Need help planning a Phoenix trip

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

Hello,

Just a few totally personal opinions:

In Phoenix, Scottsdale is the “old” neighborhood—better than downtown if you like architecture. There are lots of Frank Lloyd Wright houses, and his home is open for visits, but it’s pricey.

In the area, the Apache Trail is a nice little road with some villages frozen in time.

The botanical garden is great with all the cacti.

Sedona has beautiful red-rock landscapes, but it’s very touristy. The best part is the Chapel of the Holy Cross and its pretty wild location.

On the way back, if you’re looking for a stopover, Prescott—the old capital—is charming.

And here’s a fun detail: national parks are free on September 26th!!

And in Phoenix right now, there’s a tribute to Kirk—his club Turning Point had its headquarters there. I hear lots of people are coming to leave flowers…

…if you want to see Trump’s America up close, now’s the time and place!

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

Hi Dennis, Thanks for the info... Phoenix is in the news right now, huh? :) But I don’t think I’ll go see the Kirk tribute—I’d rather check out the Heard Museum. Have a great day! Ruby

Thanks Dennis, I’ll definitely keep your thoughts on Scottsdale, Sedona, and Prescott in mind. 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

Hello, Thanks for sharing—there are so many places to visit and so little time! And yes, after the Grand Canyon, we’re planning to head to Page and try to visit Antelope Canyon. I’ll need to book that, as well as Horseshoe Bend. On the plane, an American woman was also telling me about those two spots, so your reply confirms that part of the route for me. We haven’t decided yet whether to go from Page to Zion or head to Monument Valley. We’ll see how we feel tomorrow—it’s 6:20 PM here right now, and the trip’s been long. We took a short walk and can dive into new adventures tomorrow! It’s great to get tips and feedback from fellow travelers. Thanks, Ruby

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.