Experience the Best of Phoenix and Sedona, Arizona while on Vacation
7-Day Trip Guide for Visiting Phoenix, Sedona and the Grand Canyon in Arizona
Lauded as one of the most beautiful areas in the Southwest, Arizona is full of outdoor adventures. Soak in stunning mountain views, warm weather, sunny skies and famous red rock formations while visiting Phoenix and Sedona, Arizona. Whether your planning a couples getaway, a family vacation or girls trip there is plenty of things to do and see to keep you entertained during your stay.
When your best friend lives in this warm desert oasis, you take every opportunity to visit. Through the years, my husband and I have vacationed here countless times. Each trip we’ve explored more and more, thanks to our personal tour guides, who’ve called this place home for the last 20 years. Luckily they know all the best restaurants, hikes and activities that showcase the beauty and draw of Arizona.
Easily one of our favorite places to visit, spend a week relaxing and exploring Arizona, while escaping the winter cold. Here is our complete guide for a week long vacation.
Recommended Length of Trip
I highly recommend visiting for at least 5-7 days, this will give you a decent amount of time to enjoy Arizona’s prime spots including exploring the cities of Phoenix and Sedona, plus a quick day trip to view the Grand Canyon. In this itinerary I’ve highlighted my favorite, must-see, activities and sites to explore in a short amount of time.
7-Day Arizona Itinerary
Day 1 – Land in Phoenix and spend time exploring the city (Papago Park, Hole in the Rock, gardens, golfing, or zoo)
Day 2 – One full day at Pleasant Lake on the water (Peoria just outside of Phoenix)
Day 3 – Explore Phoenix in the morning, drive (2 hours) from Phoenix to Sedona (Stay and Relax at hotel/ pool in Sedona)
Day 4 – Full day of outdoor adventures in Sedona (hiking, visiting Slide Rock, jeep tour)
Day 5 – Drive to South Rim (2.5 hours) to Grand Canyon for the day
Day 6 – Full day in Sedona (hot air balloon ride, shopping, dining)
Day 7 – Drive back to Phoenix from Sedona and fly out.
Getting There
Your best bet for reasonable flight prices is to fly into Phoenix, Arizona. The major airport is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), which offers hundreds of nonstop and connecting flights from around the world. Search for the best deals at Cheap O Air and line up a rental car for your vacation so you’re ready to go when you first arrive. From Phoenix it’s only a 2 hour drive to Sedona.
Where to Stay
Phoenix and the surrounding areas have a wide variety of options for accommodations from condos, budget conscious hotels, B&B’s, and even all inclusive resorts. Here are a few recommendations from past trips that we recommend. To find the best deals, check Bookings.com
Phoenix Accommodations (Stay Near the Airport)
If you prefer to be in close proximity to the airport and Papago Park to catch an early flight, then DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Phoenix is an ideal option for utilizing their shuttles. It has a spacious outdoor pool, all the amenities and their restaurant, Brix Kitchen & Cocktails, serves a delicious breakfast with locally sourced ingredients. It was one of the best we had during our entire trip. Did I mention, kids will love the complimentary double tree cookies upon check in! Sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference.
Splurge- Worthy Accommodations
The Biltmore is an all inclusive resort style hotel. Located on 39 acres of lush gardens, this resort and spa offers an oasis, complete with 8 pools, a full-service spa, an array of activities for adults and children, and two 18-hole golf courses, there is something for everyone at the Arizona Biltmore. Select rooms have a patio, balcony and even a kitchen. The resort features 5 different casual and fine dining restaurants for your convenience.
Scottsdale Accomodations
If you want a resort style hotel with a great location the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa is my vote! During a past trip, this resort was a highlight for us with gorgeous pools, one that even has a sandy beach and circular water slide. Also you’ll appreciate fine dining, but also kid friendly buffet options. Pamper yourself while utilizing there onsite spa.
Sedona Accommodations
Stay in uptown Sedona at Orchard Inn to be surrounded by gorgeous red rocks and conveniently located near delicious restaurants, shopping, and attractions.
