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Recommended Day Trips
 Sedona,
Ariz. – 115 miles, 2 hours–If it is
only possible for you to take one trip out of Phoenix,
it should be to Sedona. This is one of the most spiritual
cities in America. The red rock cliffs outlined against
a cloudless sky and washed by the cobalt blue waters are
really something to see. Sedona is an artists’ colony,
so be sure to save plenty of time to walk through the art
galleries. A visit to Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village
with its Mexican style architecture is an absolute must.
There is plenty to do, from hiking to horseback riding.
There is a Robert Trent Jones golf course in the vicinity
and jeep tours into the mountains are very popular and
highly recommended. The best known of these jeep tours
is called Pink Jeep Tours. Their phone number is (800)
873-3662.
There are many great restaurants in Sedona, but two stand
out: a tiny Greek restaurant called Fournos and a five-star
French restaurant called L’Auberge located in the Oak
Creek Spa Resort.
Camp Verde, AZ – 92 miles,
1 hour and 30 minutes–Camp Verde is located
north of Phoenix (en-route to Sedona, Flagstaff, and points
north) and was settled in the 1860s to exploit the agricultural
potential of the wide Verde Valley. Attacks by Apache Indians
led to the building of a U.S. Army camp and the subsequent
expulsion of local tribes. You can visit the Montezuma
Castle National Monument, a 20-room cliff dwelling built
by Sinagua Indians around 1150. There is also a casino
located there for those in search of more modern landmarks.
 Flagstaff,
AZ – 116 miles, 2 hours and 15 minutes–Flagstaff
is located north of Phoenix and is a mecca for skiiers.
Phoenix is at sea level to 1,000 feet, and Flagstaff is
at roughly 5,000 feet. Please be aware that it is a steep
drive. The roads in January may be snowy and icy and driving
requires some caution. Only experienced drivers should
try to make the trip at night. Flagstaff is known for its
generous variety of accommodations and restaurants, the
great outdoors at the edge of town, three national monuments
nearby, one of the state’s finest museums, and a
university that supports a lively cultural community. Flagstaff
makes an ideal base for exploring much of northern Arizona.
Tombstone, AZ – 172 miles,
3 hours–Tombstone is located south and east
of Phoenix. It was on these very streets, at a livery stable
known as the O.K. Corral, that Wyatt Earp, his brothers
Virgil and Morgan, and their friend, Doc Holliday, took
on the outlaws Ike Clanton and Frank and Tom McLaury on
October 26, 1881. Today, Tombstone, “the town too
tough to die,” is one of Arizona’s most popular
attractions.
Tucson, AZ – 116 miles, 2 hours–Tucson
is located south of Phoenix. It is Arizona’s second-largest
city. There are world-class golf resorts, excellent restaurants,
art museums and galleries, an active cultural life, and,
of course, plenty of great weather. Tucson is home to the
University of Arizona. Tucson has a long history that melds
Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo roots. There is a national
park, a national forest, and other natural areas just beyond
the city limits. Tucson is the location of the Biosphere
2 Center, a unique research facility set up in 1991. It is
the site of the San Xavier del Bac Mission, which is the
oldest and best preserved mission church in the Southwest.
The Saguaro National Park is comprised of two tracts of land
on the eastern and western side of Tucson, and is also a
popular stop for tourists.
 Nogales,
AZ – 165 miles, 3 hours–Situated on
the Mexican border, the twin towns of Nogales, Arizona,
and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (known jointly as Ambos Nogales),
form a bustling border town. All day long U.S. citizens
cross into Mexico to shop for bargains on Mexican crafts
or tequila. You will need some form of identification,
i.e. driver’s license, birth certificate or passport,
in order to get back into the United States. If you go,
please exercise caution. Everything you have heard about
border towns is true. Rental car companies will not let
you drive your vehicle into Mexico. If you plan to travel
farther south into Mexico, please be advised that you will
need a visa to do so.
 Grand
Canyon, South Rim – 231 miles–Nearly
five million people see the 1 mile deep Grand Canyon each
year. Most of them see it from their car at overlooks along
the South Rim (this includes Grand Canyon Village, Hermits
Rest, and Desert View). The South Rim is the most accessible
part of the park and is open all year. Things to do at the South Rim of the Grand
Canyon include hiking, attending a free Park Ranger program, visiting one of several
museums, taking a trip aboard the Grand Canyon Railway, and whitewater rafting
down the Colorado River. For more information, go to www.nps.gov/grca.
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