Next spring I will be making my first trip to the southwest. I will be flying into Phoenix. From there, I thought that I might spend a couple of days in the Jerome/Prescott/Sedona area on my way to the Grand Canyon. That would give me about three days in Phoenix before heading out. Would I do best staying the time in Phoenix and using it as a base to seeing southern Arizona, maybe taking a day and visiting Tucson? This would also help keep me from having to pack up my luggage and moving it every day. Another plan would be to fly into Phoenix (where I will arrive before noon) drive to Tuscon, spend the night;next day back to Phoenix, spend the night; next day visit Montezuma's Castle and the Petrified Forrest/Painted Desert and spend the night in the Flagstaff area before heading to Sedona the next day. Does this sound too busy? Is it too much for too little time? Maybe cut out Tuscon? Would the first plan be better, it might involve a bit more drive time but would save me time loading luggage and checking in/out of motels? Are Montezuma's Castle and the Petrified Forrest worth fitting in or would I do better making my trip a little less rushed without them? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

What do you want to do in Tucson? Some things are better to do as a day trip, but if you are going beyond Tucson to Bisbee and Tombstone and perhaps Karchner Caverns, then I would stay overnight.

I would not go to Montezumas Castle and then to Petrified FOrest and back to Flagstaff and then the next day to Sedona - Petrified forest is quite a ways from MOntezumas castle while Sedona is very close.

I like Montezumas Castle - doesn't take too long to see it. I would also go to the nearby Montezumas Well which i find as interesting - almost no one every goes there.

Between Prescott and Jerome, drive over Mingus Mtn - interesting route. You might also want to visit Tuzigoot Nat Mon. Be sure to drive the old route between Sedona and Flagstaff instead of the freeway

Skip Montezumas Castle - takes about 2 min to see and personally my whole family was disappointed. Sedona is definitely worth a day or two and you'll find cheaper accomodations in Flagstaff (about 1/2 north of Sedona). I would skip Tucson if only a week this time - too much driving. There is plenty to see int he PHX area

SEDONA I love the scenery , I'd plan on spending more time there, I think it is prettier that the canyon take a jeep tour while your there
The canyon is enormous & grand, Sedona is so vibrant, in the summer plan on going to slide rock, in the winter enjoy the contrast of snow on the rocks, i think spring is wild berry season, there found just off the road side

Oh yes there are trout farms along the creek & you can fish, either at the farm or on state land