"Must do's" for Sedona?

[senorak Member Find all posts View Profile Close senorak]

Heading to Sedona (Sedona Springs Resort) in a few weeks. This will be our first visit---(DH, myself and 3 children---9, 11 and 16). What are the "must do/see" activities/places? I did buy the "Sedona Pass" offered by the tourism bureau (discounts to local dining, attractions, etc.). We would like to do a "Pink Jeep Tour"---which one is best for "first timers"?
We are also driving to the Grand Canyon and spending one night there (staying at "El Tovar").
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.

DEB

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Do the Broken Arrow Pink Jeep Tour, go to Oak Creek Canyon, red rock crossing, A Day in the West is fun. shaggy

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Since I am an eater, I recommend Javelina Cantina for great Mexican food. I'd go there at least twice.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Well, the two I was going to mention have already been mentioned - Pink Jeep Tour and Oak Creek Canyon. And don't know if your kids would appreciate it, but take a drive out to the Enchantment Resort. Have lunch there. Great food, wonderful scenery.

Also, try the Coffee Pot restaurant for breakfast. Home of 101 omelets.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Heading to Sedona (Sedona Springs Resort) in a few weeks. This will be our first visit---(DH, myself and 3 children---9, 11 and 16). What are the "must do/see" activities/places? I did buy the "Sedona Pass" offered by the tourism bureau (discounts to local dining, attractions, etc.). We would like to do a "Pink Jeep Tour"---which one is best for "first timers"?
We are also driving to the Grand Canyon and spending one night there (staying at "El Tovar").
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.

DEB

The kids will LOVE slip-rock park.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

The kids will LOVE slip-rock park.

Lawren,

I think it might be called "slide rock." My kids loved it there. Bring jeans and tennis shoes.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Lawren,

I think it might be called "slide rock." My kids loved it there. Bring jeans and tennis shoes.

Probably Boca. I am old now and things don't stick in the RAM very well these days.

I have a few pix of Slide Rock in my personal album on the photo server if you'd like to see where all those lazy rivers in Amusement Parks and resorts came from.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Lawren,

I think it might be called "slide rock." My kids loved it there. Bring jeans and tennis shoes.

Steve and I walked up to Slide Rock when we were there last year. We watched a few kids and a "dad" slide down. Dad didn't look like he was having much fun, .

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

You will enjoy the week....word has just been received that the forest is going to be opened tomorrow, it was closed due to the fires.

If you do go to Slide Rock Park, before you head out, check with the concierge and Park Service to find out the conditions of the water, as during the summer, there have been issues with bacteria in the past.

Pink Jeep is always fun....Broken Arrow is a good choice, or you could do the one up Schnebly Road if you want a shorter less expensive choice that offers some spectacular views.

Where are you staying in Sedona? Depending on your location I might have a few more suggestions.

www.adayinthewest.com might be of interest to your kids or the ranch called Blazin M: http://www.blazinm.com/index.shtml

Be sure to call El Tovar NOW if you want dinner reservations at El Tovar the night you are there. Let them know you will be staying at the hotel.

[senorak Member Find all posts View Profile Close senorak]

We are staying at Sedona Springs. As for the GC.....I don't think we will be eating in the "El Tovar" dining room. While DH and I would love the experience (and food).....my kids wouldn't eat too much; and for the price, just isn't worth it. Someone had posted (on the other site) that there are other dining option at the GC that are less expensive and more " child friendly".

DEB

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Absolutely! Bright Angel has a restaurant that you will find suits the situation at GC.

Sedona Springs has a very nice play room, and two pools, so you will have some great family options right at the resort. At 3 PM on Sunday they offer an ice cream social where kids will get to create their own ice cream sundaes. The concierge there, Jane, is very good and will love helping you find tours etc.

The units are quite nice, and you will be most comfortable. Shop at Basha's...a short walk or drive from the resort....ask for the Basha's saver card and you will get some discounts.

If you do like to go to a movie while on vacation, there is a six-plex Harkins theater nearby.

As for Enchantment...if you don't think the kids would be happy at El Tovar's dining, I don't think you will enjoy the prices or atmosphere at Enchantment dining. However, there is a great trail near Enchantment that leads to some ruins.

Don't forget the easy spots, to combine some beauty and history for the kids: Montezuma Castle, and Montezuma Well. The Walnut Canyon and Sunset Crater areas in Flagstaff are also very neat.

If I can be of any help in planning, let me know!

[Lanalee Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lanalee]

We're going to Sedona for the first time in December, so this thread has been informative for me too.

I happened to catch Rachel Ray's "$40 a Day" show last night on the Food Network Channel, and she was in Sedona.

She had breakfast at the Terrace on the Creek restaurant, lunch at The Cowboy Club, and dinner at The Haunted Hamburger.
http://snipurl.com/t4lx

All these places looked good. I'm really disappointed that the Terrace on the Creek restaurant is not open in December. It looks like a beautiful place to have breakfast.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Hi, Lanalee,
Any questions you might have please let us know here...we aim to help out in any way possible. Where are you staying? Since this is your first trip, I am sure you will enjoy the surprises of Sedona.

As for Rachel, I love her shows...lots of energy, but sometimes, a bit off the mark, as in the:

The Haunted Hamburger? In Sedona? Actually it is in Jerome....about 38 miles South of Sedona....so if you don't count the gas for the trip, I guess you could eat for $40 a day. She must have ordered pretty light from the Terrace...but the view is pretty romantic and service is usually good.

Also, Sedona has a 9% sales tax...that puts a little ouch into a bill too.

The Cowboy Club is pretty popular for some folks...don't know if they still have it, but they used to have things like rattlesnake on the menu. We prefer other spots. But TCC is pretty convenient to tourists staying in the Uptown area. If you want some place to walk to from Arroyo Roble, it is a good option.

[Lanalee Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lanalee]

Hi Katiemack
Thanks for your offer to help. I am really looking forward to my first trip to Sedona. We're staying at the Sedona Springs. My main interest is photography and my husband's is golf. Of course I know there will be many beautiful places to photograph and I can hardly wait! We've never been to the Grand Canyon, so this is all new to us. Hopefully the weather won't be too bad (first week in December), but I am a little worried about it. I don't mind cold weather, but please please no rain!!

I'm sure as it gets closer to December I'll be hitting you up for advice (best places to golf, best restaurants, etc). So again I do appreciate your offer.

What can you tell me about the jungle safari thing - I am especially interested in taking pictures of animals. Do you really get close to them? Seems a bit dangerous.

Yolanda (Lanalee)

[Lanalee Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lanalee]

By the way, I know what you mean about Rachel Ray. I take everything she recommends, then I multiple it by 2. After all, who eats alone on vacation!

To be fair, she did say that Haunted Hamburger is in Jerome. In fact, she toured the city (town?) of Jerome, then got "hungry". And she ate venison enchiladas at the Cowboy Shack - not something I'm sure I would eat. I think she had to settle for a hamburger for dinner because she spent so much for breakfast and lunch. She did splurge on a chocolate martini at the end of the day at some place that specializes in martinis. I think they called the drink a chocolatini. Clever, huh?