Arizona for Christmas Break - Still confused on itinerary
Dec 15th, 2012, 10:26 AM
#1
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Arizona for Christmas Break - Still confused on itinerary
I thought we had this impromptu vacay booked and while I was out of town DH and his buddies changed it up!!!
It seems they have abandoned Dove Mountain for Sedona.
We have 8 nights at the end of December flying in and out of Phoenix.
So right now its
Sedona - Enchantment - between 3-6 nights???
Grand Canyon - South Rim - between 2 -3 nights???
and Dove Mountain or somewhere else for 1-3 nights???
I have just returned from my trip jet lagged and fluish and I cant think straight!!
We have reservations all over the place and need to get our plans confirmed.
We dont want to maximize our driving especially in the snow.
Is Dove Mountain worth the drive or should we spend time in Scottsdale at the end (which will include New Years Eve.) or should we check something else out?? Our friends think we should spend as much time as possible in Sedona.
We want to relax but also dont want to miss out on any fabulous natural places that arent way out of the way.
Any help will be soooo appreciated!!!!!
It seems they have abandoned Dove Mountain for Sedona.
We have 8 nights at the end of December flying in and out of Phoenix.
So right now its
Sedona - Enchantment - between 3-6 nights???
Grand Canyon - South Rim - between 2 -3 nights???
and Dove Mountain or somewhere else for 1-3 nights???
I have just returned from my trip jet lagged and fluish and I cant think straight!!
We have reservations all over the place and need to get our plans confirmed.
We dont want to maximize our driving especially in the snow.
Is Dove Mountain worth the drive or should we spend time in Scottsdale at the end (which will include New Years Eve.) or should we check something else out?? Our friends think we should spend as much time as possible in Sedona.
We want to relax but also dont want to miss out on any fabulous natural places that arent way out of the way.
Any help will be soooo appreciated!!!!!
Dec 15th, 2012, 10:46 AM
#2
Dove Mt is a destination resort, way outside of Tucson. My friends stayed there and didn't like being so isolated. Book a resort in Scottsdale like The Boulders or Royal Palms since you only have have three nights and you would waste a lot of time driving so far. ( even though I prefer Tucson to Phoenix/Scottsdale)
I love Sedona and it's extra beautiful when it snows.
I love Sedona and it's extra beautiful when it snows.
Dec 15th, 2012, 01:12 PM
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You want to stay south at Christmas--eg Phoenix, Tucson etc. You could easily spend 2-3 days in each of those places just seeing sites and maybe doing some hiking. If you just want to hike and be outdoors, then Sedona is awesome but I like Tucson for that as well. I would not do Page as a day trip from GC. It's more of a stop along the way especially in winter. The roads could be interesting at that time of year too. (not entirely sure about that) If you just want wild and natural, then GC and Sedona are great. The one site in Phoenix that is so totally awesome is the Heard Museum where you can learn everything you ever wanted to know about Native American culture in the soutwest. REally awesome museum. And I like Tucson much more than Phoenix too.
Dec 15th, 2012, 01:17 PM
#6
Skip Page. It's overlooking Lake Powell which is not that attractive, a man made lake created by Glen Canyon Dam..It's a big house boating area in warmer weather. I wouldn't stay there anytime.
If you want a contrast in setting and weather to Sedona, then book a Scottsdale resort with palm trees, pools, and desert location, closer to PHX for your departure. If you prefer a winter setting, stay in Sedona the whole time. I have stayed at Enchantment Resort several times, plenty to do, focused on hiking,nice spa, but you could do 6 and 2 nights or 5 and 3. At this late date, I don't know if you'll be getting in any Grand Canyon lodges. It's best to stay inside the park. Two nights, one day would be enough in winter.I also wonder how you're going to get reservations in Sedona or Scottsdale at this time. Hope you get what you want.
