Jimforti

My wife and I are recent retirees and we want to explore the US during long winters we have in NH. We are thinking of flying into Las Vegas on 3/21/17 and renting a car to travel to Williams AZ staying there that night before taking the Grand Canyon RR trip with an overnight stay in the Grand Canyon. After we return to Williams we are thinking we would like explore the area and we are not sure where to travel to. We would like to see Sedona and Bryce Canyon at some point but what other attractions would you recommend? We enjoy taking in the scenary; are not hikers or museum people; like to take the bus tours and such. We have been to Las Vegas and Hoover Dam last year so we would like to see other areas. We aren't sure about the weather then. Thinking New Mexico might fit into this trip???? Looking for any advice.

emalloy

If you really like to ride on trains, then you might enjoy doing a train ride, but I would just drive to Grand Canyon and spend the night there, see sunset/sunrise use my car and my feet to get to the overlooks along the rim and go down Bright Angel trail at least a little bit.

Having driven in from Williams a couple of times, I can't imagine that the ride would be scenic. You don't really see the canyon until you are almost on the rim.

I'd use the extra time to see some of the other sites in the area. Perhaps on your way to Bryce, go up to Page for Antelope Canyon, Hoeseshoe Bend and a half day smooth water raft trip on the Colorado River from the Dam to Lee's Ferry. Then check out the Grand Staircase Escalante and Capitol Reef. Also go over to Canyon de Chelley and hire a Navajo Guide to take you into the canyon. Or head over to Painted Desert/Petrified forrest NP.

MmePerdu

If trying to escape winter, consider southern AZ rather than the north where elevation = colder. Get warm by flying into Phoenix, see the sights the city has to offer, then drive south.

Tucson (botanic garden, Saguaro Nat'l Parks, Desert Museum, Center for Creative Photography, Old Tucson Studios), south of Tucson to historic sites, SE of Tucson for Kartchner Caverns, Bisbee & Tombstone, guided walks in Ramsey Canyon for birders with the most variety of migrating hummingbirds in the world. And on & on.

You have, by my count, 8 non-travel days, and there's more than enough to keep you busy while enjoying some nice weather.

Podie

I cannot recommend staying in Williams. Drive through it in 5 minutes at most, satisfy your curiosity, and head to the Grand Canyon. Or stay in Flagstaff, which is a million times nicer than Williams!

tomfuller

If you really like riding trains, fly to Albuquerque and take the Amtrak SW Chief from ABQ to FLG.
Spend the night in Flagstaff and then rent the car to go to the South Rim.

MikePinTucson

Like the others, skip the Grand Canyon Railroad. Book a room at one of the lodges inside the park and drive there your self. You will need a car to visit most of the viewpoints along the east rim road because the shuttle only goes to a few. And Desert View, the easternmost viewpoint, is my favorite first view of the canyon.

You might also check flying into PHX because it is about an hour closer to the south rim than Vegas.

I would definitely suggest Sedona -- not for the town, but for the scenery. And from Sedona, you can take the Verde Canyon Railroad trip, which is MUCH more scenic than anything you would see from the Grand Canyon Railroad.