Talk to Me About Arizona.

[siouxi31]

You have some great suggestions already! October begins our peak season which lasts until April.
Do fit in Sedona. It's other-worldly just as the Grand Canyon is--your eyes can't believe what you're seeing while you're looking at it. If you drive to or from Flagstaff to or from Sedona, take Rt 89A--it's breathtaking. If you like visiting wineries, one of my favorites here in AZ is DA Ranch in Cottonwood--an easy visit from Sedona. Check their website, https://daranch.com/, they often have live music which makes for a very enjoyable visit sitting in chairs under the Willow trees aside the pond. It's really lovely. There is a winery tour on the river that floats through Cottonwood though I've never done it. In October, the water should still be warm.
My honest opinion on the area just outside of the South Rim of Grand Canyon is "meh". But, hey, it's a hotel. We're Marriott folks so we've stayed at the Courtyard in Flagstaff when visiting GC.

 

[fly girl]

I grew up in AZ! I miss it. October is a beautiful time to visit.

Grand Canyon South Rim, 2 days is good.

Phoenix: my suggestion would be South Scottsdale. That is my old stomping ground, and the area of Old Town and Fashion Square is vibrant day and night. I highly suggest visiting the Desert Botanical Garden too, only 10 minutes from Old Town.

Tombstone, I enjoy it but not worth the drive if you aren't venturing to Tucson. If you are going to Tuscon, then a day excursion to Tombstone and Bisbee would be my suggestion.

Looks like the majority of your time will be up in Northern Arizona, I would say at least 4 days with mentioning the two places that are your musts. It would be a LOT of driving to hit Tucson. You may want to consider time at Flagstaff, Monument Valley, Petrified Forest, and Sedona to stay up north.

 

[Imzadi]

If you drive to or from Flagstaff to or from Sedona, take Rt 89A--it's breathtaking.

YES! Rt 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona is listed as one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the USA by many travel guides. My head was stuck out the window, trying to look in all directions at the same time throughout the whole route.

(There is a regular Rt 89 - no A at the end, near there, which is just a non-eventful highway.)

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I posted this in another thread about a place being not what you expected. I'm reposting it here.

I would fit this place in after going to the Grand Canyon. I'd also visit Sedona. I've done the GC, Sedona and Monument Valley loop several times over the years. We stay in Flagstaff as a central location in between the three places.

Monument Valley, AZ: one of my favorite places in the world. I've been there a good 10 times and hope I go back once more in this lifetime. So, it's on my bucket list again.

When I go there, I feel small and connected to a greater whole at the same time.

It's on Navajo tribal land, thank God. Or would have been turned into a money grubbing theme park by now, with each natural monument turned into some ride.

Instead, it is protected, sacred land.

The area the natural stone monuments are in is called: the Valley of the Gods. Yes, plural: Gods. You can see their artistic handiwork on the monuments, where they must have had a "play day", (God length "day,") or had a competition of building the monuments, with the last God setting down his/her clay "Mittens" at the end of building the monuments.

Evidence of the play day/competition:

The Mittens: (They are really named that!)

Definitely going on the list. It looks like we can do this one day & Canyon de Chelly National park the next. I hope I can access a view to see this:

AZ is a beautiful state. It is absolutely stunning. We flew into Phoenix and stayed in Scottsdale for a few nights. Lots of nice restaurants and shops in Old Town. We went to the zoo and drove up South Mountain. We also drove to Flagstaff for a few nights to do Sedona and Grand Canyon. One of our most memorable trips.

That sounds like a great trip. We really want to be able to work in at least one city with great restaurants & entertainment to go along with the parks & monuments.

 

[Imzadi]

There is also Upper Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ. I have never been able to make the trek there as it's out of the way from Sedona & Monument Valley. (Would need another day just for that.) But, it's on my bucket list.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not sure if mentioned already, but if not, the Saguaro National Park is amazing to see. When I looked out on to the desert with all the cacti there, I thought I was looking at a planet in the solar system somewhere.

