Sedona to GCNP (and back) itinerary help

We%26#39;ll be driving up from the Scottsdale area early on a Friday morning in mid-June. Plan to get some breakfast and fill up the car and then continue on towards GCNP, probably arriving there around 11:30am or noon-ish. We plan to do our own thing, see the IMAX, visitors center, gift shop, etc. We will have a grandma, a toddler, big kid, 4 adults and 3 large dogs with us, so unfortunately, no major hiking or overnight stay. We plan to stay until sunset though, and drive back and stay overnight in Sedona.

Can anyone give me some help with the following:

1) the fastest route to GCNP for that time of day

2) pros and cons of entering at south rim, exiting at east entrance or vice versa

3) once we are there, the best spots to view with no major walking or hiking involved

4) what time will sunset be (roughly) then - 8pm?

5) fastest route back to Sedona if we leave GCNP around 8:30pm.

6) is there a shady spot somewhere we can unfold a blanket and let my 2 1/2 year old take a nap in the afternoon?

Thanks for your help!

Sedona to GCNP (and back) itinerary help

Hi,

Thank you for traveling, we appreciate your visiting our beautiful part of the U.S.

The fastest route to the Grand Canyon from Scottsdale - leaving around 7 to 8 a.m. is Interstate 17 north to Flagstaff, Interstate 40 west to Williams and Highway #64 from Williams to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This drive is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and how fast you drive.

If you want the most scenic route that will give you a scenic drive along 23 miles of the Grand Canyon, take Interstate 17 north from Phoenix to Flagstaff, take Interstate 40 east to exit #201. Exit and turn left on Bus I 40 to U.S. Hwy #89. Take hwy 89 north out of Flagstaff to Cameron, AZ about 50 miles. Turn left - West on Hwy #64 and drive 31 miles to the East entrance of the Grand Canyon and Desert View Watchtower. This drive will take you about 4 hours from Scottsdale, AZ.

You now have the entire East Rim scenic drive of 23 miles from Desert View to the Grand Canyon Village area. There%26#39;s many viewpoints along this drive, and I recommend you stop at Desert View, Lipan, Moran, Grandview, and Mather. Each of these viewpoints have places to park and the walk to the views are easy.

After lunch in the village, you will want to take the free Park tram from the Bright Angel area to Hermits Rest. The tram takes about 2 hours and travels 8 miles from the Village to Hermits Rest at the end of the road along the Rim to the West. There%26#39;s some great viewpoints here as well, however, my favorite is Hopi Point.

Late afternoon drive south from the Canyon Village area about 6 miles on Hwy #64 to the village of Tusayan, the location of the IMAX theater. The film is shown every hour on the half-hour so you will want to time yourself to be in Tusayan by about 15 past the hour.

Sunset is great at Hopi Point, Yavapai Point and Yaki Point so any of these will be great views.

Enjoy your trip.

Sedona to GCNP (and back) itinerary help

Fastest route would be I-17 to I-40 west to AZ 64 at Williams and north to the park. Allow about 4 hours.

If you intend to see IMAX then it will be outside the main gate in Tusayan before you enter the park.

All view points are easy and involve minimal walking after you park your car at aech stop. Longest walks would be at GC Village for shops, eats and access to west rim shuttle.

If you leave via the east gate you%26#39;ll take AZ 64 down to 89, south to I-40 west to bypass Flagstaff, then I-17 south to 89A through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. About 2 hours from the east gate.

Lots of shade and quiet spots at any of the east rim view points in the afternoon. Try Grand View.

Rio Sabor - Is it worth it?

I went to a Brazilian steakhouse in Georgia last year, and it was fantastic. I am taking my parents to Scottsdale this year, and I%26#39;ve seen good and bad reviews on Rio Sabor. Is this the only Brazilian steakhouse in the area, and can you get your steak well done? My mother won%26#39;t eat anything that isn%26#39;t well-done!!!

Thank you!

Rio Sabor - Is it worth it?

I noticed a For Lease sign outside Rio Sabor last week so called for you - it is no longer in business.

The only other one I know in Scottsdale opened a few months ago - Fogo de Chao. It%26#39;s very popular - parking lot is always packed and the building itself is beautiful. Haven%26#39;t been there so can%26#39;t say how the experience is.

There%26#39;s also Fogo E Brasa in Chandler. I don%26#39;t know if I%26#39;d drive that far for dinner, but it has gotten good reviews.

HTH!

Rio Sabor - Is it worth it?

Thank you so much for checking for me! I will look into one of the ones that you mentioned.

driving from phoenix to san diego

I am concerned about the mountains after yuma, what is the name of the mountain range and how high? am terrified of driving in high mountains but need to get to the beach.any route to drive to san diego that doesnt involve mountains?

driving from phoenix to san diego

The only route to San Diego that would minimize mountains would be I-10 to the LA area, and then I-15 or I-5 south to San Diego. It will tkae longer, and there will be LOTS more traffic.

The interstate through the mountains going to San Diego is entirely safe. There are no precipitous drop-offs next to the highway. The inclines are all reasonable and gradual. The whole route through the mountains is in fact very scenic.

driving from phoenix to san diego

thanks for that.

now, maybe i should just do the hypnosis for driving in mountains!

3 nights / 2 full days

we plan 3 nights/2 full days in Sedona - please could you help us plan the perfect short stay:

First afternoon (it will be the 4th of July, which I understand you guys celebrate for some reason LOL!) -visit Chapel of the Holy Cross on our way into town.

Suggestions for evening meal - Cowboy Club? (2 adults and a 15 year old boy)

Next day - our first full day - up early and then Pink Jeep Tour.(Broken ARrow)

Coffepot for Lunch?

Afternoon / Evening.........????????

Next day we plan to go to Slide Rock - how far is that - any other ideas please.

Many thanks

3 nights / 2 full days

I posted a reply for you in the other thread that you tagged into. Slide Rock is in Oak Creek Canyon about 5 miles north of Uptown Sedona.

odp.net charakterset

Biosphere 2 interesting?

Is Biosphere 2 interesting to go and see?

thanks

Biosphere 2 interesting?

I have been there 3 or 4 times, the first being when the people were locked inside. To me it was VERY interesting. My mother, who has visited Arizona several times, thought it was the highlight of one of her trips. I really need to go there again, since now I understand tourists can actually go inside the biosphere.

But be aware, there is a lot of walking.

Biosphere 2 interesting?

I actually really enjoyed it too. It%26#39;s a pretty big campus, and there%26#39;s lots to see. It used to be a little more free than it is now, I think, meaning that you could just sort of wander in and out of the buildings, while I think that, now, you have to follow a guide. But I%26#39;ve heard others complain about how boring it is.

Beware of the costs though. It was pretty pricey for a while.

We just got back from a trip to Tucson where we visited Biosphere 2. Contrary to a lot of the comments on the forum, my wife, the 14 year old, and I all thought it was the highlight of our trip (along with Karchner Caverns).

It%26#39;s clear that the owners are still stumbling around trying to figure out what do with the thing--the experiments are kind of like the space station, in that some are high tech and others are just high school.

But the project itself is both a fascinating look at a semi-failed effort to keep 9 people alive in a virtually self-contained environment, and a glimpse at how some big issues such as global warming can be modeled at a human scale. Frankly, I%26#39;m surprised that there aren%26#39;t ten of these things around the world being intensively used for research.

The buildings are huge, and visually stunning. All in all, a little bit of science fiction south of Tucson.

About 2 months ago, we took our 2 boys (8 and 11) to visit Biosphere 2. We all enjoyed the tour--we thought the ';lung'; was especially interesting.

If you buy a Tucson Attractions Passport book (visittucson.org/visitor/attractions/passport/), you can get 2 for 1 admission.

azislandgirl

';south of Tucson.'; Bio 2 is near Oracle north of Tucson

Pacific Seafood Buffet

Been here a few times - just recently 08-23-08. Friday night, $14.00 per person. This place has been consistently busy and with good food, good variety and selection. Sushi, barbecue, Mongolian bars in addition to the Asian-American seafood buffet. They have a private dining area for parties, etc that seats approx. 20. A cut above your typical buffet places.

Pacific Seafood Buffet

There is a place in TA for restaurant reviews. They tend to get lost in the regular forums. You can add a review here:

tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g31190-d90…

Pacific Seafood Buffet

Thank you for that - didn%26#39;t see it there before.

I%26#39;m glad you wrote this, we%26#39;re heading out this week and this will be a Definite Must!! Thank You!!

zits

First visit to Phoenix in May - need help

My husband and I just booked three nights starting May 24th at the Royal Palms. This will be our first trip alone in awhile and we are looking to relax.

We do not want to rent a car, but would like to go to lunch and/or dinner off property a couple of times. If dinner, maybe a bar after for drinks...

Any recommendations that are not too far by taxi?

First visit to Phoenix in May - need help

Hi,

Thank you for visiting our beautiful part of the country, we appreciate your traveling.

The Royal Palms is a beautiful property and very close to the center of Scottsdale. Scottsdale has so many very fine restaurants, you will not be lacking for places to dine. Cab fare from the Royal Palms will be very reasonable.

One of my favorite is Cowboy Caio, which has fine southwest cuisine. Another old guard very fine restaurant that has a great reputation is El Chorro Lodge in Paradise Valley next to the Camelback Inn on Lincoln Drive.

