We are leaving tomorrow for a 10 day trip with our 3 kids ages 11, 12, and 8. We have our tenative schedule, 2 nights at GC, 3 nights in Sedona, 2 nights in Page, and 2 nights at the Phoenix airport on either end of the trip. Going to do some hiking at GC as well as a bike tour. Doing the Pink Jeep tour in Sedona, and Antelope Canyon, Glen Dam, and the float trip in Page. Would love to hear from people who have been to these places and hear any suggestions on great hikes, restaurants, tours, etc. Anything budget minded would be great as well.
Anyone been to Sedona, GC South rim and Page, AZ?
- Thread starter katie111
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We just got back from the identical trip a week ago! We ended up having to drop Page, though, because of a last minute delay in our plans. But, I decided (mostly bc of budget) to drop the raft in Page because my youngest was 5, and some reviews made me believe they would get bored after awhile... The reviews were unanimously positive about how beautiful it was, but I think it's 2 hours of the same view. If budget were not a consideration, we would have still done it. Other than that, we were doing Lower Antelope Canyon because it seemed more exciting for the kids. Again, with an expanded budget, we would have done upper and lower.
Are you going to Page first? If so, then our itineraries would be similar. You could drive into the East entrance of the GCNP, and then just stop at all of the outlooks. When you go into the park, they'll give you a map with all of the stops. We probably stopped at about half of them. Definitely hit the Desert View Watchtower and the one with the little museum. So, we took a couple of hours to drive from the East entrance to the South. We stayed at Yavapai Lodge (hope you were able to get a room inside the park!). We checked in and then ate at the market place there. It was pretty crowded over Easter week, we just had no interest in waiting for a table at one of the sit downs. The prices were perhaps a little better than Disney counter service. They also have a pretty decent grocery store if you want to buy things, it wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be. For dinner we ate at the Maswik cafeteria. Lots of variety, and it was decent for the price.
For hikes, we stayed around the south rim. We went down in the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail. We didn't go all the way, though... DH and my middle son were not fans! But my other two and I thought it was great. We also just walked around the rim trail at a few different places, just stunningly pretty. We watched sunset at Yavapai Point. We are from the Deep South, and we were unprepared for how cold it became!
When we left GCNP, we drove through Williams, because we wanted to jump on Route 66 a bit. We stopped there and just walked around a bit, peeked into a few shops, and had lunch at Goldie's diner. The food there was pretty ok, but service was sloooooow, and it wasn't that cheap (but, not expensive, either).
If you aren't interested in that, you could go back to Hwy 89 and stop at Cameron Trading Post for lunch, and Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki (ruins) were very nice stops. We spent about an hour at each walking around.
I don't know where you're staying in Sedona, but I highly recommend driving in through Oak Creek Canyon, it was so pretty!
We decided not to do Pink Jeep Tour because we could rent our own jeep for 24 hours for the price of the Pink Jeep Tour. We drove 4 different trails, including Broken Arrow, and we were able to stop and have picnic lunches in the most beautiful places. It also helped us to see so much more than we could have if we were just hiking all of them.
Devils Bridge was a major highlight. Be prepared for some semi-rock climbing! Chapel of the Cross was very neat, Bell Rock was a fun climb, but you're in full sun. Our absolute favorite was Cathedral Rock! We all climbed pretty high up, then DS 13 and I went almost to the top... It was very strenuous, but so much fun! We also enjoyed some easier hikes... Baldwin trail, for example, led to a stream where the kids played in for hours! Trip advisor has a wonderful forum if you want to ask specific questions about particular trails, and we went on many if you have other questions.
We ate most of our meals in the condo in Sedona, but we did go to Elote, which is so highly recommended on TA. It was good, but I did not think it was worth the hype. And, while it wasn't especially expensive, it was still a pretty pricey meal for a family of 5. I wouldn't do it again.
We would have done Slide Rock, but it wasn't warm enough for us.
Let me know if you have any questions. It was an amazing trip!!
