#16
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The North Rim is really untapped, but at 5 hours from LAS and a short season without being really hardcore, it is easily explained. |
#17
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Spent a week in Sedona last spring ...
Truly remarkable area. We sprung for a really nice hotel/resort. The location is perfect for relaxing and heading out on adventures. We hiked a bit, trip to Grand Canyon and a separate trip out to Antelope Canyon and Navajo country. Lots of nature sites to take in. Weather is spectacular then. The mountain biking is amazing although we did not. We get out to the White Line Trail when taking a jeep tour. Saw some riders with mad skills riding it. Food was great in town (walking distance).
Easily top vacation we have taken. Warren |
#18
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I don't know how to explain it....it was cool but I guess I expected more somehow given all the superlatives I'd read about the place over the years. I love the outdoors but it just didn't thrill me like other places that I've visited. Perhaps if I'd hiked down inside the Canyon I'd have left feeling different.
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"I am just a blacksmith" - Dario Pegoretti
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#19
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Can't recommend Sedona enough. Great short hikes. http://www.hikesedona.com/most-popular-hiking-trails/. Good food...if bike rentals, jeep tours... Good hotels. We've stayed here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...a_Arizona.html . We've also stayed at the "Star" but that was just wierd...(they rented us the front desk/caretakers room!)
I've visit the Grand Canyon but only do a day trip. Can't get enough of the view. I've found the family couldn't take more than some hours there. I'd try a side trip to Prescott and "Whiskey Row" or a night in a b&b. The Whiskey Off-Road race is April 27-29th so either avoid or go then! No in-betweens on this choice...crowds... Do all this before May!!!! |
#20
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The South Rim can be done in a single day if you are not going to hike down. If they still show the film at the Imax theater just outside the park, see it first. Before you go to GC, read the book "The Emerald Mile".
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#21
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I've been all over Zions, and while it is beautiful, unless your going to hike it extensively, or bike it, I don't see spending more than a day. And, the north rim is wonderful, much quieter, but it is not the South Rim. Also, if airfare is cheaper into and out of Vegas, that same Sedona/South rim is equally as doable from either airport. I just like the drive up from Phoenix more than from Vegas. Last edited by bking; 01-11-2018 at 11:07 AM. |
#22
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I went on "light" weekend excursions to some of these places. Some thoughts:
1)Sedona/Antelope Canyon may be shorter than Sedona/Grand Canyon? Short hikes, may be less crowded this time of the year. It is less of a grand scale the than the Grand Canyon but lovely lights and shadows during the day and is probably a one-day or half-day hike if you plan it. The GC is also not far from Sedona. 2) Zion: for the Narrows - if the water is not too high, you can rent drysuit bottoms and walking sticks from any number of outdoor companies in the town. It may still be crowded but again, this may be the off season. You have to be a little careful where you put your feet but it is not too bad, unless you are dealing with significant orthopedic or balance issues. Bryce can be as easy or hard as you want - the Park Service has done a really nice job in making a lot of points accessible. 3) We did a hike to Havasu Canyon - this needs more planning as you have to purchase a permit from the Havasu Nation to gain access. There is a lot of hiking but it is mostly flat land; there can be some rockiness in the gravel/stones on the path. I am not sure if you can hire a mule to take you down or not. Many parks there. |
#23
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I appreciate the wisdom and advice everyone has shared!
We have an Air BNB in Flagstaff and rental car, but the amount of trails in the area is simply overwhelming. Could anyone speak into some of the 'must do' in the South Rim/Flagstaff/Sedona region? We are physically capable and will be good for some distance/elevation, even though everything starts at a mile up! Small aside; I thought it would be great to do a Rim, River, Rim and when my wife did some quick searching, relayed the 'bad idea' most people were commenting. I thought it was for families of 4 with a grumpy kid or 2 until I saw it was 17 miles with 4400' gain on the return. Holy. Cow. Food spots would be very useful as well. We are landing EARLY in Phoenix and would love a great breakfast spot, as well as anything for lunch/dinner in Sedona/Flagstaff/South Rim. Yelp has been combed over, but it is impersonal. Higher end is fine. |
#24
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Dinner in Flag: Pizzicletta - my favorite place in the area, Pato Thai, lumberyard brew pub. Brunch in Flag - MartAnnes Burrito Palace IMO the food sucks, i mean really sucks!!!, in the south rim. If you can i'd recommend bringing food with you from Flag. If that is not an option, and if you can hold off and avoid south rim food it is worth returning to the interstate to a small town called Williams. There are a few good places there. |
#25
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Piggybacking onto this (great) thread as we're heading out there next week. Flying into Vegas, renting a camper van, driving to the South Rim for one full day there, then Vermillion Cliffs, then Zion, then back to Vegas.
With the camper, assuming there's no snow, is there any reason we can't go to the north rim and hike/explore? We'd kind of written it off due to official seasonal opening/closing dates but if the weather window is good, any reason not to go up there? Recommendations for camping, hikes? We'll be able to be self-sufficient in terms of food, etc for a couple of days. Thanks! JC
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Enjoy every sandwich. -W. Zevon |
#26
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Good breakfast places I've been to in Scottsdale since you'll be heading north:
https://www.hashkitchen.com/ http://butterscafe.com/ |
#27
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plus a don henley statue
worth a pic
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#28
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tfc!
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“A bicycle is not a sofa” -- Dario Pegoretti |
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