The Grand Canyon Caverns- an old fashioned tourist destination on Route 66

A lot of people in Arizona have never heard of the Grand Canyon Caverns.
Now, the Calsbad Caverns they are NOT. The GCCaverns are what they call a "dry" cave. So they don't have the huge, impressive stalagtites and stalagmites. But they ARE interesting. An elevator takes you 200+ feet down, and a walking trail through the caverns (small group guided walks) is an interesting way to spend awhile. Highlights (besides the rocks) include a mummified bobcat, and a huge replica of a ground sloth whose bones they found in the cave. Tourists can have their photo taken against a green screen in the caverns headquarters, and then printed with the sloth replica towering up behind them.
Our Tour Guide did a good job of explaining the history of the Caverns- how they were discovered and developed, and why they are named the Grand Canyon Caverns when they are quite a ways fron the Canyon.

Yes, It's all very "touristy". But it's fun.
When I was a little girl my family took an annual summer trip to Arkansas, where my Mom and Dad grew up. Along the way we stopped at all the "tourist traps"- See the thing! (I never did figure out what it was), Stop at the giant arrow, see the mountain lion! (poor thing in a cage) See the rattlesnakes!
The Caverns have that same, unabashed, tourist feel. There are lots of souvenirs to buy, exhibits to look at, it's just a lot of fun.

Take a vacation if you can, even for a day. It makes life seem so much better.