Arizona Sojourn

Grounds and room were clean. Fairly new property, with everything in good condition. A two-bedroom condo offers plenty of space. We had a full kitchen, kitchenette in the second bedroom, master bed, two baths (one with a walk-in shower), a Jacuzzi tub in the master bathroom, two balconies, dining room, and a living room with a fireplace. We were very comfortable, and the surroundings were quiet. The bedroom with kitchenette can be rented as an efficiency with an adjoining door, so if you want privacy, get the two-bedroom condo.

We didn't use the pool, but it looked nice. They had a gas fire pit near the pool area that was lit each night—toasty warm! We had a red rocks view from both balconies. The concierge booked reservations for dinner and tours—excellent service and follow-up. The maid service was outstanding. They have a kids’ day camp, fitness room, and limited spa menu.

We had a perfect stay and will definitely stay here again.

Don't let the name fool you. I was expecting that the rooms would be adjacent to the lodge. They weren't. The lodge part of it referred to the registration desk (there was a fireplace in that small room). I obviously didn't expect luxury accommodations at the GC, but the name was misleading to me, especially since I think Bright Angel Lodge at the GC is set up as a true lodge.

The room we had at Yavapai was very, very basic. You could hear a lot through the walls, so it wasn't very quiet. The main door to the room was loud; you could hear when the neighbors left the room. Not a lot to do around there once it gets dark. There is a Yavapi Cafe adjacent to the lodge that serves food, and a gift shop is adjacent, as well. The post office is just steps away.

The money we paid was definitely due to the location and not the quality of the room. Regardless, it was a warm bed and a hot shower in the morning.

The Silver Saddle Room at the Cowboy Club is an excellent upscale meal in Uptown Sedona. Located in the Cowboy Club Grille, the Room is just that, a room, so reservations are highly recommended. This is meant to be an adults-only, romantic experience. There are about 12 tables in the Silver Saddle Room. Most of them are cozy, suede-covered round booths, while others are small, intimate tables down the center of the room. The fireplace and dim lighting help create a soft, romantic feel. The decor is rustic and charming. Dress is dressy casual. Jeans are just fine here. The menu includes many unique dishes, such as cactus fries, rattlesnake skewers, and buffalo steaks. They also have traditional steakhouse fare for the non-adventurous types, plus salads, a couple of fresh seafood dishes and one vegetarian entrée. The night we dined there, we were treated to complimentary shrimp salsa - a new appetizer the chef was trying out that evening. We weren’t quite ready to try the buffalo, so we ordered the tenderloin filet and the aged New York strip. The steaks were delicious - tender and juicy. The service was fantastic. With so few tables, the servers were able to cater to our needs much faster. It was the perfect setting for an anniversary dinner.

We tried Shugrue's Hillside Grill for lunch one day. We went here on a suggestion from a coworker, but it didn’t end up as well as we had hoped.

This place is on a hillside, as the name suggestions, and has an outdoor dining area. It is located on the top level of the Hillside Shopping Center on Highway 179. The views of red rocks are great if you get seated by a window.

Their menu is varied. They have a good selection of seafood dishes and lunch sandwiches. They also have a dinner menu.

The service is slow and haphazard. We had to repeatedly ask for beverage refills. We were trying to work around a food allergy, and the wait staff/chef staff was less than helpful and didn’t seem very knowledgeable about their menu or the ingredients they use. They ended up serving my husband something he was allergic to. Luckily, we could tell before he ate anything.

On top of the poor service, the food just wasn’t that good for the price we paid. You can't get a specialty salad for less than $8.75. Most will run you about $11 or more. Their cheapest sandwich - a hamburger - will run about $8, and add-ons, such as cheese and bacon, will cost you $1 each.

The place was packed, but we weren't impressed. Maybe their dinner staff/food is better, but their lunch left much to be desired.

Bice Grand Café is located next door to the Hyatt Pinion Pointe Vacation Club. This restaurant is owned by the Bice Group, which operates 24 restaurants around the world.

The décor is warm and modern. Low-hanging lights cast a glow over the dining area. A small balcony is lit only by candlelight. The décor seems to imply that you need to dress up, but casual is just fine here. Most of the people dining the night we were showed up in business casual. Their bar seemed to be a popular place for having an after-work drink.

We dined out on the small, open-air balcony. We had a front-row seat to catch the colors of the sunset and red rocks and then we enjoyed a candle-lit dinner. Their menu is casually elegant: they offer specialty pizzas, sandwiches, salads, pasta, and specialties including mushroom cannelloni and lobster ravioli. We tried the chicken parmesan and the filet. The parmesan was rather salty, but otherwise good. The filet was juicy and tender.

Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and the wines they served, and he was very personable and attentive.

The prices are moderate. Salads, pizzas, and sandwiches will run you anywhere from $9-$14. Entrees go from $11-$18, with the most expensive dish being the filet at $27.

The inside dining area is quite spacious. There’s plenty of room, so reservations are not required.

This was a very intimate tour, with only us and three other couples in the open-air jeep. We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel. The day was cool, so there were blankets in the jeep for us to use. The drive was about 45 minutes to the point where you hike to the ruin, but it didn't seem that long. The driver was able to answer questions about anything we asked. As we drove in the back country, she would pull off to the side to point out plant life and tell stories about the tribes that inhabited the land so many years ago. On this tour, there was a 15-minute hike to see the ruin. I would say it was an easy- to moderate-difficulty hike for a novice, due to some of the footing work needed. Once at the ruin, the driver again dazzled us with her knowledge of the tribes and the markings on the remains of the rocks and buildings. This was one of the best things we did in Sedona!

