Southwest-National Parks, Las Vegas & So Calif in 18 Days
based on 2 votes
This list focuses on the Southwestern United States, to include Southern California. The contrasts of available experiences are simply unbelievable. From the glitz of Las Vegas and the National Parks to the beaches, attractions and Hollywood scenes of San Diego and Los Angeles!
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Death Valley National Park, Las Vegas, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Page, Sedona, Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles
- Category: Best of
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Traveler type: Culture, Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors, Never been before, Theater, Beachgoers
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Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Honeymooners, Families with teenagers, Seniors, Active/adventure
- Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Tags: Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion National, Death Valley
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1. Southwestern United States - Nevada, Utah, Arizona & Southern California
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Being very long time Californians and having traveled many times to Las Vegas, the National Parks of Death Valley, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon plus extensively around San Diego and Los Angeles, we asked IF we were planning an 18 day trip to this wonderland for the FIRST time, where would we go?
Note: We offer other suggestions in a 15 Day travelers list focusing on just Northern California.
Here are our suggestions:
First the logistical strategy. We would rent a vehicle in Las Vegas, return in Phoenix. We would fly on Southwest Airlines from Phoenix to San Diego. Note: with proper planning and lead time, you can get a very low air fare. We would rent a vehicle in San Diego, return in Los Angeles. We would bring a preloaded GPS device with every accommodation, restaurant and attraction pre-categorized by trip day. Note: All 4 airports are a piece of cake to fly into or out of!
Time of year would be May 10th through the 10th of October. The ideal period for both weather and fewest tourists would be September 20 through October 8! Starting in Mid-August, we would reverse the trip starting in Los Angeles and returning home from Las Vegas to hopefully drop a few degrees in temperature in Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
Mother Nature plays a major role for travel enjoyment. The elevation changes between Parks and marine layers off the coast on the Pacific Ocean will provide many contrasts. In May there still can be snow flurries around Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon.
Use the Old Farmers Almanac for Sunrise/Sunset to plan your evening toasts, for tides (nature) to plan your tidepool exploration and for next year's forecast to assess potential rainfall and probable temperatures! (paste into browser)
tinyurl.com/EARTH-SUN
tinyurl.com/EARTH-TIDES
tinyurl.com/EARTH-FUTURE
Here are elevations of each destination:
Las Vegas - 2000 FT (610 M)
Death Valley - (282) FT (86 M)
Zion National Park - 3898 FT (1188 M)
Bryce Canyon National Park - 8500 FT (2550 M)
Grand Canyon North Rim - 8000 FT (2400 M)
Page, Arizona - 4118 FT (1,255 M)
Sedona, Arizona - 4326 FT (1,319 M)
Phoeniz, Arizona - 1117 FT (340 M)
San Diego & Los Angeles - Call it Sea Level!
Based on the elevations, Death Valley is the problem child. So prepare with lots of water, extra sunscreen and a willingness to bear the heat. I guess its called a lifetime of compromise!
Sifting through the grains of salt or what is it we like that influences our recommendations:
We are a couple in our mid-early fifties who really enjoy geography and nature. We love vigorous hikes, golf, wine tasting, picnics, fine-dining, nicely situated accommodations (no camping), reading and crosswords, museums of art, history & science, shopping for artwork, theater and visiting several attractions in a day. We both drive at a steady clip on highways only (never, never in communities or in cities/towns), so Google estimated times for us are generally overstated! We get up fairly early and we do not "linger" meaning we typically pass everybody while walking along the trail, through the streets or in malls. Being very detail oriented, we are also very punctual with a daily routing plan to minimize our travel time between sites. We will travel for 18 days with 2 duffel bag style suitcases and one carry-on, so packing and moving to another location after one or two nights is nothing. Mr Strand would bring his golf clubs because they can stay in the trunk and hold the beach umbrellas and hiking poles (how's that for justification!). He would play in Las Vegas, Sedona with the Mrs and San Diego at Torrey Pines. Hopefully you find our personality types and interests similar to yours!
