Sedona

So next week I am heading to Sedona Az for a couple days before hitting Vegas. Never been to Sedona before...we are taking the train from Williams to the GC one day, which leaves us about 1 1/2 days to hike, sightsee, etc.

Any suggestions on things to do, places to see, restaurants to try, etc???

DonDiego spent less time around Sedona than he should have when he lived in Northern Arizona, but he recalls a few neat things, beyond the recommendations which johnzimbo will find in every guidebook.

There is a hiking trail west of Sedona which one can access via Dry Creek Road to the Vultee Arch Trail Trailhead. If one gets on Google-maps and types Vultee Arch one can map one's way. It's a fairly-flat trail, only a mile-or-so long, at the end of which one finds oneself on exposed flatrocks with a view of the aforementioned arch, to which one can climb if one chooses.

Oh! Oh! Oh! DonDiego just remembered. If one is gonna hike and park at trailheads around Sedona one must purchase a Red Rock Country Pass or face the possibility of verbal abuse, fines, incarceration, and who-knows-what depravities - depending upon one's attempts at futile resistance to the authorities.

OK, . . . if johnzimbo encounters good weather DonDiego recommends an excursion south out of Sedona on Highway 89A to the ghost town of Jerome, AZ , high up the side of a mountain down which it is ever-so-slowly sliding. There's lots of cool old buildings and ruins of copper mines and stuff like that there. Lots of the cool old buildings are filled with items to attract the tourists' eyes, from objects of fine art, western and otherwise, to cheap trinkets like those DonDiego buys.
Aside from affecting driving conditions, the good weather is recommended to afford johnzimbo, . . . and any companions of either sex or any age as it makes no difference to poor, old DonDiego and besides it's none of anybody's business beside johnzimbo's anyway, . . . an excellent view of the Verde River Valley.
And there are two restaurants which DonDiego can recommend in Jerome, both of which offer the aforementioned view from their dining rooms. The Asylum offers fine-dining, not really all that expensive, in the Jerome Grand Hotel, formerly an abandoned, haunted hospital; it is very, very good. The Haunted Hamburger is a more casual beanery featuring hamburgers and ribs and fish and chicken sandwiches and pretty-much the same stunning view one gets at The Asylum but at a lower cost.

DonDiego says: "Bon Voyage !"

We took the Pink Jeep Tour and was loads of fun. This was years ago and not sure it's still running.

Excellent tips, thanks. I have heard of Jerome, in fact a friend of my brother lived somehere near there years ago and said it was nice, so time and weather permitting we may check that out.

My mom lives in Sedona so I've been there often, and will be again in a few weeks. In addition to Don Diego's fine suggestions I'd add that if you find Indian ruins to be interesting there are two close by; Tuzigoot in Cottonwood, (if you go to Jerome you'll probably drive right by it, depending on which route to Jerome you take), and Montezuma's Castle just north of Camp Verde. According to this page:

National Park Service Tuzigoot

The museum at Tuzigoot is currently closed for renovations, but the ruins are still open and they are not charging the customary entrance fee. The also have a Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle Newsletter available. Montezuma Well is another site located near Montezuma Castle, and if you can't wait to scratch the gambling itch they are both close to Cliff Castle Casino.

Please reoprt on your train trip when you get back. My mother and her husband are spending about 3 weeks there from mid Feb thru first week of March. I would like to be able to recommend this for them.

Thanks, Lee

I took the train trip from Williams to GC on a Memorial Day weekend. It was snowing at the Grand Canyon----bring proper attire!!!!

hello johnzimbo....you didn't mention where you are coming FROM to the William/GC train trip and where you'll be going back TO...however, I have some suggestions. I lived approx 40 years in the Verde Valley (the area comprising Sedona, Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Cornville, Jerome) area before I met DonDiego.

IF you are doing a visit FROM Vegas, I would do the Williams/GC train (which I've done twice...it's fun but hokey so take it in stride and of course, the payoff is the Grand Canyon which is overwhelmingly beautiful) as planned. Then drive to Flagstaff, down the switchbacks to Sedona (on 89A, NOT the freeway 89). The top highlights of Sedona are the stunning red rock formations, the famous church Frank Lloyd Wright created (Chapel of the Holy Cross) and the famous "Slide Rock" in Oak Creek.

However, since it is winter, you won't be doing the swim down the Slide Rock and it's not really much to look out without the swimming part (although it has been used/seen in TONS of westerns and other movies). The best bet would be taking a Pink Jeep tour (there are 2 or 3 companies that do jeep tours, Pink Jeep is the only one I remember). I've never taken the jeep tour, but would imagine it would also visit the Chapel. (I personally wouldn't plan any hikes, either, for such a short stay. You don't need to go far at all to see all the beautiful things to see and winter is like winter everywhere, not as pretty as spring/summer/fall)

Chapel in Sedona

After the Sedona visit, I would drive west (on 89A NOT 89) through Cottonwood and go visit Tuzigoot near lower Clarkdale (as already mentioned here). The museum is not that important so it's ok if it is closed. These are small but fairly intact complete set of Indian ruins on a hill. It is really a neat place to visit for an hour or less.

After a quick visit there, I would drive up through Clarkdale to Jerome just a few miles away. Jerome is a 'ghost mining town' with a thriving population. It is definitely worth a visit. You might see the Sliding Jail, walk the main part of town (2 short blocks), buy some copper (which is what was mined here), eat lunch at the Haunted Hamburger. (When you enter Jerome, at one of the MANY hairpin curves, you may see a 3-story brick building now designated as an Arts Center....this was my high school decades ago!!!)

At this point, if you are driving back to Vegas, I would continue up 89A to Prescott, have a drink on Whiskey Row (where Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp also had drinks...specifically at the Palace Saloon) and continue north back to I-40 and back to Vegas.

Personally, I don't think Montezuma is a big deal to visit. When I was a kid you could actually go up and into the ruins, but now they are blocked off so, in my mind, it is not worth the 30-mile detour to it.

From Williams, if you didn't take a jeep tour, and just drove around yourself, you could actually do this entire loop in one day and spend the night in Prescott for your return trip back. (This is assuming you plan everything out before you go to get the best route) Just google any of the items mentioned and you'll find tons of info. Just fyi, from Flagstaff, through Sedona, through Jerome up to Prescott is like a 90 mile loop...not long.

Oh...btw...to keep your visit happy, I recommend you (and your party) take a dramamine (or similar) before you go. The switchback roads down into Sedona and up through Jerome can play havoc on one's tummy...and why take the chance...

Cool..even more good info. I guess my fiance and I will have to do a little planning!

We fly into Vegas, and stay one night in Boulder, then drive to Sedona the next day (Sunday). Monday is open, Tuesday is the train to GC, then Weds we drive back to Vegas and hang out until the Monday after the Super Bowl.

Bell Rock is a nice little hike with beautiful views. Even those people who don't hike can do a portion of it. You don't need the Red Rock park pass to get to it, but I recommend getting one anyway so you can park anywhere you want to at the sites. Airport Mesa is outstanding for getting sunset shots and panoramic pictures of the whole valley. Plan to drive around being amazed at the scenery. My best travel tips are to wear shoes you can throw away afterwards (red dust does not come out easily) and bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen (even in winter) and your best camera.