Day 1: Use your first day to fly into Phoenix and expect to arrive midday depending on where you are

I recently got back from Arizona and was amazing at how diverse the landscape is. Most people only associate Arizona with arid deserts when, in fact, there is actually a lot more! Even if you only have a few days, you can easily plan a mini-getaway around the state. Check out my tips for planning a 4 day/3 night getaway.
Getting there and around: The major airports in Arizona can be found in Phoenix and Tucson. I flew into Phoenix s Sky Harbor International Airport car code discount enterprise rent . If you want to get outside of the Phoenix metropolitan area, you will need to rent a car. There is a rental car area at the airport and several locations around the city too.
Day 1: Use your first day to fly into Phoenix car code discount enterprise rent and expect to arrive midday depending on where you are coming from. Load up on some snacks and drinks in town before venturing up Interstate 17. After you leave the suburban areas of town, there will be pretty much nothing until you settle in the Sedona area almost 2 hours later. You will likely arrive in the early evening so drop off your stuff and cruise around town to find a place to eat. If you head up to the main road (89A), you will find a variety of places from fast food to sit down restaurants.
Day 2: Get ready to explore! Try to get an early start as you head to the famous Grand Canyon National Park . I recommend doing the Grand Canyon Loop in order to maximize your sightseeing. With this itinerary, you will take US-180 northbound across the San Francisco Peaks (it s common to see snow in winter!) in the Kaibab National Forest until you arrive in the Grand Canyon Village.
At the Grand Canyon, you can explore in several different ways including the free shuttle bus and the beautiful Rim Trail. I did the latter and stops at a few of the vistas along the way for some great pictures. If you are looking for a refuge from the hot or cold weather or want to buy some quality souvenirs, be sure to stop at the Yavapai Point Observation Station.
When you re down exploring, drive towards the East entrance of the canyon which is commonly referred to as Desert View. After exiting the park, you will take AZ-64 to the city of Cameron and then head south on US-89 towards Flagstaff. Along the way, you can visit Wupatki National car code discount enterprise rent Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument .
If you are up for a nice dinner after all that exploring, I highly recommend Rene at Tlaquepaque back in Sedona. Whether you go for lunch or dinner, you won t be disappointed. I indulged in a delicious dinner complete with the brie appetizer, salad, entree and dessert.
Day 3: Use today as an opportunity to explore Sedona at your leisure. To get acclimated with the city, consider taking the Sedona Trolley . There are two separate tours (less than an hour each) and each have multiple departures throughout the day.
I also opted to explore some of the local sights by car and my favorite, by far, was Red Rock State Park . After gathering a picnic lunch at the nearby Safeway (located on Hwy 89A), we headed over to this park and enjoyed a hike until we found the perfect car code discount enterprise rent spot along the river for lunch. With stunning views of both water and the red rocks along with a peculiar trend of stacking rocks in interesting formations, this park is a must see. If the weather is warm, be sure to also visit Slide Rock State Park which features a natural water chute to cool off in.
When to go: Sedona is a gem anytime of the year. In winters, you are likely to have mild temperatures with a cool breeze. Just bring a light jacket and you ll be fine. In the summertime, car code discount enterprise rent Sedona, as well as much of Arizona, car code discount enterprise rent can get very hot so remember to wear breathable fabrics, a hat and sunscreen car code discount enterprise rent and drink plenty of water.
My husband and I visited Arizona last summer for 3 weeks and did many of the things you mentioned plus a lot more. We re from England and this was our trip of a lifetime. We did the mule ride down the Grand Canyon (North Rim), drove across the desert (Desert Wolf Tours), visited Tombstone and Boot Hill and many National car code discount enterprise rent Monuments. The only thing we differ from in your website is that instead of DIWYY we DIWWWO (Did It When We Were Old! 56 and 68!)
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