I'm leaving for Sedona with my 3 kids next week (15, 12 + 9 yrs.) June 27th-July 4th. What Jeep Tour is best? And what Horseback ride would you recommend? There's several companies out there and I want to go with the best company. Should we bring our mountain bikes and are there any easy hikes you would recommend for the area? Any other info to do as a family would be greatly appreciated! Any favorite restaurants that the locals love? We also want to go to the Grand Canyon for a day and see the IMAX show...any suggestions to avoid the crowds and the best route to take in my car? thx..

Message: We rented a jeep from Sedona Jeep Rentals (at the airport in Sedona) and had a great time. They provide maps of suggested routes - we enjoyed the ride and the views from Schnebly Hill Road. As far as restaurants, we liked the Coffee Pot restaurant for breakfast - lots of choices and inexpensive, but busy (even in December)! We also ate dinner at Dylan's Restaurant, a casual restaurant -- the grilled chicken salad was very good.

Message: We rented a jeep from Sedona Jeep Rentals (at the airport in Sedona) and had a great time. They provide maps of suggested routes - we enjoyed the ride and the views from Schnebly Hill Road. As far as restaurants, we liked the Coffee Pot restaurant for breakfast - lots of choices and inexpensive, but busy (even in December)! We also ate dinner at Dylan's Restaurant, a casual restaurant -- the grilled chicken salad was very good.

For excellent hiking advise, stop at the Ranger Station in Sedona. They had a photobook which showed key turnoffs and hinted at scenic "highlights". We asked for walks good for novice hikers and got 3 great recommendations with detailed enough briefings that we had no problems finding the starting points and routes. Be SURE to carry lots of water, especially at that time of year. Get a copy of the Sedona visitor's guide for lots of restaurant ideas -- we were there a week and never had a bad meal.

We took Pink Jeep tours It was excellent.They take you on trails you could never do on you own.I would do it again.

Don't miss the IMAX at the Grand Canyon. It was terrific. We saw it after seeing the canyon. About the jeep tours in Sedona...we took the Kodak jeep tour late in the afternoon, and I feel compelled to tell you how very rough it was. Of course, I'm 50, but I had not had any medical problems of "this nature"; however, the very back seat on the jeep (the one I was occupying) the driver referred to as the "butt buster". Little did I know she was serious...two days later I was hospitalized and had to have surgery on my "busted ***". Ruined the rest of my summer that's for sure...don't mean to be gross, but I really wanted to sue the company...the jeep went so fast over deep ruts that it jarred everyone terribly...

Hiking trails are abundant; one area is in Boynton canyon. Get directions to the Enchantment resort. Right before you enter the resort grounds there is a marked trailhead, with parking spaces etc. The trail is relatively easy and it ascends the canyon wall to ancient Indian ruins found in the canyon walls. It is a popular hike and easy to followthough it requires a little climbing. Easy jeep road trails are in the area if your looking for mountain biking. I know the resort rents out bikes (crappy ones) and the trails are at that location.(Bike stores in the area also rent out bikes and would have good info) For more serious biking there is lots of slick rock (similar to Moab) in the area.
Another hiking area and one that is a lot cooler is in Oak Creek Canyon just north of Sedona. There is wonderful hiking in the Upper canyon that lets you walk in the creek bed surrounded by the red rock cliffs...truly great. To get to the grand canyon take 89A north through oak creek canyon ; then pick up I17 North into FLagstaff; follow the signs for the Grand Canyon through the city -pick up road 180 and follow the signs (easy to follow on a map. Remember: plenty of water for hikes and the outdoors; and would suggest leaving early for the grand canyon ...enjoy

Dear Everyone,
Thank you for all the recommendations....I'll be taking our mt.bikes...can we bike in Oak Creek Canyon? Think I'll be taking a Jeep tour with the pink jeeps and I won't miss the IMAX theatre...but should we even attempt a hike in the Grand Canyon since we're only spending a day there or would touring it in our car be okay too? thank you!

Suggest you stop by the Sedona Ranger Station and obtain a current copy of their map of biking trails. Fire season is in full swing. Today it will be 97 or higher. We do not know at what altitude you live, but Sedona is at 4,500 ft. and the south rim of the Grand Canyon is 7,000 ft. Suggest you settle for a partial hike into the Grand Canyon if you are only here a day and not accustomed to the heat, dryness, and altitude. In any case, make sure you drink plenty of water, starting before you become thirsty.

