I have 1 extra day to spend in Phoenix/Sedona

[EvilYoda]

My main intention is to drive up to Sedona and walk around and probably take another tour. I'm wondering if any locals/insiders have any good suggestions on where to go or what to see. I'll be testing out a 20mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/1.8 lens, so I definitely want to make the most of it.

I have the evening of the 10th in Phoenix and then I'll just head out early in the morning of the 11th. I'll probably just spend the evening of the 11th in a bar and then nap in my car before returning it at 5AM for a 6:40AM flight.

Help me make the most of this one day guys, thanks! If you're in Phoenix, we can get together and have a drink, of course.

 

[theknight571]

If you have some extra time in Phoenix itself, I suggest visiting South Mountain.

You can drive to the top, and get spectacular views of the city.

Sedona is beautiful... could always do a Pink Jeep Tour or similar.

I wish I could remember where we went when we visited. If it comes to me... I'll edit my post... again...lol.

 

[EvilYoda]

heh, thanks! I actually took a Pink Jeep tour the last time I was there and I might do it again! I'm looking into booking one of the earlier departures, as i just found the Verde Canyon Railroad and that looks really nice too, but it leaves at 1PM and goes for 4 hours. Other than that, I just found out that the sun sets right before 7PM, so I don't have as much time as I thought.

Are there any popular things to do in the evenings? Otherwise, I might head back to Phoenix.

 

[xavier es]

you could do a bi plane flight over the red rocks. there is shopping in uptown if you are into that. or drive up into oak creek canyon or do a hike into the red rocks from one of the many local trail heads. i believe the sedona chamber of commerce has a web site with links to things to do. i've lived in the area for 25 years, there is a lot to do and see in the area if you have the time.
oh yeah there is a major highway construction project going on in sedona, you may want to check the road status before you drive to sedona, the dept of public safety has a hotline for that.

 

[EvilYoda]

Yeah, I love hiking, but how long are the trails? I don't have a proper daypack or anything, so aside from bringing lots of water, I don't want to attempt anything too risky.

 

[xavier es]

there are trails of every length, you can get on a trail that will take you to new mexico or california. many of the trails in the sedona city limits are short as you like. i hike my dog on a 3/4 mile trail in an area called Broken Arrow ( where the old western movie was shot). there are indian ruins just west of sedona that are less then a mile hike.

 

[ViviTheMage]

seems to be in the same situation :

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2174461&enterthread=y

 

[EvilYoda]

Any suggestions from the afternoon crowd?

 

[cubby1223]

If the choice is between Phoenix & Sedona, Sedona every time. Hike instead of the jeep tours. When you're out at the big tourist spots, there are always jeep tours there, if you want to listen in to what the guide has to say.

Most of the trails are out & back trails, so you can quit whenever you want. The one loop is the Airport Mesa Loop, lots of views all around. It's all easy hiking everywhere, nothing dangerous.

For some nice views that aren't of red rock, you could hike through Carroll Canyon. Or take the trail to the Vultee Arch just north of Sedona.

And afterwards, don't forget to hit up the Oak Creek Brewery. Near the Bashas grocery store there a side street Yavapa Dr. and it's tucked away in there.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: theknight571
If you have some extra time in Phoenix itself, I suggest visiting South Mountain.

You can drive to the top, and get spectacular views of the city.

You can drive to the top? Well crap.

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
If the choice is between Phoenix & Sedona, Sedona every time. Hike instead of the jeep tours. When you're out at the big tourist spots, there are always jeep tours there, if you want to listen in to what the guide has to say.

Most of the trails are out & back trails, so you can quit whenever you want. The one loop is the Airport Mesa Loop, lots of views all around. It's all easy hiking everywhere, nothing dangerous.

For some nice views that aren't of red rock, you could hike through Carroll Canyon. Or take the trail to the Vultee Arch just north of Sedona.

And afterwards, don't forget to hit up the Oak Creek Brewery. Near the Bashas grocery store there a side street Yavapa Dr. and it's tucked away in there.

Hmmm, thanks a lot for that. I'll reconsider the Pink Jeep Tour, but what do you think about the Verde Canyon RR? That looks really nice to me. I can hike the morning and then hop on the train around 1 and sightsee and relax for the afternoon.

