We'll be attending a seminar in Scottsdale October 15-17, then have until the 21st free and clear. We are in our early 50's, childfree, semi-fit and don't particularly enjoy canned trips. Thinking of 1 day around Grand Canyon and balance around Sedona. I have a few questions:

1) I am somewhat courage impaired and wondered about the raft trip. Any thoughts on how wild that would be? Similar problem might appear with jeep trip - don't like heights or ledges! Would hate to book this then chicken out or wet myself!

2) Is it worth getting a suite with a patio in mid-October in Sedona area? How cold will that be? We like luxe places, but not chains. We were considering a B&B. Any ideas there?

3) Better Half likes photography, pistol firing, geology and light-duty hiking. Open to other thoughts and experiences. Help? Gotta make this trip good as I seldom can get him on a vacation.

Thanks so much!

It will be mid 70's during the mid to later part of the day and in the 40's at night and probably only a bit more than that in early morning. Not sure when you plan to use a patio, but I wouldn't let that be a major factor for a place to stay in the latter part of October.

Hope this helps...
Debi

If your husband enjoys geology, I'd suggest spending 2 days at the Grand Canyon. Plenty of opportunities for photography and light hiking there as well.

Not sure if Sunset Crater National Monument fits into the field of geology (it's an old volcano), but it's near Flagstaff and something to consider as well.

Don't know about the rafting; my sense is that it is tooo late to book anything...it is white water and the colorado river so by definition it may not be for you. I know that there are some slow placid raft trips up there too, near page I believe. Don't have any real info. about them.
Same would be true about pink jeep type tours, heights, ledges etc.
A nice hike would be the west fork trail which is near the top of Oak Creek Canyon. Hiking in and out of the river bed (shallow) really beautiful.
The enchantment is top of the line. There are a lot of places in Oak Creek itself. Briar Patch, Juniper lodge. The Hilton is in Sedona. Although it may cool off at night, the day temps will be moderately warm. I'd go for a patio!

sonrenarddoux, You might want to visit the DesertUSA.com website and message board. Tons of good information there. Nice, helpful posters too.

Five of us age 40 something to 85 spent Christmas in Sedona last year. All found the archiological sites near there very interesting.

Do the Scenic Rim tour instead of the Broken Arrow - both offered by Pink Jeep tours. You will thoroughly enjoy it - and won't wet yourself.

FYI, I checked the averages for Scottsdale, and weather.com shows 89 F for the average high and 58 F for the average low. Pleasant but warm in the afternoon.