Original post
Hi there,
We decided this week to use our miles for a trip to Phoenix. We're putting our itinerary together in a hurry, and it's not coming together at all. I'd really appreciate some help if possible, please.
Back in 2007, we did a classic trip: LA, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce, Zion, Las Vegas, Yosemite, and San Francisco. This time, we only have two weeks and don’t want to rush from one place to another...
(*-sites not yet visited)
Arriving in Phoenix tomorrow morning - Monday the 14th - and leaving for Paris on Monday the 29th.
- 14/09: Phoenix* - 2 nights to recover from the trip > Heard Museum, Botanical Garden, Downtown...
- 16th: Flagstaff* (Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot Nat. Monument along the way)
- 17th-20th: 3 nights at Grand Canyon - Maswik
And here’s where it starts getting really messy:
- 21st, 22nd... Monument Valley
- 23rd... Canyon de Chelly*
- 24th, 25th: Petrified Forest, Painted Desert*
- 26th-27th: Sedona* - lots of hiking options
- 28th: Evening in Phoenix, flight at 3 PM
If Monument Valley isn’t very doable this week because of rain, maybe it’d be better to go somewhere else, like straight to Canyon de Chelly, or even completely different—Zion (great hikes), Valley of Fire, Las Vegas, a night somewhere to break up the drive, Sedona, and then depart from Phoenix.
Since this trip is last-minute, we’re a bit disorganized and would really appreciate any advice. Aside from Phoenix and the Grand Canyon, we haven’t booked any hotels yet, so it’s still flexible.
Thanks so much in advance!!
Ruby
We did almost the same round trip two years ago, except for Canyon de Chelly, Petrified Forest, and Painted Desert.
Montezuma Castle: meh, we weren’t blown away by it.
Canyon de Chelly: I think to really enjoy it, you need to take a guided tour... so if MV isn’t doable, you could also opt for a guided tour there. It’s up to you which site you prefer—having done a guided tour at MV, I can tell you it’s worth it, since many areas are off-limits without a Navajo guide.
3 nights at the GC seems like a lot, but since you’ve been before, I’m sure you have your reasons ;)
The Zion, Valley of Fire, and Vegas option is a pretty big detour, especially since you’ve already been there. That said, between GC and MV, you could add Page (Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, etc.).
The Sedona area is gorgeous and deserves at least one extra night. West Fork Oak Creek is one of the most beautiful hikes ;)
Here’s what we did:
2 nights in Phoenix
2 nights in Flagstaff
2 nights at the GC
2 nights in MV
2 nights in Page
4 nights in Sedona
1 night in Phoenix
Texas en 2007 - Floride : 2013 - 2014 - 2015 - 2016 - 2018 - 2019 - 2021 - 2023 - 2025 - Montana et Wyoming : 2022 - Arizona et Utah : 2023 - Montana en 2024 - Nevada, Arizona et Utah : 2025
http://acheterenfloride.blogspot.fr/
Thanks Dennis, I’ll definitely take your feedback on Scottsdale, Sedona, and Prescott into account. Have you been to Oak Creek? I’ve heard the hikes there are really nice. I’ll see if we can stop by for a short, easy walk...
Have a great day,
Ruby
Sorry, I don’t hike…
On your route, I haven’t seen everything, but my *huge* crush is Monument Valley… with a blue sky, the sun, and that ochre earth—it’s magical… On the other hand, you’ve gotta endure the drive to get there, passing through "First Nations" reserves, sometimes through landscapes of run-down trailers and car wrecks… not great for them.