If you want a contrast in setting and weather to Sedona, then book a Scottsdale resort with palm trees, pools, and desert location, closer to PHX for your departure. If you prefer a winter setting, stay in Sedona the whole time. I have stayed at Enchantment Resort several times, plenty to do, focused on hiking,nice spa, but you could do 6 and 2 nights or 5 and 3. At this late date, I don't know if you'll be getting in any Grand Canyon lodges. It's best to stay inside the park. Two nights, one day would be enough in winter.I also wonder how you're going to get reservations in Sedona or Scottsdale at this time. Hope you get what you want.
Dec 15th, 2012, 02:18 PM
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I have the reservations at Enchantment for 6 nights and I want to cut it back. It also have reservations at Kachina for 3 nights so I can cut that back too. We were interested in Page for Antelope Canyon - but I am very concerned about the driving. I think we may have to drop it - but DH is into his photography and really wanted to get those shots!! I am also concerned about the driving up to GC, I read today there was a big storm and the roads and snowy and icy - YIKES!!!!
Scottsdale sounds like a good idea for the end on the way out.
Im thinking 4 or 5 Sedona
1 or 2 GC
1 or 2 Scottsdale.
Any thoughts on those allotments??
Scottsdale sounds like a good idea for the end on the way out.
Im thinking 4 or 5 Sedona
1 or 2 GC
1 or 2 Scottsdale.
Any thoughts on those allotments??
Dec 15th, 2012, 03:05 PM
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The new allotments sound fine to me. If you get to GC early enough to do some looking at the beautiful vistas and see sunset (do make reservations for dinner at elTovar NOW), and see sunrise and do a bit of hiking the next day then leave by going east on 64 and stopping at all the wonderful pull offs one night would be enough there. When you exit east, you could either head north on 89 to Page for one night or south on 89 with a stop at Wupatki and/or Sunset Crater on the way back to Scottsdale. If it is sunny, Page for Antelope Canyon will be great, if it is cloudy, don't bother. If you can make reservations there that you can cancel that would be nice.
Dec 15th, 2012, 05:39 PM
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Well the average high/low for Sedona is mid-50s and lower 30s. Is that the kind of temps/weather that you are looking for on vacation?
Tuscon and Phoenix would be far warmer if you want that. What kind of activities are you looking to do?
Tuscon and Phoenix would be far warmer if you want that. What kind of activities are you looking to do?
Dec 16th, 2012, 06:38 AM
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We are going with 2 other families and they picked Sedona. So the location of the beginning of the vacation is fixed. We are splitting from the group midway to do our own thing....
Dec 18th, 2012, 07:05 AM
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@ MiamiBeachMomma: > If by "those shots," you mean the sunbeams shining down onto the floor of Upper Antelope Canyon (the iconic 'money' shot), that does not occur in December due to the angle of the sun overhead. The sunbeams are a late spring through early fall phenomenon. That's not to say that Antelope Canyon isn't beautiful any time of year. If the weather is decent and you don't think you'll be able to return to the area in the foreseeable future, I'd say plan to go, but keep plans flexible in case the weather does take a turn for the worse.
If you want to take a break from the driving, a tour outfitter called the Grand Canyon Store offers a really cool Antelope Canyon Tour year-round that you can catch from Cameron Arizona (~1 hour East of Kachina Lodge). Instead of going to Upper, you take a simple hike into Lower Antelope (which is just as beautiful, but a bit more physical), followed by a boat cruise into the waterside of Antelope Canyon on Lake Powell. More info here ->: http://bit.ly/12mV7Cd Of course this too would operate weather permitting, but if you booked it and weren't able to travel because of weather, you'd receive your $$$ back.
If you want to take a break from the driving, a tour outfitter called the Grand Canyon Store offers a really cool Antelope Canyon Tour year-round that you can catch from Cameron Arizona (~1 hour East of Kachina Lodge). Instead of going to Upper, you take a simple hike into Lower Antelope (which is just as beautiful, but a bit more physical), followed by a boat cruise into the waterside of Antelope Canyon on Lake Powell. More info here ->: http://bit.ly/12mV7Cd Of course this too would operate weather permitting, but if you booked it and weren't able to travel because of weather, you'd receive your $$$ back.
