10 days in Arizona
Jul 23rd, 2015, 07:52 AM
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10 days in Arizona
We're four college guys heading out to Arizona for ten days in late July/early August. We're based out of Phoenix, and want to see as much as possible. Understandably the weather is going to be hellish, but we want to pack in as much as we can. Please share your itinerary ideas, we are eagerly waiting! Thanks!
Jul 24th, 2015, 07:01 AM
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It really depends on your interests. If you are interested in resorts and nightlife, staying in Phoenix and/or Tucson would be best. If you are interested in seeing the natural beauty of our state, I would suggest the following:
Sedona
Grand Canyon
Page (Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, river float trip)
Monument Valley
Canyon de Chelly
So, let us know what interests you and we can suggest itineraries.
Sedona
Grand Canyon
Page (Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, river float trip)
Monument Valley
Canyon de Chelly
So, let us know what interests you and we can suggest itineraries.
Jul 24th, 2015, 05:03 PM
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It is monsoon season in Arizona. You need to be particularly aware of that, because of the flash flood and other natural disasters that accompany it.
I assume that all of you are over 25, because you might have real problems renting a car if you are not. OR, if the car rental company will allow all of you to drive the rental, there could be very substantial surcharges due to your ages.
Are you looking for options using public transportation only?
I assume that all of you are over 25, because you might have real problems renting a car if you are not. OR, if the car rental company will allow all of you to drive the rental, there could be very substantial surcharges due to your ages.
Are you looking for options using public transportation only?
Jul 25th, 2015, 01:13 PM
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You will get better responses if you map out some tentative itineraries, and bounce them off the board. To this end, buy a copy of Fodor's guide to Arizona.
http://www.fodors.com/guidebooks/sea...eyword=Arizona
And take a look at this web site.
http://www.visitarizona.com
And for a guide to Phoenix:
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/p...city-guide.htm
http://www.fodors.com/guidebooks/sea...eyword=Arizona
And take a look at this web site.
http://www.visitarizona.com
And for a guide to Phoenix:
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/p...city-guide.htm
Jul 28th, 2015, 11:31 AM
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Won't restrict you much. Monsoon storms (wind, lightning, torrential downpours) usually occur in late afternoon and are usually brief. But you do want to make sure you are not in any low areas if a storm is anywhere near.
For natural beauty, I would suggest the following:
3 days in Sedona
2 days at the Grand Canyon South Rim
2 days in Page
1 day in Monument Valley
1 day at Canyon de Chelly
1 day in Flagstaff before heading back to Phoenix
If you think that works, I can make it more detailed on what to see and do.
For natural beauty, I would suggest the following:
3 days in Sedona
2 days at the Grand Canyon South Rim
2 days in Page
1 day in Monument Valley
1 day at Canyon de Chelly
1 day in Flagstaff before heading back to Phoenix
If you think that works, I can make it more detailed on what to see and do.
Jul 28th, 2015, 12:57 PM
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Re your question on the monsoon, as MikePinTucson mentions, it depends on the elevation and topography of the area.
Since it is very unpredictable, there are no hard and fast rules. However, you might want to view some information to be prepared for a worse case scenario. I don't want to alarm you, but you should be prepared.
I would suggest doing a little search about road closures (particularly I10) and bridge collapses as a result of flash flooding in the Phoenix area. You shouldn't have any problems coming up with a quite a number of hits, since there have been some substantial problems in the pretty recent past.
Then I would suggest that you read up (and I mean seriously!) on driving during monsoon season: www.azdps.gov/Media/News/View/?p=319 This type of weather can come up on you with little or no warning.
For example, Route 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff is a particularly scenic route. However, a couple of years ago, there was a large fire in the Slide Rock State Park area and (forgive me if I am mistaken on this, Mike) it is now much more prone to flash flood because of this.
Furthermore, although not many people realize the extent of lightning storms at the Grand Canyon, it is a real danger. Make sure you click on the "Learn More" under Weather (Summer): www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit
So, now to answer your last question:
In Phoenix, I highly recommend that you think about visiting the Heard Museum, if you have any interest at all in the Native American heritage of the U.S.
