I've read all the Sedona threads I could find, but still have a question or two.
We're flying from Houston to Phoenix, renting a car to drive to Sedona, where we will stay for a week. I know, I know. What's the point of going from one hot spot to another? Well, we are going anyway. Delighted to hear that their monsoon season has started which has lifted all the travel restrictions on some of the most scenic places.

Now, to my questions. About that canyon drive north from Sedona along the 89A highway. How twisty and turny is it? If I freak out at scarey drives, is this going to be hard for me to take? I really really want to do it because everyone raves about it so much, but I'm worried.

Second, here are the restaurants we are considering: Yavapai (at Enchantment Resort, already made reservations), Heartline Cafe, Oaxaca, Rene at Tlaquepaque, El Rincon, and Oak Creek Brewery and Grill. Anyone care to give their critiques? Or add to that list?

How long does it take to drive from Sedona to the southern rim of the Grand Canyon?

Also, what's to do in Flagstaff and anyone have restaurant recommendations for there?

Many thanks. I can hardly wait to go and chill out, no kidding....in the heat of the day, I may just hunker down beside the good ol' AC and read. I hear it's coolish in the evenings, which Houston sure ain't. Yahoo.

I'm interested in the answers too.

I know the answers to two:
1) 89A is fine. It's great scenery and you should drive carefully around the turns, but it's not scary.
2) Allow two hours to get to the Grand Canyon SouthRim from Sedona. Our favorite route for this trip is straight up 89 to Cameron (stop at the Trading Post, about 1/4 mile past the intersection) Then Rt. 64 to Grand Canyon.
Have a great time!

I agree with Boots' suggested route to GC. Going that way gives you a wonderful view of the Painted Dessert on the horizon. The part of the Oak Creek Canyon Drive that might be a little unnerving is very brief and well worth the few moments of 'white knuckles' on the dashboard...lol! Enjoy!

Thank you, Boots and Polly. You've both made me feel much better!
The drive to the Grand Canyon will be wonderful and I've not seen it since I was 15--a few years back, ahmmm.

Any restaurant picks?

Hi kk...
I'm a Californian just back yesterday from a trip that included Sedona. We flew into Vegas for a few days, drove to the Grand Canyon, then to Sedona and down to Phoenix for a ball game. Believe me, Sedona was the coolest spot, temp-wise, on the journey! I really did not find the heat opressive anywhere but in Phoenix/Scottsdale. We drove 89A from Flagstaff down to Sedona, and there was only one hairpin turn area, to my delight. We stopped (at 9am) to see Slide Rock St. Park, and my teenage son couldn't resist going down the slide several times (in street clothes). It was beautiful! Sorry I can't help with restaurants as we only stayed briefly in Sedona and went on down the hill to Scottsdale. I can hardly wait to go back and spend more time in Tlaquepaque!

As far as Flagstaff, it was just one more college town to me (we have looked at so many in the last year). We chose an Italian restaurant at the southern end of town (Milton Road?) but the line, as with several other restaurants, went down the block! We finally went into the old town and had pizza. MUCH less crowded for some reason.

Hope this helps... have a wonderful time! Jan B. in Granite Bay

Thank you, Jan. My excitement is now growing and growing to get to Sedona. One more day of work and then we are off! Yippee.

Lucky you -- we were in Sedona in June At the height of the fire season and unable to drive through the canyon. The above poster was right, a couple of hours to get up to the South Rim.

Of the restaurans you mentioned, the only one we went to was Oaxaca and I would definately recommend it. The food was great and the service was so attentive-- every time we ran low on tortilla chips or the kid's lemonade glasses were half full, there was someone there to replenish them.

The other places we tried were the Cowboy Club-- it was o.k.--the carnivores in our group enjoyed it the most (they even tasted the BBQed rattlesnake--you guessed it- tastes like chicken). Shugrues Hillside was very nice. Once again good food and excellent service this time with pretty views as well. The airport restaurant which I heard about from this board was also great. We had lunch there and watched the planes taking off and landing while enjoying cold Coronas and sandwiches.

I am jealous of you as I would go back in a second --maybe next year...