I'd reccommend renting a jeep, you can stop where you want and do a little hiking, it gives you more freedom than a guided tour. Be sure to go up Schnebly Hill Road, great scenery and not so crowded, lots of places to stop. Cathedral Rock has a number of good hiking trails and park rangers are in the area. You'll also want to visit The Chapel, built right into the rocks. Boynton Canyon is another good hiking area. Don't miss sunset at the top of Airport Road, try to get there early, it will get somewhat crowded, but it's a great view of the city. About 27 miles outside of Sedona, in Clarkdale, is the Verde Canyon Railroad. This is a great trip that takes you back into the red rock canyon and I'm sure your kids would love it. Some of the cars are completly open to the outside so you can sit or stand for great scenery. Make reservations if you are interested. There are all varieties of restaurants in and around Sedona, depends on how much you want to spend. We opted for places that wouldn't break the budget, but still offer a good meal. Some I would suggest: The Hideaway, it overlooks the river, Coffee Pot rest. is good for breakfast, but DO eat at least one breakfast at the Atrium, located in the Tlaquepaque shopping area downtown, great food and outdoor dining. Also Shrugrue's Hillside Cafe in the Hillside shopping complex, Bell Rock Inn is very good, go to the Cowboy Club downtown, very good food, try the rattlesnake, it tastes like, you guessed it, chicken. There are upscale places around if you prefer. Take a day and travel the short distance to Oak Creek Canyon, lots of hiking trails, visit Slide Rock Park, take the bathing suits, the kids will enjoy it. MUST take route 89A up thru Oak Creek Canyon, one the most beautiful drives in the country. Stop at the overlook at the top for a great view of the switchbacks you just traveled. I don't think you will have time for hiking in the Grand Canyon in just a day, your time probably will be better spent sightseeing around the canyon. It will be very crowded this time of year and you will most likely have to park your car outside the park and catch the park buses, they will move you about in the park. Catch the IMAX on the way out after sightseeing. Hope this helped some. I'd be interested in how your trip turns out. Post when you get back if you can. Good Luck!

Thank you for all the great info! Al, we live in the Rocky Mountains, in the ski resort, Steamboat Springs, Colorado and live at about 7,000 ft. I would love to do a mini hike in the Grand Canyon but if it's a HUGE hassle with crowds and parking...should I just catch the IMAX and drive to all the scenic overlooks? What mini-hike would anyone recommend? Rich...thx for ALL your info and the restaurant advice! I will post about my trip when I get back.

Does anyone know the name of the short hike in the Grand Canyon that is off Bright Angel Trail to some garden??? Would this be a short hike I could take with my kids on a day trip to the GC? Or would anyone recommend something else?

Bright Angel takes you down to Indian Gardens. It's an easy hike down...BUT a terrible uphill battle coming out, especially now that the weather is so hot. Unless you are in Olympic physical condition and can carry gallons of water, I recommend you follow Bob's advice and stick to the trails that follow the rim beyond El Tovar to the west.

For general info, check out Sedona's web page:

www.sedona.net

Thanks for all the great tips - I'm going to Sedona in Sept. for the first time.

Two questions: Anyone know a phone number or website for Sedona Jeep Rentals at the airport and do you think I need a reservation?

Slide Rock State Park sounds like fun and this sounds like a dumb question, but isn't this going to ruin my swimsuit so should I bring an old one or shorts and a tee for this occasion?

Thanks!

Joyce, Sedona Jeep Rentals is at 235 Air Terminal Drive at the airport in Sedona. The phone number is 282-2227 (I don't have the area code handy.) We didn't make reservations. However, we rented the jeep on a week-day off-season (December)-- I don't know what the situation would be at other times. Have fun!!

In the village of Oak Creek there is a small outlet mall and a smaller IMAX theater that shows a film of the Sedona area,very fun.You should not miss Montezuma's Castle,about 30 mins from Sedona.We went on our Jeep tour the first day and told the driver we wanted to get ideas of trails to hike as we went along so he pointed out several trail heads.Red Rock State Park has a small interpretive center the kids might like as well as some ranger led hikes. Kachina Stables is out that way also and I enjoyed my half day ride although I would not recommend doing the horse trip the same day as the jeep! There is so much to explore-Jerome is a very interesting side trip,built into the side of the mountain,lots of little art shops,etc. Have fun!

In the village of Oak Creek there is a small outlet mall and a smaller IMAX theater that shows a film of the Sedona area,very fun.You should not miss Montezuma's Castle,about 30 mins from Sedona.We went on our Jeep tour the first day and told the driver we wanted to get ideas of trails to hike as we went along so he pointed out several trail heads.Red Rock State Park has a small interpretive center the kids might like as well as some ranger led hikes. Kachina Stables is out that way also and I enjoyed my half day ride although I would not recommend doing the horse trip the same day as the jeep! There is so much to explore-Jerome is a very interesting side trip,built into the side of the mountain,lots of little art shops,etc. Have fun!

To anyone who loves Slide Rock Park... If you're ever in the North Carolina mountains, don't miss Sliding Rock near Brevard. Completely natural and beautiful like Slide Rock in Az., but a much more exciting ride down. Other beautiful attractions within minutes- such as Looking Glass Falls and the quaint town of Brevard. Enjoy!