Sky Ranch Lodge With a great location, stunning views of the red rock formations and affordable prices sky ranch is great pick. You’ll appreciate the spacious rooms, modern amenities, outdoor pool and bar.
Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock Stay in luxury resort which provides everything needed to guarantee comfort. From fireplaces, private balconies, flat-screen TV and outdoor swimming pool, this resort has a on-site golf course and full service spa, while being surrounded by the beauty of the red rock formations.
Best Time to Visit/ Weather
Without a doubt, Arizona’s winter months of December through March draw the most visitors every year. While the majority of the country experiences cold, frozen conditions, the weather in Arizona is beautiful and balmy.
Average winter temps range from the mid-70’s to the high-80s (F).
Summer is a hot time of year in Arizona but not unbearable. We’ve visited in August in the heat of the summer and followed the general rules of avoiding being outside during the heat of the day, seeking shaded locations and enjoying water activities.
Explore Phoenix : Best Things to Do
Explore Papago Park & Hole in the Rock
Located just minutes from downtown, Papago Park will give you a taste of all that Phoenix has to offer, complete with hiking trails, fishing ponds, the Papago Golf Course and the historic site of Hunt’s Tomb. Take an invigorating hike around the red butte formations in Papago Park, including the well-known Hole-in-the-Rock Trail.
View Looking out from Hole in The Rock
If you have access to a fishing pole, try your luck on one of the seven acres of stocked fishing ponds. Papago Park is a fun day trip in Phoenix that is sure to be memorable. With trails on both the West and East there is plenty to keep you active. One of the most popular hikes is the Hole-in-the-Rock trail. This short climb up the buttes features a large arch or hole with an expansive view below. Opt to go during a less busy time since it can be quite crowded. Plan a whole day of activities by visiting the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden , which are located close by.
Visit a Botanical Garden or Arboretum
When visiting a particular area of the country or state, learning about the horticulture and ecosystem is a favorite past time when vacationing.
Within Papago Park, you can learn about the native plants in Arizona at the Desert Botanical Gardens. These lovely gardens have a central ring trail with four loop trails that branch off. View flowering native plants, desert trees and majestic giant cacti. They also will host art exhibits and sculptures, showcasing artist’s work.
Boyce Thompson Arboretum With 4.7 miles of trails winding throughout the arboretum, its a wonderful way to experience the fauna and flora of Arizona. As far as visitor’s experience, the BTA’s trails provide appealing landscape, highlighting the beauty of native plants.
Encounter Exotic Animals
Flamingos at Wildlife Zoo
Home of two zoos within the surrounding Phoenix areas, you’ll find ample opportunities to view exotic animals. Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium has the widest collection of exotic and endangered animals in Arizona, plus a touch tank area to experience the unique sensation of touching stingrays and sharks. Kids will love it!
A favorite for many, the Phoenix Zoo has daily animal encounters, attractions, as well as, safari-like adventure tour. Appealing to kids of all ages and adults, the zoo allows viewing of thousands of exotic animals, birds and aquatic life. The Phoenix Zoo works hard on conservation efforts and working with endangered species.
Hit Some Golf Balls
It’s no secret that golfing is a popular year-round activity in Arizona. With some of the best golf courses, Phoenix offers hundreds of courses to chose from while providing unique golf experiences. Check out the top rated Golf Courses in Phoenix, Arizona.
Top Golf in Scotsdale
Drawing large crowds, The WM Phoenix Open is the highest attended golf tournament and brings with it the best professional names in the game. If you’re visiting in February, this is a incredible experience for golf lovers, but remember to purchase tickets in advance because they sell out.
Top Golf is an atypical golf range that features electronically tracked golf balls and automatically scoring your hits. This venue features fun and competitive golf games for all ages in air conditioned spaces, plus a full food and drink menu. We enjoyed this social activity with friends where you pay and play by the hour.
Swim at Lake Pleasant
Beat the heat in an unlikely area of Southwest Arizona in the Sonoran dessert. Visit Lake Pleasant, a desert oasis that will definitely satisfy your need for outdoor aquatic adventures. Unexpectedly hidden within the city of Peoria, Lake Pleasant Regional Park, offers a wide variety of fun adventures including kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, camping, boating, stargazing and even scorpion hunting.