I have a couple of days to figure things out...driving up South Mountain on Thursday night sounds good...don't think I'll have much sunlight left though.

 

[WildHorse]

``

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: scott
Actually Sedona is not all that close to Phoenix.

You'll need to use up a lot of your available time just getting there then all the way back to PHX.

SLide rock!

I know, roughly just over a 2 hour drive. I've taken that into account. Slide rock, you say?

 

[xavier es]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda

Originally posted by: scott
Actually Sedona is not all that close to Phoenix.

You'll need to use up a lot of your available time just getting there then all the way back to PHX.

SLide rock!

I know, roughly just over a 2 hour drive. I've taken that into account. Slide rock, you say?

yeah Slide Rock state park but the water is cold ,very cold this time of year. remember there is highway construction on highway 179 in sedona, may take a little longer to get there from phx now. and Oak Creek Breweryis another good suggestion if you like micro brews. Oak creek brewery also has a restaurant in the fake old spanish style shopping area called Telacapaque ,right at the bridge over Oak creek on highway 179. they got a great 5 cheese pizza.

the verde canyon railroad is great, but that is about 30 -40 minutes from sedona in Clarkdale. if you get over that way you could go to the former ghost town Jerome up on Mingus Mt. if you had more time.

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: xavier es

Originally posted by: EvilYoda

Originally posted by: scott
Actually Sedona is not all that close to Phoenix.

You'll need to use up a lot of your available time just getting there then all the way back to PHX.

SLide rock!

I know, roughly just over a 2 hour drive. I've taken that into account. Slide rock, you say?

yeah Slide Rock state park but the water is cold ,very cold this time of year. remember there is highway construction on highway 179 in sedona, may take a little longer to get there from phx now. and Oak Creek Breweryis another good suggestion if you like micro brews. Oak creek brewery also has a restaurant in the fake old spanish style shopping area called Telacapaque ,right at the bridge over Oak creek on highway 179. they got a great 5 cheese pizza.

the verde canyon railroad is great, but that is about 30 -40 minutes from sedona in Clarkdale. if you get over that way you could go to the former ghost town Jerome up on Mingus Mt. if you had more time.

doh, I didn't look at the location yet...thanks for the warning. That might dissuade me from heading out there as I don't want to waste more time than I have to driving. More hiking time for me?

 

[EvilYoda]

Good morning, good people.

 

[KeithTalent]

Ugh, do not do the Verde Canyon train ride near Sedona, it was one of the most boring tours I've ever done in my entire life. Fortunately for us it was free, but even free was too expensive, considering how much time we wasted.

KT

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Ugh, do not do the Verde Canyon train ride near Sedona, it was one of the most boring tours I've ever done in my entire life. Fortunately for us it was free, but even free was too expensive, considering how much time we wasted.

KT

Great to know Keep em coming...who knows, I might just spend the entire day ruining a pair of shoes on the red rocks.

 

[Blunc]

you could try Montezuma's Well, it's a nice little hike with some nice scenery. I don't remember how to get there and it's been a few years since I've been there.

you can get more info by googling montezuma's well.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Ugh, do not do the Verde Canyon train ride near Sedona, it was one of the most boring tours I've ever done in my entire life. Fortunately for us it was free, but even free was too expensive, considering how much time we wasted.

KT

Great to know Keep em coming...who knows, I might just spend the entire day ruining a pair of shoes on the red rocks.

I really think this is your best bet. Pack a lunch and hit the rocks, it will be much more fun than following a guided tour.

KT

 

[EvilYoda]

Alright, I'm grabbing a snack and they said the local Safeway has wifi...and obviously they were right. I'm going to Doe Mesa (I think that's the name) on the outskirts of Sedona to catch the sunset and then driving back into Phoenix.

Anyone in Phoenix around tonight and up for grabbing dinner/a drink?

 

[cubby1223]

Ha, all the suggestions in this thread. As you can clearly see, there's a lot around Sedona. I went out there for spring break all through college, and then the few years afterwards ('08 being the first year since '00 that I didn't head out there). I still haven't seen everything the town has to offer. Next time you can even check out the wet beaver wilderness area.

 

[EvilYoda]

Yeah, great town...I made a good impression at the new company that I was "training" at (it was also an interview process, in a way), and who knows, maybe I'll get hired and have to move to Phoenix soon