 

[kymom99]

I’ve been to Grand Canyon and it was amazing, even though I was sick. We stayed at yavapai lodge. I thought the prices were reasonable. You can’t drive on the western part of the south rim from March-November so you will take the shuttle.

I’ve been to Sedona. One if the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. I took a pink jeep tour, only it was a bus. I think that would work well for you. There is also a train excursion, but it was sold out while I was there.

I’ve been to Tucson. The Sonoran desert museum is really nice but it is a walking experience. The saguaro national park is nice. You can drive the loop and get out to admire the views.

If you ever go to tombstone, take time to swing by Chiricahua national monument. It’s a hidden gem. My son interned there and it still fascinates me. I tell anyone who will listen. There is a scenic drive to the summit. It’s off the beaten path but so natural and not in the least touristy.

 

[Dan Murphy]

A great restaurant experience, about 30 minutes directly north of Scottsdale Named after the desert lizard, not some old time, turn-of-the-century, forlorn cowboy.

https://www.thehornytoad.com/

 

[jimmymc]

Glad to hear October is a good time for Arizona. We were starting to think we needed to get divorced, so we could get married in a better month for anniversary trips.

The hotel we're considering is in Grand Canyon Village. What do you think about that location? I'm glad the South Rim is mostly accessible. We'll probably rent a car for the entire stay. Would the shuttle buses still be preferable to driving ourselves?

ETA: Please feel free to offer an honest opinion on the hotel location.

Right on the rim is obviously the best location, but anywhere north of the national park entrance on Rt 64 is where you want to be. I would avoid Tusayan; their hotels don't have the best reviews and are often just as expensive as staying in the park.

Renting a car is definitely the way to go. Hermit road going west of Bright Angel Lodge and South Kaibab road are closed to private vehicles, so you'll have to take the park shuttles there. Having a car is still good so you can get there at your own pace, do some shopping on the way in, and drive over to Desert View.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

You have some great suggestions already! October begins our peak season which lasts until April.
Do fit in Sedona. It's other-worldly just as the Grand Canyon is--your eyes can't believe what you're seeing while you're looking at it. If you drive to or from Flagstaff to or from Sedona, take Rt 89A--it's breathtaking. If you like visiting wineries, one of my favorites here in AZ is DA Ranch in Cottonwood--an easy visit from Sedona. Check their website, https://daranch.com/, they often have live music which makes for a very enjoyable visit sitting in chairs under the Willow trees aside the pond. It's really lovely. There is a winery tour on the river that floats through Cottonwood though I've never done it. In October, the water should still be warm.
My honest opinion on the area just outside of the South Rim of Grand Canyon is "meh". But, hey, it's a hotel. We're Marriott folks so we've stayed at the Courtyard in Flagstaff when visiting GC.

We're convinced. We're going to try to spend a night or two in Sedona. It helps that some of the parks/monuments won't take as much time as we expected. Our previous experiences are Yellowstone & Acadia. We could have spent a week in Yellowstone & at least 2 days in Acadia. We were expecting similar at these locations. I'm glad we can see more.

YES! Rt 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona is listed as one of the most scenic drives in the USA by many travel guides. My head was stuck out the window, trying to look in all directions at the same time throughout the whole route.
(There is a regular Rt 89 - no A at the end, near there, which is just a non-eventful highway.)

Hopefully, that will work with our route.

There is also Upper Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ. I have never been able to make the trek there as it's out of the way from Sedona & Monument Valley. (Would need another day just for that.) But, it's on my bucket list.

That's beautiful.

Not sure if mentioned already, but if not, the Saguaro National Park is amazing to see. When I looked out on to the desert with all the cacti there, I thought I was looking at a planet in the solar system somewhere.

Thanks for the suggestion. We're starting to narrow down our choices. I'll check it out to see, if it will work with our other destinations.

I’ve been to Grand Canyon and it was amazing, even though I was sick. We stayed at yavapai lodge. I thought the prices were reasonable. You can’t drive on the western part of the south rim from March-November so you will take the shuttle.

