summerlover333

Just returned from a fabulous trip with 2A, 2kids (13 and 9) doing an amoeba shaped loop in/out of Phoenix. We started there because the D-Backs early July homestand allowed us to catch a game at the tail end of the trip. Sick, I know.

Day one/two - into Phoenix and over to our eventual hotel to pick up a rental car. MUCH better deal than renting at the Sky Harbor airport where the taxes would have added +$150 to our bill. Nice drive up to Sedona. Funny how the first pix we took seemed so beautiful at the time but now on review they were "hills" outside the city. Little did we know what was waiting for us! Best Western Inn in Sedona was just right for us. Van service into town, decent pool, beautiful terrace views (ask for an upper floor room off the terrace - awesome).
Highlights - Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour has to be the best! Great guide and nice intro to the area. A little pricey but worth it. Chapel of the Holy Cross - beautiful (and by the way who the heck lives in that ridiculous castle down the street???) Great soup/sandwich "fast food" place - Wildflower (I think). Slide Rock park on the way out of town was too crowded for us but fun for a few hours. Took a quick flip through Flagstaff - old Route 66 of interest. GREAT burgers and local growns at Diablo Burger.

Day three/four - GC Bright Angel Cabins. Loved the building but not the assigned cabin which was right next to the construction site in front of BA. Don't expect glamour but the rustic feeling was cool. Loved the Hermit Trail rim walk back from Hermit Rest as well as the hike down South Kaibab to Cedar Ridge. Sunrise was a disappointment but felt obligatory. At least we made it back for El Tovar breakfast - skip dinner it's too pricey but breakfast was great. Same high level of service but much better for kids and better chance of table with a view. Can't beat the ranger talks or the Junior Ranger program. Best souvenir - the book "Death at the Grand Canyon". Saw several candidates for the next edition hanging over the edge for that perfect photo!

Day five - Goulding's Lodge - Monument Valley. Exceeded expectations (which admittedly might have been low). Make sure you try the fry bread in the restaurant! Museum was very interesting, watch the intro movie in the little theater, decent pool for a quick dip. Beautiful views of the monuments. Loved the story of Harry and Mike Goulding..... could never have led that brave a life! MV drive was white knuckler for me in our low slung rental car. If only the Enterprise guy could see me now! AWESOME drive on the way out through Moki Douglas switchbacks. Natural Bridges monument was a great stop with lots to learn in a few hours. Great ranger.

Day six - Torrey UT and Capitol Reef NP. What a pleasant surprise! The drive here has to be evidence of UT at it's best. Beautiful. Hite Overlook was super. In Torrey, the Chuckwagon Lodge was just right. Clean, very reasonable, nice new pool. Try the Capitol Reef Inn and Slacker's Burger Joint. Walked right into the 4th of July parade - Americana superiorus. Half the entries would have required permits and helmets and permission slips and such here in NJ but there it just all worked fine. BEST apple pie on the planet - the Diablo pie wagon in the parade from same named restaurant. The guy hopped out and handed people little mini apple pies as part of the parade. Awesome. Capitol Reef is under the radar and well worth a visit. Route 12 is the way to go to get to Bryce.

Day seven/eight - Bryce cabins. Much better setup than the actual lodge buildings. Gas fireplace was welcome. Beautiful geology, splurged for the horses, good ranger program, more stars than you will EVER see anywhere else, fireworks over Ruby's on the 4th, great hikes. Make the trip to Mossy Cave - it's worth the effort. Bring watershoes on the hike to the waterfall and play in the river. GREAT day. Bring pants and a jacket!! Only downside here is the Lodge dining room. They need to get their act together at these prices!

Day nine/ten - Las Vegas. Desert Rose Resort was a great pick for us. No casino, no smoking, no crazies, decent breakfast and happy hour (don't go for the snacks), decent pool. Walk to the south end of the strip for your casino, smoking and crazies. Lots of free fun if you have kids (MGM lions, Circus Circus acts, Bellagio fountains, Ceasar's Palace fire/water show).

