners (Plan Your Visit, 2009). Some of the choices that the Grand Canyon National Park offers for the family vacation to consider are an airplane or a helicopter Grand Canyon tour on board of high winged aircraft with large windows that allow great viewing and photographing opportunities, a Luxury Touring Coach, a historic 65 mile train ride to the Grand Canyon aboard a 1923 Pullman car for a first class tour as well as numerous free Range Programs, museum visits and other fascinating sightseeing (Grand Canyon Vacation Packages, 2009).

When considering the Grand Canyon as a family vacation destination, one can name a couple of reasons of why this particular place, regardless of the prospective financial expenses, should be chosen over many others throughout the United States territory. First of all, “seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the World is not something most of us get to do everyday and it will provide lifetime family memories!” (Grand Canyon Vacation Packages, 2009). Just imagine all the children’s excitement and fascination, hundreds of pictures taken as ever-lasting memories in the family album that will always remind of that special moment in the family life when the enormity and natural beauty of the Grand Canyon was a place for family’s unquestioned unity, undoubted joy and admiration. Furthermore, a trip to the Grand Canyon is a wonderful opportunity to combine recreation with historical acknowledgement and personal outlook broadening for both children and adults, because Grand Canyon is truly a unique and special place – it is “one of the most studied geologic landscapes in the world, which offers an excellent record of three of the four eras of geological time” (Nature and Science, 2009). Just if it is not enough, “the park has recorded over 4,800 archeological resources with an intensive survey of nearly 3% of the park area” (History and Culture, 2009), which only adds up to the statement that as a family vacation destination Grand Canyon stands out by means of combining vacation opportunities and exploration of cultural, historical and natural heritages, beneficial for both adults and children.

All in all, it is evident from the above mentioned premises that choosing a trip to the Grand Canyon for the family vacation is a wonderful opportunity to get a one in a lifetime experience that will be kept in the family memories as time when the family bonds and togetherness were emphasized to the greatest point among the beauty and uniqueness of the natural wonder. It is also quiet important to remember that the time spent with the family will always keep the memories of your nearest and dearest with you throughout  the life, especially when those memories are supported with the greatness and nobility of the Grand Canyon.

References

Cone, Patrick. (1994). The Grand Canyon Today. Grand Canyon (pp. 32-47). First Avenue Additions.

“Grand Canyon Vacation Packages”. Retrieved July 4^th, 2009, from http://www.the-best-family-vacation-destinations.com/grandcanyonvacationpackages.html

“History and Culture”. Retrieved July 4^th, 2009, from http://www.nps.gov/grca/historyculture/index.htm

“Nature and Science”. Retrieved July 4^th, 2009, from http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/index.htm

“Plan Your Visit”. Retrieved July 4^th, 2009, from http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/index.htm

Rugh, Susan. (2009). The Rise of the Family Road Trip. Family Vacation (pp. 7-9). Gibbs Smith.