Itinerary Help, Thanks!

Ok, finally got confirmation of in park lodging. Here is the itinerary that I%26#39;ve put together for 3 young adults and would like some feedback/suggestions.

Thanks!

*****4/6/2009****

10:00 a.m.

arrive in phoenix

pick up rental car and drive to Grand Canyon

Have lunch on the way

2:30 p.m.

arrive in grand canyon national park

try to check in earlier bright angel lodge

if not, stop by some of the view points

4:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Dinner

Viewpoints

Watch sunset

Ranger Talk

IMAX?

Anything else that we can do on the first day?

*****4/7/2009****

6:00 a.m.

quick breakfast and watch sunrise

check out bright angel lodge

plan to spend 5-6 hrs hiking south kaibab trail (will see how far we can go)

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

make it back to the rim

check into Yavapai lodge

5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

rest and dinner

watch sunset

visit downtown Tusayan?

Anything else that we can do in the evening?

******4/8/09*******

6:30 a.m.

breakfast and watch sunrise

visit other viewpoints

9:00 a.m.

checkout from Yavapai lodge

drive to sedona, exit the park via the east rim road

stopping at all the viewpoints in this area

visit Cameron Trading Post.

Take the Wupatki/Sunset Crater loop road (for Indian ruins, viewpoints, lava walk, etc.)

oak creek canyon

stop by Flagstaff to eat lunch

2:30 p.m.

arrive at Sedona

try to check into sky ranch lodge earlier

visit chapel of the holy cross

4:00 p.m.

pink jeep broken arrow tour, may be?

6:00 p.m.

dinner and watch sunset

shopping?

4/9/09

6:30 a.m.

watch sunrise

breakfast

Hike one or two of the following trails:

The West Fork Oak Creek Trail

Fay Canyon Hike

Llama Trail

Visit Red Rock Canyon

6:30 p.m.

dinner

*******4/10/09******

6:30 a.m.

sunrise

12:00 leaving sedona, driving back to phoenix

Itinerary Help, Thanks!

Phoenix to Grand Canyon is about a 4 hour drive....that%26#39;s after dealing with luggage and car rental and without lunch on the way. So you may get there later than 2:30. The IMAX theater is actually in Tusayan. (Not clear if you realized that.) Not much night life. You%26#39;ll probably be glad to just kick back and relax after your full day of hiking.

You may arrive in Sedona later than you think also. Since that week is spring break for some, you might need a reservation for the Pink Jeep tour. I%26#39;d check into that.

Overall, sounds like a great trip. You%26#39;re giving yourselves time to really enjoy the area.

Itinerary Help, Thanks!

I think you have a pretty good itinerary worked out.

You will probably have time to visit downtown Tusayan when you drive out for the IMAX show. It will take maybe 10 minutes---Tusayan is basically a wide spot in the road with a bunch of motels, some restaurants and souvenir stores and an airport.

Shopping in Sedona: Tlaquepaque is a fun place to shop and eat.

Enjoy AZ, it will most definitely be a change from Chicago :-)

I can%26#39;t remember if I mention it or not, but Sky Ranch Lodge offers dicounts thru them for the Pink Jeep/Broken Arrow tour. Call them and check to see if the offer is still available and book it thru them!

SJG

Thanks everyone for your feedback, really appreciate it.

Yes, I know that IMAX theatre is in Tusayan and the pink jeep discount from sky ranch lodge. I%26#39;ve learned a lot of these info from this forum:)

I have made some changes to our itinerary since I%26#39;ve decided to visit the Antelope Canyon in Page. I know that our schedule on the 3rd day is pretty tight and would appreciate any feedback on whether it%26#39;s feasible or not.

Thanks again for all of your great help!

*****4/6/2009****

10:00 a.m.

arrive in phoenix

pick up rental car and drive to Grand Canyon

Have lunch on the way

2:30 p.m.

arrive in grand canyon national park

try to check in earlier bright angel lodge

if not, stop by some of the view points

4:00 - 8:30 p.m.

West Viewpoints

Watch sunset

Dinner

Ranger Talk

IMAX?

*****4/7/2009****

6:00 a.m.

quick breakfast and watch sunrise at East viewpoints

plan to spend 5-6 hrs hiking south kaibab trail (will see how far we can go)

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

make it back to the rim

5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

rest and dinner

watch sunset

visit downtown Tusayan?

******4/8/09*******

6:00 a.m.

watch sunrise

6:30 a.m.

checkout from lodge

exit the GC park via the east rim road

drive to Cameron Trading post

have breakfast

9:00 a.m

drive to antelope canyon

will attempt to get on the 11:00 a.m. upper canyon tour and hopefully see the sunbeam

spend 2 hrs at upper canyon

have lunch

and spend 2hrs or so at lower canyon

go to Horseshoe Bend

5:00 p.m.

leave Page, drive to Sedona

Take the Wupatki/Sunset Crater loop road (for Indian ruins, viewpoints, lava walk, etc.)

Note: not sure if we should spend the nite at Page or Flagstaff or drive all the way to Sedona on this day since the schedule is pretty tight.

*****4/9/09*******

6:30 a.m.

watch sunrise

breakfast

Visit Chapel of Holy Cross

Visit Red Rock Canyon

Visit Oak Creek Canyon

Hike one or two of the following trails:

The West Fork Oak Creek Trail

Fay Canyon Hike

Llama Trail

6:30 p.m.

dinner

shopping around sedona

*******4/10/09******

6:30 a.m.

sunrise

7:00 a.m. pink jeep broken arrow tour

9:30 a.m. checkout and visit any places in Sedona that we haven%26#39;t visited

11:30 a.m. leaving sedona, driving back to phoenix

Skip downtown Tusayan. there is nothing there but hotels and a few fast food joints and the IMAX. IMAX is the only reason to go there.

Your day in Page has too much going on. If you intend to do it all then spend the night there (or Flagstaff) and drive to Sedona the next day. The drive takes 3 hours. Add 2 hours if you intend to do Wupatki/Sunset Loop. Subtract one hour if you stay in Flag.

You will drive through Oak Creek Canyon to get to Sedona. Do your hike there at West Fork as you arrive if it%26#39;s in the day time. You don%26#39;t need to visit Oak Creek Canyon on the following day. One hike that day will be plenty. Choose Fay Canyon on the west side or Bell Rock pathway on the 179 corridor. It%26#39;s near the Chapel.

RedRox,

Thanks for your feedback, really appreciate it. I agree that we are doing too much on the 3rd day and should probably stay in Page or Flagstaff. I will try Flagstaff first. I also agree with your advice on Oak Creek Canyon.