Here%26#39;s a link to some of the fine restaurants in Scottsdale: http://hotlinkcity.com/

This site has links to all of the restaurants menus for you to see. Enjoy your trip!

First visit to Phoenix in May - need help

You may also want to look at what is in downtown Scottsdale: www.scottsdaledowntown.com

For a fantastic and memorable dinner, try Lon%26#39;s at the Hermosa Inn - it%26#39;s only 2-3 miles away. They are pricey, but the food is excellent, the service is impeccable, and the ambiance is historic Arizona. They also have a small, quaint lounge for drinks.

There are also many great places in Old Town Scottsdale - I believe the links above should give you some choices. Also, if you like wine, definitely go to Kazimierz Wine Bar. They don%26#39;t have a wine list - they have a wine book, and the place itself has great atmosphere. It can be tricky to find - ask for directions (at the Royal Palms) first.

You%26#39;ll love the Royal Palms - the whole property is gorgeous, and the service is excellent. Enjoy yourselves!

Neighborhood/hotel in Phoenix convenient to nightlife?

Hello,

A friend of mine and I will be staying in Phoenix on a friday night this march. We%26#39;d like to stay in a neighborhood or hotel that is convenient to nightlife - something like a nice club for dancing, or a fun bar/lounge. Is Downtown Phoenix a good destination or does it shut down after 5:30? Preferrably we%26#39;d be in an area where we could stay out fairly late and then just have a short walk/cab ride back to our hotel.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Kate

Neighborhood/hotel in Phoenix convenient to nightlife?

You may want to look at Tempe (near ASU) or South Scottsdale for that. Some good information here: www.azcentral.com

There is always the light rail option from Downtown Phoenix to Tempe, but probably not the most convenient way to go after a night of clubing.

Enjoy your visit.

Neighborhood/hotel in Phoenix convenient to nightlife?

Hi Kate and welcome to the TA forums!

You%26#39;re two best options would be Old Town/Downtown Scottsdale (not south) or previously mentioned Mill Avenue area of Tempe. Arizona State University is adjacent to Mill Ave. so it will be a younger, mainly 20something crowd. Lots of bars and restaurants to hop to. Two hotels in walking distance are Mission Palms or Marriott Courtyard Tempe on Ash Avenue. http://www.downtowntempe.com/ for more info for you.

In Scottsdale there are many, many hotels within walking distance to lots of clubs, bars, restaurants, etc. It is a more upscale area but has rowdy bars like Dos Gringos and hip/trendy bars at the W Hotel and everything in between. Take a look at some of the options under lodging and come back with questions. www.scottsdaledowntown.com/default.aspx Also, Scottsdale Arts Festival is going on the 20-22 this month which would be fun on Saturday if that%26#39;s the weekend you%26#39;ll be here.

Enjoy your visit!

Kate;

Aztchr is correct. The area I was suggesting is technically Old Town / downtown Scottsdale. I always try to use cardinal directions to help visitors get their bearings and figure out the lay of the land more easily.

Hiking: Bright Angel or South Kaibab

Is one trail better than the other? I am a fit, 43 yr old guy. Have never done any serious hiking, but am athletic, in-shape and fit.

I will be there arriving Friday and leaving on Saturday. I will do this hike on Saturday. Since it is chilly in the moring, would starting out around 10 be a good time, or might I want to start earlier?

THanks

Hiking: Bright Angel or South Kaibab

Bright Angel is a softly sloping fairly wide trail with switchbacks, that winds its way down the wall of the canyon. It is also the primary descending route for mule trains.

South Kaibab is much steeper and will give you a tougher challenge on the hike back up. Mules come back up via SK.

Reagrdless of which trail you choose, hike only as far as you feel comfortable, bearing in mind that it will take twice as long to go back up as it does to go down. Take plenty of water and snacks and wear proper clothing and footwear.

Hiking in the GC is not about reaching a certain point or like attaining the summit of a mountain. You can get good views and a good feel for what it%26#39;s like below the rim by hiking 100 yards or a couple of miles.

need girl advice

Sunset Viewing on the Desert View Road

We will probably be leaving the Grand Canyon around sunset and leaving by the Desert View Road. Would like to stop to see the sunset. Any suggestions for which lookout might be good?

Sunset Viewing on the Desert View Road

I like Lipan Point.

Sunset Viewing on the Desert View Road

Thanks Redrox. Thats exactly what I needed to know.

Hi,

Thank you for traveling to our beautiful part of the country, we appreciate your visit.

Redrox is absolutely right - Lipan is the best o!n the Desert View road

My favorite viewpoints at the Canyon are Lipan Point and Hopi Point on the Hermits Rest road. You will find these two are the best at the Canyon for wide open views up and down the River.

Enjoy your visit!

Thanks Tour Guy. We will be there the end of April and I can%26#39;t wait.

How is Shoshone Point?

StuQ,

The OP asked for someplace to stop along the east rim drive on their way out of the park. Shoshone Point is indeed along the east rim, but much closer to the main gate and specifically about a mile or two from Yaki Point. It%26#39;s a nice place to go for solitude, but I wouldn%26#39;t recommend it for viewing sunset. Not because the views are bad, but because after the sun goes down it get s very dark at the GCNP and you%26#39;ll have a hike that will take a good hour or so to get back to the GC Village area, in the dark. It%26#39;s a nice day hike along the rim, but not a good place for sunset, IMO.

Camelback Mountain Climb

Hi all! This will be our first trip to Scottsdale. One day we would like to hike/climb Camelback mountain. We are staying in the Old Town neighborhood near the Scottsdale/Camelback intersection. We won%26#39;t have a car, so what%26#39;s the best way to get there and back?

Camelback Mountain Climb

gistwireless.com/camelback-hiking-saftey-inf…

http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/hikecmlb.html

You might check with the staff where you are staying about a shuttle you can reserve, any public transportation that might travel that route or call a taxi...it is not within walking distance of Scottsdale Rd. and Camelback. Follow the safety guidelines on these links, especially about footwear, carrying sufficient water, cell phones. You do not mention what time of year you are hiking, but if it is late spring or summer, best to go at sunrise.

Camelback Mountain Climb

Thanks for the info and links. I leave tomorrow for AZ!!! Will be there until the 10th staying in a condo!! Yeah!!! Getting out of this cold! I was thinking of just getting a cab to take us there and then making sure we had their number so we could be picked up when we were done. How far is it from where we are staying?

probably about 2 miles (or less) each way...depending where you are near Scottsdale %26amp; Camelback Rds.

Just wanted to say that I got back from Arizona and loved it! We actually walked to Camelback from Scottsdale Road where we were staying (we were staying at Scottsdale and Highland.) The Cholla Trail was the one we found so did that trail. What a fun experience! We went early and the weather was beautiful. Thanks for all of your helpful info before we went!

Terrific! Thanks for letting us know.

Limited time in Sedona

My husband and I are taking a side trip to Sedona while on business. We will be arriving in Phoenix Friday 4/17 11am and have to be back Sunday 3pm.

With such a short time to spend what are the absolute musts/experiences we should do? It is also our first visit. We will be staying at the Hilton.

Any suggestions on restaurants, vistas, hikes, etc. would be appreciated. Is the Yavapai restaurant really worth it or can you suggest some other? We are more for the scenery than the 4 diamond menu. We love to eat/drink outside. Perhaps you can suggest a unique bar or other entertainment.

Thanks

Limited time in Sedona

Do a jeep tour and visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Tour Oak Creek Canyon. Elote Cafe was just named the best restaurant (mexican) in Sedona by AZ Highways magazine. Other good ones include Cowboy Club, Cucina Rustica and Dahl %26amp; Diluca.

Limited time in Sedona

Thanks for such a quick response. Trip Advisor lists 2 jeep tour companies - Red Rock and Pink Jeep. Again for the limited time we have which tour of each would you recommend? I%26#39;m thinking a 2 hr tour.

Thanks again.

Pink Jeep Co, Broken Arrow is the most popular tour. Red Rock, Soldiers Pass is a good option.

-Tlaquepaque (Mexican village with shops %26amp;art galleries)

-Airport Mesa at sunset (great views)

-Slide Rock State Park (walk to creek, interesting buildings on the way) driving through Oak Creek Canyon to get there

-Hiking (Easy trail: Bell Rock, around 45 minutes

-Outdoor dining: Hideaway or Ken%26#39;s Creekside near the Y

zits

late arrival dinner

hi my husband and i will be driving in from the Grand Canyon south rim after sunset so won%26#39;t be arriving until 9pm or later. I was just looking for a place with really good food to get a bite to eat and enjoy a glass of wine (or three). any suggestions? we only have one additional night in sedona before we head to Tucson, so want to make it count. price point: willing to spend a little but always happy to find a good value too.

late arrival dinner

The Cowboy Club is often open that late but it might be a good idea to call ahead. 928-282-4200. Most of Sedona closes up by 9PM on weeknights. Or try Dahl %26amp; Diluca or Cucina Rustica, but again, I%26#39;d call to be sure that they%26#39;ll be open. And Elote Cafe has been so busy lately, they might be open late.

late arrival dinner

You are wise to check first. Is this a week day or weekend? Many restaurants close at 8 on week days or 9 on weekends. If you can%26#39;t modify your schedule and the other recommended restaurants are not open after 9, your best bet is probably a bar that happens to serve food. Maybe someone can recommend one.

book hotel online or just wait till you arrive.

need some advice please,im not a novice at travelling,first time i think ive been undecided.going to arizona in april after travelling 16 hours from one place to another.bareing in mind ive read frommers and foders all hotels seem to be expensive in the books,yes i will be bit tired.the advice that i need is.

