I'll be traveling from Connecticut to a conference in Scottsdale,Az the first week of November,2004. It's my first trip to Az, so I've set aside a little extra time (not much) for touring. One day during the week (Thur.), I'll be able to head out for Sedona around noon, and am considering a Sedona motel/railroad tour package, which includes an overnight stay at Kokopelli Suites in Sedona and taking the 4 hour Verde Canyon Railroad Tour at 1:00 the next day (Friday). If anyone has tried this, or a similar combo, could you give me some feedback? Also,assuming I'm able to check in at 3:00, will I have time on Thursday to either check out Oak Creek Canyon or take a Pink Jeep Tour? If so, which should I do? If I'm able to grab another day, I'm thinking about driving a short portion of the Apache Trail. How far is this from Scottsdale, and how much time to get there? As I'm not too good with heights, I'd like to avoid those sections considered "challenging or "scary".

The Verde Canyon Railway trip departs from Clarkdale, AZ, about 23 miles southwest of Sedona. It's a beautiful, four-hour journey on the train; it takes about a hour each way from Sedona/Clarkdale. You will have plenty of time in the morning to explore Oak Creek Canyon, which connects directly from downtown Sedona on Hwy. 89A and runs north about 15 miles or 30 miles round trip if you go all the way to the far end where the switchbacks begin.

The railway is a photographers' delight because you can ride either inside a passenger car or sit outdoors on a gondola car. Weather is no problem. Railway gets **** from tourists.

thanks for the quick response and the useful info. - looking forward to the trip!

I just made a reservation for a Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour (2 hours). The last one starts at 4:30 pm and you need to be there 20 mins. ahead, so you could do it that first day if you're checked in by 3:00 pm.

I just realized that in November it probably gets dark earlier, so maybe the last tour then is earlier than 4:30. You could check with them, the number is 800-873-3662.

thanks, I'll give them a call and check it out!