Arizona Advice

[OzCath]

So finally after many months of twisting hubby's arm, he has finally relented and we are off to the US in November. To keep him happy we are thinking of heading to Arizona for some outdoorsy stuff. Have had a look at a few recent trip reports for tips. Thinking of heading to Tuscon then Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and finally Disneyland (yay!). Any hints, tips for Arizona are much appreciated.

 

[Caroline NZ]

So finally after many months of twisting hubby's arm, he has finally relented and we are off to the US in November. To keep him happy we are thinking of heading to Arizona for some outdoorsy stuff. Have had a look at a few recent trip reports for tips. Thinking of heading to Tuscon then Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and finally Disneyland (yay!). Any hints, tips for Arizona are much appreciated.

HI Ozcath. We are doing a road trip for the first time in Sep/Nov. so I will be able to report back after then.
We are going San Diego/Phoenix/Sedona/Grand Canyon/Las Vegas/Sequoia/Yosemite/Monterey/Pismo Beach/LA/Anaheim.
I'm really looking forward to the Sedona/Grand Canyon part. We are going on the Verde Canyon Railroad near Sedona, we have also booked a Broken Arrow Pink Jeep Tour departing from Sedona. For our 2 nights at the GC we are staying at El Tovar on the rim, so really looking forward to that.

Happy planning

 

[Sugarglider]

YAY! LOVE sedona. (sacrilege - loved Sedona more than GC) However - I agree - take the slightly extra drive and go out to the actual national park and stay at El Tovar if you can. Or at least one of the Park Lodges. Dinner at El Tovar is nice too!
DO IT! yay!

my only problem was staying awake at the wheel with long driving on long straight roads.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sedona is one of my favourite places in the US. I'm doing a 3rd trip there in Sept/Oct. Like Caroline, I'm also booked in for the Verde Canyon Train trip. I'm not doing a Jeep Tour this trip but the Pink Jeep tour is very popular.

Some of the things I'm planning on doing in Sedona can be found here. I'm planning on doing the West Fork trail, rated as one of the top 10 walks in the US.

There are heaps of tourist shops in Sedona and buying American Indian artefacts is quite big business in Sedona. We like to look at the silver jewellery here. I'm hoping to eat at one of the Dahl and DiLuca restaurants in Sedona on one of the nights we're there.

Some of the things I'm planning on doing at the Grand Canyon can be found here. We've stayed at Bright Angel Lodge before and if you don't mind less salubrious surroundings, it was fine for what it is.

If you're planning on driving to Anaheim from the Grand Canyon, take some extra time to drive down Route 66. Seligman, Kingman and Oatman would be worth a few minutes of stop time. There is also somewhere along this road where the 1st nation tribe run 4-wheel drive tours to the Colorado River. It depends on how much time you have.

Enjoy the planning. I hope you enjoy this part of Arizona.

 

[OzCath]

Caroline, Sugarglider and PIO thanks so much for your input. The jeep tour looks fantastic, I am sure the kids will love it. Train looks great too. PIO am off to read your links now.

 

[Sugarglider]

thanks - I had a much more interesting time on my jeep tour than I thought I would. the guide was VERY knowledgeable about the geology and the history.
although he did try to pass off that Sedona landscape is the inspiration for BTMR! I was very polite and didn't interrupt. Just come on here and pose with my superior knowledge!

i went to Elote Cafe in sedona as my main treat. HUGE servings, very good quality and interesting mexican. way beyond any mexican food you can get here.

see how excited I am about sedona! Off to look at PIO's links now

 

[Andona]

Hi Ozcath!

I agree with the others about Sedona, it's so pretty and the drive up through the Oak Creek canyon area is lovely.

However, I'd also definitely keep Tucson in your plan - there is HEAPS of interesting and unusual places to see there. There's the Titan Missile Museum, San Xavier del Bac mission, the Pima Air and Space museum and Saguaro National park. You can get a taste of the "Old West" at Tombstone which is not far from Tucson. We visited all of those last year and had a great time , you can see a few of my photos at the end of this post in my TR .

There is also the Old Tucson Movie set/theme park whihch we didn't have time to visit.

At the Grand Canyon we've stayed at Yavapai Lodge - it wasn't fancy but it was comfortable and very handy to the Canyon and all the facilities.

Good luck with your planning

Andona

 

[Sashav2674]

We did the same trip last year! Sedona is wonderful! We did a Pink Jeep tour, highly recommend! When we went to the Grand Canyon we took a train from Williams, it was a wonderful relaxing ride, with a cowboy flare! I could have bypassed Flagstaff! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Currently checking out shopping in Sedona. If you're planning on shopping, it might be worth taking a look at the silver and turquoise jewellery pricing.

http://www.garlandsjewelry.com/

http://turquoisebuffalo.com/


http://www.sedonahandcraftedjewelry.com/




http://www.theshopsathyattpinonpointe.com/Merchants_August_09/Welcome.html


http://www.tlaq.com/


And a very very small factory outlet at Oak Creek.

http://www.factoryoutletstores.info/arizona/outlets-at-sedona-(oak-creek).html

 

[PrincessInOz]

Another site for Grand Canyon and Sedona.

http://www.hitthetrail.com/

 

[OzCath]

Andona, have looked over your trip report again. Hubby loved the photos. I think we will have to make a trip to Tucson. The PIMA space museum is now on the list.

Princess thanks for those links will have a look tonight.