Grand Canyon advice
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We need to go to Phoenix for a couple days and are thinking of tacking on a quick Grand Canyon visit.
Do we take a tour? Go it alone? For sure we’re not looking for a hiking experience, Mayla needs a knee replacement soon.
Thoughts? I’m totally ignorant about it.
@jon-nyc said in Grand Canyon advice:
We need to go to Phoenix for a coupe day and are thinking of tacking on a quick Grand Canyon visit.
Did we take a tour? Go it alone? For sure we’re not looking for a hiking experience, Mayla needs a knee replacement soon.
Thoughts? I’m totally ignorant about it.
We went a couple of years ago, parked the car and caught a bus to the bits we wanted to see - you can do it without too much walking. There were people around who could explain interesting bits, it's non-hiking friendly, and still jaw-dropping if you don't want to get get down and dirty, which we didn't.
We want to go back without the kids and stay overnight in a cabin the park - hopefully soon.
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Most of the viewing spots have very close parking so no need to do a lot of walking. I've been twice and flown right over it countless times. The thing is if you're not going to go down into the canyon the view can be taken in pretty quickly. You'll go from one vantage point to another and after three or four you realize the view doesn't really change much due to the immense scale. Sometimes you can see a storm at one end or the other and that's neat. A helicopter trip down in would be very cool, but of course pricey. One day I'd like to raft it.
If you want to stretch it out a day I'd recommend following the canyon east on highway 64 (really neat views of the canyon lands) to US 89 south. Stay in Flagstaff (really nice little second floor wine bar downtown, which is a neat area. Their wine list is incredible. Pages and pages of bottles. It's obviously the passion project of someone who doesn't care about the money. Their wines by the glass are very well chosen and they have small plates, charcuterie, etc. https://flgterroir.com/menu/
Stay the night in Flagstaff (the Courtyard is very nice) then head down Oak Creek Canyon on US 89A for Sedona in the morning. Doa little shopping, see the gorgeous rock formations, have lunch then head back to Phoenix. You'll already be halfway there.
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We stayed in an Airbnb in Munds Park, which meant we were close to both Flagstaff and Sedona - as Mik said, the rocks around Sedona are amazing.
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Here's what I'm thinking:
We fly into PHX next Tuesday afternoon. We'd drive right to Flagstaff, have a nice dinner and spend the night.
Wednesday morning we'd go to the visitor center bright and early, look around, have an early lunch, and then take a short helicopter ride.
After the ride, we'd head east on 64, catch the sights, then head down 89 back to Flagstaff for another night.
In the morning we'd head out to Sedona, check it out, then find our way to Phoenix before dinner.
Thoughts?
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The one time I was at the GC there was snow on the ground. Cold, stark but very grand. Good name.
