Are we spreading ourselves too thin?
 

We booked a flight to Phoenix with return for 10 days in April. I'll be traveling with my husband, and 3 sons 5,6 and 9 at travel time. Our plans are to get the rental car Drive to Flagstaff, do day trips (suggestions Please)for 4 nights staying in Flagstaff. <BR><BR>Overnight at the Bright Angle Lodge at the Grand Canyon. <BR><BR>Then drive to Tucson(2 nights), Sierra Vista for a couple nights.<BR><BR> What are the do not miss things to see,also any recommendations on inexpensive hotels and tasty dining? <BR><BR>Id like to go to Mexico but am leary. So much for the ramble, I do have some good books. but wanted some real advice!

On your way to Flagstaff, see Sedona and then drive up through Oak Creek Canyon (rather than taking the highway around) unless they've had a late snow.<BR><BR>I'm no expert on Arizona but I'm responding to your request to bring it up to the top. You might get more responses if you repost with Phoenix or Arizona trip in your title. Also, put Flagstaff or Sedona or Arizona in the text search box (above) and you will get plenty of information re your request.

It depends on your priorities, but if it were me, I'd take a couple of days from the Flagstaff stay or eliminate Tucson, in order to stay 2-3 nights at the GC if possible. The alternative would be to skip the canyon and head for Tucson, then spend another trip visiting only the GC.

They offer mule rides at the Angel Lodge, don't you want you boys to have the time of their lives? One night is not enough in my opinion.

I would skip Mexico. The closest border town is Nogales. There are much better shopping places to go than Nogales. Tubac is a great artsy type town south of Tucson (on your way to Nogales). They have great shops, local artists, etc., without being bothered by the dirt and crime of Nogales. If you do, however, go to Nogales, park your car at the McDonald's on the Arizona side of the border and walk across. Frankly, there's not much to do in Nogales other than shop for curios and prescription drugs (no offense to anyone from Nogales).

If I were you, I'd spend a night or two in Sedona and cut down your time in Flagstaff. Sedona is truly magnificent with enough to do for a few days. Definitely drive up to Flagstaff via Oak Creek Canyon, not the highway. Flagstaff on the other hand is not magnificent, but is a good central location for other sights. Walnut Canyon (interesting cliff dwellings in a canyon setting) is about 10 miles east of Flagstaff and worth the trip. At the GC, I would spend two days at a hotel inside the park if possible (Brigth Angel is one). If not, Tusuyan, right outside the park, is a good choice. Hotels there are of the Days Inn/ Best Western variety and are decent. Driving back from GC, take the road along the canyon east to Cameron and have lunch at the Cameron Trading Post at the edge of the painted desert(you can also spend a night there if it fits your schedule). I've never been to Tucson, so I don't have any suggestions there. Heading to Mexico sounds like a lot of driving and spreading yourselves too thin for not much in return. Good luck and enjoy Arizona.

I don't know. Interesting.