Our suggestions for 18 days are carefully made with destinations like Capitol Reef, Arches, Grand Canyon-South Rim and exploring Phoenix dropped from our list in order to spend enough time in each destination and not endure an abundance of time in the vehicle! The flight from Phoenix to San Diego is an attempt to eliminate what we consider to be a very boring drive and also interject a change of pace and a "new" vehicle for California touring. It is unbelievable how much there is to see and do!
Following are Google Maps for each recommended "adventure": (Paste into browser)
Adventure 1 = Breathtaking National Parks & Decadent Fun!
Google Map - tinyurl.com/SW-ADV-1
We recommend arriving at McCarron Airport, shuttling to the off-site rental area and picking up a roomy comfortable vehicle (full size, hybrid, SUV) for major open desert highway cruising. The trip plan will cover 1,300 miles and 30 hours in the vehicle. The "extra" cost pays an intrinsic dividend every mile!
2 Nights Death Valley National Park
2 Nights Viva Las Vegas & Hoover Dam
2 Nights Zion National Park
1 Nights Bryce National Park
1 Nights Grand Canyon National Park-North Rim
2 Nights Page-Colorado River Rafting, Antelope Canyon & Lake Powell
2 Nights Sedona Then Flight Departure From Phoenix
Adventure 2 - California Beach Life, Wild Animals, Wild People & Make Believe!
Google Map - tinyurl.com/SW-ADV-2
3 Nights San Diego
3 Nights Los Angeles
Purchase the America The Beautiful annual pass for $80. It covers 4 adults and its the best $80 you will ever spend! This pass not only covers the National Parks but it substitutes for the Red Rock Pass in Sedona as well!
Here is the purchase site: tinyurl.com/PASS-NP |
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2. Death Valley National Park - DVNP
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Starting with 2 nights in Death Valley is a fantastic way to acclimate to the new time zone and just enjoy the immense dramatic vistas of the Nevada/California landscape. This way you will be "rested" to stay up and do some high-stepping in Sin City!
The Park is the largest in the contiguous US, about the size of Connecticut, it covers 3.4 million acres. The main geographical attraction is it contains the lowest point (282 feet) below sea level in Badwater Basin. Note: The Dead Sea between Israel & Jordan is 1,371 feet below! The surrounding mountains reach a high summit of 11,049 feet at Telescope Peak.
Here are 2 maps:
Google Map (paste into browser) With Recommended Areas: tinyurl.com/DVNP-TOUR
Amazingly, this suggested route forms a remarkable resemblance to the perimeter of the State of California! You start and finish in Yuma (Las Vegas), purchase provisions in Needles (Albertsons) have lunch in Lake Tahoe (Beatty), pass by Mt Shasta & Weed (Scotty's Castle), stay in SF (Stovepipe Wells), tour the Monterey Peninsula (Badwater Basin) and return via LA & San Diego (Pahrump)!
DVNP (paste into browser) Interactive Map: tinyurl.com/DVNP-MAP
Here is a suggested timeline for the DVNP tour:
10:30 Leave McCarron airport and drive to Beatty for lunch
Note: Along the way you will pass by Creech AFB. Of note is the paucity of planes. The pilots are all indoors flying drones half way around the world with their joysticks. In reality not very joyful!
11:00 Stop at off-freeway convenient Albertson's on Farm Rd for room provisions and early morning foods for "beat the heat" touring before breakfast.
12:45 Lunch at Ensenada Grill = Inexpensive and very tasty. Quite the combo!
03:30 Tour Scotty's Castle - Walter Scott the PT Barnum of mining and his story about this Castle (actually a Spanish style casa) is extremely fascinating and a must visit on your tour of DVNP. Note: Last tour April through October is at 4:00.
05:15 Dependent on time,etc. consider driving up to Uhebebe Crater to explore the formation.
07:00 Check in to Stovepipe Wells for 2 nights. Enjoy a swim, a refreshment in the bar and a decent meal in the restaurant. This place is the only game in town but its rooms are fine. The noisy AC units should be music to your ears considering the alternative of no AC!
The next day's tour:
07:30 Get an early start to beat the heat. Enjoy your Albertson's refreshments and snacks and drive first to Badwater Basin.
