Should you see the Grand Canyon or the Painted Desert?
I’ve heard people say that if you’re going to the Grand Canyon, you don’t need to waste your time going to the Painted Desert. I disagree. The Painted Desert is beautiful in a much more approachable way to me. This may sound blasphemous, but the Grand Canyon was almost too much to take in. I took a million pictures there, but I don’t know why. In the end, they all look the same and I couldn’t tell you where any of them were taken. It was one incredible view after another.
So I thought I’d give you a sample of each natural wonder here. See if you can tell which are the Grand Canyon and which are the Painted Desert.
They’re all incredible, aren’t they? Only the bottom right is from the Grand Canyon. The rest are from the Painted Desert & Petrified Forest. The one to the left of the Grand Canyon is a huge scattering of petrified wood.
So don’t let anyone tell you to skip these marvelous sights. They are well worth the trip.
What incredible sights might you have missed if you listened to people who said they were a waste of time?
Browsing The Atlas 
That’s so cool! Plenty of sights I might have skipped if I listened to people, but I want to see everything once at least. I like to see things with my own eyes and have my own experience. If a sight is ho-hum after that…oh, well! 🙂
Exactly! We can’t have others choose for us. Sometimes, when someone says something to me like, “It’s overrated or boring,” all I think is: I’d never want to travel with you. 🙂
They’re all incredible images and shows how amazing nature’s colours can be. I always think it’s worth going to the main sight and then the less frequented sites because you get different perspectives. And as you say, often times you find something very special in other places.
I think what appealed to me so much about the Painted Desert is all the variety of rock formations. The colors and shapes varied so much, whereas the Grand Canyon was more and more of the same overwhelming awesomeness from different angles.
I agree. Each one is unique and worth a visit. There is still nothing like the Grand Canyon, however, (in my opinion). Over the years I rafted through it, backpacked into it several times, and wandered the Rim Trail. I’ve even traveled into it by mule and helicopter. I’ve never regretted any of my visits. Still, I’ve never passed up the Painted Desert or the Petrified Forest, either. 🙂 Fun photos! –Curt
Wow! I would have sworn no. 2 was from the grand canyon! I know exactly what you mean about too much awesomeness becoming boring. Thanks for sharing Juliann.
The Painted Desert was so much more varied than the Grand Canyon. Definitely need to see both.
Painted Desert or Mars Rover shots? 🙂 Sounds pretty sweet. I’ll have to check it out.
I didn’t even think about comparing it to Mars. But now I am. 🙂