,is it worth waiting till i get there before deciding where to stay is there a tourist information in sky harbor airport where i would have a better and more choice of hotels giving the information of what im after to the bloke or girl behind the desk so she or he knows what type of hotel im after and in what location as talking to someone one onto one you get your bearings a bit more and the actual areas of the city your visiting,and do you actually save more money booking online then just turning up at a hotel on the day {bearing in mind someone is going to say its the summer season and will be busy }but i know every hotel will not be full it just might cut my choice down a bit. thanks toon army.

book hotel online or just wait till you arrive.

I always like to have a plan. Especially after a 16 hour flight when I know I will be tired. Phoenix is a huge area with many options for lodging.

Are you staying for a few days, or is this an overnight? I think the combined minds of some of us here on TA can offer you better advice than an individual at the airport. Give us an idea of your needs and we can make some suggestions.

book hotel online or just wait till you arrive.

It%26#39;s always better to book in advance. Less hassles and issues running around after your long day of travel.

The airport has an information center in each terminal but it is not intended to help people find lodging. There are brochures but the info is not comprehensive. It would be you on the telephone calling various hotels to find lodging .... not what you want to be doing on your arrival.

The best way is to use an online travel service to find a hotel in the area where you wish to be located. April is not summer season; it is in the peak season so rates are high. There are however decent properties at reasonable prices.

What is your price range? Where do you wish to stay? If you do not know where, what will you be doing while in Phoenix?

BTW, ';bloke'; would be considered a rude word over here as people don%26#39;t use it and are not familiar with the term.

I%26#39;m not sure exactly what you%26#39;re after, as your post is a bit hard to read, but I%26#39;ll answer your question about booking in advance or waiting. Definitely book your hotel before you arrive. Phoenix is a huge tourist destination, and April is part of our peak season. Therefore, not only do hotels book full rather quickly, but sometimes prices rise as the hotel%26#39;s occupancy rate rises - at least in peak season.

You said something about talking to someone at the airport - I%26#39;m not sure if you%26#39;re referring to an info desk, but you probably won%26#39;t find anyone at the airport to be helpful. Do figure out approximately where you want to be located - look at a map of Phoenix, figure out which sites you want to see, etc. - and then look at hotels online, or in your travel book. Keep in mind that Metro Phoenix is VERY spread out - you can easily drive more than an hour going from place to place. But once you have determined where you%26#39;d like to be ';based';, then you might come back to TA with a budget and general location, and we can make some hotel recommendations for you.

book in advance ( having flown for london to phx dozen of times ) i would not want to be faffing about when you land , do your research in advance the guys here on TA are real good , i know phx better than london and these guys still teach me stuff .

sorry it took a while to reply,and thanks for your help.coming to arizona from the 14th april to the 29th.im just undecided as to whether to book online even just for a night to get my bearings like people say pheonix is a big place.hope to spend first two days just relaxing in pheonix recharging the batteries,then down to tucson,onto tombstone,bisbee,hopefully say 3 days.then up to flagstaff,sedona,then up to red rock,then flying to vegas for a week,

it is good to go on forums to get all the gen on cities and towns,etc,etc.but for example i could be waiting at vegas airport as thats where i fly from to pheonix,i could be at the bar talking to someone from pheonix who could recommend a brilliant hotel in a central place for a medium price chance i know but possible,you know what i mean, just by bumping into people and gaining information on the place you are going to,and if ive booked up online then your committed and cant get out of it,i give you this just as an example mind.

looked for budget price hotels as long as there clean and safe.thats all i need, guess im looking at $70 to $90

p.s.hope i did not offend anybody from arizona by calling a man a bloke,was%26#39;int meant to offend just the way we talk here,been all over the world first time i heard it could be offensive just my accent and language.apoligizes will heed it.

i must remember im in cowboy country.thanks all, toon army.

cheers everybody.

atchr,ive travelled round the world,hitched it from north africa to south africa,never booked up for a 2 week holiday before,just used to pack my bags and get a flight,but im getting older now and the bones ache a bit,but just going was all part of the fun.

when we were dozzing on the beach 25 year ago in st tropez me and my mate had an idea buy an ice box,by ice creams and cornettos from supermarket and sell them made 拢20 a day for food slept on the beach,like i say all part of the fun

red rox and hummingbird.

writing was never my forte

even when i read it back i could not even understand it myself,hah.

when i said at the aiport talking to someone i just meant sitting at the bar and chatting to someone and them coming from the area your going to can give you advice.

without a doubt i can get great advice from you%26#39;s thats why these forums are so good and the people on them.so to aztchr,red rox,hummingbird,and raider cheers good on yi,keep the information coming.god ive went on a bit sorry.

just giving you an insight as to why im undecided,but will take your advice.P.S. i cant drive either so i need cental.cheers now toon army.

You have been given a lot of good advice by everyone above, but it sounds like you%26#39;re really banking on bumping into someone at the airport (probably another tourist) that would give you a better advice, so I won%26#39;t repeat anything that you have already heard from others. Enjoy your visit anyway.

what!!!!!

toonarmy understanding english is one thing understanding gordie is something else.

and i was born in berwick.

however mate to answer youre question really think you should book at least youre first night before leaving its a long day best to have something booked.

have you looked at priceline uk you can get some cracking deals if you dont mind not not knowing excact hotel till youre bids excepted.i managed to get into the marriott metro area for 25.00 uk per night in mid april.

not maybe the best area but a resonable hotel at a great price.

last time i looked they were wanting 175.00 dollars on there own website.

cheers steve

You%26#39;re off to do you own thing no matter what our advice I think.

There are hotels in the $70-90 range but you need to be careful where they are located. If you don%26#39;t ask us, ask whoever tells you about them about the neighborhood. This is peak season. Your budget would get you the lowest class of hotel.

Once you get done wandering about, you say that you will fly to Las Vegas. From where? You will need to go back to Phoenix to fly to LV.

Good luck. Have a good trip.

hair salons charge taxes

12V cooler for Las Vegas/Grand Canyon/Bryce/Zion round trip

We will be touring in August and are not used to desert temperatures so were thinking of buying a 12V cooler to keep drinks cool in the car.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to buy, where to get it, what price to pay etc.

Is is worth the cost given that we will have to leave it behind when we fly back home to England?

Does anywhere hire them out?

Grateful for any help and advice.

12V cooler for Las Vegas/Grand Canyon/Bryce/Zion round trip

I highly doubt that you can rent one. The cost for one which could hold more than a ';six-pack'; would be $100-150. The six-pack type cost about $50. Sometimes they are carried in stores like Walmart and Target but more likely in stores carrying outdoor gear.

You would do just as well to buy a cooler in a Walmart for about $20 and put ice in it. You would feel better about leaving $20 behind, and you can buy a bag of ice just about anywhere for $1-1.50.

12V cooler for Las Vegas/Grand Canyon/Bryce/Zion round trip

I agree with Bobbear43 (as usual). Buy a cheap cooler at Walmart, or any grocery store. Actually you can get a styrofoam disposable cooler for about $5 and just fill it with ice each day.

Oh, I hate those cheap styro coolers because they ';squeak'; just from the motion of the vehicle. But it is what I often use on a trip where I can%26#39;t take one with me (such as by air). I put a cloth around it, and a cloth under the lid to stop the squeaking. I have had a Coleman 12-volt cooler for several years which is what I use when I start out in my own vehicles.

Great advice guys ... I was thinking of doing the same (but with the $20 option) ... so I think we%26#39;ll go with that ... can%26#39;t wait to get there - only 39 more %26#39;wake ups%26#39; ; )

LOL. I know what you mean about the styrofoam. But I just used one for about it%26#39;s 4th road trip. I carried all of the food to our condo in Palm Springs. It fit in the back seat of our Mustang convertible. With golf clubs in the trunk and the rest of our luggage in the back seat, we were loaded, but the cooler survived. I might have to use it again for our road trip in May (Canyon de Chelles, MV, Moab, Capital Reef, Bryce Zion and St George/Mesquite for golf). That%26#39;s gonna be 2 weeks of daily traveling, so we might need to replace it along the way. Should I spend the big bucks ($20) and get a real cooler?

Word of advice about those styro coolers....by a plastic garbage bag and put it inside the cooler before you fill it with ice!!! In my experience with these things, 99% of them leak! I never feel bad about leaving them behind!!

And that squeaking....like finger nails on a chalk board!!!!

SJG

I%26#39;m with SJG here - I hate those styrofoam ones!

It%26#39;s well worth the $15/$20 or so to buy one of the modern canvas insulated ones, and they have a hard plastic liner so they don%26#39;t leak even if all the ice melts. As stated above, ice is available nearly everywhere over here.

AND if you buy a soft-sided one, you can either fold it up and carry it back home in your luggage, OR you can fill it up with the stuff that you buy for your friends back home.

We have gotten a lot of trips out of ours, and they (and ice) are readily available everywhere in the States.

The 12V coolers only work while the car is running, which is fine when you are making short stops. For longer times out of the car, ice will be a better investment!

I hope you have a great trip, and yes, those last few weeks are definitely the hardest...

