Arizona
- bradleighmartin
- Jun 20, 2021
- 6 min read
My brother and I took a spur of the moment trip to Arizona. We explored the Grand Canyon and also took a day trip to Phoenix. Keep reading along to find out what of fun we got into!
My brother and I decided to take a last-minute trip to Arizona! We had never been to the state and knew we wanted to road trip to the Grand Canyon. I booked our trip from Tuesday through Saturday at the Super 8 in Flagstaff. We made sure to read all the reviews and look into the area before booking. It had great reviews and cost $73 per night so it was by far the cheapest hotel I could find in the area. We started off our first day by driving 10 hours from Oklahoma City to the Petrified Forest National Park, located in Arizona, 109 miles from our hotel in Flagstaff. The Petrified Forest is a 346 square mile national park named for its petrified wood and eroded badlands. The park costs $25 per car to enter, is 28 miles long, and in one hour you can drive through the park, stopping at lookouts along the way. One of the stops we made along the drive was called the Blue Mesa Trail. This easy one-mile-long trail is located in the colorful badlands. Make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen when walking because there is no shade along the gravel trail. After leaving the forest we continued heading to Flagstaff, an hour and a half drive, to our hotel. The Super 8 was very busy when I checked in and loud so I was worried, but our room ended up being located in their second building so it was away from all of the noise! It was even quiet during the night!
Our second day of the trip required us to drive to the Grand Canyon, located 78 miles from our hotel. We wanted to arrive at the National Park early so we made sure to leave by 7:30 am to arrive at 9:00 am. The entrance fee into the park is $35, but it allows you to come and go every day for one week. I bought the tickets online before we went on our trip and that made it easier at the entrance because all they had to do was scan the barcode on my phone. Once in the park we drove to the visitors center and parked the car. The actual visitors center itself was closed at the time, but we were able to go to the Mather Point lookout. The lookout is the first stop to see the Grand Canyon and it was amazing. This stop to see the Grand Canyon will get busy with tourists so make sure to arrive early. I noticed the park starting to get busy around 11:00 am-noon and we arrived at 9:00 am which was a perfect time. There was still foot traffic, but not too many people that you couldn't still walk around.
Located at the visitor center is the bus stop. We wanted to hike the South Kaibab trail so we made sure to take the orange route shuttle. This shuttle starts at the visitor center and then makes three other stops before circling back to the center. We never had to wait for the shuttle because they come by every 10-15 minutes. The shuttle ride was less than 10 minutes because the South Kaibab trail was the first stop and we got off the bus, followed the signs, and continued to the trail. This trail is considered a day hike, with three destinations along the way, and you should make sure to come prepared. We knew we only wanted to hike to the "Ooh-Aah Point", located .9 miles down, or 1.8 miles round trip. This trail is all dirt and rock so make sure to wear appropriate shoes to hike because I noticed a lot of people slipping on rocks, myself included. This hike is steep whether you are going up or down so you have to beware of foot traffic to make sure you are moving out of the way and letting people pass. The Ooh-Aah Point offers spectacular views, at an elevation of 6660 feet, and will be busy with people. There is a sign once you arrive with many people stopping to take pictures. This took us approximately one hour round trip and we made sure to bring a backpack with plenty of water.
After the hike, we decided to take the shuttle bus back to the visitor center where we ate lunch. I made sure to make sandwiches, bring chips, string cheese, and Lunchables, for the trip. After lunch, we got back into the car and decided to drive the scenic road through the Grand Canyon. There are plenty of lookouts and stops to make along the way. We spent 4.5 hours at the park driving around and making stops to take pictures. Desert View Drive is a 23-mile long road along the South Rim that visitors can take through the Grand Canyon. This route consists of six viewpoints, four picnic areas, and five unmarked pullouts. After leaving the Grand Canyon and driving back to Flagstaff we decided to stop for dinner at the Galaxy Diner, located on Route 66. This diner is known for its unique flavors of milkshakes and over 100 options to choose from. We ordered the peanut butter brownie and chocolate Oreo brownie milkshakes. They were so good and they made enough for extra and for only $5 per milkshake!
Thursday of our trip we decided to head to Phoenix for the day. The drive from Flagstaff to Phoenix is 2 hours long and we headed straight for the Desert Botanical Gardens. I purchased tickets online before we arrived for $24 per person. We arrived around 10:00 am, which was perfect because it was already 90 degrees and the garden is all outdoors. The Desert Botanical Garden has thousands of species of trees, cactus, and flowers spread across 50 acres in Phoenix. This place allows you to bring in your water, snacks, and backpacks so make sure to take full advantage because Phoenix gets very hot during the summer. We spent two hours here exploring and walking the different trails inside the garden. It was amazing to see the tall cactuses and butterflies all around. I believe this place is definitely worth the money!
After we left the Botanical Gardens we drove to the Hole in the Rock, located just around the corner in Papago Park. Although this trail is not considered a hike, it was a cool spot to see the city from. We climbed up the rock along with the other tourists, took some pictures, and then decided to go to lunch in Tempe, located 5 miles from us. We wanted to try Mexican food while in Arizona so we found Barrio Queen on Yelp. I ordered the Barrio-style protein bowl for $14, made with grilled chicken, lettuce, rice, beans, peppers, onions, and topped with avocado crema and a fried egg. It was delicious and filling! I would eat here again if I am ever back in Arizona! For our last stop of the day, we drove to Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix. We did not spend too long here, but we walked around the old town of Scottsdale looking at all the old shops, art, souvenirs, and restaurants.
On our last day of the trip, we went to the Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater. It was located 15 miles from our hotel and costs $25 per car as an entrance fee, this gets you access to the Sunset Crater park itself and the Wupatki National Monument. Over 1,000 years ago this volcano erupted and destroyed the nearby land, but now much of the ground is still covered in the lava flow. Over 3,000 acres are protected by the national park and the pictures below are an example of what the area still looks like. Plants and trees grow in and around the rocks with some dead trees still being there from the past. You can take the scenic route drive, 30 miles long, through the park, stopping at lookouts along the way.
Towards the end of the route is the Wupaki National Monuments, ancient pueblos made out of red rock and preserved so people could learn about past cultures. The pueblos are located on different trails throughout the park and on the Wukoki Pueblo trail, you can find the 900-year-old village. Our last stop of the trip was at a restaurant called Fat Olives, located in Flagstaff. They are known for their Italian food, featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" on Food Network. We ordered the Margherita pizza and the Shrimp Fra Diavalo pizza made with pesto, spicy shrimp, Calabrian chilies, and cheese. This was by far the best pizza I have had in a while and we did not leave any leftovers! They even have a smores pizza for dessert that I was so sad I did not get to try!
I hope this blog can give you great recommendations on where to eat and fun activities to explore when visiting Arizona! Everything I post in my blogs is family-friendly and in safe areas to travel alone or with family. If you try anything out please let me know! I hope your experience is as good as mine! I have posted all links to hotels, restaurants, and national parks below. Hope you enjoyed reading!!
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