Arizona vacation
 

Hi,

I'm planning a 1-2 week vacation for my 13yr old daughter and myself to Arizona the end of May into early June. I live in Orlando, and she lives in Missouri. So my tentative plan was to fly Allegiant to Springfield, then Allegiant to Las Vegas, then pickup the car rental to visit Vegas & Arizona areas. We'd return to Vegas to do some siteseeing, then fly out of Vegas again to head back home.

Tentative destinations in order are:
Day 1
Drive to Hoover Dam (8-6, best before 11 or after 3)
Check-in South Point Hotel, Casino, and Spa (Vegas)
Day 2
Arrive Grand Canyon Skywalk
Travel to Oatman, AZ
Check into Flagstaff hotel
Day 3
Lowell Observatory
Meteor Crater
Montezuma Castle (8-5)
Day 4
Montezuma Well (incl w/ above)
Tuzigoot National Monuments (incl w/ above)
Arcosanti
Tour London Bridge & Lake Havasu

Other places I'm considering, not sure where to fit them in:
Holbrook AZ, Wigwam hotel
Tucson
Titan Missile Museum
Tombstone
Grand Canyon float/raft tour

I'd love a white water rafting tour, but I'm not sure what is a reasonable cost. The least expensive half-day float tour I found was at raftthecanyon.com $90 per person, and the least expensive (only?) one-day white water rafting tour I found was on grandcanyonwest.com @$350 per person. Opinions on the bang for the buck?

I'm also concerned about the amount of driving time. Right now I have four legs which are 3-4 hour trips just to get to the next destination. Do you think the schedule is too aggressive as listed? Other suggested or alternative destinations?

Thanks!

Jim

The Grand Canyon Skywalk has been widely reported to be a big disappointment and rip-off. I suggest you spend you money on a room in one of the hotels on the canyon rim.

Also, your list doesn't mention three of my favorite destinations in Arizona: Canyon de Chelley and, in Tucson, the Sonora Desert Museum and Sabino Canyon.

HTTY

Agree with HTTY. Visit the South Rim instead of the West Rim/Skywalk. The float/raft tour in the Canyon takes a lot of time even if you can afford it and can make the reservation.
You can get on a boat farther up the Colorado near Page.
I think you have a few too many things on your list for 4 days.
Drive across the Hoover Dam and park on the Arizona side to save the parking fee on the Nevada side.

Forgot to mention, you don't have to drive all the way back to Vegas after Hoover Dam if you are going to GC the next day. Tbe Hacienda Casino has nice and cheap rooms about 5 miles from the dam (Boulder City address).

Save Tucson, Tombstone and Titan Missile for a cooler time of year. June is very hot i n AZ.Already triple digits. Keep in mind that Phoenix area is hotter than Tucson which is at higher altitude. When you do visit Tucson, I concur with poster above, include Sabino Canyon, AZ Sonora Desert Museum andhistoric Mission San Xavier del Bac.
Add Sedona to your Flagstaff area itinerary. Beautiful spot.

I agree with HappyTvlr. Save southern AZ for another time.

Seems like a lot of driving to me. I would skip Havasu and concentrate on Flagstaff and Sedona. Both are beautiful and have plenty to do.