Arizona Trip June 2018

Arizona Trip June 2018

I wanted to go away for my birthday but I was undecided with only a month to go until the big day. Oregon was my top choice, but the general consensus at Tripadvisor was that Oregon was best in September. I considered Italy, but felt that there wasn't enough time to prepare. That left Arizona as my next choice. Dana and I were there for her birthday in 2010 and we had a blast. We often talked about going back. Having been there before made the decision more comfortable. I knew what to expect and had a small list of places to revisit. I used to be against going to the same place twice because it would slow me down on the number of places I could see in my lifetime, but on our second trips to Italy and Colorado, we accomplished more. Arizona would not be an exception!

Day 1

Our flight on American Airlines left about 5 minutes late, but arrived 15 minutes early in Phoenix at about 4 p.m. Budget rental car did not have the Ford Escape I had chosen online, so I ended up with a Mitsubishi Outlander. Our first stop was to a place we visited on our previous trip. I remember it as the 'bbq place' and Dana remembers it for their pies. They do it all really well and I highly recommend stopping at Rock Springs Cafe. The dinner portions were enormous so I had to stop myself and leave some room for a piece of pie. I ordered a JD Pecan slice, even though I am not very fond of pecans. Just trying new things. You can hand the cooks at Rock Springs Cafe a handful of crickets and they will make something tasty out of them!

Onward to our destination, the Villas of Sedona with just a brief stop at Sedona Liquors. They have a drive up window, but I chose to walk in. It was a beautiful evening. Clear and cool, which we would have every morning and evening for the rest of the trip except for early Wednesday morning, which worked out well for that was the day of our hike. 

Day 2 and Day 3

Out West I am an early bird. The 3 hour time difference does me so much good. I was out for a walk while the girls were getting ready. We stopped at The Coffee Pot for breakfast, and we would return three more times. They bill themselves as 'home of the famous 101 omelettes' and my remark to Dana was that they are going to be a few short before I am through. We sat outside each time and it was the first time I had ever noticed the 'skeleton' of a cactus, which occupied the center of the seating area. 

Chapel of the Holy Cross provides some excellent views.

We spent much of Saturday and Sunday reacquainting ourselves with the area and shopping. Lots of shopping. Once again I was amazed at how driven my cohorts can be during this activity. 

One of our stops was at a place called Son Silver West. We stopped here in 2010 and it was at the top of my list of things to do. If you have ever felt a 'vibe' you know what I mean when I say I felt them here. And why not? I don't think we get to chose where these special places are. Son Silver West is a gallery of treasures, a few of which I took home along with a bag of microwaveable barbeque popcorn. On our first trip, they were burning sage outside and it is one of my favorite scents. The place is even larger than it looks and everyone we met was welcoming and friendly. A store clerk gave me a discount card for Sedona Pizza Company. That is where we ended up for a late dinner. I would like to add a dozen more pictures but it would be overwhelming. The whole trip was an amateur photographers dream - I took hundreds of pictures.  

Day 4

A day trip to Jerome, which is less than an hour away from Sedona. It is literally a town atop a hill, 5000 feet above sea level (according to signage) and has a little less than 500 residents. You can spot the 'J' on the hill from many miles away. I had my GoPro on for the last 5 miles of the drive into the town and as if my rental car knew where to go, we got a sweet parking spot right on Main Street. 

There are enough shops to keep everyone motivated even on a hot day. I remember Nellie Bly and the Flatiron from our previous visit and couldn't wait to see them again. The Flatiron has changed hands since 2010. The couple who owned it previously told us what number citizens they were (somewhere in the 300's). This opened the door to a conversation with the new owners, who were just as friendly and one of them was from my home state of NJ. We arrived after the lunch crowd and were the only people there. If you plan to dine at the Flatiron, keep in mind they start to prepare the food after you order. Nothing is pre-made. Our meals were delicious and for the first time in my life, I drank an iced coffee. I was won over and look forward to ordering another during a future visit to the area. There are two other shops I look forward to visiting again - Arizona Discoveries and the Jerome Historical Society Museum Gift Shop (which is not in the museum, but located at the intersection of Main Street and Jerome Ave).

I wanted to purchase the 3' cactus but dreaded the idea of getting it home!

