Scottsdale is not our place. Sedona is our place, but we have stayed in Scottsdale quite a few times on our way to and from Sedona.
Then stay in one of these places:
www.arizonabiltmore.com
www.scottsdalecamelback.com
Jerome , lol, nice town but holy crap the ride up is something else. I’ll keep it at that lol. Cottonwood is nice, but Sedona or village of oak creek are the places to go to if u like hiking and biking
When did you last visit? Cottonwood has exploded into a nice little city with a hopping restaurant and bar scene (at least compared to Sedona (aka Slowdona), but it all depends on what you like.
If it were me, I'd do Sedona. It's worth a lot more than a day.
www.airbnb.com
Agree.. Grand Canyon Village is about a 3.5 hour drive north from Scottsdale, and a little over 2 hours north from Sedona. Worth the trip if you haven't already seen it. Seeing the scenery around Sedona, and taking the drive to the top of Mt Lemmon in Tucson, are some of the other things I'd try to do if I had the time and only had one week.
If it were me, I'd do Sedona. It's worth a lot more than a day.
Here's a place not far from our place, not sure if it's in your budget.
Home in Sedona · ★4.77 · 3 bedrooms · 3 beds · 2 baths
Luxury 3BR Home With Jacuzzi and Red Rock Views
You will have walking access to some of the best Sedona trails.
Short walk to Bell Rock Pathway:
Short hike to Chicken Point:
Short hike/walk to Chapel of the Red Rocks:
Drive to one of our favorite low impact hikes, West Fork Trail--you may catch fall colors.
I could go on for pages. This is just a sampling. We have been vacationing in Sedona since 2005, and we still have a long list of hikes that we have yet to complete.
I can give restaurant recommendations too.
Lots more to do around Scottsdale. Plenty of hiking there as well, like Pinnacle Peak and other public trails. Dining options are top shelf and plenty. Old Scottsdale is worth a visit, as is the Frank
Sedona is high desert, and Jerome isn't really desert at all. One thing people do not realize about Sedona is that it is in what is called the Oak Tree Canyon, and yes, there are lots of oak and other deciduous trees. So, while not getting a full fall color display that we are used to in the Northeast, fall is beautiful in Sedona. We have a long-running joke in our family after someone remarked to me about 20 years ago that Sedona "ain't got no trees." Whenever we are hiking in the woods, I will say multiple times about their "ain't no trees here" until the point where my family has had enough of my routine.
Yes on Jerome.
During the pandemic, Sedona became overrun with tourists and day trippers from the Phoenix area. The situation got out of hand on several fronts. Off road 4 wheel ATVs became really popular, and non-locals would cut and create new trails in the National Forest land, destroying native flora, which is critically needed to prevent erosion and sustain the ecosystem. Long term camping in non-camping areas also became an issue.
Did you go to the Gold King Mine? It's been quite a few years for us, but that place is awesome, especially the donkey that greets visitors in the parking lot. It's really just a glorified junkyard, but a fun visit.
Phoenix area: Matt's Big Breakfast. Several locations.
There was a hole in the wall Mexican place my Uncle took me to that was phenomenal.
Go there at least 4 times a year. father In law lives on Jordan trail near the Sedona beer company. Only 14-16 hr drive from Denver. Yes I went up to the top but I sure the heck wasn't driving. Agreed love Jerome. I love flagstaff in the summer, winter not so much.