Day eleven/twelve - off to Phoenix via as much of Route 66 as we could cover. It's tacky but fun. BTW, when is that bridge over Hoover Dam going to be finished??? We were not prepared for 6 miles of traffic there. Stayed around the Hilton Pointe Squaw Peak because who would want to leave? At this point no one can get up in the morning, the River Ranch with waterslide, sports pool, lazy river and waterfall did the trick. Maybe wouldn't work on the weekends as it seems to be a place where locals would come for the day to use the pools. Dbacks won! All is well.

Loved this trip, pause to reflect on the beauty and breadth of this great country! Met so many nice people. Ideas for next year???

Myer

Sounds like a great trip.

Next year? Loop from Salt Lake City - Moab for Arches, Canyonlands, Fisher Towers, rafting - to Goblin Valley - pass Capitol Reef (you've been) - to Lower Calf Creek Falls - Devil's Garden escalante - to willis Creek just south of Canonville for an easy hike in a real slot canyon - to Zion.

Actually, just kidding. You went right by most (except to the Moab area) of these places so you may have to do it again and fill in the gaps.

I've been twice and taking my daughter for a few days in mid-September.

spirobulldog

Glad you had a good time. Did you hike down to Sipapu Bridge in Natural Bridges? It is really an impressive span. We ate at Slackers. What is it with that orangy sauce that all the burger places have in Utah? I haven't seen it anywhere else. It's a condiment of Mustard, Ketchup, and Mayo combined. Or something like that anyway. I'm glad you mention Mossy Cave. We have reservations for Bryce next summer and I have been considering that hike, if we have time.

spirobulldog

And I'm glad you still love each other. I have taken my wife on a couple of hikes that I'm not sure she always feels that way at the end of them. lol

summerlover333

We hiked down to Owachomo - the third bridge. Didn't have a lot of time here and would have liked to stay longer. It was impressive for a smallish park (or should I say monument) especially since Arches was out of our reach this trip.

Mossy Cave is overlooked since you have to have a car and leave the park to find it but it was worthwhile - especially with two kids who enjoyed playing in the river (along with their mom!). Are you in the cabins at Bryce? We enjoyed them. Have fun!

Princess

Just wondering at what hotel you rented your car in Phoenix. We are leaving on Wednesday AM and wanted to rent a car (have made some reservations and yes they are high at the Airport), but maybe you could steer us to a better deal?

spirobulldog

yes we are in the cabins

summerlover333

We rented via Enterprise at the Hilton Pointe Squaw Peak which is where we stayed on the way home so we ended up just leaving the car there. I never even went to the Enterprise office - they left the car at the hotel for me to pick up since we arrived on a Sunday and they were closed. The guy was very nice over the phone and they do lot of business via the hotel. I'm sure there are places closer to the airport where you can do this - we chose this place because we were staying there.

iamq

We were just recently in the area (Bryce North Rim and Zion) and I kick myself for not spending some time at Capital Reef. Will have to do Mossy Cave the next time at Bryce. Thanks for sharing a great trip.

peterboy

Capitol Reef gets mixed reviews here but sharondi and I are big fans. With fewer visitors you have great solitude when hiking. The real appeal is the multicolored cliffs and canyons vs the monotone reds or grays you find elsewhere in Utah's parks. Where do you get to see green, blue and purple rock ledges? It is especially attractive after a rainstorm.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/88525677

The little Fruita Schoolhouse is in a splended setting and is a great photo op.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/88505948

spirobulldog

A lot of people like Cap Reef, it was just ok with me. I really like the Orchard and eating pie from The Gifford House in the picnic area. We hiked 25 miles and did all of the major trails. Also did Goblin Valley, Little Wildhorse Canyon, and Great Gallery in Canyonlands detached area.

I originally typed that Little Wildhore. LOL.