Thank you, Eva. I'm sorry you missed that drive. I couldn't believe it when I called our resort yesterday and was told that everything was now open since their 'monsoons' have come, just as they are supposed to do this time of year. You will need to return, no doubt. I've now printed out the Oaxaca menu from the web and it looks great. If the service is attentive and genial, too, well then it is a definite must.
Thanks again, kk

A very nice ($$$$$) restaurant is at L'Auberge which is creekside at the beginning of town. There are cottages that make up the complex. They are known for their sunday brunch. Even if you don't eat there, go down there and wander the grounds. Huge trees, Oak Creek ...great. Good place just to order some cold drinks and enjoy the location.
The drive to the grand canyon as previously suggested is scenic from a southwestern point of view. Another way to go is Thrrough Flagstaff and follow the signes to the GC; this may be shorter, and goses through high elevation ponderosa forest. Each way is nice.
Oaxaca is a good restaurant.
There may be a Shakespeare festival going on too. Also there may be outdoor theather in Talaquepaque at night.
Downtown Flagstaff is as stated aove a quiet college town, small restaurants, bookstores, old buildings etc. Doesnt have the feel of Az. (phx/tucson)

In Flagstaff, do not miss the Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered. The grounds are beautiful and there is an informative tour, as well as a loverly bookshop. The observatory is at the top of a very small hill in Flagstaff.

Thank you, David and Jack. I think we plan to see Flagstaff and a friend is an amateur astronomer so he had told us of the observatory, but he is really buggy about it so it's nice to hear someone else say it is good, too, which moves it higher up on our list.
Yes, I've read a little about L'Auberge so it's sound great, too. I can hardly wait. Thanks again, all. kk

we enjoyed rene and shugrue. would recommend them both highly.

Thank you, David and Jack. I think we plan to see Flagstaff and a friend is an amateur astronomer so he had told us of the observatory, but he is really buggy about it so it's nice to hear someone else say it is good, too, which moves it higher up on our list.
Yes, I've read a little about L'Auberge so it's sound great, too. I can hardly wait. Thanks again, all. kk

In Flagstaff on (I think, San francisco street) is a little restaurant called either somebody's Tamale Palace or somebody's Taco Palace. At any rate, stop there for some of the best homemade Mexican you will ever have in Arizona. The Enchantment Resort is out of this world. Make a dinner reservation to eat outside about 7 pm and watch as the sun goes down and the colors of the red rocks change. A once in a lifetime experience. 89A is not at all scary--just a beautiful drive along Oak Creek. Didn't love Rene at Tlaquepaque, but El Rincon is nice for an upscale Mexican meal. Hitching Posr (Cowboy Club) is fun for lunch. Hopefully the slide rocks will be open for you. It's such a beautiful area---you'll love it. And, compared to Houston, it's a dry heat (yeah, so is an oven!) But, you'll do just fine.

Be sure to stop in Jerome on your way to Sedona. It's a revitalized "ghost town" built in the clifts. It is worth your time.

kk's already left by now.
You can stop offering suggestions.

Yes, I am now not only gone but back.
Here are some observations on fabulous Sedona. It really is a most distinctive place!

We lucked out, got to do everything because roads and parks were reopened. It even rained while we were there, yeah!

In fact, the night we were driving to Enchantment Resort for our special, expensive, well-worth-it-splurge dinner at Yavapai Restaurant there, the light was spectacular on the famed red rocks, and we even had a huge rainbow. Unbelieveable.

El Rincon was a nice Mexican meal at Tlaquepaque but we skipped Rene at the same location, opting for the fabulous Enchantment meal and I think that's a wise choice--fantastic scenery plus a wonderful meal and service. Robert's Creekside is a warm, lovely place with a good view, and the much-recommended airport restaurant is quite good, too, located on top of a mesa. Shugrue's was great too, plus a view. Was underwhelmed by Oaxaca, neither the food nor the service living up to recommendations. It was OK, but nothing special.

The Slide Rock State Park was great fun. A few of us oldsters slid down with the kids in this fabulous natural water slide. Everyone was so happy and got along so well...nice way to see humanity. The drive up 89A was not scary, but I forgot to worry about the drive up to Jerome! I thought I was going to die of fright. But it is interesting. But, all in all, Sedona is a very special place. Recommend you see it before the place is as overdeveloped as Santa Fe, and it is fast becoming so.

Glad you had a great time, KK.
Now the hard part...readjusting to the old home routine