08:00 Many of the main viewing attractions are all within 15 miles of one another. Look on Google and DVNP maps for orientation. Start with Golden Canyon, then Devil's Golf Course, visit Badwater low point, drive up Natural Bridge Road, return via Artist's Drive and stop at Artist's Palette.
10:00 Enjoy breakfast in Furnace Creek at the 49er Cafe
11:15 Visit the air conditioned Furnace Creek Visitors Center
12:00 Head back to Stovepipe Well's for refuge from the elements waiting for evening temperatures.
01:00 IF you have 4WD or a high clearance vehicle AND it is not too hot for your liking then head over to Titus Canyon for a drive down the one way road. Also Pink Jeep tours does offer a guided tour as well.
05:00 Take a drive up Mosaic Canyon Road and then head down to Mesquite Flat dunes
06:00 Enjoy an early dinner at Stovepipe Wells
07:30 From your elements study in the almanac determine when sunset is. Grab your favorite beverage, possibly some champagne, and head to Zabriske Point for a toast to Mr Sun Ball. On the way stop at Harmony Borax Works for an interesting walking tour of the 20 Mule team and borax mining outdoor exhibits.
The final day heading back to Viva Las Vegas:
07:30 Early breakfast at Stovepipe Wells
09:00 Final stop at Dante's View on the way out to enjoy one last vista of the Valley of Death, oh my!
01:00 Bright light city gonna set my soul, Gonna set my soul on fire,Got a whole lot of money thats ready to burn,So get those stakes up higher, Theres a thousand pretty women waitin out there, And theyre all livin devil may care, And Im just the devil with love to spare, Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas |
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3. Las Vegas & Hoover Dam
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There is no place like this place, near this place, so this must be the place! Yes a billion dollars does get you something despite our milquetoast US dollar!
We highly recommend spending your 2 nights in Las Vegas at the Wynn Resort, Encore. Steve Wynn is the real deal. He knows hospitality and he delivers on ambiance. The Resort offers convenient self-serve parking and its centrally located on the strip. You can easily walk to The Venetian and The Bellagio. We do not lay out by the pool. It is our understanding that other properties offer better pool sites, if this is high on your list. Although the Encore pool is still quite nice. Apparently it gets too much afternoon shade for the true God's and Goddess's of the Sun!
Here is a Google Map (paste into browser) for the Las Vegas stay:
We would take the vehicle to Downtown and the Fremont Street Experience in the evening and also to the MGM Grand to explore the properties in that area.
tinyurl.com/VIVA-LAND
Everybody is very unique when it comes to entertainment and value for the buck! So Las Vegas and choices are certainly personal. Briefly here is what we would do. Mrs Strand does not care for casinos, while Mr Strand is known to game a little! She would enjoy the Fashion Show Mall and perusing the shops. For dining, we would enjoy one of the fantastic buffets the first night (The Wynn buffet is very good) and fine dining the last. (Joel Robuchon at the MGM is excellent) Attending one of the Cirque du Soleil shows would be a memory of a lifetime!
Craps offers the best odds for any game in the casinos. IF you do not know place bets and 8/6=6-5, 9/5=3-2, 10/4=2/1, then I suggest you not play. Mr Strand would place $100 in bets on Lady Luck The Multiple Point Shooter in an attempt to win his golf green fees and then stop!
On day 2, we would head to Hoover Dam for the "Hard Hat" tour. The old film footage of this depression era public works project (actually built for irrigation control) is very interesting. The "Hard Hat" tour goes deeper into the turbine works of the dam. Mr Strand would play golf in route at Cascata Golf Course in Boulder City or possibly at the Wynn Resort dependent upon what the Mrs desired. It is very expensive but we all have our vices!
So enjoy! Possibly your winnings will pay for the entire trip!
After two nights, enjoy a nice breakfast before heading out on your 3 hour drive to Zion National Park. Utah is a Mormon State and it still has strict liquor sales control. We suggest buying alcoholic beverages plus room snacks in Sin City before reaching Springdale outside of Zion! A champagne sunset toast to Mr Sun Ball at Point Imperial on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon might be a special occasion to buy some bubbly for! |
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Zion National Park is very dramatic and extremely well serviced by our National Park system. The well developed town of Springdale lies along the Virgin River just after it exits the National Park canyon it has formed over the millenniums! The Park is closed to vehicle traffic except for those staying at the Park lodge. Shuttle buses run constantly up and down the highway in Springdale with multiple convenient stops for transporting you to the entrance of the Park as well as other locations in Springdale.