Help needed planning a road trip

My husband and I are looking to visit in September for 2-3 weeks and need help planning a route.

We don%26#39;t want to drive everyday but are looking to incorporate the following:

- Scenery, both enjoy photography

- visit to observatory (Kitt Peak ? or any other recommendations) (keen astronomers)

- visit to meteor crater

- somewhere (possibly a resort) to relax for the final few days.

We%26#39;ve visited Las Vegas and Grand Canyon before so don%26#39;t necessarily need to incorporate these, although would be interested in other canyons (Bryce, Zion ?) if possible.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Help needed planning a road trip

7270

2-3 weeks is a long time and a bit ambiguous, so I%26#39;ll just throw out some stuff and you guys can go from there.

A couple of things to remember:

- The temperature in early September still hovers in the upper 30%26#39;s to low 40%26#39;s (C) around Tucson and Phoenix. It%26#39;s much more pleasant in the higher elevations, if not a tad cold in the evenings.

- Early September is still tourist season in the Grand Canyon region, but you%26#39;ll be able to still find bargains on accommodations in the Phoenix and Tucson areas.

%26gt; - Scenery, both enjoy photography

You didn%26#39;t mention having previously visited Sedona, so that would be my first suggestion. Very, very pretty.

Then you%26#39;ve got the mountains. There are the Superstitions east of Phoenix, the Sky Islands in Southern Arizona (Santa Catalinas and Santa Ritas near Tucson, Mount Graham near Safford, Chiricahuas near Willcox), the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, and the desert areas west of Tucson. The area southeast of Tucson is also very pretty and famous for birding, although September is not really the time for that.

%26gt; - visit to observatory (Kitt Peak ? or any other recommendations) (keen astronomers)

Kitt Peak would be best. You%26#39;ll need to reserve for the night program at least a month in advance.

%26gt; - visit to meteor crater

This really shouldn%26#39;t be a priority. It%26#39;s just not that exciting.

%26gt; - somewhere (possibly a resort) to relax for the final few days.

Look into the resorts in the Phoenix area. You should be able to get some good deals in September.

%26gt; although would be interested in other canyons (Bryce, Zion ?) if possible.

Canyon de Chelly would be my first thought. You can arrange a guided tour of it. You could also do a tour of Antelope Canyon or spend the night at Marble Canyon. If you%26#39;re flying into Vegas, Bryce and Zion make sense though.

Help needed planning a road trip

You%26#39;ll get a lot of suggestions. I plan to be ambitious since you said you%26#39;d have 2-3 weeks.

Day 1-2:

Arrive in Phoenix and adjust to the local time, etc.

On day two check out the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. make some time for the Heard Museum of Native American Art.

Day 3-6:

Drive north to Sedona. Lots of great scenery there. Book a jeep tour, check out some local hiking (trails range from easy to moderate in most areas) and soak in the perfect Sept. weather. Visit nearby Montezuma Castle indian ruin. Shop. Eat. Relax. While you%26#39;re here, you can drive 30 minutes to Flagstaff through Oak Creek Canyon - amazing. There is the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff and it%26#39;s open to the public. Lowell is where Pluto was discovered.

Day 7-8:

Drive to the Grand Canyon. Spend a night at the South Rim. Enjoy.

Day 9-10:

Leave the Canyon via the East Rim and head down to Winslow via Flagstaff. Spend the night at La Posada (a former Harvey House and well worth the time). As a day trip from Winslow, drive to Painted Desert and Petrified Forest.

Day 11-13:

Drive east through Holbrook and then south on Hwy 77 to Show Low. Spend the night in Show Low and just enjoy the forest .

Day 13: Nice driving trip. Take Hwy 77 from Dhow Low and drive to Globe. Beautiful scenery on the way, but no real destinations. Once in Globe, grad some Mexican food at any local place. They%26#39;re all good. Stay on Hwy 77 through the tiny towns of Hayden and Oracle until you reach Tucson.

Day 14-18: Arrive in Tucson. Spend some quality time here relaxing. Great resorts such as Starr Pass (JW Marriott) Loew%26#39;s Ventana, Arizona Inn, Westward Look, La Paloma....

Lots of astronomy in Tucson. Kitt Peak is about 90 minutes away by car. The University of Arizona has a planetarium and there are some other observatories nearby, but I don%26#39;t know if they%26#39;re open to the public. (Mt. Graham is about two hours east of Tucson near Safford, but I don%26#39;t know if they do tours.)

Day 19-20: Drive back up to Phoenix. Hit some nightlife, or just relax by the pool.

Day 21: Adios. Back to the UK.

I like DougAZ%26#39;s itinerary, but since you have already been to Grand Canyon--here%26#39;s my suggestions to %26#39;tweak%26#39; it.

Days 7-10: Drive north from Flagstaff to Page and tour Antelope Canyon, then go east to Monument Valley/and or Canyon de Chelly. These places are much more interesting and scenic than the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest IMO.

Pick up on Doug%26#39;s interary on Day 11 in Holbrook. You can see my review of the LaPosada Hotel in Winslow on the TA Reviews.

Re: Meteor Crater--I wouldn%26#39;t drive out-of-my-way to visit this. If you are passing by, O.K., but I thought it a little spendy to see a big hole in the ground--interesting though.

Some great ideas already given. I will list a trip plan which includes lots of astronomy/space stuff!!

Here%26#39;s a link to various star gazing programs www.stargazingforeveryone.com

There are a number of B%26amp;B%26#39;s in AZ and NM that you may want to check out. Most have telescopes for you to use.

www.astronomersinn.com In Benson

www.oldwestbb.com in Sedona

www.shootingstarinn.com in Flagstaff

http://casitasdegila.com in Silver City NM

Day 1 arrive Phoenix. Stay there

Day 2 Phoenix area.

Day 3 To Sedona

Day 4 Sedona. Check out these tours: www.eveningskytours.com and www.sedonastarlight.com

Day 5 Sedona

Day 6 Grand Canyon, enter via south entrance. Stay inside the park. Many times the rangers have Star Talks in the evenings and full moon talks around the full moon time.

Day 7 Grand Canyon in morning drive to Page AZ. Stay in Page

Day 8 Page area all day. Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon. Drive on to Monument Valley for the night. Stay at Gouldings or The View

Day 9 See sunrise at Monument Valley the off to Canyon de Chelly Nat Mon. Stay there.

Day 10 Petrified Forest and Painted Desert Nat Park and then over to Meteor Crater, which I enjoy visiting occasionally, especially since I%26#39;m into astronomy too. Stay in Flagstaff this night. See Lowell Observatory

Day 11 Drive to Tucson for the night. Stop and see Montezuma%26#39;s Castle Nat Mon, Casa Grande Nat Mon on the way.

Day 12 Arizona Sonoran Museum in Tucson and Saguaro Nat Park. Also there is a great bunch of museums at the Univ of AZ, the science museum has a planetarium, and a small observatory. A larger observatory is on Mt Lemmon. http://skycenter.arizona.edu/

www.flandrau.org/

Day 13 Drive out to Kitt Peak in early afternoon. Make reservations for the night program. www.noao.edu/outreach/kpoutreach.html

Day 14 Tombstone or Kartchner Caverns

Day 15 Drive on to Silver City. Maybe stay at http://casitasdegila.com which has telescopes and head up to Gila Cliff Dwellings.

Day 16 Las Cruces NM. Interesting town and just north of there is where the new Spaceport is going in. Also visit Alamogordo and White Sands Nat Mon and there is a great Space Museum www.nmspacemuseum.org . Also this is one of 3 places in the country that the space shuttle can land. Outside of Alamogordo is Cloudcroft with Apache Point Observatory www.apo.nmsu.edu and the National Solar Observatory http://nsosp.nso.edu/pr/visitors_center.html

Day 17 Drive up to Socorro and then west to see the Very Large Array (VLA) http://www.vla.nrao.edu/

Day 18 From Socorro drive west to AZ and to Phoenix for a resort stay

Day 19 Phoenix/Scottsdale

Day 20 Phoenix/Scottsdale

Day 21 Phoenix/Scottsdale

In re-reading your OP, I have to concur with CasaAzul%26#39;s suggestions for adding the additional week (making your trip 3 weeks). It would be a shame to come all the way from the UK and miss some of the best space museums and observatories in the SW area.

The space museum at Alamagordo is absolutely outstanding! We spent half a day there and we really are not particularly keen on astromomy or space exploration. We also found the National Solar Observatory near Cloudcroft interesting, although we didn%26#39;t understand a lot of what we saw.

The Lodge at Cloudcroft is a fun place to stay. Located at 9000 ft., it includes a 9 hole golf course if you are into golfing. www.thelodgeresort.com

If you choose to add the NM leg to your trip, be sure to allow a few hours to tour White Sands National Monument. Great photo ops here.

Thanks for all this info. Gives me plenty to work on. Given that temperatures will still be high in early Sept, would we be better travelling late Sept/early Oct. We still want hot weather, but perhaps not 40+ degrees !!

Yes, you might want to consider late September/early October instead of early September. The temperatures should be more comfortable at that time.

We usually go to AZ in late October/early November and always seem to hit good weather. Warm (shorts and sandals type) weather, but not too hot in the desert. However, in the mountain areas, it sometimes gets rather cool, even freezing at night.

In early October, it should still be very pleasant in the mountains too.

