Newbie (British) (Phoenix, Yuma, Lake Havasu City: 2010, beaches, park)

[kdog]

Ok, at the risk of boring my CD friends who've seen most of these shots already, but for the benefit of our British friend who's planning his trip, I will now present a few pictures from some of the scenic areas being discussed in these threads, but mainly from northern Arizona.

Sedona


Grand Canyon West


North Rim of Grand Canyon at Toroweap


Page, AZ (south coyote buttes)




Page, AZ (horseshoe bend)


Page, AZ Antelope Canyons




Lake Powell


Glen Canyon Dam


Zion




So, maybe those will whet your appetite and give you some ideas of what's out here. No shots from Monument Valley unfortunately as I've never taken the time to photograph it properly. It's on my list.

[LordBalfor]

Kdog -

Your pictures NEVER bore me.

Thanks for posting (yes, even AGAIN).



Ken

[ZonyPony]

Wowsers, 'Dawg... you STILL the man! How'n the world didja evah get them pix? Shame on me for never trudging mahself out there wif mah Brownie!

[azdr0710]

if coming in the next few months, be ready for cold weather in the north half of the state...possible snow on the roads, maybe closures, all that.....and be ready for long distances between points out here

the Grand Canyon South Rim may take care of your Grand Canyon needs...it's the most popular part of the GC area and is well-run by the Park Service (a federal agency)...it's a small town, actually, with all the hotels, a store, visitor center, parking lots, overlooks, etc.....right outside the park is the tourist town of Tusayan with more hotels, helicopter rides, gift shops, kitschy stuff....nothing fancy up there in or out of the park, but El Tovar hotel on the rim is the historic place and worth a look at.....

GC West Skywalk is a longer drive from Phx, has a section of about 25 unpaved miles, and is NOT right on the main rim overlooking the Colorado River...I know you've probably heard of it and want to see it, but it may be too long of a drive for the value received....mostly gets people from Las Vegas who drive over.....

Flagstaff has an old Route 66 landmark called the Museum Club, or the "Zoo" to locals, a country bar with live music....very casual, rustic place....check ahead and go when there is live music....I didn't check out your Calgary link, but it may not be as rockin' as Calgary!...but the Zoo is authentic and I know Euros like Route 66 stuff!!

Sedona will be nice, but it is touristy and can be crowded....get directions to Red Rock Crossing down on Oak Creek, park there, walk down to the creek and start taking pictures!!.....

you may get a kick out of the Rock Springs Cafe about 30 miles N of Phx off highway 17....very casual restaurant/bar famous for pie....google them and see if they have live music when you drive by to/from Phx and No. Az......

I usually am in Tucson and can agree very much with suggestions to see San Xavier Mission (still an active church from Spanish days on the local Indian reservation), Old Tucson (it's NOT the old part of Tucson, by the way) for a somewhat corny Western amusement park thing, and the nearby Desert Museum (very good explanation of animals and plants of the Sonoran Desert - plan on nearly a full day)....go hike in nearby Saguaro National Park after seeing the nice visitor center they have - near the Desert Museum.....

Tombstone is about 1.5 hours SE of Tucson on highway 80....small town with Allen St. being the tourist part....check ahead for the regularly scheduled gun fight times...all in good fun....just a few routine motels there, some casual saloons and restaurants....and if you want to stand EXACTLY where the famous 1881 Earp fight took place, stand on Fremont at 3rd, NOT in the touristy OK corral....it was a street fight and quickly moved from the corral area onto the street, where all the killing actually took place.....may want to go onto Bisbee further on highway 80 for a view of a real mining town in a great mountainous setting...narrow streets, great old architecture, hippy-dippy galleries, all very casual and unpretentious....still a real town (county seat) despite the copper mine closing about 40 years ago....

again, if coming in the winter, be ready for cool weather...also, winter is the high season in southern Arizona, so hotel prices will be higher....but lower than average in N. Az......

big country out here....budget some drive time....lots of stuff out here

[british]

Thanks to everyone for the amazing information it really is appreciated. I Cant wait to visit.

Ponderosa, I am aware what wings are and thanks for the advice.

