OUT PICK: Havasu

Spring is officially only days away, but snow is likely to continue to fly in Colorado for weeks to come. So where in the world can you go to get an early dose of spring flowers? As unlikely as it sounds, head to the Grand Canyon.

� Do your research! Ask questions of the experts � the salespeople, local tile installers, owners of travertine tile, and other sources. They can help you make an informed purchase. Knowledge is the best means of achieving the results you want.Although the Grand Canyon is known worldwide for its unsurpassed beauty and magnitude, not many people know that nestled deep in an offshoot of the Grand Canyon is a hidden jewel - an oasis of cascading waterfalls, spring-fed travertine pools, and lush, verdant vegetation. It's called Havasu, but those who have experienced its treasures commonly refer to it as the "Shrangri-la of the Desert."Carol Austin of the Austin-Lehman Adventures family notes that "Havasu in the Grand Canyon is a must for spring flower seekers. From late March to early May, all of the desert flowers are in bloom, and up against the backdrop of red rocks and blue skies, the colors are amazing."A selected travertine tile checklist:Starting at 5,400 feet on Hualapai Hilltop, you'll trek through narrow side canyons, past the 80-foot Navajo Falls and 100-foot Havasu Falls, as you make your way to Havasu base camp, accessible only by foot. Because you lose nearly 2,000 feet in elevation, you can forget the winter jacket and break out the shorts and swimwear. Cool off in the turquoise waters at the base of thundering Havasu Falls, adorned with travertine columns, shelves and skirts. Hike through underwater grottoes and gardens of grapevines, pausing to soak up awe-inspiring views of the 200-foot Mooney Falls.It took thousands of millennia of pounding by summer tempests, of prying by winter cold and of battering by the chocolate-colored torrents of seasonal flash floods to create it. It's been the home of the Havasupai Indians for many centuries; they are known as "the people of the blue-green waters."A travertine tile installation links your interior or exterior with a architectural tradition that goes back thousands of years, as well a linking it to an ongoing tradition likely to last for thousands more!Book a trip with Austin-Lehman Adventures and explore the narrow canyons, thundering waterfalls, turquoise pools, lush spring-fed fern gardens, underwater grottoes and awe-inspiring overlooks of Grand Canyon National Park. Relax your mind, energize your body and awaken the adventurer within.Relax in the mineral-rich waters of a natural whirlpool before feasting on grilled lemon-pepper chicken and wallowing in the quiet comfort of your deluxe base camp. Sleep under the stars or retire to your spacious tent. Wake up beneath towering cottonwood trees to the sound of rushing water and hit the trail as you hike to Navajo, Havasu or Mooney Falls.Embark on one of the most exciting and beautiful hikes in North America, wading across blue streams and through lush meadows of wild grapevines on your way to Beaver Falls, choose the "wet route" for the opportunity to swim to the "green room" (an underwater air pocket accessed by swimming beneath the first tier of the waterfall), or jump off the 18-foot main fall into the frothy pool below.Explore an old galena mine and hunt for fossils in Carbonate Canyon. Send a postcard from the Native American village of Supai, the most remote village in the country, where food, mail and supplies are delivered by packhorse.� Consider where you wish to install your travertine tile; what kind of conditions will it need to be able to withstand? Foot traffic and moisture levels should be the most obvious considerations, as well as any spillage or staining problems that may arise from your young children or pets.

Joy Harper, The Gazette

Author: JOY HARPER