Thanks for all the information. I now know that we will be in Arizona for 18 nights, flying to and from Phoenix. So how does the following route sound?

Day 1 - arrive Phoenix, stay overnight

Day 2 - drive to Sedona for 2 night stay

Day 3-4 - around Sedona

Day 5 - drive to Page for 2 nights

Day 6 - Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell

Day 7 - Drive to Monument Valley for 2 nights

Day 8 - Monument Valley

Day 9 - Drive to Show Low via Canyon de Chelly for 2 nights

Day 10 - visit Very Large Array (New Mexico)

Day 11 - drive to Tombstone area (any ideas for overnight stay please?)

Day 12 - drive towards Kitt Peak Observatory, stay somewhere in vicinity for 2 nights

Day 13 - Kitt Peak Observatory (day and night tour)

Day 14 - drive to stay in resort in Phoenix/Scottsdale for 5 nights

Days 15-18 - relax in Phoenix/Scottsdale

Day 19 - depart Phoenix

We still need to plan what to do/see each day but this is the route we%26#39;ve come up with for the moment. Any further suggestions greatly appreciated. If this is too ambitious or driving distances not practical then please say. This is our 1st visit to Arizona so we need all the help and advice we can get please.

Thanks again for all help.

Good plan! Here%26#39;s some input..

Day 1 - arrive Phoenix, stay overnight

Day 2 - To Sedona

Day 3 - Sedona (I would think about another day and night in Sedona)

Day 4 - Drive to Page, stop and see Wupatki and Sunset Crater along the way. Stay Page

Day 5 - Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell. Stay Page

Day 6 - Drive to Monument Valley.

Day 7 - Monument Valley

Day 8 - Drive to Canyon de Chelly. Stay there for the night.

Day 9 - Drive to Show Low via Petrified Forest National Park.

Day 10 - Drive to VLA about 3 hours driving. Return to Show Low or continue to I25 in NM and down to Las Cruces for the night.

Day 11 - drive to Tombstone area. There are a few B%26amp;B%26#39;s or you can go to Tucson for the night.

Day 12 - Tucson and Kitt Peak Observatory

Day 13 - Tucson

Day 14 - Phoenix/Scottsdale

Day 15 Scottsdale

Day 16 Scottsdale

Day 17 Scottsdale

Day 18 Scottsdale

Day 19 - depart Phoenix

Thanks for all the replies. Taking Casa Azuls suggestions, would we be able to change as follows or would this mean too much driving:

Day 4 - drive to GC North Rim for the night.

Day 5 - Spend morning/early afternoon at GC North Rim, drive to Page for the night.

Day 6 - Visit Antelope Canyon, drive to Monument Valley for night

Day 7-10, as CasaAzul suggests.

Day 11 - drive to Tombstone, stay Astronomer%26#39;s Inn Benson.

Day 12-19 - as CasaAzul suggests

www.aztimesharerentals.com/

has anyone had any dealings with this agency? they sell off time shares for people i think, have properties at multiple resorts. any info let me know ,thanx

Planning for 3 week trip to south west

Im planning a 3 week tour of the south west in August. I%26#39;d be very grateful for advice/suggestions on the following itinery. We are 2 adults and 1 child.

Day 1 Arrive Las Vegas, drive to Zion area

Day 2 Tour Zion NP then to Page

Day 3 Page area attractions then to GCNP in time for sunset

Day 4 GCNP then to Sedona by nightfall

Day 5 Sedona

Day 6 Sedona and then to Phoenix

Day 7 Phoenix and then to Tuscan area

Day 8 Tuscon sights then to Tombstone

Day 9 Tombstone and Bisbee

Day 10 Maybe visit Mexico and then to Silver city NM

Day 11 Silver City then on to Alberquque

Day 12 see city then to Santa Fe

Day 13 Santa Fe

Day 14 Santa Fe to Durango CO

Day 15 Rail trip to Silverton then on to Monument Valley

Day 16 Monument Valley tour then onto Moab

Day 17 Moab area for Arches NP etc

Day 18 Moab to Bryce Canyon NP

Day 19 See Bryce Canyon NP then to Las Vegas

Days 20 and 21 LV

Planning for 3 week trip to south west

You have a decent plan and lots of driving to do. During the summer I would consider spending more time away from the hot desert areas of southern AZ! Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Durango. Also do not go into Mexican border towns, there is a drug war going on and it is very dangerous.

I also would recommend visiting Mesa Verde National Park after Durango and before going to Monument Valley.

Planning for 3 week trip to south west

I agree with CA that your trip is very ambitious. I%26#39;d try to spend more time at each destination, especially in Utah and northern AZ on the front end of the trip. I%26#39;d avoid Mexico and sacrifice southern AZ at that time of year due to the extreme heat in the lower desert. Plus, it will be easier to move on to your destinations in northern NM and Colorado. But it%26#39;s still a lot of driving. I%26#39;d even consider skipping New Mexico to focus on western CO and Moab etc. You%26#39;ll be covering an area that is larger than all of western Europe.

Forget Mexico. None of the border towns you could visit are safe right now.

Spend more time at GCNP. Unless you have plans to see something in Phoenix and Tucson (not Tuscan), there%26#39;s little point in spending one night each.

Tucson has the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, which is a zoo of desert wildlife and a botanical garden. During the heat of summer, it is necessary to get there very early as the animals will not be active during the heat of the day. It opens at 7 AM. You could drive from Sedona to Tucson, spend the night, go as early as possible to Desert Museum, and then continue on.

Backing up, however, I would agree with RedRox on dropping Southern Arizona and Southern New Mexico and spend more time in the northern areas of the states. You will become quite tired of the heat very quickly. It%26#39;s much hotter than you experience in London. Your trip is a ';drive by'; vacation as you have it. Relax and enjoy what you will be seeing.

Many thanks for those helpful suggestions. I hadn%26#39;t reckoned on the heat being so bad in southern Az. Is it completely out of the question (it%26#39;s just we may not get back to this part of the world)and is Phoenix really not worth a day?

If you were in Bath (Sedona), would you think it was worthwhile to drive to London (Phoenix) for a day? London is much more interesting IMO but I still wouldn%26#39;t bother for a day. And the afternoon temperature in PHX in August will be 115.

The beauty of the southwest will be found at the destinations, not in the drives to get there. Plan to spend more time at the places you pick to see. On a trip like yours, less is more. Time is the best thing you can spend in the parks and places like Sedona.

Wow, I%26#39;m exhausted just reading your itinerary! You are trying to cover an area in 3 weeks, that we have divided into at least five 2-3 week trips. And we go to AZ in Oct/Nov when it%26#39;s not so darned hot.

I know you want to see as much as possible while you are in the area, but the desert (Phoenix/Southern AZ) is just unbelievably hot in August. I would suggest that you cut back on the driving somewhat and concentrate on Northern AZ and the mountains of NM.

Here%26#39;s an example:

Drive from Las Vegas to Sedona

Sedona to Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon to Page (be sure to visit Antelope Canyon)

Page to Monument Valley

Monument Valley to Albuquerque

Albuquerque to Santa Fe

Santa Fe to Durango

Durango to Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde to Moab (Arches and Canyonlands NP)

Moab to Bryce and Zion Natl Parks

Zion to Las Vegas

Yes, you will miss some interesting places by eliminating the southern portion of your itinerary, but IMO you might enjoy the trip a great deal more if you can spend a little more time in each of these areas. These places are all quite doable in August too. While it will be plenty warm, it won%26#39;t be just unbearably HOT.

I agree, it is just too hot to do much in southern Arizona in the summer. Phoenix is great (I live here!) but it really is just a big city. There%26#39;s great hiking, but you have to be up and out the door by 6 am. Unless you like fancy shopping... then this is the place for you. From your itinerary, I%26#39;d guess you are more of the outdoorsy types!

There are some great spots in northern Arizona (aside from the Grand Canyon, of course!). Be sure to hike Oak Creek Canyon while in Sedona. It%26#39;s beautiful, and nice and cool (relatively speaking). Flagstaff is also lovely.

The drive from Sedona to Tucson is not the greatest, but you can get to Bisbee in one day%26#39;s drive. Bisbee is a great eccentric art town. We stayed at the Sleepy Dog Guest House. It%26#39;s high up on a hill with a gorgeous view of the town. Portal is also a good stop. There%26#39;s not much of a town, but it%26#39;s apparently a great bird watching area, and has a really lovely state park that might be worth the drive.

Unfortunately, I would also recommend staying away from the border, which is a shame because there is a great Mexican restaurant in Douglas.

And don%26#39;t miss Canyonlands National Park while in Moab - it%26#39;s amazingly gorgeous. I love that town, and there is so much to see and do right in that little corner of Utah.

Have a great trip, it sounds like a lot of fun!

Instead of Southern AZ/NM why not go west to California and visit Sequoia national park and Yosemite national park? Temperature wise it%26#39;ll be cooler and the scenery is unbelievable.....

Can%26#39;t thank you guys enough for all the input. I will certainly rethink the southern portion of our trip.

Hi Bob,

We%26#39;re (2 adults and 15 year old boy) also going to SW USA later in the year (July) for 3 weeks and I have been planning the trip for a while with the help of TA!

You might (or might not!) find our itinery of interest (although we are flying in/out of Phoenix rather than LV)

Arrive Phoenix. First night near airport.

