Great trip. Charlie was an excellent driver and guide managing the trip. Kennard was the outstanding Navajo guide in the canyon. Yes, it was a long day, but I knew that going in and it was sooooo worth it.
This was a memorable tour. Kevin picked us up at the hotel at 6:05 am sharp as planned and we were on our way after a few more pickups. First off, the drive to Flagstaff through Oak Creek canyon is amazing and Kevin explained the significance and history of the area and what we were seeing. The first stop was at the Cameron Trading post with their big art gallery, gift shop and restaurant. Its a nice place but the prices for some items may be little on the higher side. Kevin offered to help with purchases on the way back and gave tips about locating good deals. The next stop was the horse shoe bend. This place is amazing where the Colorado river makers a U-Turn. This involves about 0.75 miles walking. You actually have a short uphill walk and then its a longer downhill walk to the view. This can be a little tiring since it can be hot and you are at an altitude but the views are spectacular, definitely worth the effort. Remember to take plenty of water. The return may be a little more tiring since the walk uphill is longer now.
From here we went to Glen Canyon dam and Kevin brought his telescope to show us Lake Powell and the expensive yachts there. This was an interesting stop with the visitor center showing technical details of the dam. Lunch was served there under a tree before driving to Antelope Canyon.
Kevin usually gets Leonard, the best guide for Antelope Canyon most of the time and Leonard makes the tour that much better. He is not only extremely knowledgeable about the canyon but also about photography and any camera / smart phone. When he wants your camera, just give it to him, hell set the best settings and also shoot a few pictures for you, souvenir you cant buy in a gift shop. Antelope Canyon is spectacular with rays of light coming from different locations, different rock colors and formations and Leonard tells you all the necessary details. At the end, he also played his special flute and spoke for a few minutes about the Navajo culture a complete package. If anyone is on vacation in Northern Arizona, this tour is a must. On the way back we stopped at the Trading post for a break and were back at the hotel around 7. A long but wonderful day.
A few words about Kevin are in order too. Kevin is very knowledgeable on many topics and talks about these while driving to keep the group engaged. He is a professional photographer and showed some of his work during the drive. So, with his experiences and connection with Leonard, see if you can be on a tour with Kevin. Kevin didnt have to bring his telescope and photo albums, etc., but these additional touches significantly enhance the quality of the experience. There were frequent rest stops at at clean rest areas for little stretching and rest.
Kevin was fantastic and this trip seemed much shorter than its actual duration. We enjoyed the endless stream of pertinent information he shared and all of the color he added substance and charm : His relationship with our guide Leonard, at Antelope Canyon opened up another layer of engagement we would not have otherwise experienced. Cameron Trading Post, Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon all lived up to our expectations. I resist calling it once in a lifetime, because we hope to visit these places again.