Arizona Road Trip: Sedona, Grand Canyon & Phoenix
After being stuck at home during COVID, we were finally ready to get out and travel again in 2021. This was our first real vacation since the pandemic started.
Getting There
We flew into Phoenix, grabbed a rental car, and made the two-hour drive north. Once those red rocks start appearing, you know you're somewhere special. We stayed at the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock, which had a great location for getting around.
The Trolley Tour
Chapel of the Holy Cross
First day, we took the Sedona Trolley to get the lay of the land. Highly recommend this as a starting point—the guides point out all the famous formations like Snoopy Rock, Camel Rock, and Cathedral Rock. They also pointed out some celebrity homes along the way, which was fun.
The best part was the stop at the Chapel of the Holy Cross. This place is stunning. It's built right into the red rock cliffs with a 90-foot iron cross on the front. Inside, it's simple and peaceful. The views from up there are insane—you can see the whole Verde Valley.
Hiking
We spent two days hitting the trails. Some favorites:
Fay Canyon Trail – mostly flat, gorgeous red cliffs, and there's a hidden natural arch if you want to scramble a bit
Deadman's Pass – great views without too much effort
Oak Creek via Huckaby Trail – takes you down to Oak Creek with views of Snoopy Rock, Steamboat Rock, and Midgley Bridge along the way
Munds Wagon Trail to Merry Go Round Rock – this one's a classic with incredible views of the red rock formations. If you have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, you can drive Schnebly Hill Road to get closer to the trailhead.
Get there early—parking fills up fast.
Downtown Sedona
Restaurant at Casa Sedona Inn
Uptown Sedona is fun to wander around. Tons of shops—everything from crystals and southwestern art to touristy souvenirs. Plenty of good restaurants, too. We spent a couple of evenings just strolling, grabbing dinner, and popping into whatever caught our eye.
One day, for breakfast, we ate at Casa Sedona Inn—the best breakfast of the trip. Highly recommend.
Jerome Day Trip
We drove about 45 minutes to Jerome one day. It's an old copper mining town turned ghost town turned artsy community, perched on the side of a hill. Galleries, antique shops, tasting rooms, and amazing views of the Verde Valley. Quirky and a little spooky—totally worth the detour. We ate at The Clinkscale—great spot for lunch.
Grand Canyon
We did a day trip to the Grand Canyon from Sedona, driving through Flagstaff. The drive itself is beautiful—totally worth it. We stopped in Tusayan on the way in, the little town right outside the South Rim entrance. It's basically the gateway to the canyon—has restaurants, shops, and a big IMAX theater. We grabbed a bite there before heading into the park.
We walked the South Rim Trail—it's mostly paved and flat, so easy for anyone, but the canyon views are unreal the whole way.
Back in Phoenix
Before flying home, we spent some time exploring the Phoenix area. We stayed at the Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak—great property with walking trails right on the grounds, so we got some easy walks in without even leaving the hotel.
Papago Park & Desert Botanical Garden
We checked out Papago Park, which has unique red rock formations and easy trails—including the famous Hole-in-the-Rock. Right next door is the Desert Botanical Garden, so we did both in one visit. Really cool to see all the different cacti and desert plants—a peaceful way to spend a few hours.
Downtown Phoenix
We also explored downtown Phoenix one day. We visited Margaret T. Hance Park—a nice green space right in the heart of downtown. We also walked along the Arizona Canal, which has nice paths for walking and biking. It started raining later, so we caught a movie—honestly, a welcome break after all the hiking we'd been doing.
Old Town Scottsdale
We also wandered around Old Town Scottsdale before flying home. Cute southwestern shops, galleries, and we had some really good food there.
Final Thoughts
After a year and a half of COVID, this trip was exactly what we needed. We had such a great time exploring Arizona—from the red rocks of Sedona to the Grand Canyon to the Phoenix area. It felt amazing to finally be traveling again. Highly recommend.
