Two Days in Flagstaff, Arizona

Our favorite part of this leg of the trip was without a doubt the Grand Canyon.

Quick Tips:

We looked into staying in Sedona, Arizona, but the room rates were over our budget. So we used Flagstaff as a base for seeing both the Grand Canyon and Sedona.

Best Way To Get Around:

Driving is the best way to get between all the sites described in this journal. However, while at the Grand Canyon, park your car at the visitor center and walk along the various hiking trails.

My husband and I decided to rent a cabin at the Flagstaff KOA. We spent $34/night, less than half the cost of a room in Sedona or at the Grand Canyon. Also, the purpose of our vacation through the southwest was to explore the great outdoors. What better way to do this than camping!

Our cabin had a front porch with a swing and a picnic table out front. The KOA is located in a peaceful setting with beautiful views. The restroom facilities included showers and were clean and adequate. There was also a small store on the property.

The Cracker Barrel is a short drive from the Flagstaff KOA. The service was quick and friendly. The prices were reasonable and the quantity of food we received gave us all the energy we needed for sightseeing that day.

I came to this conclusion while at the Grand Canyon: Everyone should see the Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetime. It is a site that one does not soon forget.

We approached the Grand Canyon (South Rim) from the southwest. We were headed east on Interstate 40, exited at the Williams exit, and drove 60 miles north via Highway 64. Warning: Don't speed on Highway 64. We received one of the two speeding warnings of the trip on this highway.

We parked at the Canyon View Information Plaza, stopped at the plaza for a short time, then walked the short distance to edge of the canyon. From here we hiked along the Rim Trail and paused at the various overlooks to gaze in awe at the beautiful scenery and take many photographs. We even saw two deer along our hike. The Rim Trail is paved and mostly level.

We took the Rim Trail to the Bright Angel Trail. This trail goes down into the canyon. As this is a very long, difficult, strenuous hike, we only hiked a short way into the canyon. However, this hike gave us a really different perspective of the canyon. Watch your step on the Bright Angel Trail! Unfortunately, it's the same trail that the mules use!

Tip: Close to where the Rim and Bright Angel Trails meet is the Grand Canyon Village, where the lodges are located. We also spotted a restaurant and there was a store that sold ice cream and other snack-type food.

After our short hike on the Bright Angel Trail, we hiked back to the car. Then, we took the East Rim Drive. We stopped at one of the points along the drive and watched the sun set over the canyon. From here, we drove to our home for the night: the Flagstaff KOA.

Slide Rock State Park is where Oak Creek runs through red rocks and creates natural pools and waterslides. The other scenery in the park isn't too bad, either.

Even though it was a very hot day, the water here was very cold. My husband and I were only able to put our feet in the water, but there were a lot of children and a few adults brave enough to go swimming.

Admission to the park is $5/car. We arrived there on a Monday morning (around 10:30) in mid-May and the park was already crowded. I can't imagine what it's like in the summer. The park has a small store which sells ice cream, snacks, bottled water, etc. There are also restrooms.

Oak Creek Canyon is a beautiful canyon, containing many pine trees. We approached Oak Creek Canyon from Flagstaff, where we stayed the previous night. From I-40, we headed south on US 89A. As you drive towards Sedona, you will see signs for the Oak Creek Canyon overlook. This point is great for taking pictures of the canyon. Also, Native American vendors sell their crafts at the site.

After our stop at the overlook, we continued south on 89A, through Oak Creek Canyon. It was one of the many windy roads we traveled on in Arizona. From here we continued south to Slide Rock State Park.

A few words about the National Park Pass:
Before you pay individual admission at a national park, consider whether or not you will be visiting other national parks during that year. I suggest accessing the National Park website, and determine the cost of admission at each park you wish to visit in a year's time. If the figures add up to more than $50, you'd be better off purchasing a National Park Pass. My husband and I saved approximately $60 so far this year by purchasing the pass. These passes can be purchased at any national park site. A senior citizen's pass is also available.

Water:
While traveling in the southwest, bring or purchase a cooler and plenty of bottled water. Buying bottled water from a discount or grocery store instead of at national or state parks will save you lots of money.