Shhh... it's a surprise!

I%26#39;m surprising my husband for the big 4-0! His dream is to see the Grand Canyon and he has no clue we will be on our way there in just 2 weeks! We will be flying into Phx then staying 2 nights at Enchantment Resort, 1 night at El Tovar %26amp;amp; 2 nights back at Enchantment before heading back home. (breaking up the trip a bit since we will be traveling with a 4 yr old) I%26#39;ve booked the Broken Arrow Pink Jeep Tour for our second day in Sedona. I%26#39;ve also reserved a table for dinner at the El Tovar dining room. Nothing else scheduled as of yet ... here%26#39;s a few questions ...

1. Weather - what%26#39;s it like currently? I%26#39;m packing for 3 of us ... jeans/tshirts during the day but sweatshirts at night or jackets????

2. Unique Restaurants - do you have any suggestions? Not looking for upscale but more importantly unique food (Cowboy Club?) and/or stunning views. Do I need to make reservations in advance??

3. Restaurant Patios - are they open at this time of year??

4. Lunch Spots - Any suggestions where to stop for lunch on the way to the Grand Canyon??

What am I missing???? Trying not to do too much planning so we can relax and simply enjoy ourselves .... but I%26#39;m getting VERY excited!

Shhh... it's a surprise!

He%26#39;s a lucky man!

Best packing advice is layers, layers, layers. One of each item you mentioned and maybe even shorts in Sedona. Sedona could be 60s to 70s daytime with 40s at night. Grand Canyon will be cooler, something like 60s day and 30s night. But we%26#39;ve also occasionally gotten some springtime snow.

Unique restaurants in Sedona....Pizza Picasso (not your ordinary pizza), Red Planet Diner (very casual, spaceship/aliens theme). Nice restaurants are Cowboy Club, Dahl %26amp; DiLuca, Cafe Elote, and of course the restaurant at Enchantment, and many others. Reservations are a good idea at the nicer restaurants. Don%26#39;t know when patios would open...check directly with the restaurants.

For driving to Grand Canyon, go in from the south and exit via the east rim road....or vice versa. Whenever you do the east entrance/exit, on the way from/to Sedona take the Wupatki/Sunset Crater loop road just off Hwy 89 a little north of Flagstaff for some more sightseeing/exploring.

You%26#39;ll enjoy this trip immensely!

Shhh... it's a surprise!

One way to get your 4 year old involved is to either take along or watch ahead the animated movie ';CARS';. It ';takes place'; in the southwest desert and will give your child a unique appreciation for all the small towns and natural beauty you will see on your trip.

Sounds like an awesome trip! I too have a big birthday coming up, but add 10 to your husbands, lol!!

Maybe plan some picnics for Sedona or the drive to GC. Possibly stop in Flagstaff for lunch. Plenty of good places plus a wonderful museum.

Day 1 arrive and drive to Sedona.

Day 2 Sedona

Day 3 drive to GC. I would enter via East Entrance, stopping at Wupatki and Sunset Crater Nat Mon for a picnic and a visit. Your 4 year old will enjoy the Junior Ranger programs at all National Parks and Monuments, answer questions and get a badge! Dinner at El Tovar. If skies are clear, check out the stars, Milky Way etc.

Day 4 Visit the park. Maybe even a short hike (even 100 yards) into the canyon so your kiddo can say they ';Hiked the Canyon';. There are shirts you can buy that say that. My kid loved that at that age. lunch then back to Sedona via the Southern Entrance. Maybe stop and see the IMAX if your kid would enjoy it. Stay in Sedona

Day 5 Sedona again.

Day 6 Back to Phoenix and home

Sounds like a great birthday gift! I looked up the average temperature for the Grand Canyon for April, and it is the 60%26#39;s during the day and the twenties at night. (The early mornings would also be in the 20%26#39;s too.) I would suggest bringing jackets or sweatshirts for the evening. The weather here is supposed to go up to the 80%26#39;s next week, so you may need shorts here if that continues!

For activities:

Pink Jeep tours (reserve early) and Uptown

Tlaquepaque and the Chapel of the Holy Cross

Red Rock State Park

Jerome (old mining town): lunch at the Mile High Cafe

Add Dahl and D%26#39;Luca or Cucina Rustica to the dining list!

I don%26#39;t have any answers to your questions because I%26#39;m in the trip planning stages myself. But I had to comment because I%26#39;m doing the exact thing for my husband for his 4-0 in June!! It%26#39;s been so fun planning a surprise. He has NO idea where we%26#39;re going. I hope you guys have the time of your lives!

Went through Sedona last year %26amp; my kids enjoyed the Coffee Pot for breakfast (just thought I%26#39;d throw that in) for a reasonable priced Yummy breakfast. I remember a fantastic banana pancake. They serve great omelets as well.They are nothin%26#39; fancy but great sevice %26amp; great food.

Thanks everyone for your input! It%26#39;s incredibly helpful ... my daughter has been watching CARS and loving it. You have no clue how hard it is to keep this trip secret and especially away from the ears of a 4 yr old! I%26#39;m suprising my hubby at dinner on his bday 3/27 and it will give him a day to soak it all up before we depart on 3/29! Booked an in room massage for him at Enchantment today ... can%26#39;t wait to splurge and get away! Will post a follow up in later days ...