Here is a Google Map for the Zion portion of your adventure: tinyurl.com/ZION-TOUR
Spend some time with this Google Map by zooming in using Terrain Mode. You can see all the hiking trails and gain a feel for the steepness of the canyon walls. While in the Park, you should be able to spot some climbers scaling up these monoliths!
On the way to Springdale and Zion National is Mesquite, NV. The Wolf Creek golf course here is beautiful. IF you are a golfer, then you may want to seriously consider playing it on the way!
Here is a Zion National Park Interactive Map: tinyurl.com/ZNP-MAP
There are many accommodations to choose from in Springdale. We highly recommend the Best Western Zion Park Inn near the beginning of town. Request a second floor room facing out over the river (not readily visible) and the unique sandstone canyon walls. There are no private balconies but there are shared balcony areas at the end of each hall. There is a nice swimming pool area and enjoying a nice refreshment before sunset or early morning coffee and newspaper on one of the balconies is a nice experience.
For dining the first night, we recommend the Bit & Spur, right across the street. And Parallel 88 the second night. For breakfast, the Bumbleberry Inn or the Mean Bean Coffee House are a good start to the day. For hiking sandwiches, Sol Foods at the very entrance to the Park is good.
After checking into the Best Western, we recommend exploring the town and taking an orientation ride on the park shuttle. We would stop in at the visitor centers and then take the shuttle up to the end point for a short stroll down the Riverwalk. Then on the way back, get off at Weeping Rock for a short walk to this "wet" formation.
For the next day, we would plan a rigorous hike. Our first choice would be The Narrows which takes you "through" the river and up through the canyon. Ideally there would be a time and slot available to take part with a Park Ranger. There are guides in town with proper equipment for this trek.
Here is an excellent guide published by the Park Service: tinyurl.com/ZION-TO-DO
The guide gives schedules of Ranger Talks/Activities and maps of all the shuttle stops. Some of these activities require an advance reservation. We would review this guide for ideas and educational programs of interest. We enjoyed an easy hike from The Grotto, across the river and down the Kayenta Trail to the Emerald Pools. We also took the Hidden Canyon Trail hike which is just okay. For a spectacular view, Angel's Landing Trail, is the choice. Angel's Landing is NOT for acrophobics! The palms of your hands will turn into rain clouds and possibly wash away the narrow ledge trail, with its 1200 foot drop, away!
Then after 2 nights at this "gorge"ous venue, it is off to Bryce Canyon and the Hoodoos!
Note: Before leaving Springdale purchase plenty of room provisions for 2 nights in Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon plus picnic supplies.
The drive from Zion to Bryce is a very scenic, 2 hour excursion with several "vista" opportunities to pull over and enjoy along the way! |
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5. Bryce Canyon National Park - BCNP
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Paul Simon must have wrote, Whoo Do You Think You're Fooling and Don't Take My Kodachrome Away while Loving The Rock formations, the HooDoo's, in Bryce Canyon National Park, not far from Kodachrome Basin State Park, while he composed his somewhat bizarre song lyrics! Or possibly I digress in my thinking!
The limestone formations (Hoodoos) within Bryce Canyon National Park are extraordinarily unique to our planet. They are a geological wonder which is not to be missed. The Park itself is relatively "small" and can be easily enjoyed over a one night stay!
The Bryce Canyon Lodge is by far the best place to stay, both for setting and surprisingly dining! Plus there are Full Moon Hikes, Evening and Astronomy Programs, so you want to be right where the action is! The cabins have better heating than the hotel, so judge/forecast your need for the one night. The "motel" and restaurant options leading into the park as well as the town of Tropic should be very low on anyone's list for accommodations. FYI - We stayed in Tropic!
Here is a suggested timeline for the BCNP tour:
10:45 Arrive after 2 hour drive plus vista stops at the Visitor's Center. Tour facility and note schedule of Ranger Programs to do later in the evening.