We haven't gone on any of the other tours offered by Pink Jeep, but if we get a chance, we will definitely choose this company again. Pink Jeep also has a Las Vegas tours outlet. Visit them at pinkjeeptours.com.

Day 2: From Phoenix to The Grand Canyon

Our day started at 6:30am as we walked outside and got our first daylight glimpse of Arizona. We drove north to Flagstaff, watching the sun illuminate the rocks in the distance. My husband enjoyed the 75mph speed limit right outside of Phoenix.

Past Flagstaff, we saw what I think was a grove of birch trees, with yellow-gold leaves bright in the sun atop the long, skinny white trunks. A white-peaked mountain came into view soon after. Many people stopped off to the side of the road to snap pictures. I believe it was Kendrick Peak we saw. We then came across an area that had been damaged by wildfires. This was probably part of the damage caused by the Arizona fires a couple of years back.

The road to the Grand Canyon from Flagstaff is a two-lane highway with a 55mph speed limit, much to my husband's dismay. As we drove along, we noticed the color palette. It was subdued and spectacular at the same time. Rich, red earth peeked out between pine trees and yellow and green grass. Scenery changed quickly at times, from forest to desert and back again.

The Grand Canyon—to this day, I still have trouble grasping the vastness of this wonder. I stood at the edge and wondered how the settlers and Native Americans must have felt as they came upon this landmark.

Before setting out on our canyon adventure, we had lunch at the Bright Angel Restaurant. It's a casual dining experience with a friendly, family atmosphere. We had a short 10-minute wait. Once seated, my husband chose the Adobo Grilled Chicken sandwich and a margarita, and I had a Bright Angel burger with a soft drink. Would have loved to try the Chocolate Suicide Cake, but I was full, and the last thing I wanted to do was roll off the side of the canyon. Prices were just about what I expect to pay for lunch at home.

After satisfying our hunger, we took one of the free shuttles to the Canyon View Information Plaza, and then we walked along the Rim Trail back toward Bright Angel Lodge. We explored the gift shops and addressed a few postcards to friends. The lovely stamp machine at the post office didn't like our money, but luckily, one of the gifts shops sold stamps. So I was able to get the Grand Canyon postmark on the cards. Note to self: next time, bring your own stamps! Outside of the El Tovar Hotel, a kind woman offered to take our picture together in front of the canyon. By the time we got back to the Bright Angel, it was almost time for our dinner place to open.

The Arizona Room was recommended for dinner. As the place is rather small, we were told to get there early and wait in line. It was worth it. We were offered a table right next to the window, perfect for gazing at the wondrous canyon and the people. Even if the food hadn't been good, I could have sat there until it was dark, looking out that window. No worries—the food was fabulous, and again, the prices were fair. I went for the chicken this time—a half-roast with a pistachio rub—and my husband had the New York Strip steak. As always, we complemented our dinner fare with the house Cabernet. As the sun began to set, we took a few more pictures and headed to our Yavapai Lodge room, happy and tired from our full day of adventure.

The next morning, we woke up early and headed to the Maswik Café for the free breakfast that came with our room. There was much to choose from, but I settled on waffles and fruit. My husband went for the lumberjack breakfast of bacon, eggs, and hash browns. Definitely not bad food, especially for free! The atmosphere in the café is casual family with cafeteria-style seating. We left full and drove on, deciding to continue eastward instead of going back directly the way we came in. We took the Kaibab Trail to Desert View Drive, exiting the park at the east entrance and picking up Hwy 89 to Sedona shortly thereafter.

We were driving along, and all of the sudden there was a canyon! The drive through Oak Creek Canyon is absolutely breathtaking. At every turn, I was craning my neck to take in everything. In October, the leaves were turning, adding to the sensory overload. It's a two-lane road, so there was traffic, but we weren't in a hurry to get anywhere. This is a location I would love to see in each season, especially winter. I took some amazing pictures during that drive.

We got into Sedona around lunchtime. Our room wasn't ready, so we left our cell number and headed to a cantina uptown. Vista Cantina suited the bill, as we were both ready for some margaritas. The view is superb; as we dined, we stared out the large windows at the magnificent red rocks.

While we waited for our room, we explored uptown. There were lots of shops and places to eat. We finally settled at a coffee shop with a perfect view of Snoopy Rock. Soon, it was time to go explore our room.

To get our bearings in town, we took a Trolley Tour. It was $18/person well spent. There are two tours available. One explores the town, the other goes minutes outside of town to explore the Dry Creek Valley.

The in-town tour stops off at the Chapel of the Holy Cross, and you are given some time to explore the chapel. There are plenty of opportunities for pictures. We learned about the history of the town and the driver gave us some good tips for places to visit on our own.

The trolley also stops in the Dry Creek Valley for photo opportunities of the majestic red rocks.

If you just want to take one tour, you can do so for $10/person. Get on the Trolley at the Depot in the middle of Uptown Sedona, or find the pick-up spot nearest your hotel. There's a good chance you'll get to ride along with the owner, Armor. He's just an all-around terrific guy and has owned the Sedona Trolley since 1993. He's spent 30 years as a tour guide in various places, so he knows how to do it right!

I highly recommend the Sedona Trolley as the "Best First Thing To Do In Sedona."

www.sedonatrolley.com