OT- Arizona Vacation

[hollypoast]

Isn't planning a non-Disney vacation hard?!? I think it is!

My family is planning a spring break vacation to Arizona. We are flying into Phoenix then traveling by RV with stops at Mesa Verde, Co., Grand Canyon and Sedona. Anyone ever vacationed at these locations that have any tips (money saving or otherwise) that you'd like to share. TIA

 

[hollypoast]

bump

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Lots of beautiful scenery there. Word of warning, if your path takes you through Moab, UT there is a HUGE gathering there of 4wds during that timeframe for the Easter Jeep Safari. The event has gotten so huge, it's spilled over into a couple extra weeks both before and after the "official" week. Trying to find a place to park an RV anywhere near there could be a challenge.

 

[Sagginit]

I went to AZ for three days a few years ago. from what i can remember....

near the grand canyon we stayed in Williams. i loved it there, being on an old part of route 66 reminded me of Cars. they had a big foodstore where we got lunch for the day we hiked at the grand canyon and for the next day when we were driving up to Vegas. the prices there were great (well to me b/c i live right outside nyc).

we did Sedona for only half a day. we stayed at a motel with gorgeous views and were able to hike a trail nearby. hiking is cheap, you just need to buy a parking pass to park in one of the parking lots for the trails (which you can't do there, so we found one at a gas station). we also visited a church that was built into a hill. there is a sort of main street area with shops and restaurants. we got a restaurtant.com deal to a fantastic mexican place, but honestly the food was decent price so we had to order one or two things more to hit the value.

 

[swilshire]

We spent our Spring break week last year in Sedona, with one day trip to the Grand Canyon and another to the Petrified Forest. We also flew into Phoenix using some Southwest credits that were going to expire to pay for part of the tickets. We spent our first night close to the airport and drove to Sedona the next day. It was a great trip.

Sounds like you have a terrific plan. Enjoy.

Sheila

 

[DawnM]

An RV sounds fun.

We went to Arizona in early December. We flew into Phoenix (my parents live there.)

We went to a Ghost town about an hour out of the city one day.http://www.goldfieldghosttown.com

Then we visited the Heard Museum:
http://www.heard.org

And we went up to the Grand Canyon. It as wonderful because starting Dec. 6, they don't make you take the bus to the various points, you can just drive. My dad came with us and has trouble walking and standing after his hip replacement surgeries, so it was nice to have the car available to get around easily and allow him to sit if he needed to.

Dawn

 

[Alexle2007]

My in-laws live in Phoenix so we visit there often. As you drive up I-17 on your way to Sedona, there is former Indian village that is a quick stop. We then continued up to Sedona did a quick walk-around of the town and then stayed on the side road that parallels 17 and went to Slide Rock. That was a lot of fun for our nieces. There is a meteor site outside of Flagstaff (further East) that was really cool. We spent the night in Flagstaff. And then drove up to the Grand Canyon stopping at some of the look-out points and then saw a 3D movie that look you through the Canyon that was cool and drove home.

 

[lovemygoofy]

We went to Grand Canyon and Vegas last year.

The town right outside Grand Canyon makes Downtown Disney looking a bargain. Tusayan is an expensive little town. Food, gas, and lodging is really double if not sometimes triple the price that you'd be used to.

We stayed in Williams, AZ which is about 45 minutes down the mountain from the Grand Canyon South entrance. It is also a travel money pit but not as bad I guess. Williams looks like Radiator Springs seriously with it being on Route 66 and the old fashion neon up at night.

I would suggest getting gas in Flag Staff or Kingman, AZ depending on what route you drive.

Touring the Grand Canyon was our splurge. I booked us an open air jeep tour that goes the different way of tour busses. There are 6-8 people per jeep. It was a big money splurge but as one on one 3 hour tour and no waiting in any lines was great. http://pinkjeeptours.com/grand-canyon/

If you are going to tour the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and anything else National Park wise, I would buy the Park pass. http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

I actually went on groupon and started looking at deals ahead of time for restaurants and tours for the different stops so no real suggestions from me. We brought our own cases of water, Gatorade and beer.

Bring ALOT of sunscreen. ALOT of sunscreen.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We loved Sedona! It was our kids first non Disney vacation and they still ask to go back. (This summer we'll be visiting N. AZ & S. UT.)
We flew into Vegas, quick walk down the strip & a Cirque show, then drove to Sedona the next day, touring Hoover Dam on the way.
In Sedona I would highly recommend Pink Jeep tours and Tlaquepaque (sp?)

This upcoming trip we'll be staying in Page,AZ to do a Colorado rafting ride and slot canyon tour.
There are CA and west threads also and people can give you a lot more info than the budget board, jmho.

 

[hsmamato2]

we went a few years ago....LOVED it! If you can,try to stay within the borders of any national or state park you visit, the experience is 1000x better.... we drove a car,and stayed in various places- when going thru Sedona,don't miss the Oak Creek canyon area (we drove from PHX up thru there) it is wonderful-frankly I was happy we saw lots of less advertised sights/canyons,etc before we saw the GC..... it made our trip so memorable! There is a California and the west board here on disboards,and tripadvisor is invaluable for great advice. When we left the GC, and drove out thru the nearby town (williams?) I thought how disappointing our visit to GC would have felt if we hadn't been staying right in the park itself, the town looks like anywhere USA, within the park, we rented a motel/cabin room,and walked to the sights,it was so peaceful and lovely! Mesa Verde looks great, but our itinerary took us in the other direction..... That's a future trip for us,along with the Utah canyon areas we missed last time ( we headed to Cali after that)

 

[hollypoast]

We went to Grand Canyon and Vegas last year.