11:30 Drive on 63 to the end at Rainbow Point and enjoy a picnic. Then take a short stroll around the Bristlecone Loop Trail and take in the historic view from Yovimpa Point. On the vista sign is a black and white photo, before guardrails which is interesting.
01:30 Head back to the Lodge for check-in, stopping at some vistas along the way. Pass on Inspiration and Bryce Point for visiting later in the late evening.
02:45 Drive to Fairyland Point for a highly recommended fantastic trek through the Hoodoo amphitheater and back up to Sunrise Point, near the lodge. You can then walk back along the Rim Trail (down hill) to retrieve your vehicle.
07:00 Enjoy an early dinner at the Lodge Dining Room
Evening - Head to Bryce Point for the Sunset and also partake in one of the many offered Ranger programs.
Here is a link (paste into browser) of BCNP activiities: tinyurl.com/BCNP-TO-DO
Here is a Google Map for the Bryce portion of your adventure: tinyurl.com/BRYCE-TOUR
Note: The map only shows the destinations and not the names. But this is a very straight forward part of your tour! |
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6. Grand Canyon National Park - North Rim - GCNP
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The Grand Canyon must be seen in person to completely appreciate it! The North Rim trumps the South Rim due to its far less crowded opportunities to just sit and enjoy both the sunrise and sunset. The Canyon is so huge that walking/hiking along the rim actually seems to get you nowhere. Even descending down the North Kaibab Trail into the Canyon creates the same feeling making it a disappointing hike unless you are going to the river (overnight undertaking). Keep in mind we have Colorado River rafting scheduled later in Page! For us, the Grand Canyon is enjoying refreshments, lazing, reading, marveling at the vistas and reflecting. When the moment is right, we do take it easy!
A stay in the Grand Canyon Lodge offers fantastic views from the dining room, its terrace and potentially, if you are lucky, from your cabin. The El Tovar Hotel at the South Rim cannot boast the same claim! Book a reservation at the Grand Canyon Lodge, as soon as absolutely possible, it's imperative for maximizing your enjoyment. The home run, is to secure a Pioneer Rim Cabin in this order of preference 306, 309, 305, 301, 320; then 310. They are situated right on the Rim with views right out your window and/or on the cabin porch. More than likely these cabins will be booked. If so, then opt for one of the 4 Western "Rim View" Cabins. The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite charges $525 per night and its rooms offer hardly any views because you strain to look up compared to straight down. This accommodation is great value despite being "rustic"!
Check availability now: tinyurl.com/GCNP-LODGE
Note: "Rim Side" will be offered if available. Call the reservations desk 877-386-4383 to "insure" cabin number request and then transfer to make your dinner reservation as well.
Here is a Google Map for the Grand portion of your adventure:
tinyurl.com/GRAND-T0UR
Here is a link (paste into browser) of GCNP activiities: tinyurl.com/GCNP-TO-DO
Here is a suggested timeline for the GCNP tour:
12:45 After a 4 hour drive, hopefully spotting some elk and buffalo along the way, arrive and check-in to the Grand Canyon Lodge
01:15 Grab your picnic supplies or some sandwiches at the local deli and drive to Cape Royal for a picnic with a view!
06:00 Confirm your early dinner reservation with an ideal table by the window.
07:45 Grab your champagne and hors doeurves and drive to Point Imperial for a view of the Colorado River and a toast to Mr Sun Ball for his nice performance that day.
The next morning:
06:45 Grab a cup of coffee and take a early morning stroll out to Bright Angel Point for the morning sunrise.
07:45 Enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading off to Page (3 hour drive) and outdoor recreation.
We hope this time is very special for you! |
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7. Page - Antelope Slot Canyon Exploring, Lake Powell Cruising & Colorado River Floating!
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Page, AZ is situated in an obscure part of the US, meaning difficult to reach. But once you are in range, this interior wonderland is a must visit for water recreation and further exploration of the breathtaking sandstone/limestone formations of the Southwest. The appropriate name for the overall area is Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The Glen Canyon Dam, built in 1963, creates the 186 mile long expanse of Lake Powell and controls the flow of the Colorado River.
