Williams has a lot to thank the railroad for. Its resurgence from ghost town to the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon” harks back to the 1989 re-opening of the Grand Canyon Railway. This thriving heritage railroad, which first opened in 1901 and then closed to passengers in 1968 due to the emergence of the motor vehicle, has been continually transporting tourists to and from the South Rim ever since its second coming.
Despite its locomotive anchor, Williams remains a hub for automotive enthusiasts as a certain highway runs through its heart: Route 66. Drive through on a warm summer’s evening where al fresco dining is backed by live music and that tangy smell of smoked brisket fills the air, while the city’s iconic neon signs are at their most luminous. The youngest of your party may already recognise Williams, as this place even inspired the town of Radiator Springs from the animated movie Cars. Buckle up.
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Take the Grand Canyon Railway
You’ll do well to leave the car in town in favour of a more sustainable, slow roll north towards the Grand Canyon. Not before the 9am Wild West show though: a slapstick sketch beside the railway tracks featuring comical cowboys and their silly quips. On the immersive 130-mile round trip you’ll follow in the footsteps of early Grand Canyon explorers and traverse the lush countryside, where antelope and prairie dogs roam freely, as musicians serenade carriages and Wild West town marshals meet and greet passengers en route. You’ll have around three hours to explore the famous Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim before heading back to your streamliner-style coach for the return leg, where conniving cowboys later stop the train in search of gold. Hide your dollar bills. thetrain.com
The Grand Canyon Railway has been added to the US National Register of Historic Places
(Getty Images)
Spot bears and wolves from your car
Arizona’s vast wildlife spans black bears and bison to bighorn sheep and bobcats – but you’re unlikely to spot them in the wilderness. At Bearizona, a drive-thru wildlife park and zoo, you’re guaranteed to see all of the above and more. Those curious bears can be seen peering through car windows and splashing about in rock pools. Most animals at Bearizona are North American natives – no elephants here – and more than 50 per cent are rescues deemed…
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