Southwest tour suggestions
 

We are coming up on our second trip to the Southwest and have our itinerary pretty much set...I have a couple of specific questions. We are traveling with 11 twin girls and are doing a 7 day houseboat trip on Lake Powell for 1/2 the trip and the rest (a few days before and a few days after.)
We have 1 1/2 days in Sedona. We plan to go to slide rock and do a few hikes. We are staying at the Hilton. Are the Pink jeep tours really really worth the money?
After Lake Powell we hear to Mesa Verde and monument Valley. Is is possilbe to do a tour at each on the same day. Meas verde early morning and Monument Valley at sunset? Is that too ambitious, and if not I am really interested in tour company recommendations?
We have been to Bryce, Zion, and GC and will do Moab on our next trip out in two years. We are form Massachusetts and love the south west. We end our trip at South Pointe Mountain resort in Phoenix for tow night and I would love to get in a few hikes and a horse back ride if any one has specific recommendations. Thanks in advance.

NO, don't try to do Mesa Verde and Monument Valley in one day. If nothing else, spend a 24-hour period at Mesa Verde hiking on trails in the park, watching the light change. Petroglyph Trail as early as they'll let you on it.

We really enjoyed the Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour, and we did think it was worth the money. The scenery is spectacular, and you won't believe some of the places that the jeep will climb over - your girls should really enjoy it. They do go fairly slowly on the rough spots, so it's not really scary or too jarring. Do make sure it's the Broken Arrow tour you take - we also did a different tour with another jeep company, and didn't feel that it was nearly as good. Be sure to make your reservations early, they do sell out - we were lucky to get one of the last tours available when we were there.

I agree with Zu, don't try to do a tour of Monument Valley and Mesa Verde in one day. Just the driving time between the two parks is almost 4 hours.

Mesa Verde needs a whole day to really see it and two would be much better. Maybe you should consider adding Mesa Verde to your Moab trip.

If you go to Monument Valley and are headed back to Phoenix from there, you might stop at Canyon de Chelly. There is one hike from the rim into the canyon to the White House Ruins (cliff dwelling). There are also tours into the canyon which are well worth the money. If you stop at Canyon de Chelly, you can also stop at Painted Desert and Petrified Forest before returning to Phoenix. There are many hikes at the Petrified Forest. Depending on the route you take you can stop at Walnut Canyon National Monument and take the hike to see cliff dwellings.

While in Sedona make sure you go to Montezuma's Castle National Monument. Nice short hike to see cliff dwelling.

Utahtea

Assuming the weather cooperates, from Mesa Verde be sure to look over into New Mexico to see Shiprock, a remnant volcanic neck. Spectacular.

Also, when you go to Moab don't miss Arches National Park!!! A hike to Delicate Arch is not all that strenuous and affords incredible views of the La Sal Mountains to the east.

If you're real southwest fans pick up any Tony Hillerman novel. He is intimately familiar with the Four Corners area and sets all his who-dun-its there.

The way he writes about the landscape, it's like another character. Superb.

Mesa Verde indeed requires a full day. Durango is also a fun place that your girls would like. I live in area and can help with hotels, restaurants etc.

Debi