I’ve been to Sedona. One if the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. I took a pink jeep tour, only it was a bus. I think that would work well for you. There is also a train excursion, but it was sold out while I was there.

I’ve been to Tucson. The Sonoran desert museum is really nice but it is a walking experience. The saguaro national park is nice. You can drive the loop and get out to admire the views.

If you ever go to tombstone, take time to swing by Chiricahua national monument. It’s a hidden gem. My son interned there and it still fascinates me. I tell anyone who will listen. There is a scenic drive to the summit. It’s off the beaten path but so natural and not in the least touristy.

Sorry you were sick in GC. It's good to know about the shuttle. I'm sure DH will prefer that. He can sightsee instead of worrying about traffic. I always worry that I'll annoy people by being slow. Hopefully, that won't be a problem.

As I said above, you all have convinced us to go to Sedona. I'll look into the tour.

Sadly, it's looking like Tucson & Tombstone are too far south. We'll just have to plan another trip.

 

[kymom99]

We're convinced. We're going to try to spend a night or two in Sedona. It helps that some of the parks/monuments won't take as much time as we expected. Our previous experiences are Yellowstone & Acadia. We could have spent a week in Yellowstone & at least 2 days in Acadia. We were expecting similar at these locations. I'm glad we can see more.


Hopefully, that will work with our route.

That's beautiful.

Thanks for the suggestion. We're starting to narrow down our choices. I'll check it out to see, if it will work with our other destinations.

Sorry you were sick in GC. It's good to know about the shuttle. I'm sure DH will prefer that. He can sightsee instead of worrying about traffic. I always worry that I'll annoy people by being slow. Hopefully, that won't be a problem.

As I said above, you all have convinced us to go to Sedona. I'll look into the tour.

Sadly, it's looking like Tucson & Tombstone are too far south. We'll just have to plan another trip.

I would definitely suggest a second trip. Twice we stayed in Tucson, one time in a rental house and another in an embassy suites with gorgeous mountain views. It’s a good base. Chiricahua is less than 2 hours from Tucson. The area is popular with bird enthusiasts as lots of migratory birds pass through the area. (Hummingbirds and sand hill cranes to name a couple. ) there are many national monuments and historic sites in Arizona. You may find those to be just as interesting and beautiful as the more famous parks.

 

[Kestryl]

Wow! Sounds like an amazing trip. I don't think we could keep up with you guys.

Now, we have to find a way to get to Phoenix. Unique bars are right up our alley.

How many nights do you think we'll need to see all of Grand Canyon that I'm capable of seeing?

I'll look into Sunset Crater & Petrified Forest. Fortunately, we already have an AtB pass that we bought earlier this year.

I can already see that we're going to have to eliminate some things we would really like to see. It's pretty much impossible to see the highlights in any state in such a short amount of time though.


Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't have Tucson on my list. I'll check out your links & mapping.

A trip with me is not a vacation, it’s an adventure!

The UnderTow group runs a few other thematic bars: https://bartershake.com/the-concepts

For the Grand Canyon, I liked having two days, but I could see someone doing it in one day. We did some small hikes down into the canyon (just not too far). I think with the shuttle route and Visitor Center, you can get your fill in one day.

 

[Imzadi]

We're convinced. We're going to try to spend a night or two in Sedona

If you decide to travel from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to Sedona, head out the East Entrance, and drive along Rt 64 towards Cameron, then down Rt 89 to Flagstaff, then Rt 89A to Sedona.

Rt 64 has some of the most gorgeous scenery, a small section of the vast Painted Desert. (Not to be confused with the Painted Desert National Park site which is a lot further east.) This way, you will get to see some of the Painted Desert without making a special trip to there.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/East+Entrance+Station,+Grand+Canyon+Village,+AZ+86023/Cameron,+AZ/Sedona,+Arizona+86336/@35.4761069,-112.8667569,8.42z/

It looks like a colorful patchwork quilt made up of the landscape.

 

[indimom]

We visited Arizona for a week in September 2022. We flew into Phoenix because our son lives there, then took a road trop.
We visited:
SEDONA - this is a beautiful area - very worth a visit just for the scenery in my opinion. They have a quaint downtown with shopping/dining/hotels. A good option with mobility issues. Plenty placed to sit, etc.

