Tag Archives: Grand Canyon

Little Colorado, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest

Posted on by

Rethinking Monument Valley Scenic Drive

I know that in yesterday’s post I listed a bunch of options but I was poking around online trying to get more information about the Painted Desert and ran across this link http://www.arizona-leisure.com/painted-desert.html There’s a video on the bottom and it really makes me want to take that long drive to Monument Valley. Apparently you will pass through the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest on the way to Monument Valley.

I continued my search and found information on the Little Colorado. I drove by this on my last visit but didn’t stop. Now I’d like to see how we might be able to fit in a visit to this canyon as it was quite impressive too.

 

 

http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/littlecolorado.htm

According to these links Cameron seems to be a “hub” for both the Painted Desert and The Little Colorado and Cameron is on the way to Monument Valley.

Once again the only drawback is the length of the drive but if Sandy is up for it, I think I am too. If it ends up taking too long with all the stops for sight-seeing we can always turn around.

I’ll see what my co-explorer has to say. At least we can change our minds since there wouldn’t be any tour guide or dinner appointment to worry about.

Sedona and Grand Canyon …Tentative Itineary

Posted on by

All right! Things are starting to come together. Here’s what I have so far. This is all subject to booking and my co-traveler’s approval.

DAY 1

Saturday is a travel day. we’ll fly out of Albany into Phoenix and pick up the rental car. The goal is a morning flight so we will have time to swing into Scottsdale for the trolley ride with “Boston Jim”. We can have our lunch there.

Then back on the road for the rest of the drive to Sedona & check-in. ETA between 4 & 6pm. Once checked in we’ll be off to the grocery store for a few food staples and any other essentials we might have forgotten or chose not to pack.

Finish the day watching the sunset at the Airport Mesa.

DAY 2

Recover from yesterday’s full travel day. Take our time getting out and about. Once out, head for Upper Sedona and take the double trolley tour.

 Then get lunch in Tlaquepaque.

After lunch browse the shops in Upper Sedona and relax.

Spend the evening at the time share relaxing and grilling dinner. It needs to be an early night because we’ll be headed to Williams early the next morning.

DAY 3

Grand Canyon Railroad and Rim tour with Lunch at the canyon. This is a full day so nothing else is planned here.

Day 4

Back to the Grand Canyon. I’d like to do one of the tours here. Maybe the Bottom of the Grand Canyon? That one is quite unique. Depending on the time we may be able to get the IMAX show in as well. This is still being “fine tuned”.

Day 5

A little closer to “home” we’ll head south toward Cottonwood and check out Montezuma’s castle & Montezuma’s Well. My plan was to do this on our own but we can consider a tour. Then over to the Blazin’ M to see the Olde Towne they have set up. From there catch the Verde Canyon Rail Road trip and then return to the Blazin’ M for the Dinner Show.

Day 6

Slide Rock Park in the morning. Lunch back in Sedona at the Canyon Breeze and then the Trail ride and dinner at the M Diamond Ranch. there might be time for a spa treatment before lunch if we are so inclined LOL

Day 7

This is the last day and depending on how we did up to this point we can chose from a bunch of things.

Red rock Jeep Tour

The Ghost Town of Jerome

Grand Canyon of the Little Colorado

Painted Desert

Out of Africa Safari Park

“Spa Day”

Sunset Crater

Meteor Crater

So that is where the planning stands at this point. There’s enough left on the to-do list for another week!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Bottom of the Grand Canyon

Posted on by

A couple of days ago I mentioned the Native American Journey’s website and the Bottom of the Canyon tour.

Grand Canyon

The Bottom of the Grand Canyon

Take a spiritual journey to the depths of one of America’s most breath-taking sites. You will enjoy songs, hear legends, and learn about Native concepts and philosophy. An amazing photo opportunity – see the Canyon from the bottom, enjoy the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon caverns – a complete Native American experience! Lunch is included

 

 

Grand Canyon

 

 

 

At that time I said I would have to call for more information on how we get down into the canyon and back up again. So I took a moment to call.

I reached a very nice man who said he wasn’t the owner,  just one of the drivers and he was covering the phones. We discussed the Bottom of the Canyon Tour and he said it was great. He raved about the tour guide who is a geologist, naturalist and expert on Native Americans and their history in the Canyon. He got a pretty good laugh when I asked him how we would get into and out of the canyon. I don’t think he had ever gotten that question before. Turns out there is a road down to the bottom and our guide will drive us down and drive us back.

I told him we were “older women” and that I wanted to be sure it wouldn’t be way too strenuous for us. He assured me it wouldn’t be. He said he hadn’t taken the tour himself but that he had discussed it at length with the guide. He also said he has climbed down the canyon and that the Bottom is really something that should not be missed. By the time we were done talking he was saying he thought he’d actually take the tour himself now. LOL He rated it the best of their tours.

From the South Rim

We also discussed the Monument Valley tour and he said “it’s nice: but it was clear from his tone of voice that he was way more enthusiastic about the Bottom of the Canyon tour than the Monument Valley one so I’m glad I called. Now we’ll have to rethink think this.

He said Monument Valley is a long drive but that on the tour they will explain a lot and all we have to do is sit back and listen. It’s just so hard to choose. I hope my co-traveler will have some preferences to help with the decision.

　

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

　

　

　

Native American Journey’s Tours

Posted on by

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

  

 

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 by

　

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?”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.