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 is 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 the area, but two standouts: 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. Tucson 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.