Returned from AZ on Sat evening and these were my favs: Sedona and hiking the vortexes, Pink Jeep Tour, Sonoran Museum in Tucson, and the GC. The drive thru the Oak Creek Canyon from Sedona to Flagstaff is wonderful but I wouldn't attempt it at anytime after daylight. We had snow, sun and rain so the rivers and creeks were very high...some flash flooding. In Tucson would suggest resos at Cafe Poca Cosa and pizza at Picasso Pizza in Sedona. Terra Cotta in Tucson was also very good. Later!

What hikes did you do in Sedona?

And did you encounter any lane closures in Oak Creek Canyon btwn Sedona and Flag?

Hwy 89A through Oak Creek Canyon is open to traffic. There may be 10-minute delays at a point above Slide Rock State Park where road crews are removing boulders and cleaning embankments. Otherwise, traffic moves unimpeded in both directions.

Last Saturday they had one lane closed going up the canyon at a point past Slide Rock. There was a temporary light set up to stop traffic in each direction at different times. It was about a 15-20 min. delay, but probably because it was Sat. and it was a busy time.

your trip sounds great.myfamily are hoping to go in june/july we are not campers and will have to choose one place to say over the 4th july weekend would you recommend sedona or flagstaff? tks

I've been to both flag and Sedona in July. Flag is much cooler. In fact, at night you might need a sweatshirt or at least a light sweater. Sedona will be VERY hot. It is not really feasible to hike or do anything strenuous (aside from swimming in the hotel pool or maybe Slide Rock Park) suring the day after about 10 a.m. The rocks really heat up and retain the heat, even through the early evening.

One exception to the above is hiking the West Fork Trail in Aok Creek Canyon, btwn Flag and Sedona. That trail is down in the creek and in the canyon and there is water involved, so it is bearable in early July, w/lots of water being consumed.

As mentioned, Oak Creek Canyon was held up about 5-8 mins. in either direction for maintenance. There is, in fact a directional light. I'd pick Sedona over anything in the region for a stay or hiking. We did the Bell Rock Vortex, Cathedral Vortex, and generally hiked in the Red Rock system. The Pink Jeep tour was fun but also very informative, we had an extremely good driver that gave us a geology lesson.

dewdrop, I love Sedona, it is my favorite place in the entire world and I go there 3 to 4 times a year to hike. But have you been there in late June or July? It is awfully hot. Too hot for me to hike during the day after 10 am, with a few exceptions as noted. And I lived in Houston for 30 yrs so I am no weenie when it comes to heat. For that reason, I'd consider staying in Flag in July and driving down to Sedona in early a.m. to hike but then getting back to Flag for afternoon stuff. If I stayed in Sedona again in July (which I won't) I'd plan to go to Flag in the afternoons unless I was going to Slide Rock or the hotel pool. The difference in temps. btwn. Flag and Sedona in July is incredible. Flag is comfortable, and cool at night.

We are in the "thinking" stages of a trip to Arizona. There is so much to see and do that we are having trouble figuring out where to go. Initially Sedona was top on our list, but now I'm not sure. Thanks for sharing dewdrop!