For 18-23 Oct
Flights-Delta PNS to ATL to PHX and return--one minor delay otherwise good flights with nothing but snacks
Rental car-Dollar.com.--Stratus for 5 days -$158---BUT you cannot extend days by phone in Phoenix-something about Police require valid contract in car
Lodging--4 nights B&B Canyon Villa in Village of Oakcreek just outside Sedona. Unbeatable view, good not great breakfast, lovely room with gas fireplace, good appetizers at 5 BUT at the price we were paying there should have been coffee/drinks available all the time--discontinued! and the pool was advertised as heated to 82 but was no longer--just what solar panels would do. The guests were wonderful and we had terrific social hours.. Last night at PHX Hampton North which was good-convenient to airport and food

Sightseeing--Drove to Jerome south of Sedona, picture perfect drive, stopped at Tuzigoot-a Nat. Park Monument-indian ruins--great view of valley. Jerome is a funky once mining town now tourist trap--but a good one!
Another day drove to GC--89A through Oakcreek Canyon(scenic) to Flagstaff to 180( scenic) to Valle to airport outside Grand Canyon Park. We took a one hour plane ride with Grand Canyon Airlines which was fabulous. (I'll tell details if there is interest) Went into the park through the south entrance--very short line, to Mather Point then drove to the middle of things and found parking space--just be patient-- walked the rim around el Tovar- Kolb Studio. Hoards of people, can't imagine it in the summer!!! Drove out thtrough East Gate with stops along the way. LIPAN POINT is the best viewpoint-almost 360-few people -unbelievable view of GC. Desert View has snack bar and gift shop. The drive on 64 to Cameron was fantastic surprise to me-- flat but gorgeous. Stopped at the Cameron trading Post--you have never seen so much tourist ---- in your life!--Just a great place to leave money!! Drove down 89 to I-17 and back to B&B. This was an 11 hour day.
Another day shopped in Sedona and in the afternoon took a private tour with Mike from Southwest Outside--this was my substitute for Pink Jeep. This was a good decision. Mike is knowledgeable. You get out and walk unlike Pink jeep, in a SUV, you are not eating someone else's dust. We went up Schebley Hill but with Mike you go where YOU want!!

oooo, the long awaited anniversary trip report!! Glad you liked that B&B and the view (even though they didn't come through on everything advertsed- how was their attitude if you brought those things up?)
Did you go to Garlands? Where did you dine? I'm looking forward to more on this hoepfully.
and Happy Anniversary!

Shopping We did alot of shops in Downtown but no buying there. My wife's annivery present was from Garlands-an antique Navajo silver bead necklace that has a terrific natural patina. Garlands has it all and is the place that locals recommend. At the Cameron they had rugs that were $thousands so I was not surprised when I saw the prices at Garland Rugs in Sedona.We did buy a copper piece in Jerome advertised as 1850's but I am sure thats not true--it was too cheap!

Glad she liekd the Garland's necklace. What a great gift. Our 19th anniversary is tomorrow, but we have to wait for Christmas to get to Sedona.
So you did the GC trip in one day. Many people on here wonder if it can be done. We are staying overnight for my son's birthday in late Dec., to see the sunrise on this birthday over the canyon (hopefully).
Will you tell more about the GC plane ride please? We are not doing the mule ride and I have thought about the plane ride for his birthday- either that or hot air balloon over Sedona.

Dining- The only fine dining that we attempted was at Cucina Rustica in The Village of Oakcreek. This was a fine meal, well served, at very reasonable prices. Others at the inn reported good meals at Dahl and Delucca. Shugrues, Heartline, and Cowboys. Several ate more than once at Cucina Rustica since was so close and excellent.
We had interesting food at the Cameron trading post- indian stew and Navajo taco with fry bread--why is all bread good? Lunch at Javelina Cantina was mediocre. Lunch at the Asylum in Jerome was good. Chose the wrong night at MPCafe in the Village- too busy -long wait and cold food which I sent back.
To and from PHX we ate at the Rock Springs cafe at exit 242 Great hamburger and rubarb crumb pie--this is a well known grub stop on I 17!
Just across the street from the Hampton North in PHX is the Chinese Cultural center where there are 4 restaurants. We had excellent Cantonese at the Golden Buddha--huge portions!!

Good feedback on cucina Rustica, as we are planning to try that this time on New Yrs Eve. Sorry to hear about MPCafe. We will try Rock Springs cafe on the way to Sedona on 12/26 for lunch, at your suggestion. I am putting it on our itinerary now. It is hard to get rhubarb pie anywhere and I love it. Thanks for that recommendation.

How far out of Phoneix on the way to Sedona is exit 242? (so I can answer the teenagers when they start yelling "where's the food?")

Rock Springs is about 20 or 25 miles north of Phoenix, near Black Canyon City. The restaurant is on I-17, on the west side of the road; you must circle off the interstate, cross over a bridge, and it's right there. Great for pies, we understand. There's always a crowd of cars & trucks in front.

Plane ride http://www.grandcanyonairlines.com/o...overyindex.htm

Background- all air ride routes are the same--dictated by FAA-only longer or shorter and the heliocopters fly 1000 ft lower. I did not want a small small plane and although I love heliocopters I wasn't sure my wife would.
So we flew GCA which flies the Vistaliner which is 19 seats. We were fortunate that we got the third row which has an excellent view AND the plane was not full so everyone had a window seat. The seats are A (aisle) BC--so you need seat A or C to have a window seat. ALL seats are assigned!! I did not know this ahead--so negotiate your seats and see if they will confirm by E-mail. The plane flies a leisurely route above and over the canyon and the views are fantastic--even my pics were good!

USNR is right on- and there are those DOT signs for the restaurant so follow them

Re -what I thought were the shortcomings at the B&B. The Innkeeper brought these issues up himself at checkin/orientation. Natural gas prices made it too expensive to heat the pool as usual and guests simply took too many liberties with beverages to leave them out.

This looks very cool and I am very interested. I looked at the website and really like the size of the plane. Thanks for the tip on getting the preassigned seats.

What time of day did you do the airplane tour?

High noon for ride.. I noticed that there was a haze later. My timing was accidental and had to do with when we arrived. PS 2.5 to 3 hours Sedona to GC airport