Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Antelope Canyon

After spending a night in Grand Canyon, we drove about 2.5 hours west toward Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona.  Before this trip, I did not have a proper appreciation for the glorious landscapes that are housed in Southwest, USA.  The mountains, canyons, the structures...the natural landscapes only improved the more we drove.  If only I knew that was a warm-up for the gorgeous views to come.

Pre-Visit

Before our visit, we searched for companies to schedule a tour.  This is the only way you're able to see the canyon.  We found a few tour companies online, but ultimately decided on Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours because their site promised an informative tour that shared the history and geology of the canyon. Perfect.

We booked our tour for five people and received confirmation that we'd be able to pay onsite in cash or with a credit card.  The instructions said to arrive an hour early, so we left Las Vegas in enough time to get there an hour before our 10 a.m. tour.  

As I drove, looking at the beauty of Mother Nature, one of my friends noticed that her phone changed times and skipped ahead an hour.  Apparently, time zones changed in the middle of our trip!  

After slightly freaking out about possibly missing our tour, we called Navajo Tours and let them know what happened and that we were on our way.  They kindly let us know that while Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings, the Navajo Nation does, so we were still on course for an on-time arrival.  Whew!

Checking In

Once we pulled onto the last road on our GPS, we spotted Navajo Tours' signature blue jeeps. We knew we were in the right place.  

Pro-Tip: In order for our entire group to be together, we all had to either pay in cash, or we'd all have to pay on one card.  My friend paid with her credit card and we all reimbursed her. Be prepared either way!

There were about 50 other people there waiting for their 10 a.m. tour to start too.  To pass the time, we used the bathroom, took pictures and talked to other guests.  Once the 10 a.m. hour approached, the tour guide began calling out names for groups of 14 to load into the jeep (Hey, we remember you 'American Dragon' group!)  Everyone lined up accordingly and we each went to our corresponding jeeps.  We rode about 10 minutes through sand dunes to the entrance of the canyon.  

Pro-Tip: No one tells you when signing up for an Antelope Canyon tour that you'd be speed racing in the desert in order to get to the canyon.  Sand EVERYWHERE.  Be sure to wear a scarf of some kind to cover your hair, eyes and face.  And wear clothes that you don't mind getting dusty.  You'll leave the canyon with a thin layer of dust over your entire body.

The Tour

The guided tour consisted of the other people who rode in our jeep.  Charles, our tour guide, gave us little anecdotes about the canyon as the tour progressed.  I won't spoil them for you here, but it was interesting listening to them.  Charles also ensured that our cameras were on the right settings to get the most appealing pictures.

Pro Tip: The 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. tours are best for pictures because of the lighting.

Made of sandstone, Antelope Canyon was formed after water ran through it for hundreds of years and considered a sacred site to the Navajo Nation.  The pictures don't do the canyon's beauty and tranquility justice.

Entrance to Antelope Canyon

There were several other tours being given at the same time, so we had to be mindful of other guests as we toured the canyon.  We toured the Upper Canyon, as this is the easier option.  The Lower Canyon requires you to climb down metal staircases and is a little more labor intensive.  

VERDICT

Overall, the tour lasted about an hour and was well worth the 2.5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon.  I've never seen any natural structures like it.  It is truly a sacred place.  Check out my pictures below.  And believe it or not, they're not filtered!

Pro-Tip: After your visit, head to a Mexican restaurant called El Tapatio.  I had one of the best margaritas I've had in a long time!  And the food was delicious too.  Trust me!

PICture Gallery

Photo Credit: Ashlee Tuck

Recap: Detox to Retox: Yoga + Beer Tasting at Hellbender Brewing Company

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Detox to Retox (D2R): Yoga + Beer Tasting event at Hellbender Brewing Company in Northeast, Washington D.C. Led by the amazing yoga instructor Amy Rizzotto (E-RYT), the monthly series consists of one hour of pretty intense yoga, followed by a free beer tasting at Hellbender Brewing Company. This is a “bring your own mat” event, although there are mats on hand just in case you don’t have one. Tickets are $25 per person and include yoga, a four-beer tasting and 20% off of all beers, merchandise and growlers.

As a novice yogi, I was intimidated to learn that out of more than 20 participants, I was the only person who wasn’t experienced. However, I was able to keep up and worked up a nice little sweat. It’s definitely an alternate workout I will incorporate into my existing regimen. Directly following yoga, we were able to help ourselves to some freebies from Reebok as well as some healthy snacks.

Now on to the good part, the part you really care about…THE BEER! Upon entering the tasting room, there were long wooden picnic style benches with snacks such as pretzels and other treats to accompany the beers as you drink. Another bonus was the large flat screen TVs showing all of the college football games. Yoga, beer, football, and snacks…how can you beat that?!

Left to Right: Coffee Stout, Saison, Red Ale

We were able to taste four beers: three that were pre-selected, and then we could pick our fourth beer from the menu on the wall.

Here is what was on the menu:

Bare Bones Kolsch

A traditional German Kolsch style ale brewed with all American ingredients. Cold conditioning lager temperatures gives it a brilliant, crisp pilsner quality. Slightly bitter with floral and spicy hop aromas and finishes clean and dry. 5% ABV, 21 IBU

Red Line Ale

A full-bodied American red ale that showcases a deep ruby red color and rich toffee aromas. Floral notes with hints of orange and citrus. 6% ABV, 35 IBU.

North x Northeast

This stout is a collaboration with D.C.’s Compass Coffee. It’s a combination of their cardinal blend with Hellbender’s base, dry stout to create this chocolatey, roasty beer reminiscent of a great cup of cold-brewed coffee. 5% ABV, 35 IBU

Southern Torrent Saison

A unique yeast strain gives this Belgian saison a fruity, floral aroma with hints of citrus and pear. Hazy, gold hued, rich body. Finished dry with spicy notes from late noble hop additions. This is a specialty only served during summer months that we were able to try because there some left over.

My favorites are probably a tie between the Bare Bones Kolsch and the Southern Torrent Saison with the Red Line Ale following close behind. While there weren’t any suggestions on which foods/snacks to pair with each beer, I took the liberty to try all of the different salty and sweet things on the table to see which brought out different notes and flavors in each.

I really enjoyed this beer. I am not a coffee or chocolate lover, but I took one for the team (you, the readers) and tried the coffee stout anyway. While it was not horrible, it really tasted like an iced coffee. So if that is your thing, then this is a beer up your alley.

Bare Bones Kolsch

About Hellbender Brewing Company

Hellbender Brewing Company was created out of a true love for the art, culture, history, and science of craft brewing. We have created every recipe as an artistic interpretation of an existing style, and refined it with years of fine tuning and tasting. Lots of tasting. Combined with our use of a cutting edge, mash filter brewing system, our beer is more water efficient and environmentally sustainable than other craft breweries, creating truly one-of-a-kind beer in the Nation’s capital.

I really enjoyed this event and loved the pairing of the seemingly unrelated activities.  The combination made for the perfect afternoon. Hellbender Brewing Company will be celebrating their one year anniversary with a party on Saturday, November 14th. You can purchase tickets here and tell them we sent you.  Cheers!

– Candice Coleman