Are you going to Page first? If so, then our itineraries would be similar. You could drive into the East entrance of the GCNP, and then just stop at all of the outlooks. When you go into the park, they'll give you a map with all of the stops. We probably stopped at about half of them. Definitely hit the Desert View Watchtower and the one with the little museum. So, we took a couple of hours to drive from the East entrance to the South. We stayed at Yavapai Lodge (hope you were able to get a room inside the park!). We checked in and then ate at the market place there. It was pretty crowded over Easter week, we just had no interest in waiting for a table at one of the sit downs. The prices were perhaps a little better than Disney counter service. They also have a pretty decent grocery store if you want to buy things, it wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be. For dinner we ate at the Maswik cafeteria. Lots of variety, and it was decent for the price.
For hikes, we stayed around the south rim. We went down in the canyon on the Bright Angel Trail. We didn't go all the way, though... DH and my middle son were not fans! But my other two and I thought it was great. We also just walked around the rim trail at a few different places, just stunningly pretty. We watched sunset at Yavapai Point. We are from the Deep South, and we were unprepared for how cold it became!
When we left GCNP, we drove through Williams, because we wanted to jump on Route 66 a bit. We stopped there and just walked around a bit, peeked into a few shops, and had lunch at Goldie's diner. The food there was pretty ok, but service was sloooooow, and it wasn't that cheap (but, not expensive, either).
If you aren't interested in that, you could go back to Hwy 89 and stop at Cameron Trading Post for lunch, and Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki (ruins) were very nice stops. We spent about an hour at each walking around.
I don't know where you're staying in Sedona, but I highly recommend driving in through Oak Creek Canyon, it was so pretty!
We decided not to do Pink Jeep Tour because we could rent our own jeep for 24 hours for the price of the Pink Jeep Tour. We drove 4 different trails, including Broken Arrow, and we were able to stop and have picnic lunches in the most beautiful places. It also helped us to see so much more than we could have if we were just hiking all of them.
Devils Bridge was a major highlight. Be prepared for some semi-rock climbing! Chapel of the Cross was very neat, Bell Rock was a fun climb, but you're in full sun. Our absolute favorite was Cathedral Rock! We all climbed pretty high up, then DS 13 and I went almost to the top... It was very strenuous, but so much fun! We also enjoyed some easier hikes... Baldwin trail, for example, led to a stream where the kids played in for hours! Trip advisor has a wonderful forum if you want to ask specific questions about particular trails, and we went on many if you have other questions.
We ate most of our meals in the condo in Sedona, but we did go to Elote, which is so highly recommended on TA. It was good, but I did not think it was worth the hype. And, while it wasn't especially expensive, it was still a pretty pricey meal for a family of 5. I wouldn't do it again.
We would have done Slide Rock, but it wasn't warm enough for us.
Let me know if you have any questions. It was an amazing trip!!
Lady Marie
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2014
- Messages
- 899
We spent a week in Sedona last summer. LOVE LOVE LOVED our Pink Jeep tour! Our guide was so informative and took his time explaining everything and taking us on mini trails over to see interesting stuff before heading back to to main route. It wasn't the best "budget" item, but it was well worth it to us!
Did almost this exact trip a few years ago, except we stayed in Flagstaff and drove to Sedona. That was an interesting drive. Not exactly white knuckle, but a lot of twists and turns. I think your itinerary is great. Your kids will love the Pink Jeep tour, and Antelope Canyon is truly amazing. The ride out there is incredibly fun and worth the price on its own. If I had not learned about Antelope Canyon by researching before the trip, we probably would have missed it, because our tour left from a place that looked like a tourist trap.
A few suggestions: in Page, take the walk to overlook Horseshoe Bend. It is quite a different perspective than the one you will get as you traverse it on your float trip. Also, if you are staying inside Grand Canyon, send someone out in the evening of early morning to see if the moose are out on the lawns near the main lodge. I forget the name of the place. We didn't stay there; we stayed in another facility, but I happened to see them one evening because I was walking to my car to retrieve something. Just don't get too close to them!
As far as helping the budget, the only thing I can offer you is that there is a grocery store in Page where we bought prepared foods for some meals. Cheaper than eating out.
Have fun. It is a fabulous trip.
A few suggestions: in Page, take the walk to overlook Horseshoe Bend. It is quite a different perspective than the one you will get as you traverse it on your float trip. Also, if you are staying inside Grand Canyon, send someone out in the evening of early morning to see if the moose are out on the lawns near the main lodge. I forget the name of the place. We didn't stay there; we stayed in another facility, but I happened to see them one evening because I was walking to my car to retrieve something. Just don't get too close to them!
