My husband, 9 year old son and I are visiting Arizona for the first time mid-April from the San Francisco Bay area. Here is our itinerary so far:

Arive Phoenix late Sunday 4/9/06. Staying at Embassy Suites 24th Street.

Next morning, leave for Grand Canyon.
Sunset tour, then staying at the Maswick Lodge over night.

Tuesday depart GC and head towards Sedona. We have reservations at th Oak Creek Terrace Resort, an A-Frame on the water (fishing permitted)

Wednesday ATV tour from Sedona to the Verde River. (I might ad that we have our own ATV's and love exploring places on them).

We thought we would use Sedona as our "base" since it sounds like there's lots of hiking and other outdoor activities that we love.

Depart from Phoenix late Friday afternoon.

Here's the questions: should we skip the ATV tour in favor of the Pink Jeep Tour? or any other tour? Should we try and spend more time in Phoenix? Is there anything I'm missing? I hate to book too much stuff in advance because we always like to leave time for "surprises" we discover. However, I've found out how booked everything already is and we don't want to get stuck with no reservations at all. I'm open to any and all suggestions.

The Pink jeep tour will definitely give you an up close and personal tour of the red rocks. You will stop several times so you can get out and admire the views and take pictures.

We went mountain biking the day before we did the jeep tour which made the jeep tour less astounding but I wouldn't suggest doing the mountain biking with a nine year old. I would also drive up Schnebly Hill with your own rental vehicle. Unless its a low to the ground sports car you won't have trouble driving up the road.

I haven't done it yet but stop at Slip Rock NP on your way down Oak Creek Canyon from Flagstaff to Sedona. Skip the junky touristy downtown in favor of the nature surrounding you in Sedona.

I'm not sure if Phoenix has much to offer for a 9 year old.

Amwosu -- are you referring to Slide Rock? But I agree -- the town of Sedona can easily be missed in favor of thesurrounding area. But, if you are meat eaters, try the Cowboy Club for lunch or dinner.

A side trip to Jerome might be fun, even for the son.

Yep. that would be correct.

http://www.americansouthwest.net/ari...ide_rocks.html

Dear just4me:

Click on this link for our Sedona/GC trip report:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...200&dirtyBit=1

I hope this helps. We had a great time!!

MY

I'm not sure it will be warm enough for getting in the water at Slide Rock or other parts of Oak Creek in April. The water in Oak Creek is cold all year, but esp. so in spring w/the snow runoff (although there may not be as much of that this year, it has been a mild winter), usually until around June. But he will enjoy rock hopping in the creek where you are staying, so I would be sure to bring water shoes or water sandals for him to wear while he is doing that.

You'll love the fishing in Oak Creek. It is stocked w/trout in spring. By summer they are big and can be caught easily with corn kernals alone on a hook. Yep, that's the tip I've gotten from locals, and it works great. In April, there will still be some around from last year.

You only have two full days in Sedona, with some extra time Tues. and Fri. There is certainly enough hiking to keep you very busy. With a nine year old, my advice would be to go for the hikes that have a "pay-off" at the end, like Devil's Bridge (big natural arch that you can walk out on- he will most likley love that) or Fay Canyon Arch (another arch), or ones that have interesting terrain. Those are just examples - become familiar with the trails by getting a book beforehand (and it is always good to have a good hiking guide book with you to refer to as you are on the trail), and visit the ranger's station or one of the two Gateway Visitor's Centers (one is on 89A in uptown Sedona, another is in the Village of OAk Creek at Tequa Plaza) for current hiking and trail info when you get there. Pick your hikes carefully and know your limitations and abilities, esp. w/a 9 yr old. There is alot of wilderness to get lost in out there.

For a break, when my kids were 9 they liked to go to Red Rock State Park out west off of 89A; nice exhibits and short ranger led hikes w/info. Check their website for April events and sign up before you go because they fill up in spring. Of all the hikes we have done in that area, the full moon hike at that park is still my daughter's very favorite.

We have enjoyed horseback riding out by Red Rock State Park also, at Trail Ride Adventure. You can probably wait til you gt there to decide if that is something you want to do - we did it in April one year and had no problem getting reservations the day before.

The son might like some of the shops that have bizarre things in them (trarantulas in jars, etc.)- like Gordon Wheeler's Trading Post on 179, close to the junction w/89A. They also display many mid to late 19th century pioneer and native American items and some prehistoric artifacts.
And he will like the Dairy Queen close to where you are staying, right on 89A in Oak Creek Canyon! There are Native Americans selling their goods next to that Dairy Queen.

I have no idea about ATVs and haven't done any jeep tours.

Thank you all so much for all your suggestions. So much to do, and so little time. I'll report back on the ATV trip if it's worth it or not.

Amwosu> You were so helpful to me last year in Jan and Feb when I visited Phoenix and Scottsdale (on business unfortunately) -- you mentioned the art festival in Cave Creek that was wonderful! Well, I'm heading back again in a few weeks (end Jan and beginning of Feb). Anything interesting like that going on?

michelleNYC- I'll keep my ears out. You should check out www.azcentral.com the website of the Arizona Republic newspaper. There is lots of info on the site.

I had planned to go out at the end of Feb. while the Fountain Hills Great Fair is going on so I can see the balloon rally on the lake. However, someone is renting our condo for the whole month of Feb. (I had no plans to rent but they called throwing money at me... which will pay for the granite countertops I'm considering) so I'm going skiing in Colorado instead.

Thanks. I'll certainly check out that website and let me know if you hear of anything fun and exciting!