Phoenix Arizona

[LVSteve]

Montezuma's Well is also worth a visit.

This might sound a silly question, but are you aware of the distance from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon. Maps can be deceptive out West.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

Phoenix, AZ

Montezuma's Well is also worth a visit.

This might sound a silly question, but are you aware of the distance from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon. Maps can be deceptive out West.

Darned good question in my book - made that run several times during the four years that we lived in Mesa, AZ, It's about 120 miles from Phoenix to Sedona, and 120 more miles from Sedona to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. The OP mentioned that he was having a "quick weekend" in Phoenix.

BTW - there's some pretty hefty (steep) grades going up, and coming back. You'll see the emergency run off areas for the semis (professional drivers) with overheated/failed brakes.

 

[Onomea]

I bought a nice belt knife — handmade, reputedly from Wyoming and 100 years old — in Sedona in 1992. I, too, recall it is a pretty place.

 

[Ron AZ]

Agree with the other posters. If only time to stop in one place it would be Sedona. You can easily spend all day there on drives and hikes w/o even messing around in the touristy town. However, my wife does like to shop at Talaquepaque in Sedona and we will usually get a nice lunch there too.

You did not ask, but we liked the North Rim of the Grand Canyon better but it is a lot further. Views are good and it is less touristy. The South Rim is better known but be prepared for crowds.

In terms of a quick in and out Montezuma Castle would be my #2 if you are time limited. Jerome, Cottonwood, and Joshua Tree National Monument are all going to take you more out of the way. There is also a volcanic mt. park on the east side of Flagstaff, and further east a meteor crater. I believe both are on Reservation land but run by NPS. North of Flagstaff at Snowbowl there is a ski lift that goes up to 11,000 feet which is also pretty thing to do on a very clear day.

Williams also has some old "Route 66" heritage. That heritage is better over east of Flagstaff in the Winslow and Holbrook area, but which is way out of your way to the Canyon.

 

[Big Cholla]

No one has mentioned "Arcosanti". Google it and see if there are attractions there that your family would be interested in seeing. A sort of a commune with a purpose. They cast and finish nice bronze bells and sell them to support the place. Arcosanti was begun about mid '70s by an independent and ecologically minded architect from Italy. As a former builder of buildings I found the place, the designs and the construction fascinating. When they found that I knew concrete construction and design they tried to recruit me to be a volunteer worker. I declined.......... It lays just to the East of I-17 at Cordes Junction. Go the other way to Prescott.

 

[VictorLouis]

I am in 100% agreement with Ron. The 'Talaquepaque' referred to is actuall a 'mall', per se. It's designed and built to resemble a small, walled-in Mexican village. It's really, really pretty, with nice little shops and restaurants to blow plenty of money in, LOL.

Agree with the other posters. If only time to stop in one place it would be Sedona. You can easily spend all day there on drives and hikes w/o even messing around in the touristy town. However, my wife does like to shop at Talaquepaque in Sedona and we will usually get a nice lunch there too.

You did not ask, but we liked the North Rim of the Grand Canyon better but it is a lot further. Views are good and it is less touristy. The South Rim is better known but be prepared for crowds.
.

...AND, I thought I would be the first one to mention Arcosanti, LOL! But, BC is right...it's a really hipster kind of a thing. However, it's just a short drive off of the main I-17 freeway to see it. They do serve a pretty good buffet lunch, if I recall. That, and Sedona are the two I would most suggest to you.

No one has mentioned "Arcosanti". Google it and see if there are attractions there that your family would be interested in seeing. A sort of a commune with a purpose. They cast and finish nice bronze bells and sell them to support the place. Arcosanti was begun about mid '70s by an independent and ecologically minded architect from Italy. As a former builder of buildings I found the place, the designs and the construction fascinating. When they found that I knew concrete construction and design they tried to recruit me to be a volunteer worker. I declined.......... It lays just to the East of I-17 at Cordes Junction. Go the other way to Prescott.

 

[FlightLevel510]

All of my friends who have visited me in Arizona enjoyed Sedona more than the Canyon.

No visit to Sedona is complete without a dinner during the sunset at the Mesa Grill.

Page, AZ lake Powell and horseshoe bend are incredible.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I say if you only have time to see one thing, it's the Canyon.
All the other stuff is nice and I have been to just about all of them.
But it's the Canyon!
Hers the Desert View Watch Tower. It's on the South rim, about 20 miles East of the Village.