Hey Folks,

I just learned that my husband in attending two conferences in Phoenix, in May, and we get to go with him. Because our kids are in school (ages 14 and 12) we will fly out to meet him (from Mass) on Thursday night and we return to Mass on Monday morning. We'll be stayin at the Marriot Desert Ridge Resort and the Point South Mountain Resort. My preliminary plan is on Friday to drive out to Sedona early and spend the day. Saturday, take a tour of the Grand Canyon and Sunday possibly check out Flagstaff and the local area. I would appreciate your comments if you think this is practical and what tours would you suggest, especially for the Grand Canyon? I've read a lot of good things about the Pink Jeep tours in Sedona.

I appreciate any comments or suggestions.

Is there anything in particular you want to see in Flagstaff? If not, here is what I would do:

Spend Friday in Sedona. See (at least) the Chapel of the Holy Cross, maybe climb up Bell Rock. Take a Pink Jeep Tour (Broken Arrow -- the boys will love it. Also maybe visit Red Rock State Park and Slide Rock State Park.

On Saturday, drive up to the Grand Canyon, going in the South Entrance. You really don't need to do a tour. There are shuttles that go to all of the points west of Grand Canyon Village and some to the east.

Stay overnight at the GC so you can see sunset and sunrise. When leaving, take the road out the east entrance, stopping at the points you haven't seen yet -- at the very least, Grandview and Desert View.

Coming back down 89, stop to see Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument. When you get to I-40, head east for a few miles to see Walnut Canyon. Then just backtrack on I-40 to I-17 and head back down to Phoenix.

i agree with the suggestions, and would add a trip up to the airport overlook, which is really something. Also, if you leave GC Park the eastern way, I suggest you go a cuple of miles out of your way to shop (and eat) at Cameron Trading Post, Just make a left when you reach Hwy 89 and it's about a mile up the road on the left. It will have everything you might want for reasonable prices. My husband hates to shop and I couldn't get him out of there! The food was very decent too.

Thanks folks for your suggestions. I neglected to say that we are staying in Phoenix the entire trip I will have to adjust our itinerary accordingly. I'm thinking that unless we stay in Sedona overnight, it doesn't make sense to go back to Phoenix and then back up to the Grand Canyon for a day. So, I need to plan some day trips around the Phoenix area to include Sedona one day. Any other thoughts as to "must see" areas around Phoenix?

Phoenix to Sedona is a 2 hour drive each way. Phoenix to the Grand Canyon is probably 3 - 4 hours each way. Too long for a day trip, I think.

I would do the day trip to Sedona because it is a spectacular place, but as you posted spend the rest of the time closer to Phoenix.

Pointe South Mountain has a great water park but I don't know if it will be operational in May.

Other great day trips in and around Phoenix are the Zoo which has an out of Africa Safari section.

If your kids are adventurous we still might have white water on the Salt River so you could do a one day float trip.

Horseback riding on South mountain. You rent a horse and they turn your loose.

And lots and lots of people do GC as a day trip from Phoenix. You need to leave by 7 and you'll be back late (9 - 10 pm) but if you stay on I-17 to Flagstaff and then direct to the canyon you can get most of a day's touring in at Grand Canyon.

Tucson and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum are a 1.5 hour drive from Pointe south mt. This is a world class zoo, geological exhibition, spelunking, arboretum, butterfly aviary, hummingbird aviary, etc.. museum. Also on the same side of Tucson is Saguaro national monument west and old Tucson - the movie studio set.

If you call now you should be able to get tickets to Kartchner Caverns (about 3 hours from Pt. S. Mt). This is a pristine wet cave and it is truly a different world.

If you have future firemen there is a small "Museum of Flame".

The Heard Museum in downtown is a world class collection of first people's art and artifacts.

Rome,thanks so much for the recommendations. I will definitely check them out, especially those in the Tuscon area.

If you do decide to spend some time down in Tucson, check my list of things to see and do. I included clickable links to everything so you can do some advance "exploring".

Mike P's Tucson

Thanks Mike, Tuscon looks beautiful, I wish we had more time to explore. I'm thinking now that a day to Tuson/Sonoran Desert, one day to Sedona and one day around Phoenix should give us a great flavor for the area. We'll have to come back and take in the Grand Canyon.

I greatly appreciate all the suggestions, they certainly will make our trip one that is more interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by skiobx:
Thanks Mike, Tuscon looks beautiful, I wish we had more time to explore. I'm thinking now that a day to Tuson/Sonoran Desert, one day to Sedona and one day around Phoenix should give us a great flavor for the area. We'll have to come back and take in the Grand Canyon.

I greatly appreciate all the suggestions, they certainly will make our trip one that is more interesting.

Fun place to eat with kids ion Sedona is the Red Planet Diner. Lots of "spacy" memorabilia/references. Star Trek, Star Wars, Lost in Space, and real space missions too.