Monument Valley

Posted on February 17, 2011February 17, 2011 by Dusty Roads

Monument Valley is in Northern Arizona on the border with Utah. I don’t think there is an American alive who is not familiar with it’s iconic landscapes. John Ford set many of his Western movies in this area from Stagecoach in 1939 to more modern offerings like Forrest Gump in 1994.

This came up in my research as a Scenic Drive but it is 3 + hours from Sedona to Kayenta, AZ followed by another 5 hours to drive through the Valley to Mexican Hat, Utah. Then we would have the return trip.

I know my sister would share the driving but I have control issues. I would rather complain about doing all the driving than to give it up! LOL A true character flaw. So as much as I want to see this magnificent landscape, I am really on the fence as to whether it just might be too ambitious.

It was in that mindset that I came across the Native American Journey’s website that I discussed yesterday. They have a Monument Valley Tour. The cost is $249/per person so it’s definitely on the “upper” end of my tour budget but it does sound like it must be a full day. The tour description is:

Monument Valley

Travel with your guide, from Sedona through the Navajo Indian reservation to Monument Valley, one of Hollywood’s favorite locations for classic Western movies. Enjoy an exciting Jeep tour through the Valley with a local Navajo guide. Lunch and all fees are included.

I do know that without a licensed guide many areas of Monument Valley are off limits. This would leave the driving to others and free me up to take pictures. It sounds like we could be picked up in Sedona. Although we would be paying a guide, we wouldn’t have to worry about paying for gas for the rental car.

I think this one is worth considering.

Editor in Chief

Editor’s note: The photo of the desert is a stock photo. Unlike the others we’ve used it was not taken by Dusty Roads.

Native American Journey’s Tours

Posted on February 16, 2011February 16, 2011 by Dusty Roads

In looking for the best way to get the best value for our $$$ and squeeze in as much as possible, I ran across a web site

www.nativeamericanjouneys.com

Their tours are not inexpensive but they sound like they offer a unique perspective.

One of the tours they offer that fascinates me in the “Bottom of the Grand Canyon” . The price listed on the web site is $179.00 per person and although it gives a description of the tour, is doesn’t say how you will get to the bottom or more important, how you get back out! I would love to see the Canyon from the bottom but I can tell you right now, this old body could not make the climb up…Not sure about the climb down but definitely not back up! I think I will have to call for more information on this one.

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Grand Canyon National Park

Travel to the Canyon’s rim – a must see! Photo opportunities abound. Views of the Little Colorado Gorge and Painted Desert. Enjoy lunch on the Canyon’s rim. Visit the Grand Canyon Imax. Journey to the Navajo Reservation and the Historic Cameron Trading Post. Learn about the people who occupy the majestic Grand Canyon.

A tour called Sedona Spirit would take us to Montezuma Castle. The price on this one is more to my liking ($79.00 per person) but I had thought going to these locations would be a good way to fill in the morning before we took the Verde Canyon Rail Road so we may not want to do this as a tour.. Here’s the tour description anyway. We can always change our minds on the order of the things we are doing:

Sedona Spirit

Travel with your native guide to local ruins, including the famous Montezuma’s Castle cliff dwellings and Montezuma’s Well natural springs. As you journey through the Historic Verde Valley, you’ll learn about the area’s history and it’s inhabitants. You’ll also receive a blessing from your Native American guide at the healing springs of Montezuma’s Well.

I have one last tour to consider but the pros and cons are a little more involved so I think I will discuss that with you in a separate post.

As always, if you’ve been on one of the tours or have any suggestions or insights, please add a comment. All are appreciated!

Bucket List, Sedona~ ”The Possibles”

Posted on February 12, 2011February 12, 2011 by Dusty Roads

Grand Canyon

Then we have a list of “possibles”. If yesterday’s list was the main course, then this is a list of “side dishes”.

Now understand that this list is one I have put together from reading brochures, searching the internet and my own past visit. This is very much open to change and I know we won’t have the time to do everything. If compared to cruising, yesterday was the cruise and these are “excursions” to pick from.

