Arizona 2022: Phoenix, Sedona, Tucson

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
18 Arrive PHX at 11:05am Sedona	19 Sedona	20 Sedona	21 Tucson	22 Tucson	23 Phoenix	24 Phoenix
25 Leave PHX at 6:20pm

Day	Leave at	Drive/arrival time	Time there	Name	Description
12/18 Sunday	7:10am Delta 1322		Arrival at 11:05am	PHX
	Phoenix to Sedona: https://goo.gl/maps/2ZDEBcCEsa9k6xVP8
	12:00pm	1:30pm	30m	Montezuma castle
	2:00pm	2:15pm	30m	Montezuma well	Didn’t do that
	2:30pm	2:45pm	10m	Visitor center
	3pm	3:10pm	2 h	Courthouse butte and bell rock	3.9-mile loop, easy
		12min		Sedona Original Uptown Mall	Closes at 7pm
		8min		Sedona real inn & Suite	Hotel
12/19 Monday	Sedona
	https://goo.gl/maps/meGMN5Aua7URJ7v48
	6:30am	6:50am	2-3 h	Devils bridge	4.2 miles moderate
	10pm	10:20am	2 h	Boyton Canyon trail	6 miles moderate
	2:30pm		2-3 h	Oak creek canyon
				Sedona real inn & Suite	Hotel
12/20	Sedona
	https://goo.gl/maps/sYcrp3E3eyiavAz67
	9am	1:15 h	3 h	Granite Dells
	1:30pm	3pm	2 h	Airport Mesa
				Tlaquepaque shopping center	Closes at 5pm
				Sedona real inn & Suite	Hotel
12/21	Sedona to Tucson
	https://goo.gl/maps/fkm8yUE6kFX58Hco7
	8am	3:50 h	2 h	Sabino Canyon
	2:30pm	25 min	1.5 h	Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum	Closes at 5pm
				Downtown Tucson
				DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson - Reid Park	Hotel
12/22	Tucson
	https://goo.gl/maps/rs2YdgkVDukzT2Ku5
	8:30am	20m	30m	San Xavier del bac mission
	9:30	35m	2 h	Saguaro National Park - East
	4pm	1:17 h		DoubleTree by Hilton Tucson - Reid Park
12/23	Tucson to Phoenix
	https://goo.gl/maps/vVTABFchA1FAtWrD9
	9am	1:56 h	2 h	Old town Scottsdale
	1pm	10m	1.5 h	Desert Botanical Garden
	3pm	26m		Kierland Common	Shopping center closes at 10pm
	6pm			Christmas lights	Murphy Park
	8pm			Downtown Phoenix
		27m		Springhill Suites Phoenix downtown
12/24	Phoenix
	https://goo.gl/maps/tEpM3CL35SEscjGB9
	9am		2h	South mountain park
	11am		2h	Hole in the rock
	7:45pm			Flint by Baltier	Dinner
				Springhill Suites Phoenix downtown
12/25	Phoenix
				Murals: Roosvelt Row
	3:45pm			PHX to SEA	Flight at 6:20pm arrives 8:42pm

Day 1 (12/18): Phoenix to Sedona (1:56 hours)

Stop on the way in the following locations:

· Montezuma Castle (Montezuma Castle National Monument Trail | Map, Guide - Arizona | AllTrails ) (open: 8am–4:45pm Fee: $10), see the well as well – 30min – Pass: America the beautiful

· Montezumas well - not must if short on time (open: 8am–4:45pm $10) - we didn’t see it

· Red Rock Scenic Byway: (7.5 miles, 20 min drive, but several hours activities)

Red rock scenic Bayway (SR-179):

· Stop at the Red Rock Ranger Visitor Center to get map

· Courthouse butte and Bell Rock loop (3.9 mile loop, easy) - 2h – Pass: America the Beautiful

· Chapel of the Holy Cross (Open 9am-5pm) - short walk

· Downtown Sedona - Shopping and restaurants center most of the stores closes at 7pm Recommendation for: coolest bar with a view.

Day 2 (12/19): Sedona

Devils Bridge (2-3 HOURS): https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=55292
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/devils-bridge-trail

· SHOUD COME EARLY, even before 7am (Crowds tend to be at their heaviest from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Park at: Dry Creek Trailhead. Or Via Mescal Trail. The round trip to Devils Bridge from this trailhead is 4.0 miles.

o Length: 4.2 miles

o Elevation: 564 ft.

o Difficulty: Moderate

o Parking: 1 designated parking lot + overflow parking on road. If you have a 4×4, you can get 1 mile closer to the bridge.

