Planning trip to Grand Canyon

[LSPTpr]

We are planning a trip from New Orleans to the grand canyon with stopovers in Sante Fe, Sedona, Tombstone and Carlsbad before coming back to New Orleans. DW is looking for any sightseeing/activities for those areas. Trying to decide whether to spend 3 days in Williams and drive thru sedona or 2 days in williams and a full day in sedona. any info will be appreciated cause if she misses something, the fault will lie with me. We will be staying at the Grand Canyon Railway RV park in Williams,AZ and riding the train for sure.

 

[jmgratz]

We drove through Sedona several years ago. Someday we will go back because there is alot to see in Sedona and around Sedona. There is a chapel in the red rocks just outside of Sedona and it is beautiful. Don't miss Montezuma's Castle around Camp Verde, Camp Verde, and the Biosphere just northeast of Phoenix. Plan to spend the day touring the Biosphere. If you remember the Biosphere was were several scientists were going to spend several years living in this dome but their plan failed. Very good tour. Also in Tombstone (I love that place) plan to spend the day. When you go through Boot Hill note that there is a Jewish section and non-Jewish section. If you get farther south of Tombstone you can drive to Douglas and see the border. It is an interesting drive as you will see much of the techniques being used to control the border and how easy it is to illegally cross it. If you go to northwest Arizona check out Bullhead City. It is right on the Colorado River-Nevada border. Drive across the bridge and you are in Laughin NV and there are many Casinos. Just south of Bullhead City you can see Oatman, AZ. Oatman is an old gold mining town and when the mines played out the miners just left their donkeys. They (the donkeys) wander freely in the town and it is not unually to see a donkey wander in one of the souveneer shops. Neat place. Then don't miss seeing the London Bridge just a little further south of Oatman in Lake Havasu City. This is the real London Bridge that was once in London England before it was moved to its present location. Much to see and do in Arizona. Just west and east of Tucson is the Seguaro Catus National Park. It is very neat and in the west park is Tucson Studios where many of the western movies were made. Have a safe trip and have fun. Writing all that down makes me want to go back to AZ.

 

[jmgratz]

Oh yeah, if you are going I10, spend a couple of hours in West Texas at Fort Stockton. There is a real nice KOA there and a good resting area. If you have any extra time you might check out Fort Davis Texas State Park. It is a beautiful place. You can also tour Fort Davis which was a fort used by the Buffalo Soldiers protecting settlers from Indian attacks. Also in Marfa, Tx is the Marfa mystery lights which are unexplained lights in the country which happen at night. When you get to Carlsbad, NM you are not far from Roswell, NM so look out for UFOs.

 

[talley]

Well... as Jim said there is alot to see. We went thru the area this past summer on a 2 month trip to Calif. Not enough time. Jim is right on all the locations he listed. We spent 2 days-3 nights at the Trailer Village at the Grand Canyon. Would have stayed longer if space was avaliable. Just a couple hundred yards from rim. Don't miss the open air entertainment at HOPI House on the rim.

We stayed at Black Bart's RV & Restaurent (entertaining meal) in Flagstaff and left BH there for a drive down thru Oak Canyon to Sedona. Great drive! If you like Mexican food there is a good restaurent with upstairs terrace overlooking the main street. Don't remember the name, but is on right coming from Oak Canyon.

Bandelier National Mon. near Santa Fe is worth the trip, good walking paths thru the ruins and cliff dwelling ruins. If you have time at Albuquerque... the restaurent and tram ride to Sandia Peak is great. Also, at the northwest edge of town is the Petroglyph National Mon. Good upclose exposure to the rock carvings.

If you are coming back via I-10 thru El Paso try to include a shopping visit to Melilla just off I-10 at Las Cruces. This old-town shopping plaza has great small shops and restaurents. One shop claims to have housed trial of Billy The Kid. Having visited before, we stopped while passing thru for lunch. The city hall complex (may have also housed chamber of commerce) was a couple of blocks off the plaza and had a parking lot with room for us to pull in with our rig (36' 5th wheel & truck). Checked inside and got permission to park.

Hope you have the time to enjoy all the areas you visit.

p.s. - about 20 miles east of El Paso... look for my right wheel well cowling, lost to a blowout.

 

[Two Hands]

I would like to add to tally's comment about Trailer Village at the Grand Canyon. Full hookups to include cable tv at a very reasonable fee and located very close to the rim. We have stayed there twice and can not say enough good things about it. As we were packing to leave last October a female elk walked through our site, had a drink of water, and posed for photos before moving on.

