The phrase "Gateway to the Grand Canyon" was trademarked by the
Williams Chamber of Commerce in 1984, and the
city of
Williams, Arizona built an
actual arch style gateway in 2009. This small town
(population 3000) clearly works hard to promote it's location an
hour's drive South of Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim. The town
has a small town charm and is the Southern Terminus for the Grand
Canyon Railway that transports passengers on a 2.5 hour one way
train ride to Grand Canyon Village. It is also the location of
a relatively new
drive though animal park called Bearizona that showcases native
Northern American animals.
What is the best season to visit
Williams?
Williams is a small town with comparatively fewer
hotels and restaurants as
other "gateway" cities
of Flagstaff and
Sedona. However, it will appeal to those who are looking
for a little small town charm, and more "touristy" activities such
as wild west cowboy shows and Route 66 memorabilia. Williams
is located just 20 miles West of Flagstaff and has a similar climate
to it's larger cousin to the East. Spring, Summer and Fall are
the primary visitor seasons for this Northern Arizona location. |