Phoenix - Sedona (3 nights/2 full days Sedona)

Sedona - GCSR (2 nights/days at GCSR)

GCSR - PAGE (2 nights in Page)

Page - Monument Valley (1 night)

MV - Moab (3 nights in Moab)

Moab - Torrey (1 night Torrey)

Torrey - Bryce Canyon via scenic route 12 )2 nights Bryce)

Bryce - Zion (2 nights Zion)

Zion - LV (3 nights LV)

LV - Phoenix/Scottsdal for final 2 nights (rest!!)

Hope this helps.

recipes cream

Hotel/resort Scottsdale area

I am attending a conference in July for a few days at the Hyatt downtown but I will have a car. I am looking for a nice hotel/resort for myself, 17 year old son and his friend for a week in the area. I am looking at the Firesky Resort or the Gainey Hotel as a possible choice. Does anyone have any comments about these or perhaps is able to suggest a better option. Thanks for any tips.

Hotel/resort Scottsdale area

Of the two I would choose the Hyatt. Firesky%26#39;s pool is not as good for teens and there%26#39;s golf onsite at the Hyatt Gainey if they like that.

I saw your other posts. I totally agree that you should not stay downtown. The boys will be bored to tears unless they want to attend a Diamondbacks game - and most are at night during the week. Have you looked at th Arizona Grand? It%26#39;s a great family property with a nice water park and golf. It is next to the South Mountain Preserve for horseback riding, hiking or bike riding (they%26#39;d have to go early to avoid the heat!). Arizona Mills Mall is also close for indoor shopping and Gamewerks. They%26#39;re all suites and have recently opened some of their villas if you want kitchen facilities. It%26#39;s maybe 15-20 minutes to your meeting downtown.

Rates will go down in July so regardless of where you choose I%26#39;d advise you make reservations now then check back from time to time for specials. Often the Grand will get to around $100/nt in the summer. Same with the Pointe properties.

Hope you enjoy your visit.

Hotel/resort Scottsdale area

Thanks for the comments. Actually it is the Gainey Suites Hotel I am looking at not the Hyatt Gainey. I really would like to find a place with a suite instead of a room with double or queen beds for the three of us. Your idea to price watch is a good one.

Would not choose Gainey Suites with kids either. The Hyatt has some casitas by the pool that have multiple rooms if that helps.

If you%26#39;re there for a week, rent a condo through VRBO (vacation rentals by owner).It%26#39;s often a much better value.

I would also not recommend Firesky or Gainey Suites for what you describe.

Arizona Grand is a great suggestion.

You might also want to look into Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak. Great water features and some stuff to do nearby, though Arizona Grand still might be better - depends on your price.

You should also look into Marriott Desert Ridge, though that%26#39;s a bit of a drive from downtown Phoenix.

how to whistle with your tongue

Unique Restaurant

We are flying into Phx on a Sunday morning and making the drive to Sedona. Need to meet some friends for lunch who recently located to the Phx area. Can anyone recommend a conveniently located restaurant either close to the airport on somewhere on the way to Sedona but not too far out??? I had thought meeting in Cave Creek might be fun but need some ideas!! Help!

Unique Restaurant

When driving from Phoenix to Sedona and wanting a unique stop for lunch I always recommend Rock Springs Cafe in Black Canyon City. You might check with your friends to see where they live in Phoenix - if they are way out in east Mesa or south in Chandler that wouldn%26#39;t be good - and see what would be convenient for them.

Cave Creek does have some nice places for lunch and it%26#39;s not too far out of your way. El Encanto for Mexican brunch on a Sunday would be nice.

Unique Restaurant

If you were planning on going to Cave Creek anyway, you may find Horny Toad or Satisfied Frog (no relations) to be pretty unique choices, but not on the way. Going north from the airport, you can take Pkwy 51 to Cactus Rd (about 12 miles) and have breakfast at Chompies at cactus and Tatum Blvd. http://chompies.com. Their new location is very unique. Then you can continue north onI-17 to Sedona.

The suggestions for Rock Springs and the Cave Creek locations are good, but...

Cave Creek is pretty far off the path from Phoenix to Sedona. It%26#39;s a good 20-25 minutes east of I-17, so it will add time to your trip (if that matters).

I love Rock Springs Cafe - stop there for a take-out pie if nothing else, but it%26#39;s going to be a bit of a drive for your friends, unless they live in extreme north Phoenix / Anthem.

If your friends are not too far from downtown Phoenix, you should stop at Matt%26#39;s Big Breakfast, which is in downtown Phoenix. It%26#39;s a short drive from the airport and more or less on the way to northern AZ.

It%26#39;s a tiny bldg., and there may be a wait, but it%26#39;s worth it.

Also, you might consider First Watch downtown, but check to make sure they serve on Sunday.

First Time to Lake Havasu coming from Salt Lake City

We are considering taking a trip with our 6 kids to Lake Havasu for Spring Break (in March). We are bringing a camp trailer and want to stay somewhere family friendly. We are wondering a few things.. is the Lake warm enough to swim/boat on? Do you know of a good RV park that has a swimming pool and also allows you to build fires in your own pit. Is there alot of things for younger kids to do? (ours are ages 4-13). Also, do you know the best way to get there from SLC and a good stop half way through?

thanks for any help!

First Time to Lake Havasu coming from Salt Lake City

The lake/river is always fairly cold. People still swim in it though. It depends on your tolerance.

From Salt Lake: I-15 south to Las Vegas, south on US 93/95, south on US 95 to I-40, east across the river to AZ 95 south.

First Time to Lake Havasu coming from Salt Lake City

thanks for your info!

We aren%26#39;t totally set on Lake Havasu.. we just want to get somewhere warm. We actually live in eastern Idaho. Still cold here. Any other suggestions, in that part of Arizona with things to do with kids? (Last year we visted Zion%26#39;s Park and my kids loved it). But we wanted a bit warmer. Are there other things to see/do in Arizona?

Hi kizzy, here are some websites which might help you find an RV park:

http://www.rv-clubs.us/rv_campgrounds.html

http://www.rvparkhunter.com/page2.asp

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/index.html

We were in Needles last year with our travel trailer and it was *too* hot!

Here is an RV park in Lake Havasu that might work for you:

http://www.blackmeadowlanding.com/

And several others - www.go-arizona.com/Lake-Havasu-City/Camping/

2 Days in Page.

We had to make some last minutes changers to our upcoming AZ trip. We will leave the South Rim, drive to Page, stay there 2 nights, and return to Sedona in mid afternoon. I desperately need some advise on a few exciting activities and the best way to sandwich then together. We are leaving in 4 days.

Is it possible to see the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon on the same day? Has anyone tried the Overland hiking tour or the Slot Canyon Hummer Adventures? Are there any tours of the Dam? What else should we see around Page?

Thanks!

2 Days in Page.

Hi Gene,

Thank you for traveling to our beautiful part of the U.S. we appreciate your visit!

There%26#39;s plenty to do in Page and surrounding area for two days, I could easily spend a week there.

Yes, you can easily do both upper and lower Antelope Canyon. The Navajo guided tours of upper Antelope begin downtown Page and they are usually about 2 hours long. The lower section you drive out to the area, park and pay admission and walk thru - this usually takes a couple of hours as well.

I have not done the Overland hiking tour, however, I have heard good reports. You can also hike yourself to Horseshoe Bend - located a short distance west of Page on Hwy #89 - there%26#39;s a parking area and a trail that goes uphill then downhill to the overlook. You can easily do this in a couple of hours as well.

Lake Powell Resorts and Marina has sightseeing and dinner cruises on Lake Powell departing from Wahweap Lodge on the lake. You can see this information at:

http://lakepowell.com/activities/index.cfm

Of course there%26#39;s kayaking on Lake Powell and there%26#39;s an outfitter in Page that will assist with that as well.

The Glen Canyon Dam has a great visitors center and a walking tour of the Dam as well.

So as you can see, there%26#39;s more that enough to keep you busy for two days and longer. Enjoy your trip!

2 Days in Page.

There%26#39;s also the smooth water raft trip down the Colorado River starting below the dam.

www.raftthecanyon.com

Use the search box in the Page forum for the Overland and Hummer tours. You might find someone who has commented on them. For example I found this thread where someone wrote about their experience on the Hummer Adventure.

tripadvisor.com/…11556787

There are also a few hiking trails in the area. You can find out about these at the visitors center by the dam. I went of the ';Hanging Garden'; hike and really enjoyed it.

3 weeks to explore california and arizona fr 18/10 to 13/11

I am planning a 3 week vacation to the above plces and hoping to take in as many national parks as possible. my intinery are as follows can someone advise me of an laternative route or a better plan or a different park to see to avoid the cold PLS.

THANKS

18 oct-fly into LA Need to be in LA till 24/10

25/10 drive to grand canyon ( pls suggest a stopover,thks)

26/10 continue journey to grand canyon and plnning to stay there for 3 nights in kachina lodge.

27/10 n 28/10 in grand canyon

29/10 drive to bruce canyon for 2 nights ( pls advise if it will be too cold)

31/10 drive to zion park for 2 nights. ( can someone advise of a place to stay pls)

2/11 drive to death valley for 2 nights ( pls recommend a place to stay thks)

4/11 drive to las vegas for 3 nights

7/11 fly from LV TO SAN FRANSCISCO FOR ?2 OR 3 NIGHTS

10/11 frive from SF to LA via pacific coast highway. staying halfway for 1-2 nights.