Complete with the Lake Pleasant Nature Center, the expansive Lake Pleasant and the Waddell Dam you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous views as you relax and enjoy water activities. Visitor’s can rent a boat or bring a picnic lunch to enjoy.
Pleasant Lake is a top destination for outdoor recreation. During our stay we spent a relaxing day kayaking and paddleboard on this beautiful lake, while viewing wildlife all around. Wild donkeys, coyotes and Blue Herons were just some of the unique animals we saw while paddling.
Stop at Scorpion Bay, which is an outdoor enthusiast's dream, where you can rent paddleboards, kayaks, jet skis or boats. If you’re feeling adventurous enough, try out Paqua Park, an inflatable water obstacle course. Signup to reserve your time slot online.
After a day on the lake, we ate at Scorpion Bay Grill. Throw a coverup over your bathing suit and take the open elevator down to the floating restaurant. Enjoy this casual dining experience with lake views on the shaded deck. Fill up with a menu selection of sandwiches, burgers and drinks.
Dine on Delicious Food
Chino Banditos- Mexican Asian Infused Combo Dishes
Looking for other unique places to grab a meal and drinks during your stay, here are a couple places we recommend in Phoenix and Sedona.
Chino Bandidos A blend of the best flavors of Mexican and Asian dishes. Their combo bowls are a cult favorite in the area. This no frills restaurant, will have you coming back again and again, especially for the Jade Red Chicken and Chinese BBQ Pork. A new location is opening with a larger seating area so more people can enjoy these amazing dishes, check out the details here.
Cowboy Club Grille & Spirits Set in uptown Sedona, this casual steakhouse is known for their juicy burgers and steaks, offering items with a Southwestern flair like cactus fries.
Creekside American Bistro Dine with views of Oak Creek and the red rock formations. We opted to sit at the tiny patio in the back for a quiet, relaxing atmosphere and a beautiful overlook of Oak Creek. The food was delicious. I enjoyed the Lamb Chop Lolli Pops, grilled watermelon, fresh mint, balsamic glaze, and pesto dipping sauce, while my husband had the build your own burger and onion rings.
Enjoy Live Music and Dancing
The Stillery is the place to head for live music and line dancing. Enjoy the restaurants lively atmosphere that serves up tasty burgers, pizza pies and appetizers. Listen to bands and try their signature mason jar cocktails, local beers and whiskeys. Once the night kicks off they clear the front tables and the line dancing begins. Get there relatively early to reserve a spot.
Live Music & Dancing at The Stillery
Explore Sedona: Best Things to Do
If you are visiting the Phoenix area, it's definitely worth taking a drive up to Sedona. In fact, I highly recommend staying overnight since there is plenty to see and do outside from scenic hikes, exploring the canyons, and other various attractions.
1. Hike the Red Rocks for Stunning Views
Located in the heart of Sedona, Cathedral Rock Trail is a moderate 1.2 mile hike that rewards you with expansive views of the beautiful red rocks in Southwest, Arizona. A relatively short hike which is doable for beginners. Allot about 2 hours to complete this hike up one of the most recognizable rock formations in Arizona. This hike is both dog and kid-friendly.
Rated as a moderate hike, be prepared for a small creek crossing, rocky steps, a crevice climb, and rock scrabbling that takes you up 750 feet. Sedona has several notable energy vortexes, including one that is located near the top of Cathedral Rock. For more details, check out the full Guide to Hiking Cathedral Rock and How to Find the Energy Vortex.
Savor a Sunset View
Create lasting memories as you take in the crimson colors of the sunset set against the backdrop of the mountains and canyons. Some of the best locations to watch the sun sink down are at Red Rock Crossing and Airport Mesa Trail.
Red Rock Crossing is a short trail that runs adjacent to Oak Creek. Oak Creek Canyon is a gorge located between Flagstaff and Sedona, which was carved over time similar to the Grand Canyon. View the sky set ablaze with burnt oranges and crimson reds at Red Rock Crossing. This is a popular spot to swim, catch a sunset and is a site of one of the seven vortexes. Some of the most dramatic photos taken of Cathedral Rock are from this location.
