Grand Canyon Travel Forum

Hello. I'll be taking a small group 3-day tour of the Grand Canyon and Sedona in late August. I have the option of being based in (and being picked up by my tour company from) Las Vegas, Phoenix, or Flagstaff. I will have 2 days before my tour and 2 days after my tour in which to explore the city and surrounding areas. I plan on renting a car before and after my tour.

I'd love your inputs on which city I should stay in... Aside from airports I've never spent time in any of them.

I'm not a gambler or interested in big spectacle-type shows or over-the-top dining/buffet madness, but Las Vegas would be great so I could drive to the Hoover Dam... Then I was thinking maybe Flagstaff so I could drive to Meteor Crater... Then I was considering Phoenix so I could visit their botanical gardens...

I love hiking, the outdoors, photography, local cuisine, and all sorts of weird geography and native plants/animals. Can you recommend some interesting places or parks near these cities within a day's drive that will help me make up my mind where to stay?

Thanks everyone!
-DaShast

I really liked Flagstaff, as a Brit I think the smaller US towns have much more charm and personally couldn,t wait to leave Las Vegas although I'm glad I saw it.

Meteor Crater was great and so was Petrified Forest National Park which can be done on the same day. You can also visit Winslow Arizona, if you know your music, and 'stand on a corner'. As well as driving along the old parts of Route 66.

A word of warning if you choose Flagstaff, it is a railway town and many of the Hotels are rather close to the busy line. A bit of research will find you one away from the noise.

If time permits you could then go North and stay in Page from there its possible to go to Monument Valley and Bryce Canyon (my favorite, even better than Grand Canyon). This is in Navajo country with all that added interest.

We then went south to Sedona, Prescott, Phoenix and Yuma, but its Bryce Canyon that took my breath away.

Spend a night in the actual park if you can. It awards so many more opportunities.
For the rest of the trip, based on your interests, you should try to stay in Sedona if you can afford it. Flagstaff would be the second choice and it's really very nice, but more of a city. Sedona is gorgeous with its red rocks and beautiful canyon. There's really no nightlife scene there though, while Flagstaff has quite a bit (college town). Also, the dining is more upscale in Sedona, although there are some more casual places.
Stay away from Phoenix, except for maybe a day, and, based on your interests, I would also stay away from Vegas.

Out of the three choices, I would also pick Flagstaff. It's a great location and has many hotels to choose from in a variety of price ranges. Phoenix is a large city and Las Vegas is crazy busy. As the others say, Sedona is absolutely a must visit as is Bryce Canyon.

I too would pick Flagstaff. I like Sunset Crater, Wupatki National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, San Francisco Peaks, Hubbell Trading Post, Museum of Northern Arizona - all sorts of things to do there and nearby. From what you describe of your likes, I think Flagstaff will give you the best matcg.

Okay, I'm bucking the crowd on this one. You will see Sedona, and there is plenty to see in that area- do something different, and see Vegas. It really is so overwhelmingly tacky and touristy and unlike anywhere else- I'm not saying only see Vegas, but everybody should have a frame of reference. I also enjoy being outside and seeing totally different scenery and flora- Besides Hoover Dam, there is Lake Meade, whitewater rafting available on the Colorado River, Valley of Fire (beautiful colors and rock formations), Death Valley National Park,nighttime helicopter rides over the city, free shuttle bus rides to Laughlin which allows you to sightsee, some great public art and parks and landscaping geared to an arid climate (a percentage of tax monies must be returned to the community for public projects) and who can resist things like the Liberace Museum, free exploding volcanoes, Roman gods who come to life, pirate ships being attacked nightly, and some of the most interesting people watching in the continental U.S.?

If you are flying you are more than likely going to fly into Vegas then you can take a puddle-hopper to Flagstaff. I would stay at least one night on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. There are three hotels there. I usually stay at the Maswik Lodge. It's not directly on the rim but it's a very short walk and it's cheaper. The El Tovar is the nicest and priciest. The Bright Angel Lodge is also very nice and it's own the rim. There are other options and you can make reservations at Xanterra website. I would make those reservations NOW.
Actually staying at the park gets you up early to see the sunrise over the canyon walls....this is breathtaking. The California Condor is there and flies over the canyon. I would STRONGLY recommend going for a hike into the canyon. This gives you a whole different perspective of the emmensity of the canyon. What looks like a shadow when you are standing on the rim can actually be a side canyon hundreds of feet wide. There are short hikes you can do and the park will give you plenty of info. I would recommend the Kaibab trail...an exterior trail that has stunning views.

Actually staying at the park on the South Rim is going to give you a much more authentic experience of the Canyon.

Senona is also nice....lots of art. I would also recommend Jerome which is just outside of Sedona. It is an old mining town perched on the edge of a cliff....don't drive there if you get squimish on drop-offs.

Hope you have a great time.

Have you considered staying in Vegas, then renting a car and driving 2 1/2 hours North on I-15 to Zion Park? It is absolutely beautiful. St. George, Utah will be on your way and is a great place to stay.

Flagstaff......you would be close to Sedona, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell (Antelope Canyon), Zion N P and Bryce N P - You would at least have some options. The Petrified Forest is close too.

I am flying into Phoenix and heading to Sedona, Grand Canyon, Page and Zin N P next month. Flagstaff would be a central location, giving you options in all directions. Flagstaff is a neat city of 50,000 people with plenty of hotels.

Good luck,

Mike