[Ponderosa]

Here's another idea that my interest you. Phoenix has two huge outdoor and sporting goods stores. One is Cabelas and the other is Bass Pro Shop. The Cabela's store which I have been to a number of times is located on the 101 freeway on the west side of Phoenix (in Glendale) right next to the football stadium. What is remarkable about these stores is they have floor to ceiling aquariums with native fish species on display and dozens upon dozens of stuffed animals (taxidermy not teddy bear)including bear, deer, elk and so on in natural looking displays and - something you won't see at home - racks and racks of guns for sale! The stores are major tourist draws for traveling Americans who go out of their way to visit, but I doubt the international tourist knows much about them. If you are nearby, it is an intesting - and free - couple of hours.

The Cabela's store is across the street from an entertainment complex called Westgate Center. There are a number of fun bars and eateries there including one that may especially interest you - Saddle Ranch Chop Shop a cowboy decor place complete with mechanical bulls for you to try out. You can check out Westgate and Saddle Ranch on the web. There are a number of new mid-range hotels in the immediate area of Westgate as well.

[Dawnbird]

You really might like the Cabela's store-their taxidermy goes from a flock of geese suspended in flight from the ceiling, to an elephant in a side room, and a gun museum. Before I moved to the other end of the Valley, the man at the knife counter knew me on sight.

If you go to Sedona, it's home to several artists who work everything from calligraphy to glass, and many allow tours in their workshops or galleries. They are also home to Pink Jeep Tours, who take you for a ride in the surrounding area.

[Larry St.Onge]

Tombstone is a big disappointment and the grave looks like ...not hell..just not right for a old West time story town...

[BereniceUK]

I hope Newbie won't mind my adding my own question to this thread as many of the answers have been of help to me.

I'm visiting the US South West next September and will be renting a car in Albuquerque. Day 1 I'll be driving to Holbrook, taking in as much of the scenery to the north along the way as possible. Staying at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook for 2 nights. Day 2 I want to visit the Grand Canyon. My question is - which is likely to be the best option for me 1) Drive myself from Holbrook to the GC or 2) drive into Flagstaff and take a tour from there? I've read that traffic tends to be pretty busy up to the GC and I wouldn't mind taking a break from that.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by BereniceUK

I hope Newbie won't mind my adding my own question to this thread as many of the answers have been of help to me.

I'm visiting the US South West next September and will be renting a car in Albuquerque. Day 1 I'll be driving to Holbrook, taking in as much of the scenery to the north along the way as possible. Staying at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook for 2 nights. Day 2 I want to visit the Grand Canyon. My question is - which is likely to be the best option for me 1) Drive myself from Holbrook to the GC or 2) drive into Flagstaff and take a tour from there? I've read that traffic tends to be pretty busy up to the GC and I wouldn't mind taking a break from that.

Definitely drive yourself. I would come in from the east side - Desert View (take US89 north from Flagstaff to the turn to GC State Highway 64 just south of Cameron Trading Post) and then follow the road, stopping at whatever overlooks catch your fancy, to Mather Point. You won't have any traffic problems in late Sept. Check out the buildings and things at Mather and then go back to Flagstaff for the night.

Don't miss the Petrified Forest National Park while in Holbrook. Also along I 40 on your way to Flagstaff from Holbrook is Meteor Crater and Walnut Canyon National Monument - both worth a stop.

Depending on time, there is a real treasure in Winslow that you can visit, or better, stay at. It is the La Posada Resort - an elegantly Arts and Crafts decorated hotel/resort that is a National Historic Landmark. La Posada has received much acclaim including Conde Nast's one of the best hotels in the world to stay in. The menus in the restaurants include native American dishes and the food is delicious. http://laposada.org/ Winslow also has the famous "standing on the corner" corner from the Eagles song if you are into the Eagles.

Oh. Let me give you one more idea. If you are into native American culture at all (staying at the Wigwam Motel notwithstanding ) then you should consider a side trip to the Hopi Cultural Center in Second Mesa, AZ. It is located about 60 miles north of Winslow on Highway 87. They have a motel there Welcome to Hopi Cultural Center.com