Would you have any interest in going to the Desert Botanical Garden? I personally think it is time well-spent, but for some college guys??? You decide: www.dbg.org
Sedona is about a 4 hour drive north of Phoenix, definitely doable for a day trip. But what a place to stay! Just absolutely stunningly beautiful, especially around sunset.
Before I get off this subject, along the way between Phoenix and Sedona: A great stop is Montezuma's Castle.
Flagstaff is just a little further to the north. If you take Hwy. 89A, it is approx. 15-20 minutes further; however, if you choose taking the interstate, it is a lot longer drive between the two.
Why? That's because the drive between Sedona and Flagstaff up Hwy. 89A goes from an elevation of approx. 4,500 @ Sedona to around 7,000 @ Flagstaff in the course of those very few minutes. Expect steep inclines, sharp switchbacks and the very low speed limit because of these. Trust me, you won't want to be going any faster than that. Especially the guy sitting in the passenger seat, staring down the sheer walls into the chasm. Don't let anyone who has a problem with vertigo (or heights) drive.
Think seriously about making Flagstaff a base for exploring Meteor Crater, the Painted Desert or the Petrified Forest. Even the Grand Canyon. However, you'd need to stay overnight to do these justice, because of the driving times.
You can also take a Pink Jeep tour out of Sedona.
There are bus shuttle services between Skyharbor and Sedona and Flagstaff, in case you don't want to do all that driving.
Since it is very unpredictable, there are no hard and fast rules. However, you might want to view some information to be prepared for a worse case scenario. I don't want to alarm you, but you should be prepared.
I would suggest doing a little search about road closures (particularly I10) and bridge collapses as a result of flash flooding in the Phoenix area. You shouldn't have any problems coming up with a quite a number of hits, since there have been some substantial problems in the pretty recent past.
Then I would suggest that you read up (and I mean seriously!) on driving during monsoon season: www.azdps.gov/Media/News/View/?p=319 This type of weather can come up on you with little or no warning.
For example, Route 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff is a particularly scenic route. However, a couple of years ago, there was a large fire in the Slide Rock State Park area and (forgive me if I am mistaken on this, Mike) it is now much more prone to flash flood because of this.
Furthermore, although not many people realize the extent of lightning storms at the Grand Canyon, it is a real danger. Make sure you click on the "Learn More" under Weather (Summer): www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit
So, now to answer your last question:
In Phoenix, I highly recommend that you think about visiting the Heard Museum, if you have any interest at all in the Native American heritage of the U.S.
Would you have any interest in going to the Desert Botanical Garden? I personally think it is time well-spent, but for some college guys??? You decide: www.dbg.org
Sedona is about a 4 hour drive north of Phoenix, definitely doable for a day trip. But what a place to stay! Just absolutely stunningly beautiful, especially around sunset.
Before I get off this subject, along the way between Phoenix and Sedona: A great stop is Montezuma's Castle.
Flagstaff is just a little further to the north. If you take Hwy. 89A, it is approx. 15-20 minutes further; however, if you choose taking the interstate, it is a lot longer drive between the two.
Why? That's because the drive between Sedona and Flagstaff up Hwy. 89A goes from an elevation of approx. 4,500 @ Sedona to around 7,000 @ Flagstaff in the course of those very few minutes. Expect steep inclines, sharp switchbacks and the very low speed limit because of these. Trust me, you won't want to be going any faster than that. Especially the guy sitting in the passenger seat, staring down the sheer walls into the chasm. Don't let anyone who has a problem with vertigo (or heights) drive.
Think seriously about making Flagstaff a base for exploring Meteor Crater, the Painted Desert or the Petrified Forest. Even the Grand Canyon. However, you'd need to stay overnight to do these justice, because of the driving times.
You can also take a Pink Jeep tour out of Sedona.
There are bus shuttle services between Skyharbor and Sedona and Flagstaff, in case you don't want to do all that driving.
Jul 28th, 2015, 01:40 PM
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If your Phoenix reservations are for the entire 10 days, no you won't be able to do most of that as day trips. Sedona, some things around Flagstaff, maybe the Grand Canyon.