 

[scott b]

Things to do

Of the places you mentioned I can only speak of a few , In my opinion one of the most interesting and enjoyable things I have ever seen is the flight of the Bats at the Carlsbad Caverns, simply amazing, the walk down through the Caverns was fun but after a bit it all starts to look the same. Where a jacket if you go down in the Caverns , even in the dead of summer it can be chilly down inside. It will take you all day at Carlsbad once you do the tour of the Caverns, and the Bats don't fly until dusk, well worth the trip, just a side note , if you have a pet they have air conditioned kennels there as well.The drive from Carlsbad to Tombstone will take the better part of a day, it is a nice drive down from Carlsbad to El Paso. When you get to El Paso keep going Don't I repeat Don't stop in El Paso, continue west on I10 to Demming New Mexico to get fuel. { I am sure there are some good folks in El Paso , however the areas adjacent to the freeway are not desirable , especially for those traveling with an RV]. Tombstone is fun for a day and is full of old west history, including the ride through town on a horse drawn wagon. The drive from Tombstone west towards Tucson is easy , and if you have time there is plenty to do in Tucson. If you choose to pass on the Tucson sightseeing and prefer to go straight to Sedona this will take you about 6 hours [Tombstone to Sedona] depending on traffic, try to plan on going through Phoenix early in the morning or better yet late evening. This route you will continue west on interstate 10 to the 17 north.When you leave Phoenix proper you will begin to rise from the desert, and it is beautiful. If I were you I would get off a Cordes Junction highway 69 to Prescott and go the back way through the small town of Jerome and then on to Sedona. There is tuns of stuff to see and do while traveling from Prescott to Sedona, and you will not be disappointed. Sedona you might want to spend a couple of days at depending on your time frame. You might want to consider the Pink Jeep Tour, it takes you through the back country and through the red rock and is breath taking. Well I hope I was a little help , and I hope you enjoy your visit to the great southwest. Scott

 

[fljlcw]

If you decide to come to Roswell NM look us up pm me if if you have time as we live in Roswell Fred & Trish

 

[davebennington]

One more thing to do. If you are going to the canyon try to take the mule ride to the bottom. They also have half way tours it is the ride of your life. I hear that they have a long lead time for signing up (6 months) you did not say when you are going but this is one thing I would do over and over. We have been twice so far. once from the north side and once from the south side, the south side is prettier in my opinion

Dave

 

[LSPTpr]

thanks

you guys are great. thanks for all the info and as i thought, so much to do and not enough time. definately gonna research the monument sights. I know we are doing the train ride around the rim but when i mentioned the mule ride she stated she already has experience with a mule and dosn't need to have two on the trip, wonder what that meant? again, thanks for the info.

 

[Jim/rsvl/AR]

Going or returning you need to swing through Utah and visit the National Parks there. Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, & Arches.

 

[dtvista]

I think staying at the Grand Canyon Railway RV park in Williams,AZ is a good idea, but taking the train in my opinion is a waist of time and money.
1) It is a very easy 1 hour drive from Williams to the Grand Canyon
2) All your movement around the Canyon is by National Park Buses
3) The main reason is when you take the train, they only give you about 2 1/2 to 3 hours at the Canyon. You can spend at least 1 hour just in the visitor center and another couple of hours strolling from the Visitor Center to the Hotel. A very easy walk along the canyon wall. From the Hotel, or central area you can spend several more hours touring the remaining canyon areas by bus.

So for us the train did not give us enough time at the Canyon.

Dave

 

[SmokeyBare]

AND.... If your lucky while sitting on one of the Parks Buses...

This Fella will walk across past. There were plenty of people about... didn't seem to make him want to alter his route.

 

[scott b]

Things to do

As I read more of these post , the thing I think you need most, is more time....LOL . The thing I suggest you do is just take all summer off , that way you are sure to not to miss a thing....on second thought , the fall leaves in the northern part of AZ are real pretty, ya might want to add a few more weeks before returning home. Oh well a guy can dream can't he . Whatever you do have fun , meet good people see some great sights and enjoy your trip.....oh and the food ,southwest eatin is among the best .......Scott

 

[TXBobcat]

AND.... If your lucky while sitting on one of the Parks Buses...

This Fella will walk across past. There were plenty of people about... didn't seem to make him want to alter his route.

Now that is a nice guy.. Of course I would like him.. I found this one also.

I did not go on the train but had a friend that said the same thing. He would not ride the train again. We statyed in Williams and drove up to the canyon. Spent as much time as we wanted.
BC