As far as helping the budget, the only thing I can offer you is that there is a grocery store in Page where we bought prepared foods for some meals. Cheaper than eating out.
Have fun. It is a fabulous trip.
We love Sedona. My parents have a timeshare week they bought resale there and I've vacationed there about seven times staying for a full week each time. I've done three day trips to the Grand Canyon south rim too. It takes about three hours to get there from Sedona. // I agree with the recommendations others have posted. // Pink Jeep is really fun, and I think you will enjoy it. I wouldn't be comfortable doing that kind of driving on my own. And they have specially equipped jeeps so they can do things that are pretty entertaining. // I totally get the one poster's saying they just rented their own SUV, as that's way cheaper and fun too, especially if you have a lot of people. // Overall, though, if you are splurging on a tour, I think Pink Jeep is an excellent choice and would be what I would recommend. // Devil's Bridge is an excellent hike for some incredible scenic views. It's a favorite of my family. I cannot do that last part and go our on the bridge, as I have a fear of heights. And my heart starts pounding till my entire family is off the bridge on that last part too. lol // Also, I would not do Devil's Bridge without hiking shoes or boots -- don't do it in tennis shoes. I've done it both ways, and the proper foot ware makes a huge difference. // There are tons of other good hikes too, but nothing really stands out as a must do that we always do. We tend to with the exception of Devil's bridge mix things up a bit. // Going from point A to point B I'm sure you'll hit this, but definitely drive though Oak Creek Canyon -- one of the prettiest drives I've ever been on -- stunning.
For restaurants the dining scene is really very good in Sedona, and there are tons of choices. Places need to be frequented by both locals and tourists to stay in business, so sub par places really don't last. My husband's two must dos are Coffee Pot for breakfast -- their claim to fame is over 100 different omelet offerings and the Cowboy Club or Silver Saddle dining room (same place, but Silver Saddle is a little more formal). For overall general well priced fare, the Golden Goose Café is a favorite and a place we usually hit too. Part of that is that my son is a picky eater and their are offerings that he likes there and a good variety for everyone in the extended family. And a favorite of my extended family is a moderately priced Mexican place, Javelina Cantina. I think of it as a fun Americanized Mexican restaurant with good food, but I'm mentioning it due to the great love my brother, parents, niece, and nephew all have for it, and we like it too.
For restaurants the dining scene is really very good in Sedona, and there are tons of choices. Places need to be frequented by both locals and tourists to stay in business, so sub par places really don't last. My husband's two must dos are Coffee Pot for breakfast -- their claim to fame is over 100 different omelet offerings and the Cowboy Club or Silver Saddle dining room (same place, but Silver Saddle is a little more formal). For overall general well priced fare, the Golden Goose Café is a favorite and a place we usually hit too. Part of that is that my son is a picky eater and their are offerings that he likes there and a good variety for everyone in the extended family. And a favorite of my extended family is a moderately priced Mexican place, Javelina Cantina. I think of it as a fun Americanized Mexican restaurant with good food, but I'm mentioning it due to the great love my brother, parents, niece, and nephew all have for it, and we like it too.
Than you so much for the detailed replies! Trying to pack right now but am really enjoying all these suggestions.
We are also staying at the Yavapai Lodge! We're doing GC, Sedona and then Page as we added Page after we already had our other hotels booked. We are planning on trying to get to Cameron Trading Post, Sunset Crater, and Wupatki. Definitely going to Horseshoe Bend. I have the same concerns about the float trip (kids getting bored) but I just felt like it was a must-do since we will be in the area. Guess they can survive a little (expensive!) boredom. Love all the hiking ideas. I'll have to look into Baldwin Trail, I hadn't heard of that one before. Do we need an SUV for Devil's Bridge? We're renting a minivan so not sure if we're going to be able to do that one. Kids definitely want to do Slide Rock and I have no doubt they'll go in as we're from MA so they are very used to cold water! Also definitely want to do Cathedral Rock and the West fork hike in Oak Creek Canyon.
Thanks for the restaurant suggestions. I also have a very picky eater so these are really helpful. Would love any other info/suggestions anyone has! I'm so excited for tomorrow!!
