Your best Grand Canyon souvenirs will be your memories but books, photographs, and art works will also make good purchases.
The Grand Canyon is one of the most breathtaking sights in the world, and it’s hard to find good souvenirs which do justice to the real thing. However, there are some good purchases to be made because the Canyon – like other parts of Arizona – has inspired writers and artists over the years. The best paintings and photographs do manage to capture the magnificence of the place, though, and these might inspire you to buy, just as the Canyon inspired the artists.
Grand Canyon Visitor Center
In Grand Canyon Village, the Grand Canyon Visitor Center contains the Books and More store. As the name tells you, this is a bookshop which also sells many other things besides. Here you can find DVDs, CDs, postcards, posters, puzzles, children’s toys, stationery, clothing, and other items which are connected to the Grand Canyon. When looking for postcards, watch out for some of the older postcards which have been reproduced, as they have a great period charm about them.
Photographic Books
You should look for photographic books in particular. The USA has produced some of the finest landscape photographers in the world, and they have turned their camera lenses onto the Grand Canyon and other awe-inspiring places in the United States.
Look for the work of Ansel Adams, the greatest of them all, and especially his book Ansel Adams in the National Parks. This contains some impressive photographs of the Grand Canyon. A young photographer who has been compared to Ansel Adams is Ian Shrive, and his book, The National Parks: Our American Landscape, will surely inspire you to visit some of the other great National Parks.
Williams
Some of the other good shopping options are in Williams, which is where the Grand Canyon Railway stops and where Route 66 also passes through. There are lots of fun Route 66 souvenirs, including books, photos, paintings, t-shirts and other items of clothing.
There is a good selection of items in the Grand Canyon Railway Gift Shop, including books about the railway, t-shirts, teddy bears, train whistles, and even boxer shorts. Also in Williams look out for Quilters Mercantile on Route 66, a store which sells hand-made quilts, batiks, books, and patterns. They have some Arizona and Grand Canyon scenes, for a very unusual gift.