Slide Rock

“The Possibles”

Native American Journey’s…”Visit the bottom of the Grand Canyon”
Wineries tour
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Tuzigoot National Monument
Slide Rock Park
Take a day tour (drive tour)

Grand Canyon Loop

Flagstaff Loop

A longer Road trip to Monument Valley
Meteor Crater
Petrified forest
Spa day/massage
Vortex tour
Sunset Crater
Jeep tour
Lowell Observatory

Meteor Crater

I’ll be looking for feedback on this one for sure. What do we pick from the list or have I missed anything that can be called “Not to be missed?”

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Bucket list Sedona ~ take 2

Posted on February 11, 2011February 11, 2011 by Dusty Roads

Ok Here’s the NON-NEGOTIABLE List:The trip to the Grand Canyon on the railroad with the rim tour will be a full day. The 2^nd trip will be for the IMAX film and some exploring of the canyon on our own.

Williams Station

Verde Canyon Railroad is an afternoon and is combined with the Blazin’ M dinner show.

Verde Canyon Tarin

The morning is open although we want to go to the Blazin’ M before the train ride too because there isn’t time to browse the Old Time town exhibit and shops after the train ride.

Blazin "M" Dinner Show

The Cowboy Cookout and trail ride is a mid afternoon and evening leaving the morning free.

Getting Ready for the Trail Ride

The Sedona trolley will be the first thing we do on Sunday.

Sedona Trolley

After all their motto is :The Best First Thing To Do in Sedona, Arizona. I think that first day is a great day to get familiar with our surroundings, do some shopping and browsing in Upper Sedona and in general stay close to the condo. Shake off any lingering travel weariness.

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http://www.thetrain.com/

http://verdecanyonrr.com/

http://www.sedonahorsebackrides.com/cowboy-cookouts/

http://www.sedonatrolley.com/

Grand Canyon Railroad and Rim Tour

2^nd day at Grand Canyon with IMAX Movie

Verde Canyon Railroad

Blazin’ M Ranch & Dinner Show

Trail ride: Sedona Cowboy Cookout…M Diamond Ranch

Sedona Trolley

　

Bucket List~ Sedona

Posted on February 9, 2011February 9, 2011 by Dusty Roads

Some things are just a given for this trip and others are up for discussion or negotiation. Plus you may provide some suggestions that will change our plans.

Here is where we are right now.

We are booked into the Sedona Summit. Check in is a Saturday and we will check out the following Saturday. The room type is a 2 bedroom “lock off” which is nice. If it’s anything like the “lock off” I had in Florida it will give both Sandy and me a lot of privacy.

We haven’t booked our flight yet but one of us will have to drive to meet up with the other. I will check fares from Providence to Phoenix, Bradley International to Phoenix and Albany to Phoenix and then run the results by Sandy. I expect we’ll fly out of Albany unless there’s a big saving from one of the other airports. Bradley would mean a hotel room where TF green (Providence) or Albany would just mean we stayed at one of our homes and then took 1 car to the Park & Fly which is quite a savings right there.

I flew Delta the last time I went to Phoenix but a friend of mine always flies Southwest and she said the fares are much less expensive plus “Bags fly free” on Southwest LOL. I did check their website and they have a web special that is always much cheaper than the other airlines. It will just depend on what kind of connections we can get.

When I went to Sedona in 2008 I had an early flight and arrived in Phoenix about 11 am their time. I was in and out of the airport in no time and in Sedona by 2:30. Check in time is 4pm and in 2008 that was strictly enforced . I was told to come back at 4.

My friend’s father drives a trolley in Scottsdale, AZ which is between Phoenix and Sedona so I was thinking that if we get a flight that gets us into Phoenix early, that we could take a side trip to Scottsdale, take the trolley ride with Julie’s father, I think she said he goes by “Boston Jim”, have lunch in Scottsdale and then drive the rest of the way to Sedona. Julie said the trolley trip takes you into “Old Town Scottsdale” and is well worth the detour.

Once we check in at the Sedona Summit we’ll head back out to the supermarket to stock up on whatever we want to have on hand for the week. We’ll certainly eat some meals out but it’s most cost effective to cook some at the condo.

If there’s anytime left over and we’re not too tired we might explore a little or maybe go up to the Airport Mesa to see the sunset. Usually we just kick back to “recover” from the travel.