Where to go in AZ around Xmas?
 

Hi,

What are good places to go on a drive trip in AZ in the last 2 weeks of December? Prefer somewhere not too cold or that don't require snow chains, etc.

Will Sedona be crowded then? Hard to find lodging at that time of the year?

Thanks!

Historical weather (via intellicast) says Sedona is in the high 50s and has very little precipitation in December (on avg., 4/100 of an inch per day). Sounds pretty nice.

Sedona at Christmastime is a very quiet place. It's one of the slowest times of the year because people have other things on their mind -- family things, hometime things. We have lived here more than 24 years, and so we speak from experience. After the Holidays, Sedona's tourist business picks up a lot.

I have been in Sedona for the time starting Christams Eve and going through New Yrs twice in the last 4 yrs. One thing you do need to plan for is that the town is very busy w/tourists, esp. in the restuarnat areas. A lot of people from Phoenix and close by areas seem to spend days and nights in that time period in Sedona.

We found the resturants to be very crowded. And when we tried to do take-out food, it took over an hour to 1.5 hrs to get the orders- from Thai Spices, pizza places, etc. Luckily, both times we were in rental houses so after the first few nights of the 1st trip during that time we just planned to have simple meals at the rental house. But if you are in a hotel, you should plan ahead and make reservations for dinners, or else you will be waiting a long time for dinner.

oops, I do know how to spell restaurant. Sometimes.

You're going to need more than a trip to Sedona if you've got 2 weeks. Phoenix, Tucson and all of southern Arizona will be warmer. The average low in Sedona is 31.

Phoenix ave high/low = 65/44
Tucson ave high/low = 65/39

Neither are exactly scorching, but nicer weather than Sedona.

Would agree with WhereAreWe that Phoenix and/or Tucson will be warmer than Sedona. Other than the drive, what would you like to do during the two weeks? Both cities offer resorts with spas and pools. Because Tucson is smaller, IMO it is easier to get around in (even with major road construction). There is golfing, museums, U of A, Sonoran desert museum, national parks, Titan Missle Museum, Kitt Peak, Kartchner Caverns, Sabino Canyon, and many other attractions in the area. Tourist spots are usually not crowded until Jan.

Thanks, all, for your suggestions!

Sedona -- will it (or the road to it) be icy and snowy at the end of December?

In Phoenix, is the Heard Museum worth it?

In Phoenix, there's also some place that's famous for their annual xmas lights. What is it called?

Apache Trail, is it ok to drive on it in the winter? Icy? Worth a drive? How long does it take? Possible to do it in a day and we're based in Phoenix?

Thanks, all!

<b>Sedona -- will it (or the road to it) be icy and snowy at the end of December?</b>

Slight chance because it's not all that high. Probably not.

<b>In Phoenix, is the Heard Museum worth it?</b>

Yes, and probably the near-by Phoenix Art Museum. Also lots of high quality art galleries in Scottsdale.

<b>In Phoenix, there's also some place that's famous for their annual xmas lights. What is it called?</b>

There are many, the www.azcentral.com site for the local paper has a map of best light displays. Actually if you go to Sedona and spend a night there then the Tlaquepaque (spelling surely wrong) plaza has a fantastic light show, well worth the price of admission. This is near the Y junction where the main roads meet.

<b>Apache Trail, is it ok to drive on it in the winter? Icy? Worth a drive? How long does it take? Possible to do it in a day and we're based in Phoenix?</b>

No ice, it's low elevation, not much higher than Phoenix. Much better scenery in Feb - April when the hills are covered with wildflowers blooming, but an interesting scenic drive for the rocks and cactus in Dec. Worth a drive. You can do it in a day trip.

Thanks, Bill and all, for the good info. Some more questions:

1) Apache Trail: Any preference to drive it clockwise or counterclockwise? I heard one direction is more scenic than the other, but more dangerous as well. Do you need 4WD? A 2WD SUV is good enough?

2)Sedona. 1 night is enough there, esp in the winter? We're with elderly parents, so not much hiking planned.

3)What else is near Sedona? Prescott ok in the winter?

Thanks!

Prescott can be very cold and it does snow from time to time (also not worth going out of your way for IMHO, it's cute but I go there only to visit relatives).