We hiked devils bridge - this is a long hike with a lot of elevation. We also visited the chapel of the holy cross. The drive and parking are uphill all the way, but I did see that they have golf carts to take people up to the church, you just may have to wait your turn for a bit.

We did a balloon flight over Sedona and it was amazing. You would have to be able to stand in one spot for a couple hours.

SCOTTSDALE - it had your standard "quaint" shopping/dining areas also. Another good option for mobility issues. There are places to sit, etc.

GRAND CANYON - We did the south rim. There are buses to the various viewing locations (we e-biked instead). I noticed that they must offer some sort of pass for people with mobility issues allowing them to drive their own vehicle in the park - not sure if this would be available/helpful in your situation but I thought I'd mention it.

PAGE - Another pretty area with some nice dining options.
We did a slot canyon and horseshoe bend tour. Horseshoe bend has a short walk from the parking lot. The slot canyon we did was quite a hike over uneven ground.
We also checked out the Glen Canyon Damn overlook at sunset. There were a good number of steps but they had handrails. Once down at the overlook, you have to watch your step, there were piles of sand here and there, I ended up tripping and falling as it got dark. lol

SAN TAN VALLEY - Another beautiful area. This was the end of our trip so we ended up enjoying our airbnb's backyard more than going out to do things. lol. We were tired.

SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK - They had a small paved path near the visitor center. You can drive through to park and stop to walk short walking paths. These are just packed dirt paths, some had steps, some were flat.

 

[wabbott]

If you go to Winslow, stay here. If you can't stay, at least have a drink at the bar and have dinner. It's a walk back in time.

https://laposada.org/

Welcome to architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter’s Southwest masterpiece, La Posada (the resting place), Fred Harvey’s Last Great Railroad Hotel.

 

[jazzsmith]

Phoenix is a great starting point for your Arizona trip. Sedona is definitely worth a visit for its stunning red rock scenery and artsy vibe. Tombstone will provide you with a fascinating glimpse into the Old West history. For the Grand Canyon and Canyon de Chelly, booking tours can help you navigate the parks more comfortably given your health limitations. To make your travel planning easier, contact costco travel to see if they have packages that align with your plans and can help you use your hotel points effectively. Enjoy your trip!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We’ve been to AZ several times, including 3x this year. I was too exhausted on the back end of our recent road trip to do much of anything, but we still got some nice views from the road.

On the southern end, we’ve stopped in Tucson and explored the western side of Saguaro NP a couple of times. A couple of weeks ago, we drove all of I10 through Arizona.

The greater Phoenix area is a big city environment. I know there are things to do in the area, but for us, it’s more like a return to civilization.

Just this past Monday, we drove on I40….west to east. Due to sheer exhaustion, we just stopped in Holbrook and saw some of Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert.

In the past, we’ve stayed at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Lodging inside the park books up pretty quickly, but you might still have options if you’re flexible. We’ve stayed at the Kachina Lodge in the past and had a south rim view. I wanted to stay at the El Tovar, but settled for a couple of meals in the dining room.

Beyond that, we had a day where we drove into Page to visit Horseshoe Bend and then east to see Monument Valley.

Sedona and the North Rim are still on my AZ to do list.

 

[Meriweather]

We love the Grand Canyon (we live in AZ), We've been 5 times. We always stay inside the park. For the two of us we like Bright Angel cabins. For more Maswick Lodge. Both close to the rim.
We park our car and never use it (except during the height of Covid, when the shuttles weren't running). We either shuttle or walk.
Sedona is not our thing.....we did enjoy our off road jeep trek.
Flagstaff (just there in June). We like the Lowell Observatory, Meteor Crater and Petrifified Forest. We stayed in the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook once time. Cute, but tiny.
We like Bearizona and Out of Africa.
Just driving between places and around is very scenic.

