I will be visiting my mom in Glendale, AZ this month for a week and the two things she has talked about doing give me anxiety just thinking about them. She wants me to see the Grand Canyon and she wants to take me to some Caverns. I am FREAKED out about seeing a huge cliff like the Grand Canyon and if i'm not mistaken, I think when you walk through the caverns you are up high in places that go straight down.
Is there a way to experience this without looking over cliffs or walking near cliffs?
Anyone else have these issues?
2007-03-21 11:23:11 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Phoenix
I too am afraid of heights but spent a wonderful weekend at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. You don't have to go out on the more frightening edges to really enjoy this magnificent natural beauty. Don't let your fear of heights stop you from experiencing nature at it's best. I suggest though that you stay off of the new Sky Walk. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl!
2007-03-23 03:14:52 · answer #1 · answered by silver2sea 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to go up to the edge to see and enjoy the Grand Canyon - it is big enough that even if you are standing 10 feet back from the rim, you can still get a pretty good view. In fact, at most of the popular overlooks, the railings are set a little ways back from the edge.
Furthermore, as the poster above mention, there are only a few overlooks with places that have a straight drop down from the edge. In most cases, the area right below the overlook will have a series of little ledges and steep, but scrub-covered, slopes before you get to a true cliff. So what you see if you look straight down past your feet at the railing is really not that scary looking.
A few places that I would recommend where you can get a good view without feeling exposed and right on the edge:
Desert View Watchtower - on the eastern edge of the park. You can go out on the roof of the gift shop which has good views of the canyon, but is set back a bit from the edge (the roof has a good waist-high wall around it too).
Yavapai Observation Station - A little historic stone overlook at Yavapai Point. The Observation Station IS built right on the edge, but the viewing room - with nice big picture windows - is completely enclosed.
Lookout Studio (near Bright Angel Lodge) - The building is near the edge, but it has a series of shelf-like viewing balconies cut into the rock on the back. If you are on the first balcony, you get good views, but still have the other balconies sticking out below you for reassurance. All of the balconies have very high railings too.
I am not a big fan of heights and the Grand Canyon is one of my favorite places in the world. Go ahead and go - it will not be as scary as you think.
All of the above places are at the National Park north of Flagstaff and Williams. There is also the newly opened glass 'sky bridge' on the Hualapai Reservation to the west, but this is not as interesting a stretch of canyon as the park and I would not recommend it over the park (it is also going to be much worse if you have a fear of heights). The reason that I ask, is that the Sky Bridge is the area of Grand Canyon Caverns.
As for the caverns... which cavern are you going to? As mentioned, the nearest major cavern to Grand Canyon is the Grand Canyon Caverns, but it is quite a ways from the National Park - it is to the west along old Route 66. The cavern is essentially one very big long room. I don't remember any significant drop-offs.
The other two famous caverns in Arizona are the colorful Karchner Carverns and the old Collossal Cave - both in southern Arizona near Benson. I don't remember any straight drop-offs or chasms right by the paths, although both do have some stretches of uneven ground and steep slopes - but in all such places there are high railings and it is not really scary at all.
2007-03-21 14:17:34 · answer #2 · answered by sascoaz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off, if you are afraid of heights, DO NOT GET INTO A HELICOPTER!!! I use to work for one of the companies at Grand Canyon and I don't recommend it for you, anyone else yes it's GREAT!!!!! As for at the rim, almost everywhere has a railing. It's not like going to the edge of tall building and looking straight down. It is a drop off but it kind angles into it. In fact there are points where you could climb over the railing and still be on solid ground, though I don't recommend this in any way, shape, or form.
I have never been to the caverns, but I hear they are awesome. Find out which ones she wants to take you too and look up the web site and look at the pictures. If there aren't enough for you to make up your mind, call them and tell them what your concern is and see what they say.
2007-03-21 14:01:52 · answer #3 · answered by zaleonia1 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The grand Canyon is amazing....I too have a fear of heights and was fine, just dont try going down into the canyon...the narrow paths along some edges will definitely freak you...you can see amazing things just by sticking to the rim which all has guard rails....
As for the caverns....I have never been but some friends have....they are supposidly pretty cool...you basically go into these series of caves and caverns underground and there are lost of cool formations in the rocks.....I would assume its pretty safe as it is a tourist attraction....just dont go off the beaten path...good luck
2007-03-21 11:39:52 · answer #4 · answered by Na Pomoč 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try going on a helicopter tour instead. I've been there twice and I could see how it would freak you out...but it so amazing. Try to go before the sun comes up in the morning.. and when the sun rises the rocks are all different amazing colors. If you have the fortune of being there at night the sky is just amazing. You will be astonished by the stars.... These tours are pretty safe so try to figure out why you're getting freaked out and maybe you can overcome it enough to view this awesome place...good luck!
2007-03-21 11:39:59 · answer #5 · answered by aroundtheom 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well definitely stay off of the skywalk that was just unveiled! :) Seriously though, if you are afraid of heights, just look from one of the viewpoints above and if you are not comfortable wtih that, just get back in the car and don't bother with the canyon. It is something I think is so worth seeing though, so honestly I would try to work through the fear and try to see some of it.
2007-03-22 15:19:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just Calm down it isn't scary just tell yourself you can do it........
2007-03-21 11:26:12 · answer #7 · answered by Jacob 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