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Jon and Jan's Arizona Trip Report
April 2008
- Home
- Grand Canyon
- Sedona
- Santa Fe
Arizona
 
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During the spring break Jan and Jon went on a road trip that took them from Phoenix and Sedona, to the Grand Canyon, then Santa Fe before flying out of Albuquerque and back to Sacramento. The trip was a wonderful break. Although we are beach bums at heart, the desert scenery was beautiful and we enjoyed the ambience. |
Grand Canyon
After a pleasant stay in Sedona, we leisurely traveled to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. We stayed at the Bright Angel Lodge. The rustic cabins are about 100 yards from the canyon rim, the Bright Angel trailhead and about 60 yards from where the mules make their daily tour to Plateau Point and back again. There are other accommodations within walking distance, The Thunderbird Lodge and El Tovar Hotel all run by Xanterra .
There are also several restaurants within the complex. Service at the Bright Angel eateries was very good although the food was average. The staff at El Tovar, a more up scale establishment, was not up to the rigors of attempting to be a first class resort. |
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Jan has wanted to do the mule ride since childhood and since it is a seven-hour trip, Jon opted for a helicopter ride and further hiking. Please enjoy these views of the Grand Canyon. |
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Sedona, Arizona
We stayed at the Adobe Hacienda, a B&B about 7 miles from the main town of Sedona. It was right next to the Sedona Golf Resort and Jan reports yipping coyotes chasing rabbits at night but Jon, being a very sound sleeper and half deaf, slept soundly and comfortably at this small and cozy inn. |
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The innkeepers were quite personable and the breakfasts delicious. We recommend this establishment. |
We spent two days in Sedona and think the Boynton canyon hike is a must as the red rock formations are awe inspiring and remarkable. Some say there are vortices in the canyon where spirit, body and emotion become one. Having been through Northridge, Coalinga and Loma Prieta earthquakes, the ground did not shake for us nor did we feel an aura. The hike was invigorating and just being in the vicinity was enough to make the day. |
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On the practical side, be sure to get a parking sticker. They are available at many convenience stores and at vending machines. They are required if you want to park and enjoy the numerous trails and vista points. There are no fees to use the trails but the parking will cost you a very reasonable $5 per day and it is good at all of the trail heads. |
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Santa Fe, New Mexico
After leaving the magnificent Grand Canyon, we traveled to the four corners and through monument valley. The day was very windy and overcast and we spent the night in Farmington, New Mexico before traveling on to Santa Fe. As we drove to Santa Fe the next day, we had to traverse an 8,500-foot pass and we got snowed upon. Very light but it added to the atmosphere in this desolate, sparsely populated part of the U.S. We stayed at the El Farolito B&B. It is located on Galisteo Street about a five minute walk from all of the main attractions in this historic state capitol. |
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A must see while in Santa Fe is the main plaza with the native American vendors, the Canyon Road District and the Georgia O’Keefe museum. Santa Fe offers lots of history, fun gallery / museum viewing, shopping and eating. We recommend the Coyote Café and Blue Corn Café / Brewery. We also recommend staying close enough to town as parking and traffic can be challenging and I’m sure at the height of the tourist season in the summer, it is even more so. If you come in the summer, there are many music festivals including chamber music and opera. Jon is an opera fan and has seen some of the productions at the Santa Fe opera. He did finally get a chance to sing at the Santa Fe Opera but there was no one in the audience. His performance was restricted to the walkway from the parking lot. |
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All in all, it was an enlightening and relaxing trip. Better start making your plans … |
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