Arizona Vacation

[smacdonald]

I have two weeks vacation, wife wants to see Arizona. Need any advise I can get regarding places to visit (and why), recommended camp grounds, etc. I also leaving from Toronto ON. Canada and am thinking of hooking up to route 66 on the way down just outside of Chicago. Any thoughts on that? What is a good time of year to visit AZ?

Any input helps us make a decision.

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by smacdonald

I have two weeks vacation, wife wants to see Arizona. Need any advise I can get regarding places to visit (and why), recommended camp grounds, etc. I also leaving from Toronto ON. Canada and am thinking of hooking up to route 66 on the way down just outside of Chicago. Any thoughts on that? What is a good time of year to visit AZ?

Any input helps us make a decision.

My wife & I moved from southern lower MI to AZ. I imagine Toronto weather would be very similar. We don't miss the gray skies, rain, snow, cold, high humidity, etc.

If this is a vacation, your time is probably limited to those two weeks. You may have to decide what you want to see most; parts of Route 66 or parts of Arizona. Taking highways, it is ~3,500km (~2,000mi) between Toronto and the middle of Arizona so one week or more will be on the road just getting here and back - IF you take the interstates.

Route 66 is 'broken' and doesn't exist like it once did. There are only parts of it that are intact. There are parts of it in each state along the way and some make interesting stops. If you have something specific on Rt 66 in Illinois you want to see, fine. But be aware you really can't drive long stretches of it.

When is your trip?
Arizona weather is sunny most of the year and the temperature depends A LOT on the elevation. Lower elevations are warmer year 'round than the higher elevations. Higher elevations get snow in the winter - some places get 'much too much' snow that closes roads and camping areas.

The middle of summer (about July 4 to Labor Day) is Monsoon season. Almost anywhere in AZ, in the afternoons there are clouds and a threat of heavy rain, wind, and lightning.

I could go on and on, but more specific information about your plans would help us provide better information.

[muelldawg]

Come in March and go to a few Baseball Spring Training Games. It is beautiful.

Some years ago that is what we did; visiting Phoenix, out of Seattle, WA to watch the Mariners. We moved here when we were eligible to retire. You will love AZ.

[clutch]

Grand Canyon is worth seeing.

[bgermane]

Take a look at this website. They have a lot of good info.
http://www.drivingroute66.com/

[RoyBraddy]

Making a home base in FLAGSTAFF or SEDONA areas seems like a great idea to us These are central to all kinds of things to do and see... This includes the High Desert country, large deep valleys, beautiful canyons, Indian ruins, etc... Waking up to the RED ROCK canyons and mtns is breathtaking in Sedona as well... In Flagstaff you can listen to the East West railroad trains every five minutes apart wondering why you picked a campground next to the main railroad that goes through the center of the town.

With just a couple of weeks you will be very limited to do much more than quick drives through.

We like to do the simple things like going to the high points in the ruins of Wupatki and looking out to the East and seeing the vivid Pink and Purple colors of the Painted Desert at Sunset. These areas are way off the trails but yet you will here people having fun, kids laughing, etc. Sounds will carry for many miles in these places... All kinds of these kind of places to visit around the Flagstaff areas.

This also puts you close enough to do a quick run through the Grand Canyon, visit many of the road side swap shops, visit a few of the Western Style honky tonks...

Sedona always blew us away with all of the highly visible red rock formations... Lots of high dollar shops all around. Real friendly people...

Spending a night on the town in Old town Prescott almost takes you to days of the Gunslingers from the old West days.

Meteor crater, volcano crater, and Petrified Forrest all close by..

This is also one of the view areas that still has several long stretches of the US66 roadways still intact. Everyone should have their RV photographed along side a Route 66 sign...

Roy and Carolyn

[Derek700]

We will be in tucson in mid march for a week. It will be great to leave the rain behind and be in some 85 degree weather watching some university softball, baseball and hopefully MLB spring games.