The town right outside Grand Canyon makes Downtown Disney looking a bargain. Tusayan is an expensive little town. Food, gas, and lodging is really double if not sometimes triple the price that you'd be used to.

We stayed in Williams, AZ which is about 45 minutes down the mountain from the Grand Canyon South entrance. It is also a travel money pit but not as bad I guess. Williams looks like Radiator Springs seriously with it being on Route 66 and the old fashion neon up at night.

I would suggest getting gas in Flag Staff or Kingman, AZ depending on what route you drive.

Touring the Grand Canyon was our splurge. I booked us an open air jeep tour that goes the different way of tour busses. There are 6-8 people per jeep. It was a big money splurge but as one on one 3 hour tour and no waiting in any lines was great. http://pinkjeeptours.com/grand-canyon/

If you are going to tour the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and anything else National Park wise, I would buy the Park pass. http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

I actually went on groupon and started looking at deals ahead of time for restaurants and tours for the different stops so no real suggestions from me. We brought our own cases of water, Gatorade and beer.

Bring ALOT of sunscreen. ALOT of sunscreen.

We loved Sedona! It was our kids first non Disney vacation and they still ask to go back. (This summer we'll be visiting N. AZ & S. UT.)
We flew into Vegas, quick walk down the strip & a Cirque show, then drove to Sedona the next day, touring Hoover Dam on the way.
In Sedona I would highly recommend Pink Jeep tours and Tlaquepaque (sp?)

This upcoming trip we'll be staying in Page,AZ to do a Colorado rafting ride and slot canyon tour.
There are CA and west threads also and people can give you a lot more info than the budget board, jmho.

Which Pink Jeep tour did you take?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Which Pink Jeep tour did you take?

IIRC it was called the Broken Arrow tour. When I get home from work I'll dig up some pics. It was phenomenal. Our kids were 11 & 8 then. Now they'll be 17 & 14 on this trip. We'd like to rent ATVs this time since ds17 will have a dl by then.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

It sounds like a great trip to me! I lived in PHX for 4 years-just loved it there. If you have time on the drive up, stop at Jerome. COOL little town - lots of photographic opportunities.

I don't have any money saving tips but I think you will love your trip. It's such a gorgeous area - lots to see. I think you will probably be able to find alot online that will help you outline your trip.

If you are interested in enjoying the BEST Mexican food while you are there, you need to stop at Macayo's (locations all over PHX). The Baja Sauce is TO DIE FOR. If you feel like good burgers, Lenny's is excellent - super yummy fries and fry sauce.

Have fun! Make sure you have lots of fuel $$ and don't forget chargers for your cameras/phones - maybe even extra memory cards for the cameras.

 

[aclov]

We stayed in Scottsdale last month for a week and went for a day to Grand Canyon and Sedona. Both are scenic but not cheap, lots of shopping especially jewelry. Going to Grand Canyon we stopped at Bees Cafe the pancakes are huge and Bedrock City which has Flintstones theme souvenirs. Inside the Grand Canyon there are restaurants and hotels, we ate at The Bright Angel Inn which was more reasonably priced.

 

[hpfan100]

Sounds like a fun adventure...

When is your spring break...in the Phoenix metro area most schools are off in March so crowds can be larger at the local areas. If you are coming late April plan for hot weather in the Phoenix with lovely temps up north.

For budget saving money tips...I would load up on groceries and supplies in the Phoenix area before you start to head up north. The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert were my family day trips as a kid. There used to be a small local "Flinstones" themed area off of 1-40 past Winslow that we would go too. Also, everyone loves to stand on a corner in Winslow to get a photo.

When at the Grand Canyon make sure to head to both rims as the views are stunning and very different. If it's still cold and snowy the pass to the north rim can be closed but the south rim is lovely too. If you like to hike check into hiking into the Canyon.
I've never been Mesa Verde but you will be passing by or through the Navajo nation so be sure to check into getting a jeep tour by one of the residents. There are some of the most spectacular formations and landscapes out there.

You're gonna love this trip. Northern Arizona is an incredible place to visit.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

We are going to Sedona & the Grand Canyon on a family trip this June. Most likely we will be flying in and out of Phoenix. I should have the tickets sorted out in the next couple of weeks. We are staying 6 nights in Sedona at the Arroyo Roble Resort and two nights in the Grand Canyon at El Tovar. Here are a few of the things we are planning:

*Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour
*Red Rock State Park
*Slide Rock State Park
*Blazin' M Cowboy Dinner in Cottonwood
*Verde Valley Loop - (Jerome, Tuzigoot Nat'l Monument, Montezuma Castle Nat'l Monument & Montezuma Well)
*Hualapai River Runners 1 day Colorado River rafting trip (expensive!)
*Flagstaff sites on the way to GC South Rim - (Sunset Crater, Wupatki Loop, Walnut Canyon, Cameron Trading Post, part of Painted Desert)

Hope you all have a great time!!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

omg! I had forgotten all about Slide Rock! That is so beautiful. My kids still talk about going back.
Be sure to bring some ratty old denim shorts and beach shoes or old sneakers. This is not a place for a nice bathing suit but you will love it.