12/11 stay in venice beach for 1 night

13/11 fly home from LA to singapore.

I was going to do san diego as well but run out of time. If anyone can advise me of a different route taking in different parks i would be most grateful. Am i trying to achieve too much and is there too much driving??? will i just fly from LA TO LV???

Thanks for all yr help in advance.

YSH

3 weeks to explore california and arizona fr 18/10 to 13/11

you might have time to get to san diego. you%26#39;ve planned too much time in some of these places.

25/10 drive to grand canyon ( pls suggest a stopover,thks) - just drive straight through; if you must stop, then Barstow CA, Needles CA or Kingman AZ.

26/10 continue journey to grand canyon and plnning to stay there for 3 nights in kachina lodge. - 2 nights is plenty - if you haven%26#39;t already, make your reservation for a lodge now. go to sedona for at least a night and trim the other parks as well

27/10 n 28/10 in grand canyon

29/10 drive to bryce canyon for 2 nights ( pls advise if it will be too cold) - one night is enough; yes, it will be quite cool

31/10 drive to zion park for 2 nights. ( can someone advise of a place to stay pls) - one night is enough; and cool here as well; there are hotels in the town of springdale

2/11 drive to death valley for 2 nights ( pls recommend a place to stay thks) - one night is enough; there aren%26#39;t many places to stay

4/11 drive to las vegas for 3 nights

7/11 fly from LV TO SAN FRANSCISCO FOR ?2 OR 3 NIGHTS

10/11 drive from SF to LA via pacific coast highway. staying halfway for 1-2 nights.

12/11 stay in venice beach for 1 night - do you have a place to stay there? i don%26#39;t recall any that are nice; this is primarily a residential neighborhood in la

13/11 fly home from LA to singapore.

3 weeks to explore california and arizona fr 18/10 to 13/11

I agree with bobbear--you are spending too many nights in each park.

1. Drive from LA to Grand Canyon. You can do this in one day if you get started early and don%26#39;t get caught in LA morning traffic. However, it is an 8 hr drive and in late October it is dark by 6 p.m., so perhaps a stopover in Kingman or Barstow.

2. Three nights in GC is not necessary unless you plan to do some extended hiking into the canyon. I would go to Sedona first, and spend one or two night, then two nights in CG.

3. Bryce, Zion, and Death Valley--one night stay should be enough unless you plan lots of hiking. You can leave Death Valley in the late afternoon and spend the 2nd night in Las Vegas. It%26#39;s just couple hours drive. Place to stay in Death Valley--suggest Furnace Creek Ranch (the resort, not the Inn)

www.furnacecreekresort.com

By cutting out the extra 3 nights in these parks, you will have time to see San Diego. Two or 3 nights there would be excellent.

We go to AZ in late Oct/Nov every year. Great time to visit, no crowds. Grand Canyon should be nice weather, but chilly at night. Bryce and Zion, somewhat cooler. They have cool nights even in the summer. Death Valley will be WARM. Make reservations for accomodations at Grand Canyon and Death Valley, as soon as possible.

Along the Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Barbara is a nice stopover, or Cambria. Recommend that you try to visit Hearst Castle (San Simeon, near Cambria).

www.hearstcastle.org

Thanks so much for both yr input and thanks for yr sugfgestions. will certainly cut short my stay in the parks. can u recommend and nice places to go to since i now have a few days to spare?? would yosemite park be a good idea? can u pls tell me if there is alot of difference between the parks i ve chosen aprt from grand canyon??

thanks again.

I highly recommend that you go to the top of the Arizona forum and click on the Sticky for trip reports. If you go to page 3 by clicking on the 3 at the bottom, you will find David4758%26#39;s report.

This is a good one for someone coming over the pond to the southwest for the first time. It contains lots of good information, and it%26#39;s very amusing, too!

Hope that you have a great trip, and read some of the other trip reports, too, if you have the time....

Thks will do that now.

ysh

Sports Bar/Restaurant near sports complex?

heading up from Tucson with my 7-year-old to catch a Spring training game on Fri. 3/20 and low and behold, our beloved, and underserving AZ Wildcats are playing in the Tourney at 4 PM. Is there any sports bar/restaurant anyone can recommend near the complex in Peoria that we could run over to and watch the game?

Sports Bar/Restaurant near sports complex?

No problem, take your pick. They are all around the complex.

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clear up black spot

travel from Phoenix to Sedonna

How many hours will it take me to drive from the Marriott in Scottsdale to Enchantment Resort in Sedonna?

travel from Phoenix to Sedonna

The drive is an easy one. It%26#39;s highway almost all the way and will take about 2 hours.

Just back from Sedona Summit

We stayed in building 34 upstairs and had a very nice, new, clean unit. When I called earlier this month, I was told by the front desk that the Mesa units were better, but later in the month, I finally got the real scoop from reservations...Sunset one- bedrooms are the newest and nicest. While they have queen beds instead of kings and slightly smaller square footage, they are nicer and in the newest buildings. We had a huge bathroom with jacuzzi tub and separate walk-in shower, 2 flat screen TVs in bedroom and living room, washer/dryer and full kitchen with the ever popular granite countertops. Balcony overlooked the pool and hot tub and had a good view of the red rocks. My only complaint is the ';pleather couch'; - very slippery. (Our family is Diamond Resort members, maybe members get the newer units.)

Brace yourself for the HARD SELL upon check-in. Ridiculously deceiving and time consuming process. JUST SAY NO (about 5 times), unless you truly are interested in buying a timeshare.

I liked the location of the Summit - away from the construction and congestion of the Y area. If you can wait a year to go to Sedona, I would. The road work is supposed to be complete this year and should make a huge difference in your experience.

Weather was beautiful - needed a jacket and layers the first few days and at night, but sunny skies prevailed.

Restaurants:Had a nice lunch at Rene at Tlaquepaque(which really is a lovely shopping experience),a boisterous and typical mexican food meal at Javelina Cantina, delicious pizza and quiet atmosphere at Apizza Heaven. Drinks at Enchantment was enjoyable on the patio at sunset. We had no trouble getting past the security at the resort. Also had dinner at El Tovar at the Grand Canyon. Loved the historic lodge atmosphere, the fires in the lobby and dining room were a welcome sight after a very cold day at the park. Food was fine, but not wonderful. We had a room in the eastern end of Kachina%26#39;s east bldg. so we felt like we were practicallly staying at El Tovar - a 60 second walk. Beautiful Native American items at the Hopi House - old pawn jewelry, pottery,sandpaintings,etc. We took RedRox advice and entered through the east gate and worked our way over to the village. We had no trouble finding parking at each of the lookouts. Sunset at Yavapai Point wasn%26#39;t crowded, either. This time of year the position of the sun isn%26#39;t perfect for sunsets, but the Canyon is absolutely breathtaking any time.

Back to Sedona...Pink Jeeps - I liked the tour much more than I thought I would - incredible suspension on those jeeps, so you don%26#39;t feel jostled or rattled to death. Guide was informative and fun. We learned a lot about the natural history and geology of the area. Took the Broken Arrow tour - exclusive to Pink Jeeps and not too long.

Hikes: Brin%26#39;s mesa from the west off Dry Creek Road -need a high clearance vehicle to get to trailhead from that direction. Burn on top of mesa is still very apparent -but great views from top of mesa and down Soldier%26#39;s pass a few hundred feet. Couthouse Butte - easy,scenic loop hike.

Sunsets: Sunset from lower Red Rocks loop was beautiful. We parked on the side of the road and walked up a hill side of a vacant lot for a great view of Cathedral Rock, et al. Earlier we enjoyed walking along Oak Creek at the Red Rocks Crossing area and catching an early sunset there.

All in all, we loved our time in beautiful Sedona. Great easy day hikes. lovely drives up Oak Creek Canyon, Red Rocks loop, Dry Creek/Boynton Canyon, plenty of restaurant choices, great weather, beautiful fruit trees and manzanita in bloom and sunset heaven!

Just back from Sedona Summit

Thanks for the detailed report. And glad that you enjoyed your stay in Sedona. Not surprising, but it%26#39;s hard to imagine or understand until you visit for yourself. The same for the jeep tours. So many people resist beforehand, thinking it%26#39;s a touristy, gimmick. Not so, as you discovered. In fact, doing a jeep tour here in Sedona is generally the highlight of the vacation for many, and at the very least, it%26#39;s an educational and entertaining way to get introduced and oriented to the spirit of Sedona.

Hope you%26#39;ll return again soon.

Just back from Sedona Summit

Thanks for all your help, RedRox, in planning our trip. You are a wonderful ambassador for Sedona. My only regret is not eating at Elote and not staying longer!

Yeah, the difference between Javelina Cantina and Elote Cafe is like night and day. So you have a reason to come back.

Sounds like you got to do a lot on your visit to AZ and enjoyed it. That is what it is all about. Glad you had a good time. Yeah, that RedRox can give some good advice...lol.

Things to do for teenagers

I will be staying at a condo in Scottsdale in April with my husband, my 13 year old daughter and her friend. Any must-sees for the teenage set? They wanted to do a water park, but they all seem closed for the season. We were also thinking of a dude ranch type experience -- and I would love them to experience some Native American culture.

Unfortunately, they are not big hikers and do not enjoy museums. (I take no responsibility for this!!!) We will be going to Sedona and the Grand Canyon, but I%26#39;m looking for some fun for them in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.

