We are flying into Phoenix late at night and have 5 full days in the area, then will leave to drive to San Diego for our flight home (there for 1 1/2 days)
Three of us have never seen the Grand Canyon or this area of the country. What are the "do not miss" sites that we should stive to see this time out?
Can anyone suggest what can reasonably be done in this time frame?
Definites for our visit are the Sedona area and the Grand Canyon. We are two couples traveling together and we'll be renting a car.
Can anyone help us with weather conditions in the area for February? And what sights and/or areas we can realistically visit during this time of year? We aren't afraid of snow as we live in the Boston area, but don't know where and how much snow you get there.
Is it possible to travel up from Globe through to Holbrook on 60/77? We were thinking about going to the Painted Desert. Will be hit snow through these roads?

Any suggestions on where to stay? There are some openings at lodgings at the Rim, but not the El Tovar. Any places that would be better than others? Anyone know which rentals are best for one-way drop offs?

After reading some of the posts here, I know there are some very knowledgeable travelers out there and we are hoping that you can help us! Thank you!

NEtripper,

I can't help you very much with the weather questions (I usully go to weather.com and type in my city name. You can check averages and means for the year, including temperatures and precipitation.), but I can tell you some of the "do not miss" sites.

In Phoenix, we checked out the Heard Museum, the Desert Botanical Gardens, Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright's home and school), Old Town Scottsdale (lots of wonderful boutiques and restarants), and South Mountain Park (where we did some hiking). The spas are wonderful here.

In Sedona, we did alot of hiking in the red rocks. The great thing about this is that you can get a hiking guide and just pull over at one of the many trailheads. (At some of them, there is even a machine where you can buy a red rock pass; couldn't be simpler.) We also checked out the Chapel of the Holy Cross (this is a quick visit) drove through Oak Creek Canyon, and shopped. (Garland's Indian Jewelry had some gorgeous pieces.)

At the Grand Canyon, we stayed at Yavapai Lodge, which is NOT on the rim. Some people had warned me against it, but it turned out to be a perfect fit for us. It has just been renovated, and you can take the shuttle (or make a quick walk) to the rim at Yavapai Observation Station. Why this makes sense - the rim area around Grand Canyon Village is clogged with people. At Yavapai Observation Station, you watch the sunset in serenity. When we'd go, there would be maybe four other people within sight. It felt like we had the canyon all to ourselves. For me, it was worth the short walk.

Thanks, Bradshawgirl for all your suggestions! Can't wait to get to Sedona. Thanks for the info on the Yavapai Lodge in the GC. Hoping we don't get snowed out of going!

Snow should not be a problem; it lasts only a day here in Sedona and is usually gone by lunch. Some years we don't get any. So far, we have not had a drop of moisture since October. Maybe we will get some today. This morning it's 42 and should be about 60 by noon. The preceding posts are quite on target. Altitude is key: Phoenix is about 800 ft.; Sedona 4,500; Painted Desert & Grand Canyon 7,000. Check out the Sedona.com web site for ideas on what to do, where to stay. Dress in layers. February weather should be ideal Your idea to travel Globe/Holbrook is a good one because the Salt River Canyon is extra colorful. IMHO El Tovar is not the most comfortable place to stay -- rather dated and can be quite noisy. The more modern lodges adjoining El Tovar are much better. Have you looked into staying at Sky Ranch Lodge in Sedona? Top of a mesa, vistas for 60 miles, away from highway noise, you can almost touch the stars. We stayed there 25 years ago -- and never left the area.

The El Tovar is noted for its restaurant and rustic beauty, but only a few of its suites have rimeside views. You would be much better off to book a second floor room (rimside) at either the Kachina or Thunderbird Lodge www.grandcanyonlodges.com

Having just stayed there last month, I disagree with the poster who recommended the Yavapai Lodge as the area will not be crowded in February. We were able to stand at our room's picture window with coffee cup in hand and watch the light break on the canyon. When we could no longer see the sun rays working their way down the canyon walls, we moved outside, taking about two minutes to relocate. We had to share our view with six other hardy souls who ventured out that morning. It's all about location, location..... stay rimside!

Thank you to USNR and school teacher! We were just discussing where to stay in the GC last night and this info is very helpful.
I have seen numerous positive posts on the Sky Ranch Lodge and will definitely be looking into booking that for Sedona.
Have you traveled the Globe/Holbrook route in the winter? Is there snow and ice to worry about? Does the road close?
Thank you all!

Dear NEtripper:

Here is the thread to our Sedona/GC trip report last summer. Hope this is helpful:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...200&dirtyBit=1

MY

Ditto
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...Fairhope&fid=1