Suggestions: Phoenix-Sedona-Grand Canyon
 

We're traveling in mid March, 4 adults and a 9yo boy. Right now I only have first and last nights hotel booked plus one night at the GC. Unless I can get something on Priceline, I don't think we're willing to pay for Sedona hotels ($75 for the Super8???) unless someone has a good suggestion for me. I think it's a busy trip, but is it doable? Other hotel or restaurant recommendations for a family?

Sunday 14th
Fly in to Phoenix.
See Mystery Castle if time.
(evening balloon trip???)
Go to South Mountain Park, walk, see petroglyphs - relax
Stay at Aiport Courtyard Marriott ($35)

Monday 15th
Get up and drive up to Montezuma's Castle.
Drive up to Sedona, maybe take a trolly tour, have dinner.
Drive on to Flagstaff to spend the night.


Tuesday 16th
Back down to Sedona for a jeep tour. (opinions on red rock jeep tours? much cheaper than pink jeep)
Over to Jerome for the afternoon. See a ghost town? Walk around.
(evening balloon trip???)
Spend the night in Flagstaff again

Wednesday 17th
(balloon trip in the morning??)
Go to the Grand Canyon and do most of our G Canyon stuff today.
Spend the night at Maswik Lodge in the Grand Canyon


Thursday 18th
Up early to see sunrise at the Grand Canyon.
Leave and go back to Flagstaff to see Walnut Canyon (are these the only cliff dwellings you can go in?)
Drive on to Holbrook (another 2 hour trip).
Stay at the Wigwam Motel.

Friday 19th
See Petrified Forest/Painted Desert
Drive down thru Show Low - mountains and forest scenery. Is there anything to do?
Stop for the night in Globe? or drive on to Phoenix?
A lot of driving :(

Saturday 20th
Drive in to Phoenix (1.5 hours)
Hot air balloon?
Do stuff in Phoenix area - Heard Museum? Deer Park Petroglyph Park?
Stay at Raddisson Airport ($45)

I've never spent the night in Camp Verde but my In-Laws have because I have an uncle that lives there. The lodging is cheaper than Sedona and it will cut out some of your to Flagstaff and back.

http://www.roomsaver.com/search_disp...;city_id=26960

Also the day you leave the Grand Canyon, make sure you exit going towards Desert View and Cameron, AZ. On Hwy 89 take the Hwy 395 loop to Wupatki National Monument. You can walk around in these ruins. You can also walk in the cliff dewelings in Mesa Verde National Park.

March can still be cold and have snow in the higher elevations in Arizona. We've run into a really bad snow storm in Flagstaff in March one year. Keep an eye on the Weather Station and your radio before you leave for the day.


Utahtea

We will be in Sedona the third week of March and got reservations at Sky Lodge Ranch in Sedona. The standard rooms are only $75 and its supposed to be in one of the best areas as far as view. We haven't stayed there before but I heard about it on the chat sites and it came highly reccomended with many making return visits regularly.

Thanks for both the replies. We're looking into the Sky Ranch Lodge and we've expanded our search to Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Prescott, etc.

The 2 other adults besides me and hubby are my mom and my mother-in-law. This makes choosing hotels very complicated trying to please everyone! (And we may very well end up at the Motel 6 in Prescott for $46 a night because of "complications")

We've actually reversed the order of our trip, heading up to Holbrook as our first night out of Phoenix. So we'll be in Sedona (hopefully!) the 18th and 19th.

We've done this so that MIL can take my stepson to the Blazin M Ranch. Anyone know about this place? Is it good entertainment for kids or adults?

Also, if you were going to take a balloon trip in Arizona, where would you go? Recommendations for any particular balloon company?

Also, any comments on Red Rock Jeep Tours in Sedona?

Thanks for your help!

I was very pleased with the Sky Ranch Lodge. We did the Pink Jeep broken arrow tour and enjoyed it.