Thanks!!

Things to do for teenagers

They might enjoy spending a few hours at Desert Ridge. It%26#39;s an outdoor mall with good shopping and restaurants and people watching for them to hang out. If there is any way that you can trick them into going to the Heard museum, they will experience the native American culture and may change their attitude about museums.

Here are a few other ideas: www.azcentral.com

Enjoy your visit.

Things to do for teenagers

If you are here in the first half of April try going to Native Trails for some native American culture. The Civic Center area is nice and would make a good outing for lunch.

scottsdalecvb.com/planning-tools/…

If you can coax them into visiting The Little Red School House for just a few minutes they%26#39;ll get a feel for life here 100 years ago.

http://www.scottsdalemuseum.com/

Ron%26#39;s suggestion of Desert Ridge is a good one. They will also like the trendy stores at Fashion Square Mall.

Visit Carefree/Cave Creek area for lunch and stop at Heard Museum North at El Pedregal. Reata Pass Steakhouse/Greasewood Flat is a historic stage coach stop with atmosphere and good sandwiches for lunch. Head out toward the Apache Trail and stop at Goldfield Ghost Town (although they are probably too old for that). Also, there%26#39;s horseback riding at MacDonald%26#39;s Farm in north Scottsdale.

Since the water parks are not open yet and you probably don%26#39;t have a big pool at your condo ... maybe you could book a service at one of the resort spas then spend the day using their pools and amenities. I do it myself for a bit of a vacation from daily life. Westin Kierland, The Phoenecian, Fairmont Princess, or either Marriot at Camelback or Desert Ridge would work.

Have a great trip!

Great suggestions! I will look into all of them...and I love the idea of booking a spa day - I hadn%26#39;t thought of that.

Thanks very much!!

So glad you like the spa idea. It is something the girls will never forget! Many are offering specials this time of year. Have fun!

These ideas may lengthen your Sedona part of the trip, but thought I would tell you anyway.

There is a cowboy chuckwagon dinner show called Blazin%26#39; M Ranch in Clarkdale, AZ, about 16 miles from Sedona (near Jerome and Cottonwood) with shows and a little town for shopping and dinner. Check out http://www.verdecanyonrr.com/

There is also listed on that page the Verde canyon railroad with a great train trip.

In Jerome there is the Haunted Hamburger with great views all the way to Sedona and a hamburger bar.

Then there are the Pink Jeep tours in Sedona not to be missed. Be sure to take the one with Devils staircase and she will never forget this trip!

Finally, back in Phoenix, I find that young people like the atmosphere at Alice Cooper%26#39;s Cooperstown sports bar/Hard Rock type place with great home cooking, and a lively loud crowd.

I would also take a young person to Peoria, AZ on the west side of Phoenix (only about a 30 minute drive at the most) to the Space Challenger Museum. It%26#39;s a tremendous place for kids to visit. www.azchallenger.org They even have ride simulators and a space camp.

Since she is a girl, she may like the Bead Museum in Glendale, very close to the Challenger Museum. It%26#39;s a cute museum with a store that sells beads from around the world.

If you do go to the west side to the two museums, there is a chocolate factory with free tastes in Glendale too! It%26#39;s called Cerreta.

Have fun!!

Wow! You guys are great! I really appreciate the ideas -- and they seem to be right on the money...now I%26#39;m thinking we don%26#39;t have enough time in Arizona!!!

One night stop over to LA

Hi,

We are travelling from Grand Canyon to LA, we would probably be better stopping overnight on the way. Is Scottsdale ideal? Where is best place (area ) so it is not out of our way?

Any suggestions would be really appreciated

Thanks Lisa x

One night stop over to LA

Hi Lisa,

The most direct route from Grand Canyon to LA will be along I-40, not I-17 to I-10. Do you want to visit Scottsdale in particular? It will be out of your way, but would make a nice change for you. I%26#39;d suggest staying near Old Town Scottsdale as it has the most charm. Let us know what time of year and budget and we can give you some hotel ideas.

One night stop over to LA

We will stop anywhere direct, so if it is a bit out the way then I would prefer somewhere en route. PLease give me some ideas, we basically want a room for the night basic,clean and as cheap as possible. Meal out, bed and breakfast, that%26#39;s it really.

Cheers x

Oh it will be August this year

xx

The half way point would be around Needles CA, or if you get away late from the Canyon you could stay in Kingman. Since I%26#39;m not familiar with either of those try posting on AZ or CA forums for some ideas. One thing I do know is it will be hot in August :-)

I-40 west to I-15 south is the most direct route. Kingman, Needles, Barstow are the three towns that you could stop overnight. All have many basic decent hotels and motels, something like Day%26#39;s Inn or Best Western. I%26#39;ve driven this route many many times and rarely make reservations. Occasionally I get a surprise when there is an event in town like an antique car rally. You might pick up a hotel/motel coupon booklet in a rest area or coffee shop along the way. And yes, it will be a very hot drive. Make sure the air conditioner works in your car and bring and drink plenty of water. Buy gasoline in Arizona before you cross the border to California if you want cheaper prices. It%26#39;s an easy, all highway desert drive until you reach the greater metropolitan area of Los Angeles. Then....traffic!

Many people make this drive in one day. It takes about 8 hours.

Awww, thanks guys for helping me out. You have given me loads of info to go off.

So it can be done in about 8 hours?? That is do--able I suppose. That was going to be my next question but you have saved me asking it, plus it saves a night

Thanks again.

xx

Just to help you confirm your decision...I live in Southern California, vacation in AZ every year and have made all of these various trips several times. Definately drive straight through if you are up to it. I would never suggest anyone spend the night in Needles or Barstow, maybe Kingman. But I would hate for your first night%26#39;s stay in California be in one of the least appealing cities in the State. Needles makes Hell look like a nice place to stay, especially in August. And Barstow%26#39;s claim to fame is it%26#39;s where our Marine%26#39;s store all of their munitions. PLEASE, drive straight through.

Stuckintraffic,

I am going to follow your advice and do the full trip. Early get up methinks!! Thankyou.

I will imagine it as being a Scotland- Highland to Lands End adventure with heat! (that would be about the same length of time)

Scottsdale- trolley/restuaurants

I will be on the McKellips and N Scottsdale location

I think there is a free trolley in Scottsdale, in fact what I printed off indicates 2 - one downtown and one below it. Is it my imagination or does this trolley extend to just north of where I will be?

Also does anyone know of any restaurants nearby where I am staying?

Thanks

Scottsdale- trolley/restuaurants

You%26#39;re right - there is the Downtown Trolley and the Neighborhood Trolley which goes as far south as Roosevelt (about 1/2 mile north of McKellips). You can also use the free Orbit minibuses that go to Tempe. You%26#39;d be on the Orbit Earth line which goes to Tempe Marketplace - several restaurants there.

There are some restaurants along Scottsdale Rd. A good Italian place (can%26#39;t think of the name right now) but mostly chain types. Atlas Bistro on Scottsdale between McDowell and Thomas is wonderful! Duke%26#39;s Sports Bar on McDowell is good casual food. George%26#39;s Gyros on McKellips has fabulous sandwiches. There%26#39;s a Hometown Buffet on Scottsdale Rd.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Scottsdale- trolley/restuaurants

Thanks I wondered what that orbit thing was. Wish that trolley was a bit closer. First time that I have not stayed in metrocenter area. However I have been to Old town before.

row cell

Grand Canyon to Las Vegas Directions

What are the best driving directions? I%26#39;ve already done a Hoover Dam tour a few years ago, but it would be cool to pass over it again. Are there any sites between the 2 worth stopping for?

I anticipate leaving the Grand Canyon Sunday morning sometime.

Thanks

Grand Canyon to Las Vegas Directions

The primary route does pass over Hoover Dam. Hwy 64 from GCNP south to Williams, I-40 west to Kingman, Hwy 93 north to Las Vegas.

For diversion you could drive on the old Route 66 from Ash Fork or Seligman to Kingman. It is more scenic than I-40 and adds an hour to your driving time plus stops.

Grand Canyon to Las Vegas Directions

Thanks. What is there to see/do on Route 66?

If I a correct, the I-40 directions is about a 4-5 hour drive. So then taking Rte 66 would make it about a 6 hour drive?

THanks

This could also be your last chance to drive over Hoover Dam, since I believe the bypass bridge is scheduled to open next year (they want to get cars off the dam for security reasons). You%26#39;ll still be able to park and visit it though.

Along Route 66 in Arizona on the way to Las Vegas there are many things to see:

-Grand Canyon Caverns (one of the rarest of dry caverns- average 8% humidity + a giant sloth %26amp; mummified bobcat)

- Hualapai Indian Reservation

stop by their hotel in Peach Springs and visit their gift shop or have a traditional Hualapai taco + they have a saltwater pool

- Drive by Valentine, AZ

very picturesque + has a post office (for Valentines day postmark!)

-stop in at Seligmans old diner

stop in to see old James Dean memoribilia

- Drive by the old airline boneyard

looks like an old airport right before you get into Kingman

- Drive through Chloride (used to be a ghost town) off of HWY 93

it%26#39;s just a few miles past Kingman on the way to Vegas- drive through Chloride to the end of the street to see Roy Purcells giant rock paintings

Hope this helps.

Have fun!!

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