· Boyton Canyon Trail (20 min from Devil’s bridge - 2-3 HOURS)

Put “Boyton Canyon Trail” in GPS: The trail starts off very easy, but in order to find the hidden Subway caves, you have to go off the main trail. About 2 miles in, look for the “crocodile tree” on Boyton Canyon Trail (turn right here to reach the Subway Cave): after turning right, you’ll be following it in a zigzag motion, the cave is about 1 mile away. The trail will take you close to a creek and do an almost 180-degree turn (make a right turn basically). Make sure to make that right turn and continue because there is another trail across the creek that may look like it’s the right way to go (It’s not).

Once you find the hidden caves, you will have to climb up. It is a bit scary, but nothing too dangerous.

Boyton Canyon Trail Details:

o Length: 6.1 + miles

o Elevation: 810 feet

o Difficulty: Moderate

o Parking: Large parking lot with facilities

o Pass: America the Beautiful

Tip: If you look at the reviews on Alltrails, you will be able to find a recording of the path others took.

· Sedona To Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive (88-mile loop, 2-4 hours) - about a 14-mile drive along Route 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff

· Oak Creek:

Oak Creek: Maps: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/recreation/?cid=stelprd3851843
Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=74380
Oak Creek Canyon: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=81590 - America the beautiful

· Oak Creek canyon vista: https://www.google.com/maps/search/oak+creek+canyon+vista/@34.9664894,-111.7968636,12z/data=!3m1!4b1

Day 3 (12/20): Sedona

· Granite Dells: https://www.visitarizona.com/places/parks-monuments/watson-lake-and-the-granite-dells/ The peavine trail starts in a fairly industrial area, but don't give up. It passes by the edge of Watson lake, with great views toward Granite Mountain, and then leads into the Dells, where there are many wonderful side trails - a little piece of quiet heaven, right here in tow – we didn’t hike there

· Watson lake

· Airport Mesa: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/sedona-airport-loop-trail - 3.2 mile about 2 hours. Nice views for the first ¾ mile if going clockwise

· Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village (Mon-Thu 10am-5pm. and Fri-Sun 10am-6pm)

Day 4 (12/21): Sedona to Tucson (3.5-4 hours)

· Sabino Canyon - 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road, Tucson, AZ 85750. Pass: America the beautiful

· Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - This Museum has aquarium exhibits, mountain lions, cafes, butterfly gardens, and more.

· Cost: Adults: $29.95

· Hours: Winter: 8:30-5:00

· Physical Address: 2021 N. Kinney Rd., Tucson AZ 85743

· Downtown Tucson

o El Tiradito Wishing Shrine, also known as the "Wishing Shrine," is a popular attraction in Downtown Tucson

· Winterhaven festival of lights: http://winterhavenfestival.org/map.html 6pm–10pm everyday – walking through the lights

Day 5 (12/22): Tucson

· San Xavier del bac mission – nice church: https://sanxaviermission.org/visiting open: Mon-Fri 9-4:30pm

· Saguaro National Park - Stop at the visitors center to grab a park map. A shorter, moderate hike (Sendero Esperanza Trail – 5mile 1000ft). You can check out the trail details and hiking map on the National Park Service Website! Pass: America the Beautiful

o Getting around the Rincon Mountain District (RMD East): 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona 85730

§ Do the cactus forest scenic loop - Freeman Homestead Trail (1 mile)

Day 6 (12/23): Tucson to Phoenix (1:40 hours)

· Old Town Scottsdale: 2.5 hours lots of Western/Native art

· Desert Botanical Garden:  2 hours – was very nice garden with lots of things to see.

· Christmas lights options:

o Glendale Glitters - Murphy Park – free 5-10pm https://www.glendaleaz.com/play/special_events___festivals/special_events/events/glendale_glitters_-_2022

- Downtown Phoenix

Day 7 (12/24): Phoenix/Scottsdale

· Hole in the Rock / Papago Park: To see the hole in the rock there is a 0.3 mile hike, but can also do the Eliot Ramada and Double Butte Loop Trail is a 2.3-mile hike that leads around the base of some of the signature sandstone buttes that make this park so scenic and unique. 2 hours

· South Mountain Park: 2 hours, closes at 7pm, on 12/25 silent Sunday, the following road will be closed: main roadway, Summit Road

· Downtown Phoenix

· Kierland Commons: Shopping area 2 hours, closes at 10pm except 12/24 at 6pm, closed on 12/25

· Restaurant: https://www.flintbybaltaire.com/contact Reservations for 7:45pm 2425 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85016, ph: (602) 812-4818 (11 min from hotel)

Day 8 (12/25): Phoenix

· Desert Tortoise Trail: 2.7-mile loop moderate – we didn’t do it

· Murals: Roosvelt Row.