Just put plane tickets on hold and wanted to get some feedback. We are planning on flying out to Phoenix to meet with some other families in the Tuscon area for a few days over Christmas. We have never been to the Grand Canyon and its high on the list.
So the plan right now is to fly into PHX and drive to the resort to meet our friends and stay 4 nights in Dove Mountain. Then we would head up to the GC - South Rim for 2 nights. Then we have 2 more nights to spend before flying back out of PHX. Should we go to Sedona? Flagstaff?? Are there any other NPs or State Parks we should visit?
Also what will the drive be like up to the South RIm in December?? Lots of snow?
Thanks in advance for any help!!!
AZ for Winter Break
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http://explorethecanyon.com/weather/
Saguaro National Park outside of Tucson is a wonderful park with the really impressive Desert Museum.
http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
You might have snow at Grand Canyon. The South Rim is at 7,000 ft elevation so it will be below freezing at night.
Sedona is worth a visit as is the drive down Oak Creek Canyon.
Spend those extra days in Sedona.
In Tucson, visit Sabino Canyon, either Saguro Park East or West(west more convenient to I-10)
Mission San Xavier.
Is 4 days the right amount in Dove Mountain? 2 a good amount in GC???
Dove Mountain is a destination resort, quite a bit north of Tucson. It depends if you just want to go there, enjoy the resort,golf, hike, chill out. For closer in resorts which would give you access to Tucson and it's dining scene look at Westin La Paloma, Loew's Ventana Canyon. Four days would be fine;two for GC is good.
Tucson is far nicer to visit than Phoenix, in my experience.
So I'm thinking
- which includes new years eve.
4 nights Dove Mtn - Ritz C (which includes Xmas)
2 nights GC - Yavapai Lodge(only in park lodging with availability)
2 nights Sedona possibly - L'Auberge de Sedona - Enchantment is sold out - thats where I wanted to stay
This was a quick plan and I have to get it all set by the end of the week. I usually research very detail for a while before I book!!!
Think your plan sounds fine. Moi - I prefer to get out and explore v. spend time at a luxury resort - but that's also a great way to start a vacation.
Just east of Flagstaff - presumably on your way from the GC to Sedona - you might zip over a half hour or so to the huge Meteor Crater (over a mile across) - formed when a meteorite crashed into earth at an incredible speed - 26,000 mph. Yes, 26,000 miles per hour. Wouldn't that be one heck of a speeding ticket?
http://www.meteorcrater.com/
Your plan sounds fine to me. Keep calling for lodging in el Tovar or one of the other rim side lodges at GC. Cancellations come up all the time, we've even gone in cold and found lodging last minute.
I was able to get a canyon view room at Kachina Lodge. Good?
Good. Kachina is between elTovar and Bright Angel, steps from the rim. Do be aware that the view at Grand Canyon is mostly down and best appreciated from outside the room, not like looking out at a mountain or over the ocean..
And be aware that all the lodges except for elTovar are like an ordinary motel, it's the location you go for.