Top 3 Weekend Getaway Ideas in the Phoenix Area

Weekend Getaways are a great way to experience all the elements of a full-scale vacation without the stress or expense of planning the all-out holiday. If you live in the Phoenix area there are many opportunities for weekend getaways that will please the whole family with adventure, excitement and relaxation. Check out my Top 3 picks for the best weekend getaways in the Phoenix area.

Sedona, Arizona

Sedona, Arizona is 123 miles north of Phoenix with a driving time traveling the I-17 of just under 2 ½ hours. Sedona is known for its majestic and picturesque high desert landscape, visiting this locale is like being down in the Grand Canyon without the long hike down and back up! If you are looking for a weekend getaway destination that offers many outdoor activities then Sedona is a great choice.

Things to do in Sedona:

Sedona has over 40 hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy to strenuous. My favorite hiking trails are the Courthouse Butte Loop and Fay Canyon Trail. Courthouse Butte Loop is a 4.2 mile, moderate hike with a 250 ft. elevation gain. You will be astounded by the views of Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock. There is ample parking at this trailhead, restrooms and an information booth. Fay Canyon Trail is a 1.1 mile easy hike with an elevation gain of 150 ft. This trailhead also has plenty of parking. Make sure to bring your camera for many the perfect photo opportunities you will experience on your hikes.

You could take a pink jeep tour through one of the canyons, or decide to play a round of golf. Downtown Sedona offers plenty of shopping and great restaurants for dining, including fast food as well as some excellent sit down restaurants.My favorite restaurants in Sedona are The Coffeepot Restaurant and The Cowboy Club Café. For breakfast try one of the The Coffeepot Restaurant's many omelets. Prices were great and they serve a full coffee pot of coffee to each table! The Cowboy Club Café is unique because they serve cactus fries and rattlesnake! I did not try the rattlesnake but the ribeye steak was excellent and don't miss out on the cactus fries!

Where to stay in Sedona:

Your choices for accommodations are immense in Sedona; you might choose to stay in a high end resort spa or a comfortable, easy on the budget hotel. Or you might prefer to campout in one of the many campsites along Oak Creek Canyon. I have camped in the Cave Spring Campground along Oak Creek Canyon. These sites are well maintained and picturesque. You will want to reserve a campsite anywhere in the Sedona area because they fill up quickly. My favorite hotel suite accommodation is the Kokopelli Suites in downtown Sedona. This is not a high end resort but does offer suites with in room Jacuzzis, an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub. Moderately priced, the Kokopelli Suites are easy on the travel budget.

General:

To park at any of the Redrock Trail heads you must have a Redrock Parking Pass that costs $5 for 1 day or $15.00 for a week. These may be purchased at visitor centers located throughout Sedona. I have visited Sedona many times and have never been disappointed with my visit to this beautiful redrock country.

Helpful Sedona Links:

Sedona Visitor Center
Hiking Trails
Accommodations
Camping
Restaurants

Tombstone, Arizona

Tombstone is 200 miles south east of Phoenix. Take the I-10 to Benson, Arizona watch for signs for Highway 80 South to Tombstone. Once you arrive in Tombstone you will feel as if you have stepped back in time to the 1800's! Walk the streets and visit the OK Corral where the famous shootout between the Earp's and the Clanton's took place. Tombstone is an awesome weekend getaway for the Old West enthusiast.

Things to do in Tombstone:

You won't want to miss the shopping, old time photo shops complete with costumes to capture your group in a unique tin-type looking photo for about $30, dining, wild west shows, The Bird Cage Theater and of course Boothill. I ate dinner and watched a gun slinger show at the 6 Gun city Saloon. The price for dinner and the show was about $25. They also serve $2 margaritas! The gun fight show was fun because it was interactive with the audience. You could also take an OK Corral tour at 2:00 PM everyday.

Where to stay in the Tombstone area:

You can visit Tombstone in one day and because Tucson, Arizona is close by you could incorporate a visit there also in your weekend getaway. Tucson has an historic sites worth exploring, plenty of shopping and great places to stay. Tombstone is a great weekend getaway for families, the kids will love seeing the Old West and how it was won.

Helpful Tombstone Links:

Tombstone Visitor Center
Restaurants
Tucson Accommodations

South Rim Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon National Park near Flagstaff, Arizona is definitely a national treasure. Located 233 miles north of Phoenix, I am sure you will enjoy the scenic drive to your final destination. The terrain changes immensely from the desert of Phoenix to the high forested desert of northern Arizona.

Things to do at The Grand Canyon:

Once inside the park you can take a free tour bus along the rim and get on or off at many lookout points or even hike along the rim trail from one drop off point to another. Visibility varies from day to day and this is one reason the park has provided the free shuttle busses. The busses minimize the traffic and cuts down on a lot of the "haze" effect in the Canyon. Some other activities that you might consider while visiting the Grand Canyon are helicopter or airplane rides over the Canyon, shopping in the fun gift shops, hiking, mule rides, rafting, jeep rides and camping. Keep in mind that the mule rides and rafting are super popular and require reservations far in advance. Check my helpful link for more information on this as well. I enjoy hiking the Bright Angel Trail located by the main visitor center on the South Rim. This trail is strenuous and be sure to take drinking water and read all warnings posted along the trail and make sure you have a camera. Most of all, be safe!

Where to stay at The Grand Canyon:

There are fine hotel accommodations inside the park, such as The Bright Angel Lodge. Williams, Arizona is a small town just south of the Grand Canyon and offers many hotel accommodations outside the park. I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Williams and was very pleased with the price as well as the amenities. You may also choose to camp in a campground in the park or close by.

General:

You have to pay a national park fee of $25 per vehicle to enter the park. There are senior and group discounts available. Check out my helpful links for details. I believe a visit to The Grand Canyon National Park should be on everyone's bucket list and what better way to accomplish this goal than to plan a weekend getaway to this majestic destination

Helpful Grand Canyon Links:

Mule Rides
Rafting Trips
Accommodations
Grand Canyon National Park Website
Camping at the Grand Canyon

Sources:
www.nps.gov