We are also staying at the Yavapai Lodge! We're doing GC, Sedona and then Page as we added Page after we already had our other hotels booked. We are planning on trying to get to Cameron Trading Post, Sunset Crater, and Wupatki. Definitely going to Horseshoe Bend. I have the same concerns about the float trip (kids getting bored) but I just felt like it was a must-do since we will be in the area. Guess they can survive a little (expensive!) boredom. Love all the hiking ideas. I'll have to look into Baldwin Trail, I hadn't heard of that one before. Do we need an SUV for Devil's Bridge? We're renting a minivan so not sure if we're going to be able to do that one. Kids definitely want to do Slide Rock and I have no doubt they'll go in as we're from MA so they are very used to cold water! Also definitely want to do Cathedral Rock and the West fork hike in Oak Creek Canyon.
Thanks for the restaurant suggestions. I also have a very picky eater so these are really helpful. Would love any other info/suggestions anyone has! I'm so excited for tomorrow!!
Mrs. Ciz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2011
- Messages
- 3,817
We did a similar trip last summer - 6 days in Sedona, 3 day in Grand Canyon South Rim. The best, most fun dinner we had in the Sedona area was the Blazin' M Chuckwagon Dinner in Cottonwood. On my recommendation, my best friend just took her daughters there over Easter Break. They all loved the Blazin' M too, especially the mock calf roping and shooting gallery. My whole family aged 7 to 79 loved the music, the little western town activities, and they thought the food was pretty good too.
I also recommend the Coffee Pot, Javelina Café, the Widflower Bread Company (similar to Panera), Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour, Buddha Beach and cocktails on the porch of El Tovar in GCNP.
I also recommend the Coffee Pot, Javelina Café, the Widflower Bread Company (similar to Panera), Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour, Buddha Beach and cocktails on the porch of El Tovar in GCNP.
No, you d
Also, to clarify on a pp, we had an SUV rental from PHX, but even that would not work on many of these trails. In addition to that which we used all week, we rented a jeep from Barlow for 24 hours, it was specially outfitted for these trails. Driving your rental car/SUV on these trails would void your rental contract. There were some parts of the trails that we saw nothing but the sky, and other parts that I worried we were going to flip right over. I would have never ever in a million years attempted to drive any of them! But, DH is very experienced with off roading and 4WD, so it was a breeze for him. That day was the best of the whole trip for him! So, I agree to go with Pink Jeep if y'all aren't off roaders normally. We got out at many of the same spots as Pink jeep tours, and they all seemed to be having fun. I highly recommend the Broken Arrow trail, it was definitely the best. DH got up early the next day and did it two times more by himself before having to return the jeep!
I think you will like Yavapai lodge! I was worried that it would be worn and dirty, but our room was pretty nice!
Eat a Navajo taco and a sopapillia at Cameron, so good!
No, you don't have to have a high clearance vehicle for Devil's Bridge, you can park in the parking lot and walk the whole trail... We were just able to drive up much further and shave off a good bit of walking time. We love the walking/hiking, but having the jeep that one day just enabled us to do so much more. Also, it is a pretty intense hike towards the end... On all fours at some point! But, we did it in athletic shoes. Would have been better in hiking boots if you have them, I'm sure!
Also, to clarify on a pp, we had an SUV rental from PHX, but even that would not work on many of these trails. In addition to that which we used all week, we rented a jeep from Barlow for 24 hours, it was specially outfitted for these trails. Driving your rental car/SUV on these trails would void your rental contract. There were some parts of the trails that we saw nothing but the sky, and other parts that I worried we were going to flip right over. I would have never ever in a million years attempted to drive any of them! But, DH is very experienced with off roading and 4WD, so it was a breeze for him. That day was the best of the whole trip for him! So, I agree to go with Pink Jeep if y'all aren't off roaders normally. We got out at many of the same spots as Pink jeep tours, and they all seemed to be having fun. I highly recommend the Broken Arrow trail, it was definitely the best. DH got up early the next day and did it two times more by himself before having to return the jeep!
I think you will like Yavapai lodge! I was worried that it would be worn and dirty, but our room was pretty nice!
Eat a Navajo taco and a sopapillia at Cameron, so good!
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