Airport Mesa Trail, is hands down one of the easiest spots to reach to take in a stunning sunset. Its a relatively quick, 10-minutes hike from the parking area. Enjoy the view of Cathedral Rock, downtown Sedona and the distant canyons against the stunning colors of the sunsetting. The hardest part is undeniably grabbing a parking spot, so plan to go early to secure one.
Burning red and orange sunset in Arizona
TIPS
Always check the sunset times and try to arrive an hour before sunset, this golden hour provides some of the most ideal lighting for dynamic pictures.
In the mountains once the sun disappears, it can cool quite quickly so bring an extra jacket to help stay warm for the walk back to your vehicle.
Find an Energy Vortex
Cathedral Rock Vortex
The Southwest area of Arizona boasts seven energy vortexes. These spots are part of the earth have their own high magnetic field which raises the energy around them. Some people report tingling sensation or intense emotions. The most well-known Sedona vortexes are found at Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon and Bell Rock. Whether or not you experience any reaction, you can still enjoy an opportunity to explore beautiful trails through the Arizona dessert and mountains. Curious to hear what we experienced, check our adventure Hike to Cathedral Rock and a guide to navigating the trail to locate the The Cathedral Rock Vortex.
Off Road Jeep Adventure
Tap into your adventurous side during your stay. Sedona is an ideal place to have an off-road experience. The rocky terrain and stunning rock formations is perfect time for a 4×4 jeep adventures. probably the most well-known off-roading experiences are the Pink Jeep Tours. This is a fun experience if you don’t want to drive or navigate the area on your own.
Desire a combo adventure, go off roading and then challenge yourself to a shooting course in the middle of the desert with Off Roads Jeeps and Shooting.
Another great area to venture off-road is in Queen Valley. Many Midwestern farmers and snow birds escape from the cold to soak in the warmth of the Arizona desert just southeast of Phoenix in Queen Valley. We joined our Michigan friends for a week of thrilling riding. Full of steep ravines, miles of trails, canyons and rough desert terrain just waiting to be explored.
Cool Off in a Natural Water Slide
Located in Oak Creek Canyon, Slide Rock State Park was originally an apple orchard that spanned 43 acres. Over time this flowing creek carved an 80 foot natural water slide into the rocks, which adventure seekers will love. Slide down or jump off the sides into the creek to take a refreshing dip.
During our visit, we were approached by Thrillist, an adventure blog, and had the privilege to be in a video of Slide Rock they were creating. Watch it here, it highlights the best of Slide Rock and the fun to be had while exploring the many miles of hiking trails and water activities.
Cool off at Slide Rock
Soar in a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Sunrise Balloon Ride in Sedona
It’s a bucket list must! Soar above the red rocks in a scenic hot air balloon ride. Experience the heights of romantic adventures as you take in the sunrise thousands of feet above the earth’s surface. Spend the morning hours viewing Sedona's beauty from above, it’s sure to be a memorable adventure. This popular attraction books up early so plan months in advance to secure your spot.
Explore the Grand Canyon: Day Trip
One of the 7 World Wonders, The Grand Canyon is a once in a lifetime experience. From Sedona, the South Rim can be reached in just under 2.5 hours. When you’re so close, you must make the trip to see this incredible sight. I promise it’s worth it. Words fail as you stare at the vastness of the canyon carved over time by the Colorado River. Spanning 227 miles across, wide and over a mile deep, its immense size is magnificent. If deciding to hike into the Grand Canyon, be prepared and plan ahead.
Grand Canyon’s Vast Expanse
If you don’t want to drive yourself, book a guided trip to the Grand Canyon with Tiqets. Avoid hassle with hotel pick-up and drop-off, transportation, and ample time to explore the Grand Canyon National Park and Sedona area.
Closing Thoughts
Arizona is truly an outdoor enthusiasts dream with amazing hikes, adventures and new experiences to have. I’m delighted you stopped by Discovering Anew today! We hope this 7 day itinerary for visiting Phoenix, Sedona and the Grand Canyon will be helpful as you plan your next vacation. Want to save this for later? Consider Pinning this post and follow for more US travel recommendations.
