I booked a Pink Jeep Tour for us in Sedona on November 5th. Sedona is conveniently located about 20 minutes from the resort. As one drives closer to Sedona, the more stunning the scenery becomes. The first feature you notice is the striking color variations of rusty-red sandstone on the distant mountains.
Our rugged, 2-hour ride took us around the red-rock formations and along the rim of the Bear Wallow Canyon. Our driver made the ride even more fun with his anecdotes and interesting commentary during the tour.
The Grand Canyon is only 2.5 hours from the RV resort, so we decided to take a day trip on November 7th. There really are no words to describe this natural wonder. We spent several hours walking the South Rim of the canyon. Dogs aren't allowed below the canyon rim, so we spent all of our time above. The pictures don't do this magnificent place justice. Every angle of the canyon presents a different and unique viewpoint. Pat and I were so happy we were able to enjoy this special place with Alyssa!
Scroll to see more pics of Grand Canyon
We made a quick stop in Flagstaff on the way back from the Grand Canyon and had dinner at a nice restaurant before making our way back to the RV resort.
Wildlife on the way to Flagstaff and sunset to end the wonderful day.
Because of our close proximity to Sedona, we made a few trips to this iconic town during our stay. We spent time shopping at unique downtown stores and ate at a dog-friendly restaurant.
On November 8th we hiked up to the top of Cathedral Rock. This was a moderate hike with a totally rewarding view at the 4967' summit!
Scroll to see more pics of Cathedral Rock.
After the hike, we made a quick stop to The Chapel of the Holy Cross, a church built into the side of a mountain.
The next day, on November 9th, we took a train ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad. This is a scenic, 4-hour trip through the Verde Valley following the historic route from Clarkdale to Perkinsville and back. We traversed through an area that is only accessible by rail. It was a relaxing way to enjoy the beauty of the red-rock canyon and the Verde River. We even caught a glimpse of a couple of bald eagles soaring above the canyon. We also saw a snake slithering on the tracks during our stop in Perkinsville. Good thing it moved before the train started the return journey back to the train station.
On our last day at Verde Valley, we visited Tuzigoot National Monument on November 10th. We explored the area of this ancient pueblo that was excavated sometime in the 1930s. It was interesting to learn about the people that once lived there and then suddenly abandoned their 110-room village sometime in the 1300s.
After visiting the monument, we went for a 1.5 hour trail ride through the desert at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. No dead horses were seen on the trail, thank goodness! 😂
We were sad to leave this beautiful and truly majestic place. We really enjoyed our adventures together in the Verde Valley and Sedona. Next stop Scottsdale.
The sunsets at the resort were amazing, too!
Your Northern AZ trip was beautiful. Y’all better slow down and capture more of the natural nature wonderland. Thanks for sharing and look forward to see and hear more. (JWE)