Note: Your National Park annual pass is also valid for this Recreation Area.
For accommodations, we highly recommend spending your 2 nights at the DreamKatchers B&B with hosts Eric and Jarod. The B&B is located in Big Water, 15 miles from Page, so a bit of driving for dinner one evening is required. But this distance is pitch and putt compared to the overall driving on this adventure. If you can read between the lines, then you know what we are saying about staying in Page!
Here is a Google Map (paste into browser) for the Page portion of your adventure:
tinyurl.com/PAGE-TOUR
Note: Oddly Google changes its AZ Highway 67 route when it closes down for the winter! Drive time from GCNP to Page is way off, I guess, until it reopens!
After resting up and reflecting on the rim of the Grand Canyon, it is time to get moving again! Spend some time with the above map in terrain mode to gain an overview of where these sites and attractions are in relationship to one another. Switch to satellite mode to see all the Red soil and zoom in on the B&B hot tub! Also use this more graphical map of the Glen Canyon Recreational Area (GCNRA) showing better labels to supplement your review: tinyurl.com/GCNR-MAP (Primarily the boundaries of GCNRA, basically Lake Powell versus the Navajo Indian Reservation)
Here is a suggested timeline for the PAGE tour:
We suggest dividing the 2 days between Sandstone and then the Dam!
Here is the suggested Sandstone day - First the lower part, then the upper:
09:00 Leave Grand Canyon Lodge for 2.5 hour drive to Page & Lower Antelope Canyon
Here is detail map of Antelope Canyon entrances: tinyurl.com/ACYN-MAP
The Corkscrew (Lower Antelope Canyon) & The Crack (Upper Antelope Canyon) = The Antelope Slot Canyon is on Navajo Indian Reservation land and it is owned and controlled by the Navajo Indians. In order to tour the canyons, you must pay a "Reservation Fee" and "Guide Fee" to a sanctioned Navajo Tour Group, aka The Monopolies! Currently Kens Tours, $26 for 1 hour, is the only Navajo guide for Lower Antelope Canyon. Upper Antelope Canyons tours, $32 for 1.5 hours, require transport to The Crack, in a 4WD vehicle, with staggered time Navajo Tour agencies from the town of Page.
We recommend doing both tours because each Canyon area offers a unique perspective of formations, color and light. We checked our backyard hillside and there are no underground formations. The Upper tour can be very crowded because it is a cake walk compared to the Lower tour. The Lower tour involves scaling very well-constructed steel ladders up and through the Corkscrew formations.
Photography is a major draw. There are extended tours offered for the photography buffs. For best results you will need a tripod with the camera set at slow film speed. Handheld's should be set at high film speed. The guides offer setting advice to assist you in capturing that incredible shot. Judge your own sanity level with long exposures and potentially lots of people. The best sunlight time is high noon, surprise!
11:30 Park at Lower Antelope Canyon entrance by the shack. Tours run every 30 minutes so no reservation (ha ha) is required. A guide will walk you to the canyon. Enjoy your digital moments and the entertaining climbs up the ladders. Unfortunate note: Guides might warn you about potential flooding or forbid entrance. There are escape ropes inside if a surprise flood materializes. This is extremely unlikely BUT use your common sense judgment.
01:30 Lunch in Page at the Dam Bar & Grille
03:00 Upper Canyon Tour with Chief Tsosie. Walk over to the tour company, with your reservation and take the tour. This tour offers great guides and more of a Navajo educational experience. From flute playing, spirituality and camera setting tips!
05:00 In preparation for a Dam day tomorrow, stop at the Glen Canyon Dam and the Carl Hayden Visitor Center. There is a great guided tour (24 hour advance reservation advised), lasting 45 minutes, given every 30 minutes until the last tour at 4. It is only $5, quite the value! IF you pass on the Upper Antelope Canyon tour, then do this tour and possibly consider a short drive and hike to the Horseshoe Bend Overlook.
06:15 Check in at DreamKatchers B&B
06:45 Enjoy a bottle of wine and hors doeurves on the patio
08:00 Return to Page for dinner at the Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge - What a name!
Here is a suggested Dam Day - First the upper part, then the lower!