After our day trip to Jerome, we drove back to Sedona to fulfill a birthday wish. After seeing photos of fearless people on Devil's Bridge, I had to do it. I had to challenge myself before age would prevent entertaining such ideas. We drove to the Drive Creek Vista Trailhead and got out of the car. My plan was to do this in the early evening and finish before the sun went down. There is signage at the trailhead, but other than that, you are on your own. While still in sight of the car, our daughter decided she wasn't ready. And honestly, none of us were. Devil's Bridge would have to wait. We ended up back at the Villas of Sedona for some rest. We finished out the day with a trip to Tara Thai for dinner. On the way back it was dark. We talked about our plans for the next few days and then I spotted a most gruesome creature. On the side of the road my headlights lit up a javelina for all but 3 seconds. I gasped and Dana asked, "what?" I asked her if she saw it, but it was too late.

Day 5

We set out for Page, Arizona. Our first stop was Oak Creek Vista, another place we had stopped at in 2010. Here you will find beautiful views and Native American arts and crafts. I recommend stopping here because you will find unique handmade jewelry and the prices are a bargain. I purchased two necklaces - a silver thunderbird and a silver eagle. 

Our next stop was the Cameron Trading Post located in Cameron, which is on Navajo Nation. It is midway between Sedona and Page. It consists of a restaurant, motel and arts and crafts store. The selection was the largest I have seen in Arizona, but I did not find any super deals. After fueling up for the next leg of the journey, I stopped in the gas station shop and asked to buy some lottery tickets, and I was quickly reminded that I was on Navajo Nation - they don't do lottery!

On to Desert View Grand Canyon National Park. It is located on the southern rim of the Grand Canyon. On our last visit we viewed the canyon from Grand Canyon Village. They are both located on the south rim, however I preferred the view from Desert View. This is something that must be seen with your own eyes. Trying to capture what the human can see is impossible. 

On the way back to Cameron we stopped at Little Colorado River viewpoint. This is an easy pull off/on and provides a good view of the rock formations. We passed by Cameron once more to pick up 89 North. The ride to Page was scenic and at one point you have to drive through the top of a mountain with walls of rock on each side of the car blocking out the sun.

Once in Page we checked in to the Red Rock Motel. The owners were very nice and reminded me of friends from high school. We had dinner at Dam Bar and Grill and then watched the sun set from Wahweap Overlook. From that vantage point you can see Lake Powell, Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, Glen Canyon Dam, and I believe Utah is in the distance.

Day 6

We had breakfast at the Ranch House Grill and then headed to Horseshoe Canyon. It is a short hike (.6 mile) but there is no cover, so go early! The canyon is a sight to behold, and to get the full picture, one must get close to the edge. And for a shot with no shadows, I suppose one would have to be there around noon.

However, we had the noon tour for Antelope Canyon. We booked the tour on the way to Page and somehow were lucky enough to get a prime time spot. The pick up point is within walking distance of our motel. The driver/guide was Navajo, very friendly, and told us personal stories of her upbringing in Page. After a 10 minute bumpy ride, which she called a 'Navajo massage', we arrived at a thin slit in a rock formation. The guides keep the groups separated and will hurry stragglers. There is enough time to take pictures but you will not be able to loiter. Since we had the special noon time tour, we were afforded a little more time to get that perfect shot. Truth is you don't have to be a great photographer to get awesome shots. It is another world in there. We were warned about deadly spiders inside or snakes falling from above, but all went well. Flash floods are an issue too, but the tours keep an eye on weather reports.

 

The guides threw sand in the air to capture the light beams. Masks are not really necessary but make for interesting photos.

After the canyon tour we had an early dinner at Starlite Restaurant. The sign out front reads 'American & Chinese Food'. I was a little skeptical but was out voted by the girls. To my suprise the fried chicken was a delight. On the way back to Sedona we took a few hours to explore Flagstaff. Dana found Flagstaff Brewing Company and Crystal Magic. I found Arizona Music Pro. We wished we had more time to explore Flagstaff but we had to get going. The drive from Flagstaff to Sedona is one of my top 5 favorite drives. It was just as exciting as the first time and I set the GoPro to record. From city streets, to a long stretch of pine tress and then into the red rocks, 89A is a pure joy to drive, even in a Shitzubishi.

