My husband and I are planning a trip to Arizona this July with my stepson and his girl cousin (teenagers). Right now, here's our plans and I wanted to get your feedback, including restaurant and activity recommendations!!!

Day 1-2: Sedona, at Sedona Hilton. Hike Oak Creek Canyon, swim, maybe take helicopter ride or Camp Verde railroad

Day 3-4: Grand Canyon. Stay one night at El Tovar, hike, catch a ranger program.

Day 4: Leave Grand Canyon early and drive to Meteor Crater, stopping for lunch along the way. End day in Winslow, stay at la posada and check out the history, route 66 stuff there.

Day 5: Leave Winslow and drive to Scottsdale, stopping in Payton to eat lunch and check out Zane Grey museum.

Days 6-9: Scottsdale Hyatt Gainey Ranch. Enjoy the pools, etc. and do side trips to Heard Museum, river tubing, maybe Desert Botanical Gardens. Is there a fake Western town, etc. that the kids may like?

-- What about a visit to Jerome or another ghost/western town?

THANKS!

Hi Cat,
Just thought I'd recommend you calling El Tovar ASAP if you plan on being able to stay in July of this year. I made my reservations for this coming summer LAST summer~~and even then they had limited availability.
We ended up planning the rest of our trip around when we could get a room at the Grand Canyon. (It's working out fine).
Ending your trip in the same place for 3 days sounds like a good idea, the kids may be tired of being in car by then. I'd love to stay at the Hyatt Gainey Ranch one day~that place looks great.
Also, you will need to be especially flexible travelling w/teens. Remember not to sweat it, you'll be on vacation! Have fun.

cat - skip the western town but definitely make a stop at Jerome... My kids enjoyed the funky shops and restaurants and the mine tour is pretty cool too. It's a great use of a historical site mixed with a retail and tourist stop...

Personally, I would skip Meteor Crater. But, you might want to check out Rawhide Western Town in Scottsdale. They've got a web site that you can check out. Also, consider eating at Pinnacle Peak in Northwest Scottsdale.

Have a good trip.

I'd definitely agree to skip Meteor Crater, but do Jerome and skip western town and do Rawhide...going to be very hot at that time of year and you will appreciate Gainey Ranch's pool area.

Couldn't agree more - skip the crater. Its a real snore.

I beg to differ. My kids thought the crater was very intriging,we've been there 2 times and it was better the 2nd time around. Go if you like science/ astromony

Is there a Zane Grey museum in Payson? There is his cabin just east of there. The actual cabin burned down about 10 years ago and a replica rebuilt. I have never been there, but annually visit the nearby fish hatchery which my kids (and I) like.

Just north of Payson is Tonto Natural Bridge State Park which is worth the very short detour.

I have never been to Rawhide - always prefering Pinnacle Peak to eat at. A real (former) cowboy friend used to like Rawhide, but it has been taken over by a more 'entertainment' company and he no longer likes it.

I liked Meteor crater, but there is also Sunset Crater and other places around Flagstaff that might be more interesting unless you really want to go to Winslow.

River tubing is fun. The consessionaire supplies the tubes and transportation to and from the river. The only thing I don't like about it is the big groups that have their loud boom boxes.

In Scottsdale, stop at the Sugar Bowl for an old fashioned ice cream parlor. If you like Mexican food, eat at Los Olivos in old town Scottsdale.

I'd like to suggest that you stop for lunch above the town of Payson in a tiny community on Hwy 260 called Christopher Creek. The restaurant is called the Creekside Restaurant and is located right next to the road (north/ right side). They serve good food and the building is located in the ponderosa pine forest that surrounds Christopher Creek providing a wonderful dining experience. Once you reach Payson (another 20 miles) you have mostly left the forest and have entered a town of 13,000 people with the associated traffic and congestion, but do visit the Zane Grey Museum on Main St. It's worth a quick stop.

I liked the crater and HATED Rawhide. What a tourist trap!

I agree with Sara. We took our kids to Rawhide last June and thought it was a joke.

Jerome is great idea. The Heard Museum has a wonderful collection of Kachinas. I agree that the El Tovar will most likely be booked at this point for July. We go in June and make reservations one year ahead. Their cancellation policy is 3 days prior, so start calling then if you want to pursue it, but make alternative reservations. Montezuma's Castle is worth a brief visit. Old Town Scottsdale will be fun for kids--eat at the Pink Pony.I think you could use 2 days in Sedona.