07:30 Enjoy a fine breakfast at DreamKatchers
08:45 Head out on the high seas in your powerboat for a cruise among the canyons and a picnic on Lake Powell.
12:15 Return to the marina and head over to Colorado River Discovery
01:00 Tour group starting at dam
06:30 Back from Lee's Ferry and end of a long day
07:00 Dinner at Fiesta Mexicana. Make a reservation for this key time.
09:00 Bottle of wine and star gazing from the hot tub on DreamKatchers roof.
The next day it is off to the Red Rock Mountains of Sedona:
07:45 Enjoy one last delicious breakfast at DreamKatchers
09:00 Similar to Dante's View in Death Valley, it is appropriate to scale one more hill and this time say good bye to the Colorado River at Horseshoe Bend Overlook. On Highway 89, 5 miles beyond Page, just south of highway marker 545, turn west on the dirt road which ascends the small hill. Drive a short distance west and park at the base of the hill. Climb, more trudge, up and down this very sandy (remember sand-stone formations) hill. 1.5 mile (2.4km) round-trip. Adios Rio de Colorado!
10:30 Ladies and Gentlemen....Start your shopping! First stop at the Cameron Trading Post, then its off to the Oak Creek Vista Overlook for more Native American art. See detailed write-up in the Sedona section! |
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Work In Progress!
Sedona and its Red Rocks are supposed to be "experienced"! Many visitors come for the spiritual powers of the vortexes and their cosmic invigorating forces. We thoroughly enjoy geography and nature plus we do appreciate decorating and perusing art galleries. So Sedona has quite an appeal for us, but plain and simple....we fall short on the cosmic scale!
Arts and Crafts, Trinkets and Trash - Sedona is brimming with galleries. We find Southwestern art pieces to be quite unique and attractive. We have acquired a few Indian pottery items, as well as, some carved stonework for display in our home. Some of the silver and turquoise jewelry pieces are also quite nice. Although we are literally blown away at the steep prices for Navajo rugs (you be the judge). Part of our fun, on every trip we take, is to find and purchase some item which defines some essence of our tour. For instance, a Maori greenstone fish hook in New Zealand, a Vikings horn in Norway, blown glass in Sweden, a didgeridoo in Australia and a HofBrauHaus beer mug in Germany! We feel Sedona offers a great place to find an emblematic piece or two for your time in the Southwest National Parks.
Coming from Page, the shopping starts about halfway to Sedona at Cameron's Trading Post and then continues at the Oak Creek Vista Overlook with outdoor displays, just before descending on the "crookedest" highway in America. Both of these stops offer many Native American art pieces plus the Vista is fabulous. Our hard learned travel shopping experience is IF you find something you really like just buy it. The chances of returning after moving on is highly unlikely. The stubborn but foolish Mr Strand walked from two barter experiences (only a few dollars apart), one a hand-carved silver plate in Luxor and a hand-carved obsidian Chac-Mool with inlaid turquoise in Chichen Itza that he will always regret.
For an accommodation in Sedona, we again highly recommend a B&B. The nicer properties are located in areas with wonderful views of all those Red Rocks! Our first choice,
03:30 Out of Africa, Out of Sedona, Red Baron, Red Rocks what in the cosmos does this mean? Does Bi-Plane come to mind? For $130 each, we highly recommend taking a 4PM (best lighting on rocks, too much sun in the eyes nearer sunset) 30 minute, Mystic Canyon Tour flight with Sedona Air Tours! The flight takes you out over the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock/Cathedral Rock, then towards Mund Canyon, up to Oak Creek Canyon where you drove through approaching Sedona, out over the high plateau to Red Canyon and back to Sedona International. Yes we only live once and you will never forget this experience!
Here is a Google Map (paste into browser) with "road limitations" giving a general idea of the flight plan: tinyurl.com/BP-ROUTE May the force be with you!
Oak Creek Canyon West Fork (walk)
Oakcreek Country Club
Cathedral Rock trail
Bell Rock
Sedona Arts Center Tlaquepaque
Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art
Coconino National Forest |
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Work In Progress! |
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Work In Progress! |
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Work In Progress! |
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