Once back in Sedona we spent the evening at the scenic lookout on Airport Road. I snapped a few pictures of the city at night and of the evening sky - clear and well lit by stars.

Day 7

The big day. My wish for my 50th birthday was to hike up Devil's Bridge Trail to capture the epic photo op. I was a bit worried about the heat, and the fact that we saw a coyote on the drive to the trailhead. We could have shaved off about a mile if we had a 4 wheel drive vehicle, but the rental price for a Jeep was unreasonable. We started off early and with plenty of water. The toughest part was a small area near the end point which necessitated climbing vertically with arms and legs. Other than that it a was an easy hike with rewards that will last a life time.

A beautiful hike with a little early morning cloud cover. From start to end was 3 hours on the dot.

After the hike we went to our favorite breakfast/lunch place, The Coffee Pot. I felt no guilt ordering what ever I wanted, knowing I got a good workout earlier. 

We picked up our daughter who slept in and spent the rest of the day shopping and eating! Among the places we went to were - Chocola Tree, Pisa Lisa, Sedona Artist Market, Mystical Bazaar, Crystal Magic, Stone Age and Center For The New Age where we all got our auras photographed. A little outdoor activity at Slide Rock State Park rounded out the day. Slide Rock is what I would call a natural water park and it is just 9 miles away from the Villas of Sedona. Surrounded by tall trees and red rock formations, it is a popular attraction for locals and tourists. A small fee is required to enter and there are no lifeguards, so be careful if you dive into the water.

My second coyote sighting occurred on the drive home. For a split second you assume it is a dog, then you realize something isn't quite right. It was wondering through town and crossed the main road, route 89. I followed it for a short time and got some decent pictures.

Day 8

Dana does some pre-shopping shopping and then we are off to Local Juicery for a refreshment. My bottle of Root Juice is healthy and salty at $10! And the fact that I never got to finish it keeps the experience fresh in mind. 

We drive through some residential streets to look at dream houses and stop at a few tag sales. Then it is back to the Sedona Villas to pick up our daughter who is sleeping in again. She is soon ready for a treat and we stop at Berry Divine. The ingredients sound super healthy but it better be tasty - and it is all that!

Peace Park is less than 2 miles away so we stop there for a visit to ground ourselves. At the site is Amitabha Stupa, a 36-foot structure built in 2004 as a monument to the Buddha. 

For tasty treats and relaxation we head over to Tlaquepaque - a shaded village full of shops, galleries, and restaurants. How Sweet It Is serves up some ice cream, but I would not recommend the place, the prices are pretty steep. I don't have ice cream often, but when I do, I eat a lot. I could not do that here though, Dana had a very special surprise for dinner.

Relaxing at the Chai Spot in Tlaquepaque - highly recommended.

In the evening we were headed into downtown Sedona. Dana suddenly told me to pull off the main road onto what looked like a hidden driveway. I had no idea we were headed to Cress on Oak Creek for birthday dinner! We sat outside in the shade next to a lush creek. The ambiance and professionalism of the servers adds great quality and value to the dining experience. I wanted to take a picture of the cake, but with 50 candles on it the fire was too bright.

I'm so lucky!

Day 9

Our last day in Arizona. We decided to have breakfast at our favorite place once again, The Coffee Pot, which I started to call 'The Covfefe Pot'. One last trip up Airport Road to view Sedona was another must. Then we headed south to Camp Verde. On our last trip we stopped at a coffee shop named Thanks A Latte in that small town and I couldn't wait to visit again. I picked up a t-shirt, mug, and pencil with their logo. 

5 miles away is Montezuma Castle National Monument. We wanted our daughter to see it, so we stopped there once again. It is difficult to believe people lived in there, I would love to see the inside of the castle and the view outward. The cliff dwelling has nothing to do with the Aztec emperor, it was built by the Sinagua - which is Spanish for "without water". 

Our last stop would be in Tempe, Arizona where we had dinner and watched a live band play outside at the Marketplace.

This trip holds so many good memories, I would love to ramble on and post more pictures but I feel this was getting a bit long. If you have any questions or comments, feel free.