We like to Tucson too. Go fairly often. Sonora Desert Museum, Pima Air and Space Museum....and the Bone Yard, San Xavier Mission, Reid Park Zoo, Saguaro National Park, Botanical Garden. I like Bizbee too.....Copper Mine tour is very interesting, like the jeep ride that takes you all over town.
Tombstone.....like the museum, but the rest, not so much.

Phoenix....we actually don't do much there. Zoo and Botanical Garden are great.
My adult kids have done a lot of things from cooking classes to Escape Rooms.

 

[Imzadi]

One more suggestion! If you are into shopping for Southwestern and unusual items, the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, just South of Sedona is truly a gem of a place, a cultural experience, not just shopping or eating. It's like a little Mexican village plopped into northern AZ. All the shops and restaruants have carefully curated all the items they have chosen for their shops. Either way, coming from north or south, take a left at the traffic circle below Sedona and you will see the Tlaquepaque village.

https://www.tlaq.com/

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I grew up in AZ! I miss it. October is a beautiful time to visit.

Grand Canyon South Rim, 2 days is good.

Phoenix: my suggestion would be South Scottsdale. That is my old stomping ground, and the area of Old Town and Fashion Square is vibrant day and night. I highly suggest visiting the Desert Botanical Garden too, only 10 minutes from Old Town.

Tombstone, I enjoy it but not worth the drive if you aren't venturing to Tucson. If you are going to Tuscon, then a day excursion to Tombstone and Bisbee would be my suggestion.

Looks like the majority of your time will be up in Northern Arizona, I would say at least 4 days with mentioning the two places that are your musts. It would be a LOT of driving to hit Tucson. You may want to consider time at Flagstaff, Monument Valley, Petrified Forest, and Sedona to stay up north.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think we'll definitely need two days in GCNP. I'm actually worried that won't be enough. We're very laidback tourists. I do think we'll limit it to two nights/days simply because there's so much we want to see. If we had more time, we'd plan for three.

The Desert Botanical Garden sounds lovely. I'm glad you mentioned South Scottsdale. Is the entertainment district the area you're suggesting? We'll probably only have at most 2 nights in the Phoenix area, before flying back home. I was thinking we'd take a tour of the city (if I find a good one) & go to Under Tow bar at night. We'll also try to work in the Botanical Garden. Would you still recommend staying in that area? FWIW, we're not big shoppers. Our shopping consists of a souvenir for our adult DS, treats for his little dog & a Christmas ornament for our travel tree. We try to target those stores specifically, so we don't have to spend much time shopping. I should have included that earlier. We do enjoy unique &/or fine dining.

A great restaurant experience, about 30 minutes directly north of Scottsdale Named after the desert lizard, not some old time, turn-of-the-century, forlorn cowboy.

https://www.thehornytoad.com/

Funny! I'll have to see, if it's on our route.

Right on the rim is obviously the best location, but anywhere north of the national park entrance on Rt 64 is where you want to be. I would avoid Tusayan; their hotels don't have the best reviews and are often just as expensive as staying in the park.

Renting a car is definitely the way to go. Hermit road going west of Bright Angel Lodge and South Kaibab road are closed to private vehicles, so you'll have to take the park shuttles there. Having a car is still good so you can get there at your own pace, do some shopping on the way in, and drive over to Desert View.

The hotel is a tough decision. There is very limited availability in the park, which gives us only a couple choices. We can stay at Best Western in Tusayan on points. It has a similar rating to the in park hotels. My biggest concern is dining in Tusayan, but I'm not sure that alone is a good reason to spend the extra money. Decisions, decisions. I wish I had a crystal ball, so I could be assured we made the right choice.

I would definitely suggest a second trip. Twice we stayed in Tucson, one time in a rental house and another in an embassy suites with gorgeous mountain views. It’s a good base. Chiricahua is less than 2 hours from Tucson. The area is popular with bird enthusiasts as lots of migratory birds pass through the area. (Hummingbirds and sand hill cranes to name a couple. ) there are many national monuments and historic sites in Arizona. You may find those to be just as interesting and beautiful as the more famous parks.

Another trip is definitely in order.