Vacation Time: Day 2

The Grand Canyon, near Winslow, Ariz. -Richard Carpenter/Special to the Daily Mail

Editor's note: Nevada Daily Mail columnist Richard Carpenter has embarked on a family vacation -- driving across country, something that may soon become a thing of the past for Americans as the cost of fuel rises. He is sharing his experience in a series of columns. Here's Day 2, along with Day 3.

Now this picture is what I can truly say is the biggest hole in the ground that I have ever seen.

Well that's not quite true. Tomorrow we are going to visit the Grand Canyon which really is the biggest hole anywhere. But for today only, this picture of Meteor Crater in Arizona is something to behold.

My sister's grandson, Nathan took this picture. He and I both took several pictures, and you can see who is the better photographer.

We visited this interesting place on Sunday afternoon.

It is located between Winslow and Flagstaff, Ariz.. It is not a difficult side trip if you are going west on I-40. It is only 5 miles off the main route.

We were all fairly tired by the time we had traveled nearly 500 more miles from our first stop in Vega, Texas. We weren't sure until we got to the turnoff if we would even take time to stop and see the crater.

I can assure you it would have been a mistake for us to have missed this sight, and it would be for you as well if you are traveling along this route.

The picture was taken in mid-to-late afternoon. We were at the top of the crater wall facing south. The monsoon season is in force in this part of Arizona, and you can see the beautiful rain storm in the background.

The crater is more than 500 feet deep. It is just under a mile in diameter straight across. There is a trail that you can take to walk all the way around the top, which is between 2 and 3 miles long. Just to get to the top of the rim where we took this picture, you do have to climb quite a few steps.

There is an elevator for part of the way up to the museum, gift shop, and science exhibit.

The air is so pure here that when you look outward from the top of the rim wall, you can see for many miles in every direction. Again, I advise you to make this location one of your stops if you are ever traveling along I-40 west. It only takes about an hour to make a quick stop and see the famous "Meteor Crater."

It's quite a "hole!"