Grand Canyon Itinerary - Phoenix to Where?

Old Jul 26th, 2007, 09:06 AM
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Grand Canyon Itinerary - Phoenix to Where?

We are landing on August 9th and will spend 2 nights at Fairmont in Phoenix, then off with 3 kids ages 9, 11 and 13 to see Canyon. We tentatively have 7 nights to play with, and plan on 2 nights in Sedona because we've heard so many great things - then off to South Rim (El Tovar) for one night, Lake Powell for two, then Bryce Canyon for one. Can anyone help us dress this intinerary up, critique it...should we do it this way and then fly out of Vegas? We really have no interest in taking kids to Vegas at this point, but I'm guessing driving back down to Phoenix from North Rim would be tough? Is Sedona as fun as what I've read? Any specific spots for kids our ages? we'll take any Fodorite help. thanks
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Old Jul 26th, 2007, 09:11 AM
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I'm not a big fan of Sedona...to developed for me, I prefer the National Parks, so if were me, I'd change Sedona for Zion National Park.

Vegas will be the easier city to fly out of if you are going to Bryce. It's only a 3 hour drive from Zion, so you can just drive in on the day you leave.

If you are going to the S. Rim, then I'd skip the N. Rim and go to Zion.

Utahtea
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Old Jul 26th, 2007, 10:50 AM
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In Sedona, you can hike and/or take a jeep tour. An interesting trail is the Broken Arrow trail that you can hike, mountain bike, or do as part of the Pink Jeep tour. Go in the morning. It is monsoon season here and the rain has been coming in the afternoons pretty regularly now. Yes, Sedona is a bit touristy, but it's incredibly beautiful. And your kids will like the Jeep tour. A drive from the North Rim to Phoenix is about 6-7 hours. As utahtea recommends, Zion is definitely worth seeing and hiking and I'd do that instead of the North Rim, especially since you will have been to the South Rim.
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Old Jul 26th, 2007, 12:06 PM
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I love Sedona -- not the town, but the gorgeous areas surrounding it. Around Sedona, do some easy hikes, maybe Bell Rock

Also, Slide Rock State Park for the kids, chapel of the holy cross, Red Rock State Park or Red Rock Crossing, Verde Canyon Railroad would be fun for all, and definitely Pink Jeep (Broken Arrow) tour.

Unless you have water activities planned at Lake Powell, maybe only one night there, and add to your time in Utah (Zion / Bryce). Near Lake Powell, defitely see Antelope Canyon (Upper may be easier, because no climbing required.)
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 02:47 PM
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We (spouse plus kids ages 9 and 13) just returned from our Phoenix, Williams, Grand Canyon, Sedona vacation. In Sedona we did the Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour and thouroughly enjoyed it. Our kids ranked it as one of the best activities on the trip. We also ate dinner at the Cowboy Club and feasted on rattlesnake, buffalo and cactus fries. I didn't enjoy the rattelesnake but my husband and son did! We enjoyed the sunset off of Airport Rd. It was beautiful.
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Old Aug 4th, 2007, 11:20 PM
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Our family, with 2 kids 13 and 19, just got back from trip to Vegas, also did Valley of Fire state park (nevada), North Rim Grand Canyon, and Zion natinal park. Everyone enjoyed Zion the most! It has a nice variety of trails, lovely scenery, and not too hot. The North Rim is very isolated, wooded, and lovely - it is 42 miles from the small town of Fredonia to the park lodge and visitor center, and not much between those two locations except trees and deer. You should consider one or two days in Vegas, we all liked the Fremont Street experience, seeing the Bellagio Dancing Waters, and going to the Vegas decorated McDonald's by the Venice, and the M&M World store. Nobody else wanted to go the Liberace Museum, but I dragged them anyway, and they really liked it! For our family, a little Vegas went a loooong way.
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Old Aug 5th, 2007, 01:15 AM
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You can fly into or out of LV and not really "take the kids to Vegas". We flew into LV, arriving late afternoon local time which felt like later east coast time. Fast swim, dinner, quick walk down the Strip with our kids, back to hotel to sleep and head out in AM.
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Old Aug 5th, 2007, 03:12 AM
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Have you thought about taking in the Petrified Forest and Meteor Crater? We did this trip 3 years ago (from the UK) and, after spending 2 nights in the Camelback, we drove through Apache Junction, Superior (nothing there you might think - but there is the "World's Smalles Museum" with the "World's Largest Apache Tear"!), Globe up to Tonto National Forest and Salt River Canyon, to Pinetop/Lakeside for an overnight (or you could continue to Holbrook and stay in a Wigwam!) Next morning we spent driving through the Petrified Forest and then we drove along to Meteor Crater, before continuing to Sedona for 2 nights (Hyatt Pinon Pointe - highly recommend!). Sedona was 'OK' - beautiful rocks, but there are better in Bryce and Zion. We don't go much on the commercialism or the 'new age' stuff, so spent time in Red Rock State Park, which was lovely. Then we went to the GC - then to Lake Powell (1 night would do, unless you want to go boating) and then Zion (via Bryce - we only had time for a quick look). We then continued on to LV , LA, Yosemite and San Fran, but you could drive back to Phoenix via North Rim. Just a few ideas, which worked for us.
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Old Aug 5th, 2007, 10:47 AM
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I think there are two Sedonas; looking down and looking up.

I'm not a big fan of a bunch of art galleries and t-shirt stores with a few restaurants that close at 9PM.

However, look up in any directions and see the red Rock Mountains and it a hikers paradise.

I was there in early June for 2 days and over-hiked.

Broken Arrow was probably the most scenic along with the Bell Rock area.

Don't miss the picnic area at Oak Creek with cathedral Rock in the background. Amazing at sunset.

On the way to Lake Powell definitely stop at Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Both just Sout of Page.
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