In early April, daughter won a trip to Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix. As soon as I heard she was going, I thought, “I want to go too!” Husband suggested we make it a family trip.
So, in a matter of hours, with the help of good friends, we planned a five day trip to Arizona. Phoenix is four hours away from The Grand Canyon, and we HAD to visit that, so our time in AZ involved many hours on highways. It was exhausting, but I’m glad we did it. Here are some highlights for anyone planning on spending time in Arizona.
Sedona
Our first day, we landed in Phoenix, grabbed a rental car, and headed two hours north to Sedona. Husband found an awesome resort called Los Abrigados that had suite style accommodations at a reasonable price, beautiful grounds (despite some construction), and very helpful staff.
The scenery in Sedona is gorgeous. Robust rock formations, breathtaking in size and color, surround the little town. Hiking trails abound. Our second day in Sedona, we got up early to beat the crowds and hiked the Devil’s Bridge Trail. It was a fairly easy four mile trek that brought us to the largest natural sandstone arch in the Sedona area of the Coconino National Forest.
My boys marched right over the arch, ready to pose for the kind hikers who had our phones and cameras. Unfortunately, I have a leg numbing fear of heights. “It’s wider than it looks,” they said. “No big deal.” So I ventured out and was fine until I got to the middle of the arch, felt the steady wind that stirs in places of great height, and glanced down at the rocks and trees below me.
It’s never good to look down.
I froze. My boys came back to me. I smiled for the camera and cleared off that arch as fast as my shaking legs allowed.
Sedona is a cozy tourist town with a friendly vibe. After our hike, we grabbed some treats from Sedonuts. (And we still haven’t stopped making jokes about that name.) We enjoyed a great dinner at the Secret Garden Cafe, which offered vegan options and had a no straw policy. Daughter would have loved it, but daughter was in Phoenix doing her super science thing with 1800 other super scientists. I sent her a pic.
Things close down early in Sedona, since it is a Dark Sky Community. There’s also a new age element, with crystal shops scattered throughout the town and multiple suggestions to visit a vortex. I never could get a straight answer on what a vortex is – a place with spiritual energy, I guess. Even the putt putt course at our resort encouraged relaxation.
There were many hikes we wanted to take but didn’t have time. I think we will go back.
The Grand Canyon
It was a four hour round trip journey from Sedona to The Grand Canyon, but it was worth it. We got to the south rim (the one closest to Phoenix) early (read: 8 am) to beat the crowds. We booked a guided tour with Bright Angel Bike Tours for $65 each and started our day riding along the rim of the canyon, getting fascinating information from our guides about how the canyon formed and the plants and animals that live around it. The bikes were comfy and easy to use.
After our tour, we turned in the bikes and hiked down the Bright Angel Trail, one of the easiest and busiest trails at the canyon. Our tour guides told us only 5% of people who visit The Grand Canyon travel below the rim. So sad! The views only get better as you descend. We ventured about a mile down, with 900 feet of elevation change, and after pausing for the obligatory picture, child number three insisted we had to march back out “double time”. We let him go ahead.
A super early start, sunblock and water highly recommended!
Phoenix
The city is clean and well signed, and the convention center, where ISEF was held, was gorgeous. We stayed at an Embassy Suites in Scotsdale to avoid the pricier hotels (and parking fees) in the city, but Phoenix traffic is dense, and if I had a redo, I would pick a hotel closer to downtown and suck up the price. After all of the other driving we did, commuting 20 minutes every time we went into the city was exhausting.
After taking in the spectacle of 1800 science fair projects from 80 countries around the world, we ventured to South Mountain Park and Preserve, a 16,000 acre municipal park. We drove up to Dobbins Lookout, the highest point in the park, for a fantastic view of Phoenix and the surrounding area.
Coming from the mountains of Southwest Virginia, we thought it was crazy how far we could see. AZ has mountains popping up, but overall it is SUPER FLAT, and you can see for miles. And, I’m not gonna lie, it freaked me out a little to know, and to see so clearly from Dobbins Lookout, that we were surrounded by barren desert on ALL SIDES. The Arizona landscape is fascinating, sometimes brown and scrubby, sometimes rugged and red, sometimes dotted with pines. I’m glad we got to see it, but I was also relieved to get back to the green of Virginia.
Have you ever visited Arizona? Do you have any travel tips you’d like to add?
Thanks for “traveling” with me!
I also explored these places during my last journey and came back with a lot of pleasant memories.
Sedonuts! Well, I’ve got to go back just for these! So glad you could go (good for your daughter – wow!) Stunning scenery is right.
I really enjoyed your post and it is so timely! I just booked a trip to Arizona TODAY to see the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Phoenix. My family and I have been before and loved it, but we are doing a girls’ trip this time in celebration of one of our dear friends’ graduation.
Trying new restaurants and sampling different cuisine is part of the thrill of vacationing so we’ll definitely try your Sedona restaurant suggestions. I’m hoping also that The Wildflower Bakery is still there. We loved it for a lunch spot.
Yours is the second suggestion I’ve been given to do the Devil’s Bridge Trail so that’s definitely on our list of things to try this go-round. I never understood what the vortex spots were either, but we climbed one on our last visit, and the view was amazing from up there. And if you’re able, I’d highly recommend the white water rafting trip along the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. It was one of our best days ever, and there’s nothing like the view from the canyon floor. Reservations for the trip have to be made through a company on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. It’s an amazing way to see such a spectacular spot!
Thanks for sharing your tips! Congratulations also to your daughter for earning a trip to AZ through all of her hard work.
Thanks for stopping by Melissa and adding some more great travel tips! White water rafting through the canyon sounds awesome. Hopefully we will get back, and I will definitely explore that option.
I think I did see a Wildflower Bakery in Sedona. Hope you get to eat there!
Our son and grandchildren and great grandchildren live in Phoenix and surrounding suburbs. We don’t get to visit as often as I would like. I wish we could “snowbird” there. We have flown and we have driven. Luckily, our son usually chauffeurs. It is a busy place. Have you ever been to Utah? The rock formations are stunning.
I have not been to Utah but have heard about the amazing rock formations there. I guess that’s another stop to add on my travel wish list!
So glad you enjoyed your Arizona adventures, Julia. I grew up in Phoenix and never wanted to move anywhere else as an adult. The state has so much diversity – from low desert to snowy mountains to wine vineyards in southern Arizona. And Phoenix has a great deal of culture (theater, opera, ballet, museums, major sports, world-renowned zoo…). If you ever decide to return, shoot me an email and I’ll hook you up with some more great ideas.
Wow, thanks Jessica! I will definitely do that. We didn’t have nearly enough time to explore Phoenix.