wrote...
>I still have abt one week vacation to burn up before
> end of calendar year
>
> I've never been to desert southwest... Phoenix, etc.
>
> Being in north Missouri and being pretty miserable
> weather wise I'm giving some thought to going from
> flying from St Louis to phoenix for a week in mid
> Dec... before Christmas
>
> Id rent a car and just drive around.
>
> So..... what's to see and do?
>
> Where to stay that wont cost me a fortune?
>
> Blah blah?
You could spend a good half-day at Taliesin West and another at Desert
Botanical Gardens. Winter's a great time to drive out and spend a day at
Robson's Mining World and walk the Vulture Mine grounds.
South to Tucson with many great places to visit--or a bit further and see
Bisbee and Tombstone.
North to the red rocks of Sedona or ride Clarkdale's Verde Canyon RR.
Jerome's a fun place to visit if in the Sedona/Clarkdale area. If driving
north along I-17, be sure to have lunch (I'd suggest a pulled pork BBQ plate
and a piece of pie) at Rock Springs Cafe--about 40 n of Phoenix just before
Black Canyon. Rock Springs has its own exit. And if driving to the Grand
Canyon (winter is my favorite time to see the South Rim, BTW), Flagstaff has
lots of lodging options, great restaurants, sights to see (Lowell
Observatory, Museum of N AZ, and three national monuments) but be sure to
pack winter clothing for a trip to Flag or The Canyon. If you do make it as
far north as Flag, rather than return the same way you came, head to
Winslow, "stand on the corner", visit La Posada and drive back to Phoenix
through Strawberry (more good pie here). By all means, if in Winslow,
explore the old La Posada and plan to eat a meal in their Turquoise Room.
Considering the elegance, the room rates may even tempt you to spend a
night.
Extra time in the northlands? You could do a 1-2 day loop through the
Navajo and Hopi Reservations. First Mesa in Hopi offers guided walking
tours. This could easily be part of a Winslow visit. Further north? OK, then
add Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly.
Craig in Flag
PS--Entry to the Grand Canyon is $25 per vehicle. Most other NPS sites also
have fees. It may well be cheaper to buy an annual National Park Pass for
$50 rather than pay daily entry fees. And if you're a US resident and over
62, definitely buy a $10 Golden Age pass rather than pay daily entry fees.
Or if disabled, it's a free Golden Access pass.
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