If you are going to the Grand Canyon, you really need to stay at least one night inside the park. Flagstaff is a poor option for seeing the GC, since it is a 1 1/2 hour drive each way.
princess gave you some incorrect info on distances and times. Sedona is 2 hours or less from Phoenix and Flagstaff is about the same. From Sedona to Flagstaff, going through Oak Creek Canyon (89a), is about 45 minutes, not 15-20. And, depending on where in Sedona you started from, going by way of I-17 could take about the same time or less. If you stayed in the Village of Oak Creek, then getting to Flagstaff by way of I-17 would be faster than taking 89a. The Oak Creek Canyon drive is very scenic. There are only a few miles of switchbacks, near the top of the canyon, as you climb to the 7,000 foot elevation.
Princess is correct about the fire in Oak Creek Canyon, just north of Slide Rock. But it was just last year, in late May. We were there at the time.
So, please let us know if all of your nights have to be in Phoenix. Because, if so, the things you will be able to visit without having to drive over 8 hours each day will be very limited.
If you are going to the Grand Canyon, you really need to stay at least one night inside the park. Flagstaff is a poor option for seeing the GC, since it is a 1 1/2 hour drive each way.
princess gave you some incorrect info on distances and times. Sedona is 2 hours or less from Phoenix and Flagstaff is about the same. From Sedona to Flagstaff, going through Oak Creek Canyon (89a), is about 45 minutes, not 15-20. And, depending on where in Sedona you started from, going by way of I-17 could take about the same time or less. If you stayed in the Village of Oak Creek, then getting to Flagstaff by way of I-17 would be faster than taking 89a. The Oak Creek Canyon drive is very scenic. There are only a few miles of switchbacks, near the top of the canyon, as you climb to the 7,000 foot elevation.
Princess is correct about the fire in Oak Creek Canyon, just north of Slide Rock. But it was just last year, in late May. We were there at the time.
So, please let us know if all of your nights have to be in Phoenix. Because, if so, the things you will be able to visit without having to drive over 8 hours each day will be very limited.
Jul 28th, 2015, 07:44 PM
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I deeply apologize for the two pieces of misinformation I gave above. Put it down to my suffering from probable heat exhaustion, since I had been mowing in 100+ F (heat index) temps today for hours before I posted. Not my finest hour, I'll admit. (Sheepish grin.)
It is about 4 hours to the **Grand Canyon** from Phoenix (depending on where you start). Sedona is a little more than 2 hours north.
I was also mistaken about the driving time between Sedona and Flagstaff. I probably was thinking of the mileage between the two, and typed it as time. However, taking I17 is definitely a longer of a drive than utilizing 89A.
IMHO, descending on 89A is a much better drive than ascending it. However, I haven't been there since the big fire, so cannot comment on how it has affected it.
But with respect to the possibility of flash floods in the Slide Rock State Park area, do a little search. There is an article online by Channel 12 news dated June 18, 2015 entitled "Flash Floods Still a Threat for Oak Creek Canyon". You should read it.
I completely agree with Mike in that you don't want to be driving all those hours. At the very least, you simply do not enjoy the destination of that drive.
It would be best, if you possibly could arrange it, for an overnight stay at either Flagstaff or Sedona.
It is about 4 hours to the **Grand Canyon** from Phoenix (depending on where you start). Sedona is a little more than 2 hours north.
I was also mistaken about the driving time between Sedona and Flagstaff. I probably was thinking of the mileage between the two, and typed it as time. However, taking I17 is definitely a longer of a drive than utilizing 89A.
IMHO, descending on 89A is a much better drive than ascending it. However, I haven't been there since the big fire, so cannot comment on how it has affected it.
But with respect to the possibility of flash floods in the Slide Rock State Park area, do a little search. There is an article online by Channel 12 news dated June 18, 2015 entitled "Flash Floods Still a Threat for Oak Creek Canyon". You should read it.
I completely agree with Mike in that you don't want to be driving all those hours. At the very least, you simply do not enjoy the destination of that drive.
It would be best, if you possibly could arrange it, for an overnight stay at either Flagstaff or Sedona.
